side wall seams 05 HR

[Poppa J]

I have a 2005 HR ambassador. Recently I have found that the seam cover that runs along the top length of the coach has been coming loose in some spots. I have found that screws that the factory installed were either popping out or broken off. So I have been having to remove the rubber trim and reinstall new hardware. Has anyone else had this problem ? Any factory recourse?

[Rex]

No there is no recourse. You are on your own. The problem can be one of two - first the screws may have been tightened too much. Second they may have rusted and broke. If yours are rusted, then you have water getting inside the trim and this is generally due to cracked caulk. The trim strip is caulked top and bottom. I put 3/16 diameter pop rivets in mine and that is working fine.

Another area where you may experience a similar problem is the belt trim between the basement and the floor of the coach. This trim strip is not easy to remove. It has 3M trim tape on the back side and that stuff sticks real good and must be cut loose. It can be done with great care without damaging the paint but you have to work slowly and in a wide area. If you bend it too much you will crack the paint. You can clean the trim tape off once you the piece off and then put new tape on the coach first then stick the strip to it. If you notice bumps in this strip, the screws are coming off.

[TEDDE]

we have a 05 HR Secptre and am very interested in this problem. Is it confined to your model of coach or ?????I can not quite understand where the problem is on the top/roof?? I will be checking mine a little more closely. My roof is a one piece fiberglass piece, is that what you mean by the screws comming loose where the top meets the sides??

Having trouble understanding this issue and where to look..

Thx
Ted

[Rex]

Tedde the problem is at two points. One where the roof rolls down to meet the side. That joint has problems on many different models and different years. The side seam just at the top of the basement compartments is the other location.

If you have a full body paint, then repairing the roof-to-wall seam could make repainting that area may also be needed.

[TEDDE]

Thanks Rex..Yes I have full body paint. I will check the areas that you have been discussing.

Man this is a great forum...

Thx
Ted

[Poppa J]

Thank you all for the response. I believe I have a handle on it. I do like the pop rivet approach the best. Thanks again


Poppa J
05 38ft. Ambassador 2011 Ford Escape

[Rex]

When you use pop rivets, cover the hole with a bit of caulk before you put the cover back on. Not much, just enough to seal it so it keeps any water out that may get behind the cover.