Welcome to RV Lifestyle & Repair’s first-ever Trailer Makeover! Join your host George Vondriska and the RVLR team as we transform a 1997 Salem Forest River 20’ trailer from dated to deluxe one room at a time! Follow along to see how we’ll tackle problem areas like the bunkhouse, dinette, and kitchen to maximize space, improve efficiency, and take this trailer into the 21st century. Get ready, and buckle up—you won’t want to miss a moment of this adventure.
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Part 10
Driving Neoprene Washer Screws
Part 11
Lippert Water Pump Installation
Part 12
Winegard Cell Phone Amplifier Install
Part 16
Painting the Cabinets
Part 17
Prefinishing And Installing Wainscoting
Removing floor in bathroom and bunk sidewall, all rotted due to roof and sidewall leaks. How do I locate roof leaks?
Hello Steve,
Thank you for contacting us.
What is the year, make, and model of your RV?
Thanks!
There are two holes in roof is there a way I can repair this myself? I also have water damage inside that I will need to repair but after roof is repaired. Thanks
Hello Tammy,
Thank you for contacting us.
What is the year, make, and model of your RV?
Thanks!
How do I remove the overhead cabinets? Are they attached to the ceiling thru the roof?
Hello!
If you look in the cabinet, you should see a “cleat” run along the top inside and sometimes on the edges of the cabinet. These cleats are secured to the ceiling with a couple of screws that go into the ceiling. They are also secured to the walls and cabinets next to them and often to the back wall. The lower panel of the cabinet often needs to be raised to expose another cleat and set of screws going into the back wall. The best way to raise this panel is in the corners and can sometimes be tough to remove. Once all of the screws at the perimeter are removed, the cabinet should come out.
Sincerely,DanRV Repair Club Technical Expert
Can’t seem to find any basic repair or replace sewer lines for black or grey water tanks. I just purchased my RV and it has a 6” crack in the black plastic drain pipe coming off of one of the grey water tanks.
Hi Perry. We don’t have any videos showing how to fix the sewer pipes at this time. If you have black sewer lines, they will be made of ABS. This is easy to replace. You just need to cut out the section that is damaged. This can be done using a hacksaw, wood saw, sawzaw or actual pipe cutter. Just try to make the cut as straight and clean as possible. You can then get couplers and new pipe to connect together. Cut and put everything in first to make sure it fits fine. You then remove the pipes and couplers and then apply ABS cement to each end. You don’t have much time after applying the glue and once the pieces are connected it dries in seconds so you have to move fast. Once it dries, you can then check for leaks. You can find the pieces needed at local hardware stores, these are common systems and typically don’t use anything special.
Dan
RV Repair Club
soggy floor. delaminating and became spongy. just a small amount of water rot but mostly the plywood and foam separating? any fix?
Hello,
We do have a video showing how to repair a damaged floor. I will share the link below. It depends on the extent of your damage but the best way is to peel back the covering, cut out the damaged area, install new subfloor and then put the covering back on. There could be other steps needed like adding more supports or something similar. It is best to replace subflooring in sections, from floor joist to joist. This way you get something solid to install the new flooring to. If you can’t or don’t want to replace a section that big, you might have to install new cross beams to create new supports. There are a lot of custom things that can be done based on what you are trying to do. The video should help give you a better idea.
https://www.rvrepairclub.com/video/repair-camper-floor-023868/
https://www.rvrepairclub.com/video/floor-sleeper-replacement-024387/
Sincerely, Dan RV Repair Club Technical Expert
I’m having a problem with the interior panel of the entry door cracking, can a video be done on repairing/replacing that and my compartment latches are not working properly and I can’t seem to adjust them to work properly.
Hi Gil. We don’t have a video on replacing the inside panel of the door at this time. These panels are typically laminated to the door when it is manufactured so it is really hard to remove one and replace with a new panel. It is best to fill in the cracks with something like bondo and paint over the panel. I have seen people use decorative panels and glue them on top of the existing panel as well. I have never seen one actually taken apart successfully and a new panel installed. It is best to try to repair it or cover it up. The only other option is to replace the door.
Dan
RV Repair Club
how change speed blower resistor?
Hi Jose.
Great question! The ‘Ask an Expert’ section is currently for members of our online community. By becoming a member, you will have access to our expert’s knowledge. With your membership you will also receive discounts on products and hundreds of hours of Premium content.
If you are interested in becoming a member, please click on the offer below:
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Sarah
RV Repair Club Video Membership
We have a slide in camper we are renovating. There is no water heater or electric water pump. We’re ok with no shower, but I’d like warm water from either the tank or from the RV park hookups. What should we consider when installing & using a tankless water heater for the sink? Any specific brands?
