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Ceiling Panels - 2023 T@b 320

KaomRunsKaomRuns Member Posts: 4
edited January 5 in Service/Maintenance & Recall Notices

Hi everyone,
Looking for anyone who may have had a similar instance or just replaced them for "fun". I have scoured the discussions and reviewed the factory pictures showing the roof bracing. Any details at all on how these ceiling panels are held in place would be appreciated. 

Here is the scenario:
1. Had this bubble develop from assuming a leak I could/can not find.
2. Took it to the dealership hoping they would be able to isolate or possibly get it covered under the structural warranty. They looked at the seals (while some minor cracking did not see a leak). Never had any sign of water in rains or visible when spraying roof to try and identify. Factory said it was not maintained and wouldn't handle it (per dealership service guys). Had the seal around the fan redone by the dealership, but the bubble and crease continue to expand. Had the trailer a year and a half. 
3. Thinking about taking off the ceiling panel to identify source, fix it and replace with a new panel. I am handy enough that I am sure I can accomplish putting in new veneer, provided I knew how it was initially installed. Is it a can of worms not worth even trying? I am more concerned about what's behind door #1. taking off the panel to find the insulation blocks glued to it to who knows what. 

Appreciate any and all insight.
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Comments

  • pthomas745pthomas745 Administrator, Moderator Posts: 4,419
    What exactly did the dealer do to examine this?  When they replaced the caulking around the fan on the roof, did they remove all the caulk and lift out the fan to have a look?  Did they take the fan shroud off the inside of the trailer and look at as much as they could see there? 
    You mentioned "seals".  What exactly did they check and where?
    This would "appear" to be a fan leak.  There have been a couple of "roof leaks" but they all seem to involve the seams at the edge of the trailer.
    2017 Outback
    Towed by 2014 Touareg TDi
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  • KaomRunsKaomRuns Member Posts: 4
    The dealer removed and replaced the caulking. To my knowledge they did not do anything with or remove the fan above the roof. The trim was removed inside the camper to view the discoloration on the paneling. I did say “seal” but should have said caulking around the fan. The testing was basically water hose running over the roof and fan to assess if there was any water intrusion.
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  • pthomas745pthomas745 Administrator, Moderator Posts: 4,419
    I just saw your FB post on this, and the various comments about trailers from 2006 until today.  We have seen the roof leak, but most of those issues happened at the edges of the aluminum sheet that makes up the roof.  
    We have also seen "delamination" of the various ceiling coverings over the years, usually from glues working loose, and the different ways the ceilings were covered.  
    The "seams" of the ceiling are covered up by those plastic looking covers extending from side to side of the ceiling.  What exactly did you mean by "trim was removed"?  The trim around the fan?  Or the ceiling panels themselves?  Did this dealer actually speak to the factory?  Have you checked with NuCamp on how the panels on the ceiling could come off?  
    If there is a tiny leak (or was) in the caulk in the ceiling fan, just running a hose over it would not simulate the pressure of water while driving down the road at 60 MPH.  
    I think you have a basic good idea to try to get the ceiling panel off.
    This is a search of the Forums for "sagging ceiling" that may give some clues here.  

    2017 Outback
    Towed by 2014 Touareg TDi
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  • KaomRunsKaomRuns Member Posts: 4
    Thank you. I did mean the trim around the fan on the interior. The dealership said the spoke to the factory. Calling Nucamp is my next stop. I had not considered the pressure while driving. Certainly would make sense though. I had done all sort of searches but never tried “Sagging ceiling”. I appreciate it.
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  • KaomRunsKaomRuns Member Posts: 4
    I did call Nucamp and will share what I have learned here. The ceiling panels are screwed into the rail structures on the sides but inaccessible due to the cabinets. The remaining visible area is glued to the beams. There is nothing glued other than the beams. The fix would be to cut the damaged panel to the cabinets and utilize a patch panel in that area. I will need to work through the dealership to get the panel material. 
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  • pthomas745pthomas745 Administrator, Moderator Posts: 4,419
    Ok, I'm glad to hear the Factory helped.  Taking a section out would probably be the only way to access that area.  Keep us up to date on what you find, and some pictures of what it looks like above the interior ceiling would be very useful.  As you saw in the other threads, this is not a very common occurence, so there isn't a lot to go on as far as repairs go.  
    2017 Outback
    Towed by 2014 Touareg TDi
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