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  1. #1
    Seasoned Camper
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    Resurrecting a Damaged 317

    I'm starting a thread here due to interest in my project. I bought a roof damaged 2015 317 after coming across one in an auction. This was after almost buying one for used retail value the week before. I decided on this model after not wanted to spend big money on a new 320, so here I am. I will update with pictures as I do the work, and so far have done a lot of troubleshooting and such, as well as emptying 3 almost full holding tanks of not my waste.

    This rig appears to have been a members from Georgia that was crashed or had a tree fall on it in PA or NY judging by some evidence I came upon in the trailer. 10 or so of the roof rafters had snapped in places, but the body is in almost perfect condition save a dent in the skirting near the door.

    I have been fixing campers as a hobby for about 5 years and will be keeping this one for us to use.

    Updates to follow soon.
    Andrew in the Burgh
    2015 Reflection 317RST...Auction Rebuild

    See Thread Here:
    https://www.mygrandrv.com/fo...795#post145795

    2016 F350 CCLB DRW 6.7

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  2. #2
    King Pin
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    Looking forward to your updates.

    Jim

  3. #3
    Site Sponsor
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    Kerrville, TX RV parks through April 2020
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    Especially the pictures. Courageous!
    AKA Steve and Lynne
    Storm the Black Lab
    Reflection 337 RLS vin 573FR3628E3300393
    2008 Dodge Ram 2500 Quad Cab Longbox
    6.7 Cummins, 68 RFE transmission
    B and W Companion, Air Lifts

  4. #4
    Big Traveler
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    I think dumping a few waste tankers is the least of your worries. I look forward to seeing your progress....

    Jim
    2017 F350 Bronze Fire XLT short bed SuperCab, SRW power stroke Diesel, 3.31 rear end, 18" AT tires
    Demco hijacker autoslide hitch
    2018 303RLS VIN#: 573FR3329J3313328. Built 4/2017. Dual AC's, freestanding table/chairs
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  5. #5
    Long Hauler
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    May 2014
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    I assume it came with a salvage title for being a total loss? Have you looked into Pennsylvania regulations about getting rebuilt title?

    You will probably want to check with PENNDOT to see what hoops you'll have to jump through to get the proper title. I assume you will need to take pictures of your repairs as you make them. And you should keep all receipts of parts and supplies used. After repairs are completed, you will probably need to get the trailer insured and take the trailer to a PENNDOT inspection station where they will give a release so the new title can be issued.

    This is all required to minimize the existence of chop shops.

    In my state, individuals cannot rebuild wrecked vehicles. Body shops can only rebuild total wrecks if they have a special rebuilder license which very few have.

    Other states require complete documentation, pictures and serial numbers in receipts of any used parts used to rebuild vehicles. They make it hard to rebuild vehicles and EVe legally.

    What is so bad is that insurance companies are often too quick to total a RV (or cars/trucks) when they are often easily fixed. I have seen cars totaled out for just a bumper cover.

  6. #6
    Seasoned Camper
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    Yes I'm aware of the procedures and regulations. You'd have to be pretty dumb to buy something like this without knowing the possibilities and potential outcomes.

    RVs get totalled out because they are overpriced, slapped together, brad nail and stapled vehicles that that are almost never properly maintained. And they are put together in a process that is makes it difficult to reverse the assembly.

    There really is nothing to these things.
    Andrew in the Burgh
    2015 Reflection 317RST...Auction Rebuild

    See Thread Here:
    https://www.mygrandrv.com/fo...795#post145795

    2016 F350 CCLB DRW 6.7

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  7. #7
    Site Sponsor Cate&Rob's Avatar
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    Agpopp - I'm another one who is really looking forward to your pictures and descriptions of the resurrection. Not likely anything that we can assist with, but if you think of anything, just ask.

