Problem with 2007 Jayco: Floor Split

cranberryfraser5 · 06-17-2011, 07:38 AM

After having stored this virually brand new trailer, used 9 times, the way we were told to store it, the floor split from one end to the other and the company is refusing to stand by their product and fix it because " they can't control the weather" ! I am VERY dissapointed as we expected more from Jayco. Any advice??

Terry · 06-17-2011, 07:54 AM

Hello CBF5! Welcome to the Jayco forum, glad you found us.

Can you give us some more info - how was it stored and what kind of damage. When you say the floor split, do you mean the plywood or the vinyl, etc? The more info, the better the members will be able to respond.

Not knowing all the facts, it is hard to comment on Jayco's respond, but they are currently releasing the 2012 models, so yours is 4 to 5 years. Hard to hear I know, but I am not sure Jayco has any continued liability after that long.

cranberryfraser5 · 06-17-2011, 08:05 AM

Just the vinyl split and I realize that they do not have a written liability but considering we have an trailer that is 11 years old too (not a Jayco) and stored right next to the Jayco which this did not happen to, one has to wonder. I would definitely consider 4-5 years virtually brand new in trailer years since the "life expectancy" is so long, not like cars.

My point is that I just want them to stand by their product and fix something that doesn't usually happen to trailers in general. The dealer said that they have had many reports of the exact same thing happening this year to the newer Jayco trailers.

Thanks for the help

Terry · 06-17-2011, 08:56 AM

I definitely understand where you are coming from and dont necessarly disagree, but it is not that much different than a new house - the builder will not come back after 4 years and replace something that is wrong. I know how frustrating that can be.

I have not heard of many folks here on the forums that have had that problem, but hopefully someone else can chime in and give their experience.

If you get a chance, come on over to the new member forum and introduce yourself!

clutch · 06-17-2011, 08:56 AM

I think you will find that splitting vinyl is a common occurence in cold climates. After all that time I realy don't see Jayco as having any responsibility.

Spike99 · 06-17-2011, 09:01 AM

Remember that many TT makers (including Jayco), use mass purchased / lower cost (which is often meduim to lower grade) materials for their TTs. Especially for their walls and flooring. And, many materials isn't made by the TT maker. They are make by other product specialst and the TT maker simply assembles together. Thus, don't think I'd point the finger at Jayco. I'd point the fault at the company who makes the individual product. re: The vinyl floor material maker (company).

Sad to read the vinyl floor material in your 2007 TT split. Being a 4 year old TT (way past its TT factory warranty), I'd simply visit a few flooring places and get them to replace it. If into DIY tasks, you can remove the old vinyl yourself (using a chissel) - to save install costs. If your Jayco TT has NO slide, I'd simply remove the vinyl, glue&screw new 5/8" tonque/grove plywood on the factory plywood floor (to make the floor stronger), then get a flooring company to install new vinyl. Thus, creating much better quality then TT factory vinyl. And, you get the floor pattern you want.

I agree the vinyl flooring material on 2007 TT should NOT split. Especially if the TT was properly stored and didn't endure dampness or/or huge temp changes (which is hard on many materials). But... "things" happen in life. Even to the good folks like yourselves. Instead of replacing "like for like", I would take this opportunity to make the factory floor better. Much better. Especially if you plan to keep your 2007 TT for many more years.

Hope this helps...

**Crabman** · 06-17-2011, 10:20 AM

I have heard of this happening where extreme cold temperatures are encountered (well below zero) to many brands. I`m not excusing it, but it does happen more often then one might think. Under the warranty period I`m thinking they would have replaced it. But not on a 4 yr old unit.

Denise · 06-17-2011, 11:17 AM

Welcome to the Jayco Owners Forum Cranberryfraser5! Sorry about the flooring, that really sucks. In the past two years of this forum, I don't remember anyone complaining of vinyl floor splitting. Doesn't mean that it doesn't happen, I'm just guessing it doesn't happen often. Where do you live? Any chance you could post a pic? I'm curious to see splitting vinyl looks (I'm having a hard time visualizing it). CLutch, Spike, and Crabman have offered some great input. If you do opt to have a local flooring company install new vinyl, definitely ask them which would be best to use for your cold/storage situation. Let us know how it goes

Lady Fitzgerald · 06-17-2011, 11:24 AM

Part of the reason has to do with Jayco gluing their floors down. Most flooring manufacturers now recommend floating the flooring to avoid this problem. It makes more sense for Jayco to glue it down since fitting a floating floor is far too expensive to be competitive. If the floor was just laid loose on the floor without gluing, then the cabinetry, walls, etc. were then added on top, the flooring would eventually buckle. Gluing reduces the chances that problems can develop.

