Casita Roof Sag

[Altemplet]

Hi, I just purchase a worn out 13' Casita that I had to totally gut. The roof has a bad sag and is warped. The fiberglass is only about 1/8" thick in the center and when I stand up straight, my head pushes up on the roof!
I am thinking about cutting out the center panel, about 3'x8', straightening the sag with plywood reinforcement glassed in, and then RAISING that center section about 3-4" for more headroom.
Has anyone heard of anyone doing this?
Thanks, Al

[Jon in AZ]

Welcome to the forum, Al, and congratulations on your "new" trailer!

An empty fiberglass shell is quite flexible. That does not indicate a problem (unless you leave it that way). Reinstalling the cabinetry will make it solid again (you may have to gently raise the center of the roof to restore the original shape to make everything fit right).

With a single-wall fiberglass trailer, pretty much every piece of the original interior cabinetry serves a dual function as structural support for the shell. That 1/8" is about right all over. Scamp does add additional layers of fiberglass (but no wood) on part of the raised roof to prep for an AC installation. It's standard now, but most older models don't have it.

If you do not plan to reinstall the original cabinetry, you need to reinforce the walls somehow. If you just beef up the roof, adding more weight on top, the walls will tend to bulge out even more. Among other things, the door may not fit properly.

One way to reinforce the walls and roof without a lot of weight or bulk is to glass in ribs. You might want to read member Ian G's thread It Started as a Kitchen Reno. If nothing else, it will get your creative juices flowing!

[amyjmn]

THat is interesting about the structure and good info! Good luck, Al.

[Randy J.]

My '76 Trillium has had a slight sag on the "drivers" side, the side that has the cabinets, towards the rear, since we bought it. Indeed the overhead cupboard droops a little off level. I'd just chocked it up to it getting older, you know, droopy like people . It seems stable but I do wonder if I may be contributing to the problem by removing the front shelf to make more tossing room for the top bunk. Maybe I can come up with something. And I may put some reinforcement between the sink cabinet and the upper one to gently raise and support that side and level things.

[Roger C H]

Maybe you could put a baluster between the lower and upper cabinets ala Scamp.

[Altemplet]

Thanks for the info. I will keep you posted on raising the roof. I might also add a large skylight or sunroof over the dinette to see the stars at night. ( Since I am cutting, I might as well make improvements )

[MRClaus]

sounds Great to me looking forword to seeing it please post pics of your redo

[Randy J.]

I've had a similar thought about a skylight, stars etc. My only concern would be not to affect the structural integrity of the shell where everything depends on everything else. So long as the skylight has similar properties to the roof area it replaces and is well attached it seems likely it might be okay. I look forward to seeing what you come up with.

Not sure I'll do anything with my minor sag, so long as it doesn't get worse. It's strong. Indeed I've tried pushing up on it and it doesn't seem to want to move so I'm cautious of trying to force it. A baluster isn't a bad idea if I do anything but I'm thinking of something more integral to the cabinet.