Sagging cabinets

[Riverboy]

Fairly new guy here with a 1981 17 ft Bigfoot deluxe. Certainly enjoying this forum of Bigfoot owners who appear to be fearless in updating and making big changes on their Bigfoots. So good to see!
I am wading into the process by starting with replacing the ceiling insulation and straightening out the sagging roof. All new foam board with one side stiffened with a layer of fibreglass cloth and epoxy resin. When cured a thickened layer of resin applied as the adhesive and placed in position on the ceiling (roof). All is in place now and curing with supports all over the holding the foam board in place. I see the front cabinets have sagged little also, so I am looking for a reference to their returned position.
Could one of the group please let me know the distance between the top of the front window and the bottom of your cabinets, if you have an 1981 17 ft who have their cabinets in the original or repaired position. Will post pics of my endeavours as they slowly unfold. With thanks!

[Riverboy]

Riverboy, it appears no one has this info to share. Do not be dismayed, you will just have to go ahead and figure it out for yourself. You must learn to contribute before you can expect assistance from others. Just promise to do your best in the future and share any info you may have learned re the Littlefoot with this forum! With thanks!

[computerspook]

Originally Posted by Riverboy

Riverboy, it appears no one has this info to share. Do not be dismayed, you will just have to go ahead and figure it out for yourself. You must learn to contribute before you can expect assistance from others. Just promise to do your best in the future and share any info you may have learned re the Littlefoot with this forum! With thanks!

Maybe we are not sure what you are asking. This is a very opinionated ;-) and active group. Them fact there are no replies may have more to do with people not being sure what you are talking about and asking. And this is an area where the saying a picture is worth a thousand words is an understatement. In many cases here a picture is worth 10,000 words ;-) ;-) maybe you can get the information by putting about 40,000 words or so in here ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-)


Now I am a scamp owner but have round that fiberglass campers are a lot a like. I know that with scamps there have been several discussions about the support of the upper cabinets. And a few people have made the mistake of removing the supports. Then the upper cabinets like sag down and make everything yucky. Here is a thread with a "few thousand words" ;-) that might help you



https://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/...ort-92707.html

[Mark Bradley]

I also have a 81 17" Bigfoot that I purchased a number of years ago. And due to the poor design of the ceiling it has also sagged. I have repaired the sag and brought the ceiling up to where it should be. I have posted a link on Fiberglass RV from detailing the repair that I made. I just have to find it.

[Mark Bradley]

A little more info for you. My Bigfoot is in storage right now and I won't have it available until the first week of May. I will have the measurement between the cabinet and counter and any other information that you want then.

[EllPea in CA]

My Bigfoot is a 1988 Lil Bigfoot, so I don’t have measurements for you. But my rear cabinet was sagging drastically on one side.

In my trailer, there were wooden blocks/cleats fiberglassed to the shell inside the cabinet. The bottom frame of the cabinet is screwed into these cleats. (This is one of many things I like about the Bigfoot line… NO RIVETS going through the outside shell.) In my case, the screws had completely missed the cleat on that side.

It took some powerhouse methods from the bottom to get the cabinet up to the proper level, and then we were able to screw it in securely.

Perhaps check inside your cabinet (there may be a false bottom you can remove from inside to get a better look) to see if you have helpful cleats you can reattach to? Rather than measurements you might merely be seeking a level cabinet.

You are lucky on that score, as your 17 is much less ROUND than my 13. There is no real LEVEL inside this trailer, we just do the best we can.

Somewhere in this forum there are my photos of of the sagging cabinet… and I think some descriptions of what we did, if that might help.

Since you have been working on your roof, you may have encountered cone-shaped nipple looking things sealed with some material… I have at least four of these up there but there may be six. It’s been a while since I looked at them. These are some kind of through the shell attachment for the cabinets below. Not rivets… something more robust. Not pretty, but water tight and secure so far.

Let us know how you go!

