Underbelly - Proper way to access

That looks an awful lot like a hex screw with a bunch of sealer around the head. Might want to scrape it off and get a better look. An easy way to check without removing the belly panels is to cut a small access port. Cut it with 3 cut sides, leaving the "hinge" side to the front of the trailer. You can then swing it down to have a look around, then use some Gorilla tape, or the like, to seal it back up. Also, are you sure that the duct is between the floor and the belly covering?

Lyle

Those look like power driven nails same thing they use for shooting nails into concrete I don't know if you can remove them. Agree with Lyle cut 3 sides and Gorilla tape

Those are 'self penetrating' fasteners (nails) used by Ramset/Hilti Guns which use a .22 caliber shell to 'shoot' the fastener in.



You COULD grip them with a pair of vise grips and tug/yank/twist to try and remove...good luck with that

OR

Just cut a three side window in the coroplast material......uncut side to front of rig.
Access/do repairs then close up the window with Gorilla tape



I have two such windows in my underbelly and they are still held close with Gorilla Tape

"I need to look behind the underbelly of the trailer for a disconnected heater duct on my new 2018 Cougar 25RES"

Why? Let the dealer fix it under warranty.

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Those are 'self penetrating' fasteners (nails) used by Ramset/Hilti Guns which use a .22 caliber shell to 'shoot' the fastener in.

You COULD grip them with a pair of vise grips and tug/yank/twist to try and remove...good luck with that

OR

Yea, those are hardened steel, unlikely to pull out and difficult to cut off.

So a small access port is the best idea if you know where to cut it. If you need a larger access area, you can cut the coroplast around each nail leaving it intact. Then reinstall the coroplast with new metal screws and washers at different points. Also tape over all cuts in the coroplast.

For what it's worth. That sure seems like a poor way to fasten the underbelly by not allowing any easy access to it. Time is money I guess....

B.O.

tommygun714 wrote:
Hi,

I need to look behind the underbelly of the trailer for a disconnected heater duct on my new 2018 Cougar 25RES

The main heater duct is right up against the plywood floor and the floor vents are simply cut thru the plywood, so there is nothing that can be disconnected. There are one or two round ducts that connect the main duct to the upstairs floor vents in the bathroom and bedroom. Those could be disconnected, but they are accessed from the basement NOT the underbelly. The rear wall of the basement storage area should be held in place with a few screws.

Every fifth wheel I have seen, the underbelly area does not provide access to the furnace ducting. There is a second waterproof barrier across the TOP of the I-beams and the furnace duct is above it. In fact your picture shows that second layer, it runs the full width of the trailer and a flexible fabric while the coroplast just runs across the bottom of the I-beams.

I was reading this and saw that this was the case with a new Keystone RV: http://www.keystoneforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31597&page=2

Very similar to my issue. Wanted to check.

Am I missing something? You say it's a 2018, I'd take it back to the dealer with this concern and let them fix it or explain what's going on. I would not start cutting on a 2018. My 2 cents. rich

Rich&Mar wrote:
Am I missing something? You say it's a 2018, I'd take it back to the dealer with this concern and let them fix it or explain what's going on. I would not start cutting on a 2018. My 2 cents. rich

Oh, I agree. Just want to know myself what is going on if I can. They will have it for a week. Also two weeks to get it into a repair slot.