Water damage +

[Patricia D.]

I have finally gutted my Ventura trailer and now know the extent of the repairs needed.
There is severe water damage in 3 of the 4 corners to the point that parts of the framing are black and has disintegrated. see pic below
The framing above the small window is the same.
The floor in the rear on both sides is not attached to anything and sinks down about 3/4" with weight.
There are numerous holes and weak spots in the fiberglass, especially in the front, that are also letting water in.
The roof is full of pinholes and some larger holes (and is covered in tar which does not stop the rain)
I assume that the damage in the corners is due to a leaking belly band. To fix this do I need to remove the top? (The plywood behind the framing in the belly band is black and rotten in places so needs to be replaced.)
Does anyone know how much the top without the windows weighs, more or less?
The good news is that the trailer smells a lot better and I am on my way to my new really tiny home.
Any suggestions or hints would be most appreciated.

[Bruce Thomas]

I'll guess the Windows leaked more than that belly band. Either way it's fixable. Not sure how they secured the wood but get it out and add new. I'd glass em in those corners maybe. You're doing well.

[LindaandPat]

Originally Posted by Patricia D.

I have finally gutted my Ventura trailer and now know the extent of the repairs needed.
There is severe water damage in 3 of the 4 corners to the point that parts of the framing are black and has disintegrated. see pic below
The framing above the small window is the same.
The floor in the rear on both sides is not attached to anything and sinks down about 3/4" with weight.
There are numerous holes and weak spots in the fiberglass, especially in the front, that are also letting water in.
The roof is full of pinholes and some larger holes (and is covered in tar which does not stop the rain)
I assume that the damage in the corners is due to a leaking belly band. To fix this do I need to remove the top? (The plywood behind the framing in the belly band is black and rotten in places so needs to be replaced.)
Does anyone know how much the top without the windows weighs, more or less?
The good news is that the trailer smells a lot better and I am on my way to my new really tiny home.
Any suggestions or hints would be most appreciated.

Please be wearing a mask and not breathing the mold . All the moldy wood needs to be removed . Pat

[k corbin]

It seems unlikely that the belly band would be the cause of leaks.

The windows are the most likely cause, water obeys the law of gravity but will spread sideways when it hits a diversionary path until it once again goes on down if it there is still a sufficient amount of flow.

[Patricia D.]

Pat, Thanks for your concern, I am wearing protection. The wood is dry at this point. All in all the trailer smells a lot better now that I have cleared out most of the smelly bits.

Re: water damage: I took off the belly band and the corners of the trailer have separated as much as 1/4" and some of the fiberglass is damaged. The wood that the screws holding the top and bottom have come out of their holes in the rotted wood, causing the separation. I am going to try to replace the wood without taking the top of the trailer right off.

[LindaandPat]

Originally Posted by Patricia D.

Pat, Thanks for your concern, I am wearing protection. The wood is dry at this point. All in all the trailer smells a lot better now that I have cleared out most of the smelly bits.

Re: water damage: I took off the belly band and the corners of the trailer have separated as much as 1/4" and some of the fiberglass is damaged. The wood that the screws holding the top and bottom have come out of their holes in the rotted wood, causing the separation. I am going to try to replace the wood without taking the top of the trailer right off.

Lot's of work , but in the end great satisfaction for doing this yourself . Glad you have protection . If I was younger I would also attempt doing this myself . Now I just do mods to my trailer . I envy you . Post your progress , love to see how it's coming along . Pat