Removing Roadtrek 210 interior panels for wiring and repairs

[TWX]

I have no set plans yet requiring me to do this, but I was wondering what the best way of detaching the upholstered interior is, this sort of paneling:

View media item 447359
The sorts of things I'm looking to do to the vehicle would be installing ham radio equipment, reworking the AV setup, installing a wired backup camera, adding 12V sockets for direct 12V power to accessories, etc. Most of this will require opening up the walls, and I'd rather not destroy something that isn't readily replaced.

Any suggestions for how to remove the Roadtrek-specific interior upholstery would be much appreciated.

 

[peteco]

A plastic pry tool will pop these buttons off.

 

[youngnretired]

While I can't help with the panel removal, I'll say that last year I added a wireless and solar powered camera system to ous that I installed above the rear doors. After adding the main camera and monitor, i also added a wireless solar camera to the license plate area for a dual camera system.

Amazon.com: AUTO VOX Wireless Backup Camera Solar Magnetic: with 7.2" DVR 1080P 2 Split Recording Monitor, Dual Antenna Stable Signal,IP69K & 1-Min Install,HD IR Night Vision for Truck, Trailer, RV, Camper : Electronics

 

[TWX]

A plastic pry tool will pop these buttons off.

What sort of buttons are they? Are they installed onto snaps like these?

Just want to make sure I'm not going to damage anything in the process.

 

[TWX]

While I can't help with the panel removal, I'll say that last year I added a wireless and solar powered camera system to ous that I installed above the rear doors. After adding the main camera and monitor, i also added a wireless solar camera to the license plate area for a dual camera system.

Amazon.com: AUTO VOX Wireless Backup Camera Solar Magnetic: with 7.2" DVR 1080P 2 Split Recording Monitor, Dual Antenna Stable Signal,IP69K & 1-Min Install,HD IR Night Vision for Truck, Trailer, RV, Camper : Electronics

If we keep the Jayco travel trailer I might look into something like this for it. Admittedly I do tend to prefer hardwiring my accessories most of the time.

 

[youngnretired]

Here's the corresponding wireless license plate camera that goes with the main unit and the suction cup mount. The license plate pocket on the Express chassis doesn't allow this camera to be installed at the top of the plate due to the recessed pocket that the plate area is in. So I bolted the camera to the bottom holes in the license plate, and then secured the plate to the chassis with the top holes. I set the cameras up to stay on for 2 minutes (you need to press the button on the cigarette lighter power to the main unit to turn the cameras on) and if you operate them this way, we've never had to physically charge the cameras. The large main unit will operate for approximately 8 hours before it needs a charge if you set it up to be on continuously. I was going to operate them this way because the 210 is so wide and the rear door frames are right in the middle of the rear view mirror that it's hard to see the traffic behind you, but decided against doing this as after driving the 210 for a while, I got used to the lack of rear view.

Amazon.com: Second Wireless Backup Camera for AUTO-VOX Solar3A Plus & Solar5 Series Only, 1080P Back Up Camera for Car with 5000mAh Solar & USB Rechargeable Battery, IP69K Waterproof Reverse Camera : Electronics

Amazon.com

 

[teslasmuse]

taking my own 2011 apart to chase down a leak so I can say with good authority the plastic caps pop off the buttons and there is likely a square head screw underneath, probably a #1. I have a Furrion wireless Bluetooth back and front camera that the dealership installed for me, they had to buy me a new Cool Cat airconditioner after they ruined mine by screwing into it, so don't accidentally do that when you mount yours

 

[JGreen-ClassB]

Looking at your picture I may have a similar leak in my 2008 210. Do you find the source of the leak? Thanks!

 

[teslasmuse]

not yet, and that panel is anchored on the side and bottom and looks too complicated to remove and there's too much wool insulation to see what's going on, it may be traveling from somewhere, I had the dealership remove the wineguard and they ran the solar through it so I was going to get above it and see if I can tell from the outside. luckily my little hand held upholstery machine will get the water stains out and Montana is arid so it will dry out when it stops raining. this just appeared a couple of weeks ago. sigh.