I would not recommend adding plywood to the existing floor before replacing the vinyl. True, it will greatly strengthen the floor but that stuff is HEAVY and make make your trailer overweight.

A chisel will remove the old flooring but one could die of old age before finishing. A multi-tool with a scraper blade will work much faster. Even the el cheapo one from Harbor Freight should be able to do the job. Just be careful to keep the blade flat to avoid digging into the plywood.

Although it will add a significant amount of weight, a floating laminate floor will be almost bullet proof. If the split in the original vinyl is laying flat, you might be able to install without removing it. Allure is a stick together vinyl plank floating flooring the goes down much laminate but is much lighter. I'm thinking Armstrong makes it.

usmc616 · 06-19-2011, 06:58 AM

Sorry to hear of your problem with your 2007 model, but I do not see where Jayco is at fault.

**norty1** · 06-19-2011, 07:19 AM

I don't understand what "the way they told you to store it" means. Was it extremely cold or closed up?

It's hard to form an opinion based on the info provided. Replacing vinyl is not the end of the world.

tnka trk · 06-19-2011, 08:11 AM

Whenever something like this happens to us, we look at it as an opportunity to upgrade and add our own personal touch to our home away from home. There are so many flooring options now, your choices are virtually limitless (Laminate, wood, vinyl, carpet, etc.) You can even customize it with a combination of the materials of your choosing. Oh and don't be too harsh on Jayco; there aren't many manufacturers that will provide a lifetime guarantee or ever one beyond 1 or 2 years. Profit margins just don't allow for such guarantees to exist in such a competitive market.
Good luck with the reno.

Spike99 · 06-19-2011, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tnka trk

Whenever something like this happens to us, we look at it as an opportunity to upgrade and add our own personal touch to our home away from home. There are so many flooring options now, your choices are virtually limitless (Laminate, wood, vinyl, carpet, etc.) You can even customize it with a combination of the materials of your choosing. Oh and don't be too harsh on Jayco; there aren't many manufacturers that will provide a lifetime guarantee or ever one beyond 1 or 2 years. Profit margins just don't allow for such guarantees to exist in such a competitive market.
Good luck with the reno.

I agree. The OP can take this opportunity to make it better. Much better then "average" factory. My BIL bought a used camper and he didn't like its softc floor and its and "ugly" floor pattern. He simply glued/screwed new plywood down and added much better flooring. Before and after is awesome. And, its floor is much tfirmer as well. Extra weight? No really. The benefits of much better (stronger and better pattern) floor was worth it. If into DIY tasks (with your own hands), then "go for it". Like an artist. The canvas is now blank. Turn the new output into almost anything you want. And, think outside the circle as well. Works for me....

Lady Fitzgerald · 06-19-2011, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spike99

...Extra weight? No really. The benefits of much better (stronger and better pattern) floor was worth it...

A sheet of 5/8" 4' x 8' plywood weighs roughly 65-70 lb. That weight adds up in a hurry. Granted, it will make for a much more solid floor but the extra weight could be enough to kill any usable load capacity. There would also be potential problems with transitions, door clearances, etc. due to the thickness. If all the OP needs is an overlayment to smooth out the floor, something much thinner, such as door skins, would be far more practical. If the floor is squishy in places, it probably needs replacing, not covering.

If I had that job staring me in the face (thank God I don't!), I would use a knife or a multitool to cut the vinyl along walls and cabinets, then use a multitool with a scraper to remove the vinyl. Minor dings in the floor would be repaired with automotive Bondo (bonds very well, sets fast and hard with minimal shrinkage and is easily cut flush to the floor as long as one doesn't wait until it gets too hard to do so easily). I would then lay a floating vinyl floor, probably Allure because it would be much easier to fit than sheet goods. Laminate is more durable but also can be pretty heavy, although not nearly as much as 5/8" ply as long as the thinner grades are used.

