Hi, carlthecamper, we have a 1973
amerigo, now named Peanut (one shell with two nuts in it).
NOT much different from the 72.
We gutted it, and worked on cleaning it out over several months without inside supports. No
fridge closet, no putin (porta-potty) niche/closet, no galley. As we began planning to put the uprights back in (and we always planned to), Paul used two pieces of ply and a 2x4 to gently urge the now-slightly sagged ceiling/roof back into place near each new upright. And we used 1/2" plywood for the new walls instead of the less than 1/4" with 1x or 1.5x studs. The ceiling went up some distance--over an inch, less than five. Hard to tell exactly. But yes, it was slowly sagging.
No, it didn't collapse. I was told by other
amerigo owners on FGRV that it wouldn't collapse. Maybe with a huge snow load, but we didn't get snow to speak of. Only a dusting or two. But it did sag.
If we'd have had a new ply floor in it sooner, we'd have braced the ceiling/roof sooner. As it is, I think no damage was done, but that could just be luck.
Were you planning to leave it without uprights? I'd rethink that. We had considered going without them, making it really spacious inside, but seeing how much it had already sagged, we decided against it.
BEST
Kai in Seattle
(Kathleen and Paul near Renton, near Seattle, WA)
Love them amerigos! Carl, eh?
From Peanut to Carl. Hope your adoption goes great for you!