    Rob
    Cate & Rob
    2015 Reflection 303RLS

  8. #8
    Seasoned Camper
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    Quote Originally Posted by Cate&Rob View Post
    Agpopp - I'm another one who is really looking forward to your pictures and descriptions of the resurrection. Not likely anything that we can assist with, but if you think of anything, just ask.

    Rob
    Thanks Rob. I hope to get the first set of pics up later today.
    I repaired all of the snapped trusses yesterday.
    Andrew in the Burgh
    2015 Reflection 317RST...Auction Rebuild

    See Thread Here:
    https://www.mygrandrv.com/fo...795#post145795

    2016 F350 CCLB DRW 6.7

    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

  9. #9
    Seasoned Camper
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    Did some more work today. Went first to Home Depot to pick up 4 sheets of 1/8" plywood to use a ceiling panel that I planned on just painting to match. I was going to order the correct "Matador White" panel from GDRV for 30 a sheet, but they wanted 250 for shipping plus 175 extra to crate it....just not worth it to me. When I got to HD, I actually found some paneling thast really close, for ony $10 a sheet! Its masonite, but I plan on using adhesive caulk to the roof trusses to add some strength. I grabbed 3 rolls of insulation, some trim and such as I was off to work on the rig.

    ***Trying some pics, I will re-size if too big***

    Here is the rig in the auction lot the day I picked it up. This pic shows the damage to the roof edges and is better than any pic that was provided by the auction.
    Click image for larger version. 

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    Now, on to the interior damage, here are some shots of the roof and snapped trusses that I now believe was from a tree.....but no leaves or branches to be found....still a mystery!
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    Once I got all of the ceiling down by cutting all the perimeters with my new DeWalt multi-tool (the ceiling board is under the rafters is pinched between the wall when installed) I threw away all of the wet insulation and let it dry for about a week. (When it wasn't frozen from the winter here in western PA.) I temporarily hung up a few of the LED lights with one screw to give me light to work by and I took the cabinet off of the bedroom wall. Some of the cabinet doors were knocked off the hinges or screws by the ceiling pushing them down, but all should be salvageable.

    I'll start a new post here.
    Andrew in the Burgh
    2015 Reflection 317RST...Auction Rebuild

    See Thread Here:
    https://www.mygrandrv.com/fo...795#post145795

    2016 F350 CCLB DRW 6.7

    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

  10. #10
    Seasoned Camper
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    So now the work begins. I started by looking for cracks in the trusses that weren't obvious and getting materials together. As most RV builders GD uses a 2x3 ripped in half to make the truss bottom chord and blocking and a 1x2 for the top chord. I bought around $50 worth of wood, screws, brads and PL Premium glue, and ripped the 2x3's to match. Where the truss was cracked, I laminated 2 sisters on the outer edge, glued, brad nailed, pre-drilled and screwed. where the trusses were snapped clean, I had to double up at a minimum the bottom chord. I can't figure out the rhyme or reason, but occasionally they double up the trusses , so I cut a staggered repair joint into them and added wood on both outer edges. The curb side definitely took the biggest hit, and i think 6 trusses were snapped clean and then 4 more were broke. I first had to get them straight, and get the weight of the damaged osb roof (untouched under a tarp) off of where I was working. I put down a 2x4 to catch a few floor members and used a bottle jack while I worked.
    Click image for larger version. 

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    It took some time, but that's what I did for each once, removing the bad if needed, straightening out what I could save and custom cutting each repair part and gluing and screwing.

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    Eventually, I got to the bedroom, and here must have been the direct hit. In fact, the TV antenna was pushed through the OSB and was lodges in the medicine cabinet (even funnier because it looked fine until you opened the cabinet door!) Here the trusses were broken badly, so I just cut them off clean with a sawzall and staggered the joints for repair.
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    Next post here....
    Andrew in the Burgh
    2015 Reflection 317RST...Auction Rebuild

    See Thread Here:
    https://www.mygrandrv.com/fo...795#post145795

    2016 F350 CCLB DRW 6.7

    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

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