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Topic: Bulkhead repair recommendations. (Read 1167 times) previous topic - next topic

Bulkhead repair recommendations.

Not exactly a "new" topic - sorry.  I've read about a dozen pages of responses on this topic and am trying to boil it down a bit with regard to "who" and "how much".  I've seen MOT and Thomas Welding and someone else recommended Old Town, all located in the Nacogdoches area.  I will have to have work done on my coach, hopefully this fall, and am looking for recommendations and am trying to get an idea of what to budget.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Sven
2000 U320 mid entry  #5688
2006 Jeep Liberty


USMCR retired
SDFD retired
FEMA US&R TF8

Re: Bulkhead repair recommendations.

Reply #1 –
Sven,

Without knowing the extend of the damage, estimating is virtually impossible. 

Could range from a couple of hundred dollars to a high of $30,000 another forum member experienced where the entire basement structure was compromised and had to be replaced.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Bulkhead repair recommendations.

Reply #2 –
Quote from: Sven and Kristi –
Not exactly a "new" topic - sorry.  I've read about a dozen pages of responses on this topic and am trying to boil it down a bit with regard to "who" and "how much".  I've seen MOT and Thomas Welding and someone else recommended Old Town, all located in the Nacogdoches area.  I will have to have work done on my coach, hopefully this fall, and am looking for recommendations and am trying to get an idea of what to budget.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Sven
I seems like there are a lot of bulkhead/subframe problem variations. Some from driving on salt treated roads and some because of a water leak. Without the ability to pull off sections of the underbelly, it hard to know or estimate how extensive the damage is. Ours was clean looking but anytime a coach is driven in the rain even without salt, the water seeps behind the big angle iron and starts the rust jacking process. We had several broken bolts and rust behind the angle iron but the tubing was OK. I put a borescope inside the tubing but just guessing about the rest of it. After you do make a decision on who will do the repair, you won't know the extent of the damage until the rectangular tubing is exposed. Seems like things always cost more than expected but never less. Frustrating!

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Bulkhead repair recommendations.

Reply #3 –
I understand the issues with what might be a problem and that the cost is dependent on the extent of damage.  MOT gave me a rough estimate of $5-10k.  I'm not sure what the relationship between MOT and Foretravel (which also has a service department), but MOT doesn't look too impressive on Google Earth.
2000 U320 mid entry  #5688
2006 Jeep Liberty


USMCR retired
SDFD retired
FEMA US&R TF8

Re: Bulkhead repair recommendations.

Reply #4 –
If you explore your area, you may find a welding shop that can do an excellent job without the time and expense of driving thousands of miles to get the job done. Good welders can also be excellent craftsmen and with drawings and photos in hand, let you know if it's within their ability. I would ask custom hot rod shops who they use. These specialty restoration people know the latest in welding, painting, rustproofing, etc. You only have to go to a "cruise night" to appreciate the level of quality these people can do.

If you do drive a long distance to have the work done, you also have the expense of a round trip flight plus not being able to follow the progress as the repair is done.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Bulkhead repair recommendations.

Reply #5 –
Sven I would give the RV shop n Temecula a call.  They may not do it but steer you in the right direction.  I can't recall their name but seem to be highly regarded.  With all the heavy equipment in the LA area, there should be a shop that could do this work. 

When you look at MOT by sat make sure you look across the highway to their expansion area.
George and Steph
1997 U270 36 Build 5081 "Honu"
1180w Solar 400A lithium all Victron house system
Motorcade 17670, SKP 128300, FMCA F459019
73 VW Camper, 79 VW Camper, 2363 Sunline, and an Arctic Fox 25P

Re: Bulkhead repair recommendations.

Reply #6 –
Temecula Valley RV
Richard & Betty Bark & Keiko our Golden Doodle
2003 U320T 3820 PBDS
Build # 6215
MC # 16926
2016 Chevrolet Colorado 4X4 diesel

Re: Bulkhead repair recommendations.

