I have a 1993 Rockwood purchased at auction for $600.Have put about that much in it already.Purchased clutch and ratchet pawl from Forest River( GREAT people to work with)and finally got the top to stay up after replacing all sideboards and wood support around entire roof) used 3/4" BC for side walls and pressure treated 2x2 cut to size for brace.Thought that I was well on my way to the camp site when I tried flushing the water tank and it gushes out of the tank!!The door does not fit and will not open(if it ever did)!Need some adjustments to the sidewall it looks like.The canvas needs replacing but at $800 for a replacement canvas might have to patch or use a tarp!At this point in time so frustrated with the pop up thinking of scrapping all ideas of camping and letting it be a playhouse for my little girl!!!!!
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
PROBLEMS !!!!!!
- Thread starter gwself
- Start date
charles claxton
Active Member
- Apr 6, 2008
- 135
DON'T GIVE UP!!!!!!!!!!Just walk away for while and calm down!! Make a list of the items you need to adress from most important to least important and handle one at a time and befor you know it you'll be in a camp site having a blast!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You should have seen the shape ours was in when i got it home the DW looked at me like i fell and bumped my head realy hard!!LOL!!
70,Me
69,Tammy
84, Cindy
88, Samantha
91, Matt
01, Noah
02, Ally
84, Viking SG22
92, F150
02, Venture Van
70,Me
69,Tammy
84, Cindy
88, Samantha
91, Matt
01, Noah
02, Ally
84, Viking SG22
92, F150
02, Venture Van
chkster
Active Member
here is a inspirational story from this forum
Get some inspiration from this gals story.... all is not lost...<img src=../Images/icons/icon_smile_hardhat.gif border=0 align=middle alt="Major Mods">
Welcome to California...now go home!
Chkster ('58) SIGMA NU
Hapekampr ('69)
Larry... (Terrier/Poodle mix)
Mo...... (Pembroke Corgi)
Curly...(Bichon Frise)
2004 Coachmen Clipper Classic 1070ST (RV WN2B)
2005 GMC Sierra 1500, 5.3L, 3.73 (CHKSTER)
2002 Honda CRV (1HPCMPR) a non-TV
Get some inspiration from this gals story.... all is not lost...<img src=../Images/icons/icon_smile_hardhat.gif border=0 align=middle alt="Major Mods">
Welcome to California...now go home!
Chkster ('58) SIGMA NU
Hapekampr ('69)
Larry... (Terrier/Poodle mix)
Mo...... (Pembroke Corgi)
Curly...(Bichon Frise)
2004 Coachmen Clipper Classic 1070ST (RV WN2B)
2005 GMC Sierra 1500, 5.3L, 3.73 (CHKSTER)
2002 Honda CRV (1HPCMPR) a non-TV
Wannafishmore
Active Member
- Sep 23, 2007
- 151
Yes, chkster, that is an inspirational story. It's the story of America. (inspirational music here) How those who want and need something, can attain and achieve it by hard work and sweat equity.
All kidding aside. We have all been there. I couldn't afford a brand new pup, so I bought what I could afford. We put in our sweat equity, new countertops, floor, refrigerator, paint, tires, wheel bearings.......and the list goes on, next year a new canvas.
Just take a deep breath and deal with each issue as it comes up. Do you really need the water tank your first trip out? Heck, I tore mine out. Lots of extras space for storage in my opinion.
You've already fixed as I see it one of the most complicated things that can go wrong with the pup, the roof and the lift system. Everything from here on should be a piece of cake.
I have to hand it to LadyE,CindyF and PGeer, all WOMEN who wanted pups and who are suffering through all these obstacles to have a nice little pup to take their families camping in. You go Girls!!!
Key is Don't Give Up!
1991 Starcraft Starflyer
2001 Nissan Xterra
portabote
Days camped in 2007 4
Days camped in 2008 8
"Nobody notices what I do until I don't do it"
Edited by - Wannafishmore on May 09 2008 21:25:25
All kidding aside. We have all been there. I couldn't afford a brand new pup, so I bought what I could afford. We put in our sweat equity, new countertops, floor, refrigerator, paint, tires, wheel bearings.......and the list goes on, next year a new canvas.