Spike99 · 06-19-2011, 11:44 AM

Sorry you feel that adding more plywood to the existing TT floor will add "too much" weight. If you look on You-Tube, you'll see many people adding plywood 1/2" - 5/8" to their existing floors. Especially after their floors root out. If my TT's floor was weak and it needed to be made stronger, I will add more plywood on existing. Remember that many TT's have 500 to 2,000 lbs of "unloaded" cargo capacity (depending on size and make of TT). A few sheets of 30 lbs of plywood isn't going to blow it off the weight scale. If it does, then that specific TT has other serious problems.

There's some folks who are arm chair experts but never been there themselves. Unknown to some, I've actually stripped my 2006 Jayco flooring down - from bottom up. Ripped out that usless plastic layer, ripped out that useless soft material and ripped out that useless fibreglass batts. I know what's under the Jayco floor. And, I know much more then a Jayco factory video will show you. Especially when it comes to "pulled to tight" brake wiring, dangling wires, useless fabric heat vents, etc. etc. They use 5/8" single sheet plywood and where needed, they shave down the high spots with a power grinder. Thus, leaving the floor boards 1/2" thick in spots. They also use 2x2s and drill holes for water pipes. Thus, coverting the board down to 2x1s. For 2x2 supports, they also use steel rails 24" apart. That doesn't even come close to "minimum code" for a stick home construction. And people wonder why their Jayco floor has a "mush" feeling when walked on. Yet, Jayco Factory Tour videos make their TT sound super strong.

If one wants to get rid of the "mush", they add "proper" thick plywood ontop of it. Or, they re-inforce the underside floor - which is near impossible because of tanks, LP lines, wiring and air ducts. Add a floating floor on existing "shaved down" 5/8" mush feeling sheeting if you want. But if the under floor is "mush" (like many of their TTs/5ers), the floating floor will feel mush as well. And, it too will crack and split in time. If one wants to do it right (even for a home's kitchen floor), they firm-up the main surface first. Then, they add their cosmetic material on it....

To view underside of Jayco TT floors, surf:
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w...e/100_2054.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w...e/100_2055.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w...e/100_2048.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w...e/100_0607.jpg

Lucky, I've been there (with my own hands) myself in the past... Putting "mush on much = mush" in the long run. If the floor has a mush feeling, firm it up first - before adding new costmetic surface (like a floating floor material). It really is that simple...

Bob Landry · 06-19-2011, 12:50 PM

Any repair is a chance to make it better than original. I don't know of very much on a trailer that I would not or could not have done better. An extra $100 for a better material means a lot to a manufaturer who is trying to keep unit cost down. it doesn't mean as much to me if I'm going to be living in it.

Spike99 · 06-19-2011, 01:06 PM

I'm keeping a close eye on this thread. If wondering, my 29 FBS has a soft spot on its floor at its kitchen sink area. Exactly were a person stands to do dishes. Budgeted for next year, I plan to remove its vinyl, then glue/screw 5/8 plywood on it (ontop of its "shaved down" 5/8" plywood), then install new vinyl. Our 29 FT tt has a master bedroom in the front 1/3, had kids bedrooms within its rear 1/3 area. Thus, I only need to add new wood flooring and new vinyl within its middle 1/3 area. And, install a vinal edge (in the hallway area). Thus, only a few lbs of extra weight. And since we don't transport fresh water, this added weight of "stronger floor" is nothing (compared to a full tank of fresh water). Even though our TT has a slide, I'd be removing its main chassis rug (where it goes under the slide). Thus, lots of room for additonal 5/8" plywood + vinyl thickness. And as Bob mentioned, making its floor (within its main traffic area) much stronger then factory design is a good idea. Especially to eliminate soft spots.

Hopefully, our OP "cranberryfraser5" provides an update. On what he applied to his specific trailer.

Lady Fitzgerald · 06-19-2011, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spike99

Sorry you feel that adding more plywood to the existing TT floor will add "too much" weight. If you look on You-Tube, you'll see many people adding plywood 1/2" - 5/8" to their existing floors. Especially after their floors root out. If my TT's floor was weak and it needed to be made stronger, I will add more plywood on existing. Remember that many TT's have 500 to 2,000 lbs of "unloaded" cargo capacity (depending on size and make of TT). A few sheets of 30 lbs of plywood isn't going to blow it off the weight scale. If it does, then that specific TT has other serious problems.