Hello Cyndi,
Here’s what the experts had to say about your question:
You just need to hook up the water heater in line with the cold line and then the output can have lines run to the hot fixtures. You also need to run a gas line and 12v power source to the heater. You can get some units with temperature switches but they aren’t necessary. The biggest problem with tankless heaters is they require a certain output before they kick on. If your faucet restricts the water flow too much you will have to open multiple faucets before the heater kicks on. If you hook it up and it doesn’t work, you might have to upgrade to a high flow faucet to use the heater. Most RV’s come equipped with a low flow to preserve water and this is where people run into issues when switching to a tankless heater. Usually just getting a high flow faucet fixes the issue if you run into this. Other than that, they are nice systems and I would recommend Girard as a good heater.
Sincerely,
Dan
RV Repair Club Technical Expert
I’m replacing the entire back outer wall do to water damage and i’m uncertain on the proper way to remove the large window section
Hello Timothy,
Here’s what the experts had to say about your question:
Most windows are held in place with a ring on the inside held in place with screws around the perimeter. Remove these screws from the bracket and the window should push out of the opening from the inside. Some window seals hold it in place well so often you need to scrape around the edges of the outside to loosen it up before it will come out. There are other windows glued into place like windshields but the most common are just secured with the bracket on the inside.
Sincerely,
Dan
RV Repair Club Technical Expert
Where can you purchase exterior trim and inside wall materials.
Coachman, Freelander, 2005
Most likely to get something that matches you would have to get it from the manufacture. Outside trim can sometimes be found at other dealerships and even online but the interior decor is often specific to that model and year. Sometimes they used the same color for a few years but they changed often and manufactures always had their own designs so most likely you won’t find it anywhere else other than the manufacture. If you want something new you can use whatever you want.
Dan
RV Repair Club
Hi Donald. Most likely to get something that matches you would have to get it from the manufacture. Outside trim can sometimes be found at other dealerships and even online but the interior decor is often specific to that model and year. Sometimes they used the same color for a few years but they changed often and manufactures always had their own designs so most likely you won’t find it anywhere else other than the manufacture. If you want something new you can use whatever you want.
Dan
RV Repair Club
I submitted this question to the website last week with no reply. I am advised to have anti-sway bars installed on our trailer but have no clue as to what I need. Brand? Size? Cost? Any info would be helpful.
Hello Dotti,
Thank you for contacting us.
What is the year, make, model of your RV?
Sincerely,
Sarah
RV Repair Club Video Membership
I would like to replace the existing cloth couch that is a sleeper bed; with a theater seating with cup holders. Is there somewhere where I can get a step by step process on this unit?
Hello Janet,
Thank you for contacting us.
We don’t have a step by step process anywhere but I can tell you the easiest way to do this. It is best to disassemble the couch you have now first before trying to remove. The bed frame usually comes apart at the hinge. Remove a few bolts and it should come apart. You then need to remove any mounting brackets, some use L brackets secured to the floor and some don’t use anything. You should be able to carry out the couch. For recliners, the backs usually come off for easier install. Take the bases in and then install the backs. You can secure the legs to the floor with screws if you want. If securing to a slide floor make sure the screws don’t go all of the way through the floor.
Sincerely,
Sarah
RV Repair Club Video Membership
what brand of putty tape and caulk did you use on the outside corner repair
Hello Richard,
This is for members to our online community. We do have a $3.21 USD annual entrance offer if you are interested? This would include access to expert advice (like this), plus discounts, hours of Premium videos, etc. Below is the link to join if you are interested: https://www.rvrepairclub.com/?add-to-cart-multi=1&products=79&skipcart=1&coupon=C30503&vscid=C30503&skipcart=318900
Sincerely,
Sarah
RV Repair Club Video Membership
Here’s the putty tape I used https://amzn.to/3msw80i
Furnace and pipes (ducts) unusable due to rodent damage and nests all thru . No idea where they come unless thru undercarriage . Can the furnace and vents and possibly undercarriage protection like boards across beams .
Hello TL,
Thank you for contacting us.
What is the year, make, and model of your RV?
If you have any other concerns, please contact us at 1-855-706-3536, or chat with us on our site.
We greatly appreciate your business!
Sincerely,
Sarah
RV Repair Club Video Membership
How do I remove the double recliners
Hello Lonnie,
Great question! The ‘Ask an Expert’ section is currently for members of our online community. By becoming a member, you will have access to our expert’s knowledge. With your membership you will also receive discounts on products and hours of Premium video content.
If you are interested in becoming a member, please click on the special offer below:
https://go.rvrepairclub.com/a19774/
Thanks!