Easy way to install vinyl trim insert

wanether wrote:
Here it is 45 degrees and raining in Portland and I'm replacing the vinyl trim inserts on my Jayco. Installing the new stuff was slow going, I would pinch about 12 inches and then squeeze it in the channel, the temperature outside wasn't helping much either. After about 30 minutes of struggling and cursing I figured there had to be a better way.

I learned that the trick is to place about a 12 inch run in the bottom of the channel and then run a plastic tool along the top edge. Worked like a charm. The key is to angle the tool in the direction you'll be going, it helps with keeping it in place, see photos. I still had problem in the corners and ended up have to cut notches on the inside part of the curves, still didn't look 100%. Probably a combination of cold temps and maybe poor product, I used "RV Designer" insert from Camping World. The plastic tool is something I picked up at Harbor Freight, they come in a pack of assorted sizes.

Moderator edit to re-size pictures to forum limit of 640px maximum size.

Even better and what a lot of the insert sellers recommend is the screen door molding insert tool that has the plastic wheels on each end that are "V" shaped and some have the edge with a slight "U" in them to hold the rubber screen door molding in place better. You can get these are your local Lowe's/HD or hardware store. The does the same as you plastic trim tool, but it glides over the molding much smoother and you can apply the correct pressure without the tool "grabbing" and being hard to move down the molding. The wheel also stays against the edge of the metal easier.



Larry