Forum Discussion

mellow's avatar
mellow
Explorer
Aug 08, 2016

RV Trim

I really hate this stuff, I actually get stressed out when I know I need to work with it. I have tried everything, putting it in hot water, blowtorch, microwave, it is just the pits to work with this stuff.

I thought doing the straight rails was bad, I have to do the rail for under the bunk, OMG I was pulling my hair out yesterday trying to keep it in the rail going around the corner, I ended up giving up after an hour of fighting the stuff.

Is there a special tool the RV manufacturers use to put this stuff on? There has to be an easier way.

Truck Campers
  • jimh406's avatar
    jimh406
    Explorer III
    Aug 08, 2016
    Just stay with the screen tool until you figure it out. The angle is important. It should be relatively easy if you are doing it right and shouldn't take that much pressure. I used the round screen roller tool.
  • 2oldman's avatar
    2oldman
    Explorer II
    Aug 08, 2016
    mellow wrote:
    Funny how I could not pull this thread up searching on here, found it through google.
    Cool. Whole chunks of data is invisible to the search engine on here.
  • anutami's avatar
    anutami
    Explorer III
    Aug 08, 2016
    I just replaced all of mine (approx. 150 feet!!), and it went in very easy. I used the camco brand and it was very flexible. Are you sure you have the right size? What brand are you using? I bought a screen roller and did not even need to use it.
  • DavidP's avatar
    DavidP
    Explorer
    Aug 08, 2016
    Camping World sells two versions. I used the premium or maybe they call it heavy duty. It was very easy to use and very pliable. I did just my rear corners that bend 90 degrees up to the roof. It was no problem making that bend. I noticed some of the stuff I looking at was very hard and not pliable at all. I did not have to use a roller. While changing out the trim I also one at a time removed every screw and filled the hole with pro-flex RV sealant.
  • NRALIFR's avatar
    NRALIFR
    Explorer
    Aug 08, 2016
    Unfortunately, you can pretty much count on anything made of vinyl that comes from China will be stiff and dimensionally unstable. Power cords, flooring tiles, vinyl trim, doesn't matter. It's a shame how we keep having to reinvent the wheel.

    If that stuff didn't come from China I'll...........eat three servings of shrimp and grits! :W

    :):)
  • jimh406's avatar
    jimh406
    Explorer III
    Aug 08, 2016
    I replaced mine with the extra thick type. It looks great and I don't think it will ever go bad. I was happy to get rid of the thin stuff that would have been easy to install. If you can easily install it without any tool help, it must be the thin type which is more normal or your fingers are super strong and blister resistant. :)
  • Vinsil's avatar
    Vinsil
    Explorer
    Aug 08, 2016
    I used to build RV's back in the day after HS...Coachmen.

    Anyway, we used a plastic stick, similar to a putty knife but about 1/2" wide. You would just it started and use the stick on one side and your fingers on the other to guide it in.

    It must the the brand, quality and wrong size for to be difficult, it should just slip right in. It is cosmetic screw covering, serves no other real function.
  • jimh406's avatar
    jimh406
    Explorer III
    Aug 08, 2016
    Vinsil, the point I was trying to make is the normal stuff that RVs come with isn't very durable and only survives a limited amount of time.

    Some of us upgrade, in my case so my DW won't have to get up on the top of the roof in a short skirt to cut it off when it pops out of the groove from driving down the interstate. This happened when she took it out by herself with her mother. Well, I'm sure not everyone's story is as colorful. ;)

    But, the point is being a tight fit isn't a bad thing.

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