Community Forums

1rdrgrl · 06-01-2023, 10:20 AM

We have this buckling around the lights on our 2021 trailer, the dealer wants to take off the cap and put shims underneath (this is what the manufacturer authorized) to see if this will work before a full front replacement.
Has anyone had this problem, and did shims fix it? We are really going back and forth on this. I am nervous it's going to make it worse. Thoughts please.

jergle · 06-01-2023, 11:37 AM

It's hard to tell much from the picture, but "buckling" usually means delamination, most often caused by water intrusion. I would be more worried about a water leak causing that. I've certainly never heard of using shims to fix anything like that. I would inspect your caulking very carefully, and get a second opinion ASAP.

Tomahawk · 06-01-2023, 09:24 PM

I had to remove the window in my curved cap due to a water leak. I got a chance to look at the construction, it was a 2x2 frame with a thin skin on the inner and outer surface. This was different than the laminated construction (outer skin, Styrofoam, inner skin) used on the side walls. I could see someone removing the inner skin, adding more framing, stapling the outer skin to the new bracing, and then re-installing the inner skin. I replaced some framing and glued it to the inner and outer skins with epoxy.
Tom

mokurt · 06-02-2023, 02:42 AM

(this is what the manufacturer authorized)

Is the trailer under warranty?

Boogie_ · 06-02-2023, 08:12 PM

Tell them you want will want to inspect the siding and framework after they get it disassembled and before any repairs are done.
Get it in writing.

saddlesore · 06-02-2023, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boogie_

Tell them you want will want to inspect the siding and framework after they get it disassembled and before any repairs are done.
Get it in writing.

Damn Straight...

bneukam · 06-02-2023, 08:58 PM

Agree, these curved walls are not a laminated wall that’s found on the side walls.

They are formed with slats that have foam board and frame work that run horizontal. The fiberglass has a Luan backing and is floating over the top.

If it’s solid and doesn’t have any give, I wouldn’t worry about it. Probably just cosmetic from over torquing those screws.

Agree with you, I’d be worried you could end up with more issues than what you have now.

tuffr2 · 06-03-2023, 02:13 AM

This is the second time I read about this kinda thing on this forum. So it does happen with the thin front cap.

From the picture I can not tell if it is delamination or thin construction. Either way it needs fixed.

I like the idea of getting it in writing that you want to see the construct when the dealer gets is apart.

1rdrgrl · 06-04-2023, 01:45 PM

Okay, thank you-we'll get it in writing and make sure it's done right either way.

Over here · 06-10-2023, 11:56 AM

That, sir/ma’am is not a cap. A “cap” is typically a 1 piece fiberglass structure that extends from the roof all the way to the bottom front and wraps around the sides to enclose the entire front of the rig. They are immune to delam because the are not laminated to begin with.
You may have a leak causing delamination.