Re: Bulkhead failure years and Torque Test
Reply #26 –
The most common source of water in the basement structure, the rear most part is the box beam of the rear bulkhead is LEAKS IN THE WET BAY.
Another is around the drop down door for the sewer connection.
Another is water migrating in around the heads of the Rolocks (they are serrated, so there is a "stand off" that allows water in. This one is easily preventable by masking off the heads of the Rolocks and spraying regular automotive undercoating on the angle beam in the area where the Rolock go through.
Because the basement floor is one solid layer of FG top and bottom with only penetrations to attach for forward and rear bulkhead and the vertical basement compartment transverse walls, in many cases, one does NOT see water or rust trails from the saturated sandwich.
Personal experience-- Several years ago Dianne and I drove from TX to central FL for an agreed on deal on a beautiful 2001 U270-- yes "subject to inspection". Interior and exterior were beautiful-- it was one of the FMCA Convention show coaches that year. As I always do, I started on the roof and work my way to "under the belly". All was fine, just some very minor things needed until I went under to inspect the rear bulkhead. Because there were some plugs in the FG of the bulkhead area, someone had done a bulkhead repair (replacing Rolocks with through bolts). I popped one of the plugs and got a bath of rusty water. Stuck my finger in and removed a silver dollar sized rust flake from the bulkhead box beam. I am quite certain that I could have taken a screwdriver and put it right through the box beam. Cause of this extensive damage-- a $.05 washer where city water connected to the coach. It had been leaking long enough that there was a mineral stalactite hanging from the connection. Got back in our car and drove back to Texas.
Topic: Bulkhead failure years and Torque Test