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How to remove gutter spouts from TT

Bank_of_Dad
Explorer
Explorer
I have a 6 year old 23ft Puma Aluminum travel trailer. I live in South Florida so I use it all winter and then cover it for summer and leave it on the storage lot. The cover keeps it clean and minimizes sun damage. Usually an ADCO cover.
But every year, even tho it is padded and no sharp edges, I get holes from the gutter spouts. I have used pool noodles, small light weight plastic balls, tennis balls, bubble wrap and foam on those spouts. Even if the padding stays on all summer, which doesn't always happen, the padded spout eventually wears and tears thru the cover. I am lucky if a cover lasts me two seasons. And yes, I buy the correct size. It is very windy here all summer and fall and the cover shifts no matter how I tie it down.
So now I am thinking of just removing those spouts. They came attached with the trailer, and seem to be attached with just the caulk and putty around the seams.

Has anyone taken their's off, and how did that work?

Thanks.
12 REPLIES 12

CFerguson
Explorer
Explorer
3 of mine just fell off in a stiff wind (as in motoring down the highway). I pulled the other one with a slight tug and replaced them all with caulked better ones.

whjco
Explorer
Explorer
My cover is in its second season of use. I just slit tennis balls and put them over the gutter drains and haven't had any perforation of the cover at any of the four corners.
Bill J., Lexington, KY
2006 Starcraft 2500RKS 25' Travel Trailer
2015 Ram 2500 Big Horn 6.7 Cummins.

Dick_B
Explorer
Explorer
or use a Sunshield tarp. They come in several thicknesses. I hold down mine with boat fenders half filled with sand.
Dick_B
2003 SunnyBrook 27FKS
2011 3/4 T Chevrolet Suburban
Equal-i-zer Hitch
One wife, two electric bikes (both Currie Tech Path+ models)

ScottG
Nomad
Nomad
Just shorten them with a hacksaw.

bobndot
Explorer II
Explorer II
Cover the water deflectors. Cut a hole in a tennis ball.

go to youtube
RV Cover Rescue - Gutter Spout Covering System For Campers

dodge_guy
Explorer II
Explorer II
Do not remove them. The water will run down the side instead of being pushed away from the trailer. This will eventually wick its way into the seam and start rotting it. I always used bubble wrap on the corners of mine and it never wore through.
Wife Kim
Son Brandon 17yrs
Daughter Marissa 16yrs
Dog Bailey

12 Forest River Georgetown 350TS Hellwig sway bars, BlueOx TrueCenter stabilizer

13 Ford Explorer Roadmaster Stowmaster 5000, VIP Tow>
A bad day camping is
better than a good day at work!

BB_TX
Nomad
Nomad
If you remove them you will probably end up with dark streaks down the side of the trailer where the water runs down.

Lwiddis
Explorer II
Explorer II
If not one screw, cut them off.
Winnebago 2101DS TT & 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTZ Z71, WindyNation 300 watt solar-Lossigy 200 AH Lithium battery. Prefer boondocking, USFS, COE, BLM, NPS, TVA, state camps. Bicyclist. 14 yr. Army -11B40 then 11A - (MOS 1542 & 1560) IOBC & IOAC grad

Beverley_Ken
Explorer
Explorer
Slightly off topic, but maybe consider having a 'patch' /reinforcement seen over affected areas. Maybe have these patches, mods shapped or cupped to accept the spout tennis ball.
I would think that a good tent maker, could do this for less than the costs of a new cover. They could be made to match or compliment your cover.

Ken
2006 Winnebago Outlook 29B E-450.
2012 Honda CR-V AWD
Blue Ox Aventa LX tow bar and Brake Buddy Vantage.

Yosemite_Sam1
Explorer
Explorer
Yosemite Sam1 wrote:
It's usually held by one screw each at both ends and slips in a runner and can be pulled at one end.


Sorry, you might have different design.

Mine is just a strip of rubber/plastic folded upwards to catch flowing water off the roof.

Yosemite_Sam1
Explorer
Explorer
It's usually held by one screw each at both ends and slips in a runner and can be pulled at one end.

A1RVTraveler
Explorer
Explorer
I have replaced a few of these and almost every one of them had one screw that had to be removed. It was usually located under some caulk or under the plastic edging that covers the awning rail screws. A little prying was necessary to wiggle the gutter spout out from under the metal edging.