Question:
I have an old Starcraft Pop-Up camper. In general - it is in great
shape, and was never used that much (although I am the 4th owner).
The top has a design defect, where the seal actually allowed water in
behind it, causing the wood of the upper box to rot out over time.
Does anyone have any advice on how to remove the top and replace the
wood?
Answer:
I also have a old Starcraft Pop-up camper (1973) which has meet
with a very similar fate. Most of the rear section of top had rotted
out and turned into a mushroom farm. I knew it was in bad shape due
the screws falling out that secure the aluminum channel to the top and
pretty soon the canvas was not going to stay up and come down. Anyway
the replacement of the wood was expedited by the breaking of the one
of the cables in the lift mechanism. I removed the roof and placed it
lenghtways on its side (have only a two car garage and very little
room :(. I removed the aluminum weatherstrip channel around the bottom
and aluminum molding that goes along the top and down the ends. I then
carefully peeled back the aluminum skin on the rear portion. I had to
due this to remove the portion of wood that was still somewhat intact
and besides I needed it folded back enough that I could screw in the
new piece of plywood to the roof frame. Part of one side in the area
of that attaches to the lift post was also rotted so I removed the
entire piece and grafted in a short piece of CDX plywood. I would have
replaced the entire section but it was one solid piece 10ft in lenght.
I plan on using a elastometric roof patch made by STA-KOOL that I
picked up at HOME DEPOT to seal the roof. I am also going to replace
all the putty tape (I believe it's also called butyl tape) everywhere
it's used. With luck it should last another 20 or so years :-). Hope
this info helps and good luck.