Just take a deep breath and deal with each issue as it comes up. Do you really need the water tank your first trip out? Heck, I tore mine out. Lots of extras space for storage in my opinion.
You've already fixed as I see it one of the most complicated things that can go wrong with the pup, the roof and the lift system. Everything from here on should be a piece of cake.
I have to hand it to LadyE,CindyF and PGeer, all WOMEN who wanted pups and who are suffering through all these obstacles to have a nice little pup to take their families camping in. You go Girls!!!
Key is Don't Give Up!
1991 Starcraft Starflyer
2001 Nissan Xterra
portabote
Days camped in 2007 4
Days camped in 2008 8
"Nobody notices what I do until I don't do it"
Edited by - Wannafishmore on May 09 2008 21:25:25
Definitely don't give. I am in the same shape you're in. I got my pup for $400 and was all set to start the remodel when snap, snap & snap - three cables busted. I am waiting for my last shipment of lift cables and I am going to jump into my upgrades. Show your pup who's the boss!
scoutermom
Active Member
- Mar 27, 2007
- 284
Hey, I did the same thing last year - bought a $400, 35 yr old starcraft and replace the entire lift system and some rotted wood just to get it camping last summer.
It worked great last year, and this spring I've been working on the INSIDE - new floor and painting/ updating the cabinets and a bunch of other little things.
One of the big benefits of rebuilding a PUP yourself is the satisfaction of doing it, and the fact that you learn all there is to know about YOUR camper. You will never (well, almost never! LOL!) be surprised by an unexpected repair and if something breaks on a campout, it won't spoil the campout for you.
These vintage PUP's become like pets or members of the family. Because so much of ourselves get poured into them, they take on a life and personality of their own.
This is my 2nd time around restoring an old camper - and if I had to do it over again, I'd still get the 'fixer-upper' .
My first camper always had a tarp over it - turns out the canvas was fine - but the tarp kept water from 'seeping' (a problem with touching canvas when it's wet) and also provided extra shade.
Don't give up - look at some of the great remodels out there - there's some really nicely done ones!
Laura
1973 Starcraft starmaster 6 - a work in progress - http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/558473066XXMupb
It worked great last year, and this spring I've been working on the INSIDE - new floor and painting/ updating the cabinets and a bunch of other little things.
One of the big benefits of rebuilding a PUP yourself is the satisfaction of doing it, and the fact that you learn all there is to know about YOUR camper. You will never (well, almost never! LOL!) be surprised by an unexpected repair and if something breaks on a campout, it won't spoil the campout for you.
These vintage PUP's become like pets or members of the family. Because so much of ourselves get poured into them, they take on a life and personality of their own.
This is my 2nd time around restoring an old camper - and if I had to do it over again, I'd still get the 'fixer-upper' .
My first camper always had a tarp over it - turns out the canvas was fine - but the tarp kept water from 'seeping' (a problem with touching canvas when it's wet) and also provided extra shade.
Don't give up - look at some of the great remodels out there - there's some really nicely done ones!
Laura
1973 Starcraft starmaster 6 - a work in progress - http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/558473066XXMupb
charles claxton
Active Member
- Apr 6, 2008
- 135
I took our water storage tank out for more storage also!!LOTS OF ROOM NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!
70,Me
69,Tammy
84, Cindy
88, Samantha
91, Matt
01, Noah
02, Ally
84, Viking SG22
92, F150
02, Venture Van
70,Me
69,Tammy
84, Cindy
88, Samantha
91, Matt
01, Noah
02, Ally
84, Viking SG22
92, F150
02, Venture Van
Xolthrax
Franconia, Pa.