[Riverboy]

This is my second attempt to respond to the gentlemen who shared their thoughts on the wayward cabinets. The first responce went into outer space at the touch of the send button...so will try again.
Thank you Mark spook and Ellpea. I have managed to return them to their appropriate position with finding the support strips in the shell and changing the screw pattern to miss the old hole. Also supporting strips around the perimeter of the ceiling (like reverse base boards). replaced the ceiling with a little heavier plywood glued onto the new 1 inch foam boards with apoxy resin and cloth to stiffen the whole structure.I don't have anything showing on the roof Ellpea in the way of support "cone shaped nipples" Just thin fibreglass. I jacked the cabinets over the front window until they were level then re-screwd them and glued and screwed 1x2" full length support under the cabinets. Got new windows on order and a now installing new trim around all the cabinet doors and repainting all exposed wood bench seats, couch, walls ceiling etc. My wife is doing a beautiful job of covering the cushions with new fabric.
I am a long time wood turner and carver and owned and operated a commercial fishing troller for years so I am familiar with understanding the ways of the wood.......but still arrive at "I don't appear to know what I am doing" but somehow keep on enjoying the process.

[computerspook]

Originally Posted by Riverboy

I am a long time wood turner and carver and owned and operated a commercial fishing troller for years so I am familiar with understanding the ways of the wood.......but still arrive at "I don't appear to know what I am doing" but somehow keep on enjoying the process.

Realizing what it is that you don't know is one of the most important parts of knowing. If you don't know what you don't know then it doesn't matter what you know, you really know nothing.

[Riverboy]

Originally Posted by computerspook

Realizing what it is that you don't know is one of the most important parts of knowing. If you don't know what you don't know then it doesn't matter what you know, you really know nothing.

Now I know why you have the spook in your user name. How did you possibly get so profound. Thanks for sharing the dilemma of my "attempting to realize what I don't know".

[computerspook]

Originally Posted by Riverboy

Now I know why you have the spook in your user name. How did you possibly get so profound. Thanks for sharing the dilemma of my "attempting to realize what I don't know".

Easy my grandpa Ray Onslow Stevens.


He also used to like to point out many other things. Some others


A good idea done badly is a bad idea


Actually if a cat sits on a hot stove it will in fact sit on another one. It just won't sit on that one again. Make sure you learn the right lesson.

[EllPea in CA]

Riverboy, We barely know what we are doing, but keep doggedly proceeding. You are lucky in that you have a double shell, I believe? My 13.5 is a single shell with carpet over the (probably 1/2”) foam insulation. Therefore, not enough structure to screw the cabinet to the ceiling… hence the kind of robust nipple up top. At least not a rivet!

Which windows are you replacing, and where are you getting them? We have replaced the plexi in front and back windows, but have kept the clamp ring frames. The plan is to refurbish the side windows sometime this year, as they barely function. Sunview Industries has been very helpful in sending advice via email to get us through that project, along with shipping the new gaskets we needed.

[Riverboy]

Ellpea, thanks fo the responce. I am replacing 4 side sliding windows and keeping the front and back. I have ordered black windows with bronze shading through Sun View. Will match the front and back frames with black aluminium paint and bronze window film and new rubber inserts for the glass.....which I found on line. Rebuilt the front window cover by cutting 1 inch pink foam board to fit and glued in place then caulking perimeter and any voids, followed by light paint colour and new ss piano hinge, resulting in a stiffer cover but sill very light. Gas spring struts to raise and hold in position. Still installing the plywood ceiling One piece at a time. Was told to use Lepages lp 300 adhesive for foam board and panelling....had issues with stickability so have gone to my long time stand by "No More Nails" and have great results. It also works great as a caulking when glueing and filling are needed and is paintable. Ok that is enough for this manuscript....but will stay in touch.

[EllPea in CA]

It sounds like you have already ordered windows. I did look into that, but the cost of shipping was just too much. You might find this YouTube channel helpful… he’s doing SO many helpful videos on restoring his BF19. This one has info I’ll definitely refer to when restoring my side windows.

https://youtu.be/lcDbr3CZDUI?si=yiS67fofjke7Bsy-