Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 12-02-2019, 11:54 AM   #1
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 22
top penthouse bolts rusting and rust around roof lights

Hello,

I've got a 2005 Ford e-350 with the penthouse. I've got 2 rust related issues.

1. the top bolts on the penthouse are rusting out. They're on the exterior of the top of penthouse. It looks like they originally had a cover on them but only a few still have that. Is there a diagram anywhere detailing the penthouse top? I'd like to know what I'm getting into before diving in. Also, I assume the best replacement will be stainless equivalents.

2. The 5 or 6 exterior lights on the chassis above the front windshield have a little rust around them. One, in the center of course, is blistering around the light holder and needs to be ground out patched and painted. The others with early rust will be cleaned, primed and painted at that time. I'm afraid this is a body shop effort. Should I decide to tackle it myself, is there any magic paint/primer that stops the advance of rust?

Thanks for any thoughts on the above.

- Dave

dpekin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-02-2019, 08:02 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
boywonder's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: So Cal
Posts: 4,036
Even if the plastic covers for the roof bolts were still there they would still be rusty.....they are just beauty covers. The original fasteners that sportsmobile uses are garden variety cheap stuff.


It's quite simple.....the four bolts in the front are holding the padded wood block inside where the roof is resting on the front crossbar. Two of the bolts are likely also bolting the lifting handles up.


Same for the rear..just no handles.


...Just replace one or two bolts at a time...everything will stay in place.



Get them off any way you can and replace with stainless. 18-8 stainless is plenty good; 316 stainless is more $$ and not as robust...and it tends to gall more than 18-8. Regular stainless at Lowes/Home Depot is 18-8..which is plenty corrosion resistant..unless you live at the beach.


If you want new beauty covers, reach out to member 1der here...he has them. You may be able to buy them from Sportsmobile as well.
__________________
2008 E350 RB passenger 4WD SMB penthouse
2013 KTM 350 EXC
2008 KTM 250 XCF-W
2003 Honda Element
boywonder is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-03-2019, 12:47 PM   #3
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 22
Thanks. I'll try to get to that this weekend. I am in the beach area so I'll shoot for the most corrosion resistant solution. The beach air is what's causing the rust cancer around the lights too.
dpekin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-06-2019, 10:59 AM   #4
Orv
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 618
Garage
I've heard good things about POR-15 for treating rusty metal. I've always preferred to treat it like cancer and go for 'clean margins' -- grind back to good, shiny steel -- but that's not always practical if the rust has gotten beyond the surface stage.
__________________
N8SRE
1990 E-250 Sportsmobile w/ penthouse top, converted when new by SMB Texas.
Orv is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-15-2019, 02:44 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 161
rusted roof bolts

Any special method to take them off from inside the van?
Pete is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-15-2019, 08:44 PM   #6
Site Team
 
Gooseberry's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Covina
Posts: 1,317
Garage
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pete View Post
Any special method to take them off from inside the van?


Do it a couple at a time.
__________________
Kelly, Claudine, Sophie dog, Bell the redheaded step child and Gooseberry RIP.

Most the time the Copilot is Now Sophie dog the noise maker.

2000 7.3 PS Quigley/RB30 with a 6 window poptop.
Gooseberry is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-26-2019, 11:55 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 161
Sealant

What is the best type of sealant to use when replacing the hardware? The stuff that is on there is black and is still flexible after 18 years.
Pete is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-26-2019, 12:32 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 161
Size

Quote:
Originally Posted by Pete View Post
What is the best type of sealant to use when replacing the hardware? The stuff that is on there is black and is still flexible after 18 years.
Home Depot only has washers up to 2”. Do they need to be 2 1/2”, or will 2” work?
Pete is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-26-2019, 01:11 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
bigriver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Columbia River Gorge
Posts: 649
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pete View Post
What is the best type of sealant to use when replacing the hardware? The stuff that is on there is black and is still flexible after 18 years.
That's Butyl Sealant Tape. You can get it at home depot. Here's an example Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Sealant-PROMO...52980146&psc=1

It comes in dif sizes depending on usage.
__________________
Joe
2003 EB50 7.3L PSD Q4X4
2000 Chevy Express 3500 High Top EB37 - Sold
2003 EB30 - Sold
bigriver is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-17-2021, 12:11 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Missouri
Posts: 320
Garage
I recently checked my penthouse bolts and found some were rusting. Using a wire brush and the wire brush attachment on my Dremel, I removed the rust.

Then, I coated all the bolts, nuts and washers with Permatex Rust Treatment. After that dried, I painted them with an oil based Rustoleum primer. After that dried, I painted them, again, with an oil based Rustoleum paint. I'm happy with the results and hope they last.
Attached Thumbnails
C37794B6-2726-45AC-A797-56BFAE7FA141.jpg  
__________________
~Terry
wander is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off

» Sportsmobile Registry

Rex

Tomboy

Overland Van

TPowell
Add your Sportsmobile
» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sportsmobile SIP or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:57 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.