Based on your description of the lift system, it sounds like you have a Signature or XL series (I have a Signature). That probably means that your tank is under the floor, so ripping it out won't gain you anything. If that's the case, you have a few options: First, replace it. It's held in place by a few metal brackets. It's easy enough to remove & replace. Second, if the tank is cracked, pull it out and patch it with fiberglass.
If by "gushing out" you mean that the water is coming gushing out of the fill spout, mine does that, too. I have to put the fill hose (I cut the end off of a drinking water supply hose) about 18" down the tube to get past the check valve, otherwise it just doesn't seem to want to fill.
If your tank is OK, maybe it's your hoses. They're also easy to replace. If I recall, the openings are 3/8". You can get a threaded hose barb and NSF approved supply hose at a hardware store. I just replaced my lines when I installed a pump.
If I can be of any help, let me know.
Joe
<img src=../Images/icons/icon_smile_pu.gif border=0 align=middle alt="PopUp">'96 Rockwood Signature Series 1280
<img src=../Images/icons/icon_smile_suv.gif border=0 align=middle alt="Tow Vehicle">'07 Ford Explorer
<i>Wherever you go, there you are.</i>
If by "gushing out" you mean that the water is coming gushing out of the fill spout, mine does that, too. I have to put the fill hose (I cut the end off of a drinking water supply hose) about 18" down the tube to get past the check valve, otherwise it just doesn't seem to want to fill.
If your tank is OK, maybe it's your hoses. They're also easy to replace. If I recall, the openings are 3/8". You can get a threaded hose barb and NSF approved supply hose at a hardware store. I just replaced my lines when I installed a pump.
If I can be of any help, let me know.
Joe
<img src=../Images/icons/icon_smile_pu.gif border=0 align=middle alt="PopUp">'96 Rockwood Signature Series 1280
<img src=../Images/icons/icon_smile_suv.gif border=0 align=middle alt="Tow Vehicle">'07 Ford Explorer
<i>Wherever you go, there you are.</i>
Was hoping to go camping in it this summer.It is a Rockwood XL , since my carpenter skills is limited I think the problem with the upper half of the door not fitting right on the lower half and not openeing up at all because of the side boards in the way is my fault in cutting.
I ran a few ideas with my better half as to what to do next
1)Plan on reusing the canvas and patching any holes in them,a lot cheaper than new canvas and easier to use than tarps
2)Since the windows don't fit exactly right at top and top half of the door is unusable( my fault I think)I plan on using screen mesh to cover any gaps attaching with velcro,my wife's eyes rolled on this one!!
3)Water tank is under floor ,will look at it to see if there is a hole or crack that can be repaired with marine putty
4)The cabinets and interior is in excellant shape(thank God)and the bunk bed cushions and boards are in good shape.
5)Since I am using 3/4" BC plywood instead of the original 5/8" the side walls would not fit on the thicker plywood,used flasking at seams on top halfway down the plywood.Plan on painting white
I am glad to know that I am not the only one that has had to upgrade or repair a pup.Thanks to all on this forum that has giving me advice or who to contact to order parts.I know that I will have many more questions in the future and know where to go to get the right answers!!!
I ran a few ideas with my better half as to what to do next
1)Plan on reusing the canvas and patching any holes in them,a lot cheaper than new canvas and easier to use than tarps
2)Since the windows don't fit exactly right at top and top half of the door is unusable( my fault I think)I plan on using screen mesh to cover any gaps attaching with velcro,my wife's eyes rolled on this one!!
3)Water tank is under floor ,will look at it to see if there is a hole or crack that can be repaired with marine putty
4)The cabinets and interior is in excellant shape(thank God)and the bunk bed cushions and boards are in good shape.
5)Since I am using 3/4" BC plywood instead of the original 5/8" the side walls would not fit on the thicker plywood,used flasking at seams on top halfway down the plywood.Plan on painting white
I am glad to know that I am not the only one that has had to upgrade or repair a pup.Thanks to all on this forum that has giving me advice or who to contact to order parts.I know that I will have many more questions in the future and know where to go to get the right answers!!!