There's some folks who are arm chair experts but never been there themselves. Unknown to some, I've actually stripped my 2006 Jayco flooring down - from bottom up. Ripped out that usless plastic layer, ripped out that useless soft material and ripped out that useless fibreglass batts. I know what's under the Jayco floor. And, I know much more then a Jayco factory video will show you. Especially when it comes to "pulled to tight" brake wiring, dangling wires, useless fabric heat vents, etc. etc. They use 5/8" single sheet plywood and where needed, they shave down the high spots with a power grinder. Thus, leaving the floor boards 1/2" thick in spots. They also use 2x2s and drill holes for water pipes. Thus, coverting the board down to 2x1s. For 2x2 supports, they also use steel rails 24" apart. That doesn't even come close to "minimum code" for a stick home construction. And people wonder why their Jayco floor has a "mush" feeling when walked on. Yet, Jayco Factory Tour videos make their TT sound super strong.

If one wants to get rid of the "mush", they add "proper" thick plywood ontop of it. Or, they re-inforce the underside floor - which is near impossible because of tanks, LP lines, wiring and air ducts. Add a floating floor on existing "shaved down" 5/8" mush feeling sheeting if you want. But if the under floor is "mush" (like many of their TTs/5ers), the floating floor will feel mush as well. And, it too will crack and split in time. If one wants to do it right (even for a home's kitchen floor), they firm-up the main surface first. Then, they add their cosmetic material on it....

To view underside of Jayco TT floors, surf:
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w...e/100_2054.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w...e/100_2055.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w...e/100_2048.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w...e/100_0607.jpg

Lucky, I've been there (with my own hands) myself in the past... Putting "mush on much = mush" in the long run. If the floor has a mush feeling, firm it up first - before adding new costmetic surface (like a floating floor material). It really is that simple...

Whatever.

I've seen plenty of posts/videos where people have added ply to their floors yet none have reported the amount of weight it has added to their rigs. Curious.

I'm no stranger to remodeling. I gutted a vintage travel trailer and completely rebuilt the interior. I've owned a couple of mobile homes and a stick house and did extensive remodeling/maintenance on all of them including electrical (I worked 32 years for a power and irrigation utility), plumbing, framing, cabinet work (I was also a cabinet maker for a while; I minored in industrial arts in college), heating and air, etc. and did it all well so I'm not just speaking from my armchair.

Granted, a travel trailer is nowhere near the codes for stick houses but then, stick houses don't go anywhere. If a TT was built to stick house standards, it would take a Freightliner to lug it around. A bouncy floor is a small price to pay for portability.

Not all Jaycos are built the way you have described. The floors on the Eagles on up are a laminated foam and ply sandwich which is far more rigid than just ply. Also, the plumbing is run above floor except when it penetrated the floor to go to the tanks. Little wiring goes through the floor area and any holes through structural members for wiring will cause only minimal strength reduction. I've walked (and bounced) in many Eagles and a couple of Pinnacles and the floors were pretty rigid (and I'm a big broad).

Rustic Eagle · 06-19-2011, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crabman

I have heard of this happening where extreme cold temperatures are encountered (well below zero) to many brands. I`m not excusing it, but it does happen more often then one might think. Under the warranty period I`m thinking they would have replaced it. But not on a 4 yr old unit.

Lee,

I agree, over the course of the last five years there as been a lot of chatter about the impact of cold weather on RV vinyl flooring, IMO the biggest problem is that RV interiors are not climate controlled during the "cold" winter storage months. This is an issue with all RV manufactures, not just Jayco

I do know that Jayco a couple of years ago looked into different ways of installing the vinyl (glued, free floating, etc.) in an attempt to minimize the impact of cold weather on the vinyl flooring. If I'm not mistaken (???) Jayco doesn't glue the vinyl flooring down any more, thus allowing some freedom of movement during extreme temp changes.

Bob

Spike99 · 06-19-2011, 02:58 PM

ok then...

I'm still trying to calculate why a few sheets of 5/8 or 3/4" plywood on existing floor in the main chassis area (not the entire flooring area) will be "too much" weight. So much weight, it forces the TT over its GVW? Please explain why making any floor "better then factory" is also a bad thing? Sorry... I don't get it.... Or should I do a "what ever" comment back as well?

.

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