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Jerry13 · 06-15-2011, 02:43 PM

I have a 1997 Vanguard Legend 28' fifth wheel. It had a leak in the front that I repaired but now need to replace some paneling. The job would be considerable simpler if I could remove some overhead cabinets but am unable to see how they are attached to the unit. There are no countersunk screws, no moulding to hide attachments and they are very solid.. I am a bit of a handyman but this has me stumped. Anyone with any experience here?

wingnut60 · 06-16-2011, 05:25 PM

You might have a trailer that was built with some good carpentry--perhaps the screws are countersunk, then covered over and stained? Or maybe power-bradded and the brads aren't visible? Every unit I have had has had visible screws.
Joe

Jerry13 · 06-19-2011, 08:20 AM

Thanks for the response. I started to actually dismantle one cabinet to see what was going on. It turns out they are partially "built in place" so that's the only way they will come out. On to plan B whatever that is.

Dogpatch · 06-19-2011, 08:48 AM

You could cut the paneling around the cabinets, replace with new and use a small molding that can be pin-nailed to the paneling as well to the side of the cabinet.

Papa_Jim · 06-19-2011, 08:57 AM

When we renovated our coach, I faced the same problem when trying to remove one cabinet.

Learned that after the cabinet was installed, false interior walls and floor had been built to hide all the carpentry installation work, making the interior of the cabinets totally smooth. The walls were precision cut and pressed into place. It took a bit of careful prying to get the wall pulled away. Then it was simple to remove the screws holding the cabinet to the wall.

Dogpatch · 06-19-2011, 09:18 AM

What Jim is saying is correct. You will notice that all the walls and bases of the cabinets are thick. Usually about an inch. I learned this running speaker wires as there is paneling installed on each side of a frame. The interior panels are attached using small brad nails. The panels are easily popped off using a chisel. This will expose all the screws where cabinets are mounted to walls. There is a lot of wiring also run in the false bases of the cabinets to content with.