Skin Stapled on am I crazy?

[vintagecaryn]

I am admittedly hopeless and helpless occasionally,
okay a lot
and so I ask you for help answering a query.

I was under my camper the other morning following a pet and i saw

the edge to one of the walls is coming undone and I looked at it rather close and personal like and there were staples sticking out of the siding where it was bent outward,
rather large industrial staples, scary.

Is that how it is done? was done?
Is there something missing?
Like a metal underbelly? Edging?


What does the siding usually attach to underneath?

I am sure I will be re- attaching it differently when I get that far
and I know someone here has posted how to do it!. I just have to look harder. Thanks All!

[offspringin]

Staples are common (at least on our 70 model). In ours there is a strip of wood that runs along the inside edge. Very common for this strip to have rotted away. I used screws to re-attach mine when i replaced the rotted wood. The aluminum sides just bend under and end about 1/2 inch in or so.

At least that sounds like what you described to me. Maybe others will chime in.

[vintagecaryn]

Thank You, I had never looked that closely before, I will be replacing a lot I fear. Again, Thank You.

[safetybruce]

Metal underbellies are not common on Shastas. Those vintage campers that have underbellies to hold insulation in place under the floor are prone to become water catchers once the seams loosen up and start to leak...if your bottom edge is "sticking out" was it because the edge might have been snagged on something, or is it loose because the bottom wooden sill is soft because of moisture intrusion? Before you simply start to re-attach the lip, either with screws or staples check that wood sill for spongy-ness. That pet might have alerted you to a problem that you could have overlooked. Proper repairs trump patch and paint every time. Fear not a lot of replacing, the more work you do on your Shasta more camping comfort will be experienced, and your pride of ownership will also increase exponentially.

[cowcharge]

My '76 is stapled everywhere, with long, narrow round-topped staples, an aluminum belly and no trim on the bottom, just an overlap around the bottom edges. My whole floor and sub frame needed replacing.