Roof rot

Post by **Nigel2** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 9:35 am

Here we go again! I have just been offered a traveller (very cheap) with 6 months ticket on it. It has got a fair bit of rot - mot must have been on the border line - most of which is straight forward. BUT the gutters gave been filled around the cab section and the paint is lifting for about 2" above the gutter, also there it deffinite signs of it going down the screen pillars + the 'B' post has got a hole in it at the top by the gutter. My initial thought is steer clear as I am sure a big shove would lift the roof off! However the price is so cheap I wonder if anybody has done any serious roof repairs and if it's viable.
Any thoughts please.

Post by SR » Thu Jan 05, 2006 9:57 am

walk away mate , theres enou8gh other expensive/time consuming places to find need work on a trav, this sounds like it is fit for spares,steve

Post by **newagetraveller** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 12:29 pm

Replacing the gutters on a traveller is straightforward provided there is not too much rust around them. However you need to clean the paint and rust away to see just how bad it is.

I should wait and see if the price goes down. In six months it may be zero!!

Post by **bigginger** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 12:45 pm

As may the roof:D I think SR's right. I'm sure the screen pillars are do-able, but they'll need expertise, time, patience and cash.

Post by **chickenjohn** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 8:58 pm

I know that roof repairs are quite commonly needed during van restorations, but if that Traveller is this bad in the roof, whats it like elsewhere??

I guess it depends on how skilled you are in fabrication as I believe repair panels for these areas are not available.

Having said that, my Traveller has a tiny amount of slight bubbling above the drivers door- best nip that in the bud before it gets bad!

Post by **bigginger** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 9:41 pm

Agreed, but as I say IMHO if the rust has gotten to the screen pillars, life is going to get v. tricky.

Post by SR » Thu Jan 05, 2006 9:50 pm

there r so many cheap travellers with out that sort of major work needed, which unless your expierenced in metalwork, it will be major my ol mucker, steve

Post by **Nigel2** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 10:14 pm

Thanks for all your replies, I have given this one a miss. I can cope with the usual problems - sills, floors, and 'chassis patches' etc. which has kept our 1961 four door going for many years. We have always fancied a trav. and this one appeared just 4 miles away but I have never seen rust in the roof like it. Thanks again for the advice. If it appears on ebay (which it well might) I will let you know

Nigel

Post by **bigginger** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 10:18 pm

A wise move, if I may say so

I ended up ditching the body of one pick-up 'cos of the screen pillars...

Post by **rupert** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 9:18 pm

East Sussex to a gutter repair panel [RP201] - MorrisMinorSpares.co.uk

and very good service too!

I'm doing some guttering on my car - but thats because I'm emotionally attached to the car - not because its easy/cheap/worthwile!

Post by **Matt** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 12:48 am

Ahh the memories... a trave with a roof that came off and rot all down the pillers

Post by **chrisd87** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 5:34 pm

You could always try making a soft-top trav

Post by **Nigel2** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 6:23 pm

A soft top trav, now there's a thought, one hell of a webasto roof though. A friend came round today and he saw the traveller just over a year ago when the people who are now 'trying' to sell it had just bought it. Not a trace of rot anywhere, a fantastic cover up job. He saw it again last weekend and couldn't believe it was the same car. As he said, one could shove and the roof would come off, the rot in the screen pillars and 'B' posts is amazing. However the sellers have been quoted £100.00 to have the roof sorted before they advertise it. By the same person that bodged it originally, I wonder. As I said if it appears on ebay I will let the forum know. Somebody could be very upset with their purchase.

Post by **chrisd87** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 7:03 pm

Yes £100 sounds far too cheap for it to be a proper job, but paying £100 for a load of filler would be a bit of a rip-off too! By the sounds of things you were very wise to avoid that car.

Post by **Onne** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 7:25 pm

that'll be a duct tape job then

Post by **Matt** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 8:54 pm

It does sound very like our car!!! not much visible rot when we bought it, and 3 years later.... Im sure most of you know the rest....