Opinions on replacing roof skin on 2023 Hawk

[RLS]

I got into some nasty hail up in N.E. Calif. and it dimpled the roof skin pretty severely. It did not puncture the skin, thankfully. I'll be selling the camper soon, (not because of the roof damage), but am looking to replacing the skin before the sale. I don't want to try to explain to every person interested in it that the damage is absolutely cosmetic. I know how I would feel seeing that roof skin. I'm interested in opinions on FWC one piece skin vs ATC two piece skin. What would you think as a prospective buyer?
Thanks,
Rick

 

[Vic Harder]

A prospective buyer who would care about hail dimples will likely want a new flat single piece roof. And a prospective buyer who understands campers and especially FWC/ATC won't care about dimples and might prefer the two piece roof too. Just my $0.02

 

[RLS]

I'm thinking pretty much along the same lines as you, Vic.
Thanks

 

[Jon R]

Is your insurance paying for the replacement?

 

[RLS]

Nope. Paying for re-skinng myself. FWC charges a bit more than ATC, but I'm mainly interested in opinions on one-piece vs two-piece skins.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

If you replace, I recommend going with the ATC screwed down version. Having owned a FWC with an oil canning roof, I’d never get another.

 

[pods8]

What is the cost to reskin it versus the deprecation as-is? Sure some perspective buyers might be turned off but the campers are popular and as long is it was appropriately priced many more would understand its just the nature of the beast on these things.

I know as a buyer I'd rather save $XXXX dollars on the purchase to have a "broken in" camper versus paying for a fresh roof that will get damaged within a few years anyways.

 

[RLS]

Yes, curious as to folks' opinion on the two roof types, my secondary dilemma is do I spring for a new roof or just sell the camper as "broken in" It would just make it a whole lot easier to show the camper with a clean roof and not have to work at convincing prospective buyers that it's strictly a cosmetic issue. That's just me Not sure I could recoup the 3K +/- repair, on the sale of the camper, though.

 

[Vic Harder]

I'd not pay $3k for a roof that was not leaking and nobody sees besides me.

 

[RLS]

I appreciate that opinion, Vic

 

[Taku]

Think selling as is is going to be a whole lot easier than paying to have the roof redone and not sure you would get the money back in the selling price.

 

[BBZ]

I bought mine in 2020 and it looked exactly like that and I was not the least bit concerned, it is strictly cosmetic. May even increase aerodynamics due to the dimpling like a golf ball.. haha, kidding..

 

[pods8]

I think there are two groups of FWC buyers:
Those that understand this is a 40+ year old design that is durable, functional, and roofs inevitably get beat up and pretty much any camper that is at least 10yrs old (or less) will have a degree of dimpling. This group also remembers when these units cost ALOT less.

Those that are only familiar with the new pricing structure and with that cost structure expect high end fit/finish to justify such high prices. Maybe some from the latter group will be turned off by the roof dimples but its only because they're naive about what is eventually going to happen.

Frankly I think you'll find a buyer as-is as long as you depreciated the camper a bit accordingly. Just disclose its "broken in", that it doesn't leak and eventually all roofs end up looking like this so you have priced the camper accordingly and saved the buyer some money for what is inevitable. If the buy wants to reskin it that is at their discretion with the price adjustment.

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

I think there are two groups of FWC buyers:
Those that understand this is a 40+ year old design that is durable, functional, and roofs inevitably get beat up and pretty much any camper that is at least 10yrs old (or less) will have a degree of dimpling. This group also remembers when these units cost ALOT less.

Those that are only familiar with the new pricing structure and with that cost structure expect high end fit/finish to justify such high prices. Maybe some from the latter group will be turned off by the roof dimples but its only because they're naive about what is eventually going to happen.

Frankly I think you'll find a buyer as-is as long as you depreciated the camper a bit accordingly. Just disclose its "broken in", that it doesn't leak and eventually all roofs end up looking like this so you have priced the camper accordingly and saved the buyer some money for what is inevitable. If the buy wants to reskin it that is at their discretion with the price adjustment.

IMO I have to agree with pods8. 3 grand for a nice/clean/new roof is not wroth the time/money
you will shell out. I wouldn't even think about replacing a perfectly good/leak proof roof.
If there were leaks that would be a different issue.
Place it up for sale and see what the market will do.
My best guess is with a reasonable price it won't last but a few days on the sale thread.
Try and not to over think it.
Frank

 

[RLS]

I bought mine in 2020 and it looked exactly like that and I was not the least bit concerned, it is strictly cosmetic. May even increase aerodynamics due to the dimpling like a golf ball.. haha, kidding..

Haha My wife said exactly the same thing. And she doesn't even golf.

Thanks to everyone. It puts it more into perspective.

 

[Jon R]

You can describe your roof as “hand-hammered.”

 

[kmcintyre]

Sending you a PM.

IMHO, there are 2 things to consider:
a) FWC "tin canning" issues. Not good and they don't seem to think it's an issue but the 1 piece roof has some advantages that there are no screws, leak issues because of screws, less maintenance.
b) ATC 2 piece roof. Opposite of a) and probably a lot cheaper. Tried and true roof construction.

If you have cross bars, etc. on the roof and solar like you do, the "tin canning" probably isn't an issue as there are screws in the roof and maybe a reason to just do b) above.

If I was a buyer, I'm not sure what I'd want. I like the 1 piece roof due to lower maintenance but I really dislike the "tin canning". It wakes us up and happens even if we push the sides, etc. I suspect FWC will eventually resolve the issue but that won't help those of us who have the issue unless they do a "recall" and I suspect that won't happen.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Sending you a PM.

IMHO, there are 2 things to consider:
a) FWC "tin canning" issues. Not good and they don't seem to think it's an issue but the 1 piece roof has some advantages that there are no screws, leak issues because of screws, less maintenance.
b) ATC 2 piece roof. Opposite of a) and probably a lot cheaper. Tried and true roof construction.

If you have cross bars, etc. on the roof and solar like you do, the "tin canning" probably isn't an issue as there are screws in the roof and maybe a reason to just do b) above.

If I was a buyer, I'm not sure what I'd want. I like the 1 piece roof due to lower maintenance but I really dislike the "tin canning". It wakes us up and happens even if we push the sides, etc. I suspect FWC will eventually resolve the issue but that won't help those of us who have the issue unless they do a "recall" and I suspect that won't happen.

Our Grandby had Yakima a solar panel, tracks and bars, and a loud oil can issue. Staying asleep was difficult. It was sold, with full disclosure, for that reason. My optimism about resolution is non existent.

 

[pods8]

Our Grandby had Yakima a solar panel, tracks and bars, and a loud oil can issue. Staying asleep was difficult. It was sold, with full disclosure, for that reason. My optimism about resolution is non existent.

Sounds strongly like I should be looking at a corrugated version on my build then...

 

[Vic Harder]

Sounds strongly like I should be looking at a corrugated version on my build then...

Good plan