Reply #7 –
This Bulkhead issue is getting to sound like a money maker for the shops that are willing to do it.
I shake my head at the possible cost of up to 30k for what is more a tedious remove and replace of various systems and wiring and some tubing and welding.. Copying the frame and making a new one should not be a 2nd mortgage for some but is starting to look like it.
Wish I had my younger body back as I would love to jump in  and with my neighbour welders help  this would be a nice side line for sure, and a finacially good one by the sound of it!
JohnH
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: Bulkhead repair recommendations.

Reply #8 –
John,

DO IT.

A new cottage industry.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Bulkhead repair recommendations.

Reply #9 –
30 k is a boatload of man hours, maybe they are doing the new frames in stainless.
Old Phart Phred, EIEIO
89 GV ored 36' #3405 300 hp cat 3208 ATAAC side radiator, mountain tamer exhaust brake

Re: Bulkhead repair recommendations.

Reply #10 –
Quote from: rbark –
Temecula Valley RV
I called Temecula (where I also got an estimate for repairing wheel well after tire incident) and asked about bulkhead repair.  The rep I talked to had no idea of what I was referring to.  They could spend a lot more time on the job, since they had not done this before, while charging me the same rate.  There is no question that they would do a good job in the end.
We had planned on going to Nacogdoches for the "ladies" driving course at the end of October, so there would be a double purpose in making the trip.

2000 U320 mid entry  #5688
2006 Jeep Liberty


USMCR retired
SDFD retired
FEMA US&R TF8

Re: Bulkhead repair recommendations.

Reply #11 –
Quote from: John Haygarth –
This Bulkhead issue is getting to sound like a money maker for the shops that are willing to do it.
I shake my head at the possible cost of up to 30k for what is more a tedious remove and replace of various systems and wiring and some tubing and welding.. Copying the frame and making a new one should not be a 2nd mortgage for some but is starting to look like it.
Wish I had my younger body back as I would love to jump in  and with my neighbour welders help  this would be a nice side line for sure, and a finacially good one by the sound of it!
JohnH
If I had a shop, I'd learn how to weld, just to do this job.  I will not pay that kind of money.
2000 U320 mid entry  #5688
2006 Jeep Liberty


USMCR retired
SDFD retired
FEMA US&R TF8

Re: Bulkhead repair recommendations.

Reply #12 –
         Something that is not generally  known  is that the bulkhead repair work done at Foretravel all these years was done by    Wayne  , who is now at Old Town .  I didn't realize that until I spoke to Lance . Believe that is where I would head to . Brad Metzger
Brad Metzger
2010 Phenix 45'

Re: Bulkhead repair recommendations.

Reply #13 –
Brett, you know what, I would love to do it but at moment I am so busy renovating a modular, putting a kitchen in for neighbour and a wait list for others to finish work I started months ago. I was wondering why my back and shoulders would not mend after fall 3 months ago but all the crawling around etc is slowly doing me in.
JohnH
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: Bulkhead repair recommendations.

Reply #14 –
If you are near Colorado and need a repair please send me a message.
1998 36' U295 Mechanical 8.3

Re: Bulkhead repair recommendations.

Reply #15 –
Quote from: John Haygarth –
This Bulkhead issue is getting to sound like a money maker for the shops that are willing to do it.
I shake my head at the possible cost of up to 30k for what is more a tedious remove and replace of various systems and wiring and some tubing and welding.. Copying the frame and making a new one should not be a 2nd mortgage for some but is starting to look like it.
Wish I had my younger body back as I would love to jump in  and with my neighbour welders help  this would be a nice side line for sure, and a finacially good one by the sound of it!
JohnH

What always strikes me about these bulkhead jobs is why the original  piecemeal framing is faithfully duplicated.  Build a reasonable frame out of fewer, heavier members, have it hot dipped galvanized or epoxy painted, fill voids with structural foam (corecell or airex), vacuum bag glass top and bottom, install.  Might even be possible to largely eliminate the steel is someone had the capable  of  running FEA on it.  Make a production item out of it.

30K for this job is absurd...  John is right in that a competent tradesman can see it for what it is....not relying on fear of uneducated owners to price a repair.  This predatory pricing makes me sick.
"Not so  long ago we were a nation of risk takers, riding five million pounds of  thrust straight into space."  Joe Gresh
Chuck Pearson
1996 U295
2018 Can Am X3 TurboRS