Rusty screw question

[Eldergioe]

I recently put all new shades in my Montana fifth wheel. When I was taking the old ones down I noticed that several of the screws on the slide out we're Rusty when I took them out. Do you think I should be concerned about this? I have had a couple of water floor damage issues around a couple of the slide outs. I think I have them caulked and water stopped, but who knows.

[Ram Montana High Country]

There is something getting the wood wet. Slowly destroying the camper. It's real tough to find the leaks but necessary.

[DutchmenSport]

I would leave the original screws in place as long as you possibly can. That means, leave them alone unless you absolutely must do a repair. Why? Because when you take the screw out, the next one will be weak and probably not tighten up right because the original screw hole is now expanded out and threads could be different. Even if the screws are going into an aluminum stud or a part of the framing, the metal will probably now be stripped out once you remove the original screw. You only option will be to use fatter screws, and hope the material the screws go into is not all buggered out.

I have a problem with the screws holding on my fender skirts on my camper. Unfortunately there is no backing for the screw to actually go into. It's just aluminum sheet metal against aluminum sheet metal. When the screws broke through, my only option was a larger screw. That lasted only so long, and then I eventually had to put some kind of a backer behind each screw so the screws had something to actually hook into. I used small pieces of 1/4 inch plywood. This worked well, they not broken out since I did this simple fix.

But, there are multiple screws on my slide out and around the body that screw into nothing. Removing them is more destructive than leaving them. I did apply a bit of clear calking over the top of each screw to help water proof the hole and to protect the rusting screws.

[Eldergioe]

FYI. These came out of interior walls. Concerning exterior screw problems. If I take a screw out and it strips, I put an aluminum rivet in it's place.

[mlh]

I would find out why they were rusty and fix the problem IF there is a problem. Then you can replace them with stainless steel the same size or a size larger. If the screws came out of the holes without stripping out a screw will go back in. If they stripped out use a larger screw. If you have no 8 screws and they are stripped out they are about .160 inch and that is the tap size for a no. 10 screw. Perfect. The advantage of screws is you can take them out if you should ever need to.
Lynwood

[Kfinnert]

There is a moisture issue, but it could be nothing more than where you live. I live near the Pacific Ocean and everything metal eventually rusts.

Question - Was there staining on the old curtains from water? If not, then I don't think you have a water issue at that location. If so, then you may an investigation ahead of you to locate the leak and seal it!

You mentioned you had a prior water issue with a slide? I think this could have been the source of your moisture; it takes the RV time to completely dry out. Mine is never completely dry; we just open it up, air it out and throw on the heater when necessary.... Full-timers have this concern too.

Best of Luck...