Corner trim - Page 2

**Bill** · 05-28-2017, 10:03 AM

I think I am a bit confused. In post number 23 in the thread at
http://www.trailmanorowners.com/foru...ad.php?t=17109
I did indeed say that removing the corner trim is a PITA, and I recommended leaving it in place. I gave this advice based on my own recent experience, in which I had removed both of the front corner pieces, meaning the ones that curve around the top corner of the front shell, and down to the lower edge of the shell. And I broke them.

All of these pieces are simple molded plastic, and they are glued onto the surfaces beneath them. There are no tracks, no inserts, and no screws. As shown in the second picture, the pieces are glued on with GLOBS of glue under them. The glue is not a sealant and is not intended to seal the joint. It simply holds the pieces in place. Then the joint is sealed by caulking the edges of the pieces, just like the caulking along the edges of the strip down the center of the roof. There is no reason, it turns out, to remove the corner pieces. So are we talking about different trim pieces?

When I hear mention of tracks and screws and inserts, I am lost. I'm hoping to see photos of what you find.

As a separate issue, in post #15 in that same thread, Shane pointed out a cup-like abrasive wheel with rubber fingers, to be used for removing the last vestiges of caulk. At the time I thought it was rather expensive, so I didn't buy one. More recently I found something quite similar at Ace Hardware for about $7. Like a rotary wire brush, the fingers extend out straight from the edge of the wheel, rather than sideways from the face of the wheel. It does a really good job at removing the last of the sealant, once you have removed the bulk of the sealant with a razor knife or paint scraper. Wish I could find a picture ... Aha!

Bill

Shane826 · 05-28-2017, 10:53 AM

Nice work. I guess we were talking about different pieces. I just ordered the front corner pieces that go down the leading edges of the front shell.

Larryjb · 05-28-2017, 11:18 AM

OK, now I see the point of confusion, I think. The corners and edges of our TM are made differently. My 4th picture has the best picture of the assembled trim. That trim is all one piece from the lower front corner, up the wall and along the edge of the roof. The centre piece is a removable vinyl strip which exposes the screws. Also, the front wall skin overlaps with the side wall skin, so there is little chance of water getting in the seam here.

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Did they change the trim? If so, I like what I have. Comparatively easy to remove.

**Bill** · 05-28-2017, 03:10 PM

Definitely different. I like yours better, too. Interesting change, since my TM is a 2006 and yours is a 2001.

Bill

Larryjb · 05-28-2017, 06:33 PM

When I do the other side I'll take more pictures of the seam under the trim. It's very different from yours. I think they took some shortcuts in the newer ones!

Larryjb · 08-04-2019, 11:29 PM

I'm revisiting this thread as I have re-evaluated what I am doing a little. Bill said he liked my corner trim better. I'm walking to the other side of the fence on this one to say I like Bill's better. There are seams that are barely covered as the roof curves over the end. My corner trim is not wide enough to cover this seam so it relies heavily on exposed sealant.

Two years ago I said I would not monkey with the long screws holding the wall to the roof. I would now recommend backing each screw out, one by one, to oodd some sealant around the threads. This method is for superior than just going over the screw heads. There are groups of 3 screws on the top at each end of the roof, then single screws about every 3 feet. Given my recent wall separation, I added one more screw on the roof above the lift arm. I used a skinny bit to go down through to the wall frame. Then I used a fatter bit to go the roof so the threads would be free around the roof skin. This way I know that when the screw tightens, it is gripping the wall, not just the roof skin.

**Camping Carpenters** · 08-05-2019, 08:48 AM

Larry - we're just starting to see some issues with the front street side corner that a PO must have repaired at some point. No leakage, but there is damage to an interior wall corner under the molding that makes us think this corner of the TM got hit at some point, and there are 4 screws through the OUTSIDE wall of the TM (could those also leak?).
Thank you Bill and Larry for the discussion on the outside corner pieces - what an eye opener. Our 2005 has got the same wide outside corner trim as Bills', so I don't think we will take on removing it, since there is no true exterior problem right now. My wife caulked all of those edges previously; now I've got to consider how to repair the interior corner under the molding and replace the upper shell bottom seal (my other post). A big THANKS!

Larryjb · 08-05-2019, 09:04 AM

Could you snap a picture of the four screws you are talking about?

**Camping Carpenters** · 08-05-2019, 05:13 PM

Lower corner of outside molding - same type of corner mold as Bills' TM. Cannot see them on the inside. We haven't had a leak, but this corner apparently had some type of damage.

Larryjb · 08-05-2019, 05:24 PM

From the inside, does the front wall appear to have separated, or have been separated from the side wall?

If yes, these screws were probably added to keep the walls together. My guess is that is was not the problem, but if it there is/were a wall separation, I'd recommend fixing it right. This would be easier than you'd think, although as Bill says, the plastic trim would be a pain to remove.

If there was no wall separation, then probably the corner trim got caught on something and had to be screwed back. I might remove the screws and add some Proflex RV sealant to the threads.