 

[youngnretired]

Our 08210P had a similar leak when we got it last year. I pulled off the outermost right side marker light, added more butyl tape and reinstalled, issue went away. It is fun getting to those marker lights. I used a friends 5th wheel trailer, pulled up next to it, set my ladder on the trailer and got at it from there. Otherwise it's so far inboard that I was concerned the ladder would fall over as you're trying to get so far onto the top of it.

It could also be the mount for the awning.

 

[teslasmuse]

oh no, I was going to try taking it to the semi car wash where there's a staircase on the wall and a platform to wash the roof. that might not be close enough it seems

 

[youngnretired]

You can try it, it may work. I'd like to find an easy and SAFE way of accessing that area. I have put a ladder on the side of the RT while it's in the storage unit and accessed the rear AC cover. The storage unit is narrow enough where any side pushing on the ladder didn't go anywhere as the wall was there. That may work as well.

 

[teslasmuse]

they ran the wiring for the Furrion front camera through one of those lights so I wonder if it's related to that since they took so little notice of the air conditioner and then didn't weather seal the new ac when they swapped them out.

 

[youngnretired]

It's a possibility that's where the leak is from

 

[teslasmuse]

it's raining so I don't feel like going out and looking now

 

[youngnretired]

Probably not a good time. When we got ours, I took ours out and sat it just outside of the storage unit when it stormed/poured rain to see what/if/where water came in and it leaked from the front area like yours. There's a difference between regular rain and wind driven rain (like driving in the rain) where the water may be coming from too. So if it leaks when it's sitting and not too windy, the water may be coming in from the top of an item, but if it leaks when you drive it and not when it's sitting, it may be the sides/bottom of where it's leaking from. Keep that in mind too.

 

[teslasmuse]

yeah, i drove it thousands of miles down to AZ and back over the winter and it never leaked again after they finally water sealed the AC, but that storm was like 45mph winds with rain so i thought it was just the angle of the rain until it got worse, now it's too much to ignore. one nice thing about that white linen fabric is it shows the leaks well, but then cleans up nicely, too

 

[mik mikgil@icloud.com]

I have no set plans yet requiring me to do this, but I was wondering what the best way of detaching the upholstered interior is, this sort of paneling:

View media item 447359
The sorts of things I'm looking to do to the vehicle would be installing ham radio equipment, reworking the AV setup, installing a wired backup camera, adding 12V sockets for direct 12V power to accessories, etc. Most of this will require opening up the walls, and I'd rather not destroy something that isn't readily replaced.

Any suggestions for how to remove the Roadtrek-specific interior upholstery would be much appreciated.

Mine just popped off with flat blade screwdriver. There were #2 Robertson (square drive) screws behind the buttons but it was also stapled to the wood all along the top of the paneling/liner. About 40 more small Robertons #3 screws around the window frame perimeter. Needed 3 different Robertson screw drivers sizes
Many were rusted up and unusable. Fiberglass insulation was soaked like a sponge.

 

[cptnjohn]

I have no set plans yet requiring me to do this, but I was wondering what the best way of detaching the upholstered interior is, this sort of paneling:

View media item 447359
The sorts of things I'm looking to do to the vehicle would be installing ham radio equipment, reworking the AV setup, installing a wired backup camera, adding 12V sockets for direct 12V power to accessories, etc. Most of this will require opening up the walls, and I'd rather not destroy something that isn't readily replaced.

Any suggestions for how to remove the Roadtrek-specific interior upholstery would be much appreciated.

Plastic pry tools are helpful - also … note the length if the screw and write it on a piece of tape - put tape next to the hole! (I’ve removed all if the interior panels on my 2013 RT Adventurous RS and wish I’d done this)

 

[TWX]

Thanks all, will have to get back to it for some more testing.