hightop rust etc... what to do?

[faceache]

help.

while trying to sort my leaking windscreen, i though i'd take off the sealant that some previous owner had placed between the windscreen seal and the seal at the bottom of my high-top.

it's rusted behind there VERY badly.

i've had a few issues with the sides of the high-top. at the front and back it's cracked just above the gutter. i can't help but think pretty much the whole area between/behind the high-top and the van itself needs to be treated/welded.

the only way i can envisage this being done (mainly for the area above the windscreen) is if the high-top comes off!!!

this is not something i can tackle myself. i dont have the knowledge/expreience, and I've got a baby on the way and a million things to sort out around the house.

so i need some advice.

is there anywhere I can take my van and have this problem sorted (im based in surrey)? any ideas of costs involved (im guessing probably at least half or more of what the van's worth itself)?

maybe I should tigerseal the b*****d as best i can and get whatever use of the van as I can for as long as I can... put it all down to a bad experience and sell it/or bits off for whatever i can get when it's totally buggered.

im real cheesed off with no idea what to do.

[timber technician]

I dont want to worry you but I have taken a autosleeper hightop off to find it was only held on with about 18 inches of metal roof remaining. But saying that we managed to weld the roof up and fit a hightop back and all was good. It became a job that took a week not a day.

Dave

[faceache]

thanks for the reply. I'll see if there is anywhere near me that can help... if not i might be taking a trip up the M1...

[fufflenarnia]

Hi,

I have exactly the same problem (and am in Surrey).

Have you fixed it - I would be interested as to what was done etc.

Cheers,

Steve.

[Plasticman]

well you seem to think your van is a bit poor with rust etc so dont go opening a can of worms, wont be worth it, the only way water can get in is through either a visible hole to the outside or through a crack in the sealant and then in and wherever, can you get to the area inside that you think is causing trouble? without pickies its hard to say but I would clean/cut the loose crap out/away and pump the remaining hole or whatever with a body mastic, if you can use a gun and get it right in then get a plastic like a slightly thicker carrier bag though that would do and apply sealant to this then apply this to the crack/faulty area and smooth it over , you can get all the shaping done and no mess, same method works inside especially if you can just get one hand to it.

mike/

[fufflenarnia]

Hmmm,

I will take a closer look, I think I could do it with the front, but....

There is no roof at the back corners to do that too, they are missing!

I may be able to cut out the rot and weld in a new section without removing the roof, however if I can get the roof off without damaging the roof or the interior trim too much I would rather do the job once, properly!

I will try and post a photo tomorrow.

Thanks,

Steve.

[fufflenarnia]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/54122951@N ... otostream/

So, do I take the roof off, or patch it up from the outside?

Any thoughts appreciated!

[pocolow]

Roof off ,as you can't tell how far back that rust goes until you take it off...

[Plasticman]

Horrible looking int it. Whats inside and what trim is affixing it to the main body, Id reckon if you were to insert that 'small' pry bar your wielding then I think the seal will pop the rest of the way round ,
if thets the case it will be many times easier to have it off and weld it then bond back down.
mike

[fufflenarnia]

Thanks Guys,

Anyone removed the top off an Autosleeper - what trim do I need to remove from the inside?

The interior is imaculate so I want to limit the damage as much as possible.

Steve.

[fufflenarnia]

Hi all,

Roof is off, so have added some pictures.

Rust is nowhere near as bad as I thought and I did not have to remove any trim from inside, I just worked around it with a knife and screwdriver to break the seal. I have a 4 post lift so raised the van, tied the roof to the ceiling joists and lowered the van away from it.

It shouldn't take too long to fix.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/54122951@N ... otostream/

Steve.

[1664]

Interesting set of photos So all the cupboards etc are still attached to the high top then?

[fufflenarnia]

The roof is pretty much empty, Van's original roof has been boarded out and the cupboards installed pon that along with the electrics etc.

It's not heavy either, I lifted it on my own without a problem.

I'll post pictures of the roof repair and refitting.

Steve

[fufflenarnia]

Roof and gutters repaired, it is surprising how many holes there were, and after a bit of digging the side that looked best turned out to be worst!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/54122951@N02/5419059166/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/54122951@N02/

Hopefully one of the links works this time!