fender skirts

[08quadram]

So, I was out walking around the passport today and noticed that BOTH fender skirts are broken. They were not like that when i parked it and no one has hit them. My guess is the cold weather (-18 F) and some apparent stress caused them to break. I've attached a couple of photos. The first is the passenger side and the 2nd is the drivers side. The camper isn't a year old yet, so I'm hoping they will send me new skirts I can install as I am over 2 hours from the dealer.

[JRTJH]

SHHHHHHHH <whispering> Don't tell everybody, but your skirts are the new "modular" prototypes..... They are designed that way so when the "China Bombs" self destruct, you won't have to replace the entire skirt, just the "affected area".................

Now, back to reality................ You're probably right, between super cold weather and some flexing, you've got some cracking going on. They may have been installed on a slightly bent molding section with a tad too tight screws, (if you look, all the cracks originate at a screw attachment point) or ???? who knows why they broke..... At any rate, there shouldn't be an issue getting replacements. Now, whether the dealer will order them without seeing the RV or not, that's a different situation. Talk to them, see if taking pictures will suffice or if they need to physically see the damage.....

Let's hope they'll take your pictures as "enough evidence" and order the new skirts for you. When you install them, don't tighten the screws too tightly as that may be why they cracked the first time.

[08quadram]

Thompson Family RV has been very good to work with and have gone out of their way to help me with the few warranty issues I've had. We shall see what I hear from them.

Yes, It appears to me that they broke at the screw locations. Don't know if there was pressure on the skirts from the lower brace or not, But I'll have to come up with a better installation method than those screws

[Ken / Claudia]

I got a crack in one at a screw also, now about inch long after about 8 months and now another near another screw as it has sat over winter. I thought about trying some glue and tape on the underside to stop it from getting longer but, think nothing will stop the crack due to flex and thin plastic. Anyone got a fix that worked.

[koko]

We have a cracked fender skirt, also cracked at the screw. The wind caught it within two days after we purchased the camper. It's on the slide, and the anchors below are very inadequate with not much to attach to. We reinforced the anchors temporarily. Part of the problem could have also been too-tight screw. We're dealing with Camping World in Kaysville, UT, about 175 miles from us. They wanted lots of pictures to send to Keystone. We're hoping for the best!

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by Ken / Claudia

I got a crack in one at a screw also, now about inch long after about 8 months and now another near another screw as it has sat over winter. I thought about trying some glue and tape on the underside to stop it from getting longer but, think nothing will stop the crack due to flex and thin plastic. Anyone got a fix that worked.

The only way I know of to stop a crack from extending is to stop-drill it. You can use a 1/8" drill, drill completely through the fender skirt at the current end of the crack. Check both sides of the plastic skirt to make sure exactly where the crack ends as it may be longer on one side than the other. If you do the drilling now, you'll stop the crack from getting longer. Then, when the weather is nicer and we've got some "over 70 days" mix some epoxy and back fill the cracks from the underside. It should protrude slightly on the outer surface, but not run or need to be tooled. Once the epoxy is dry, lightly sand it to conform to the contours, then touch it up with some automotive touchup paint that is close in color.

It's an easy job, but the most important part right now is to stop the crack from spreading. It's much easier to back-fill a 2" crack that's 1/16" wide than it is to back-fill a crack that extends completely from top to bottom of the fender skirt and has separated 1/4" or wider.

You may think a 1/8" drill is "too big" but really you want a hole wide enough to stop the stress created by the crack, so anything smaller usually won't stop the progress.

Good Luck,

[Ken / Claudia]

Thanks, I will do it.

[jljfstar]

I have a premier and after I parked it last October both skirts did the same thing after the first cold spell. I had the dealer order me a set and I put them on. I only put the screws in by hand so I knew they were not to tight. Anyway after it got cold again I noticed a few small cracks again on both sides again. I put a couple more self taping screws at the ends where there seemed to be some stress. I painted those to match. Also where the cracks were on the new skirts I used the black rubber like Electric tape in a can and filled the cracks and around the screw heads where the cracks start. Get at Walmart. It matches the skirt fine and also looks like it has stopped the crack from going any further. This looks like its going to be an ongoing problem with the keystone fender skirts. Just carry plenty of duck tape and extra screws. incase they start coming off on the road. I did order a spare set from the dealer just incase they really start to look bad or I loose one or both on the road. Tried ebay but they wanted to much for them. They are easy to put on and mine was the same on each side but had to cut one. Tin snips or a demerall tool works good for this. I think we will see a lot of this after this winter.

[CHIEF MK]

I'm surprised mine didn't completely come off in a wind storm in the fall. 50+ winds and those skirts were flapping around so bad I could see then moving in the mirror's. That was before I got tow mirrors, so they were really out there. I don't like the design at all. I thought I would just brace them up, but there's not much you can do.

[koko]

We just heard from Camping World yesterday. Keystone has authorized the replacement and labor for our cracked skirt on the slide side. Our Camping World guy said he's going to anchor it better when he replaces it (sounds like they've had experience). We can't get to him for at least another month and a half because of weather, but we were pleased that they moved on it so quickly. He said he'd be sending the cracked evidence back to Keystone.

[ozzie65]

Hello
If they do agree to send them to you , I would wait till it warms up to install. You can also put the flare up to the body and push with your finger at the screw hole and if it moves in and out and it is not flush to the body. You can put a small washer behind the flare at the screw hole so it doesn't create stress on the thin plastic. This may help it last longer. I just had mine replaced and thinking of ordering a set for the future. It's a very poor design.

[cabinfever]

I would add rubber washers to the screws if they do not already have them. If possible adding a rubber washer on the inside also. Kind of like cab mounts for the skirting.

[Clark]

Sorry about the crack on your fender, My 2012 passport has not cracked yet but one of the screws let go at the hole for the screw, I have tried to use a washer with no avail to hold it back on, Has anyone experienced this problem?, I was thinking of ordering a new fender but I am not sure what color it is champainge or copper,what did the 2012 come with anyone know?. Thanks .

[08quadram]

I received my new skirt today from the dealer. After looking them over, I see why they can break. Looks like the "little flat spots" where the screws attach do not site tight against the trailer. If they are over tightened, they will break. I like the idea of rubber washer behind. One of the things I always noticed when pulling was in windy situations, they would move quite a bit.
Has anyone thought of spraying the back side of the skirts with something like Hurculiner, or Rinoliner? Assuming that the product is compatible with the plastic, thoughts on if it would make the skirts less susceptible to flex and more durable in cold weather? That stuff is pretty tough. Thinking it might help keep the skirts from breaking in the cold if they are under any pressure.

[jsmith948]

Originally Posted by Clark

Sorry about the crack on your fender, My 2012 passport has not cracked yet but one of the screws let go at the hole for the screw, I have tried to use a washer with no avail to hold it back on, Has anyone experienced this problem?, I was thinking of ordering a new fender but I am not sure what color it is champainge or copper,what did the 2012 come with anyone know?. Thanks .

Look for a label on the back side of the skirt - you may have to remove the skirt to see it. Our's had the color, part# info.

[Brantlaker]

What I would do is drill the skirt holes larger than the screw put Silicone in the screw hole on the RV and install the screws tight and back off a 1/2 turn. this will allow the Skirt to expand and contract without stressing.the Silicone will act as a lock nut in the side of the RV.I have used this system when I was adding Air Dams,Fender Extensions, and other add ons on cars and trucks when I worked in car dealerships.

[gkainz]

Put the screw thru the silicone while wet or let dry first?

[theeyres]

Gary has an excellent solution. I'm sure you would put the screws in while the silicone is wet.

[koko]

Just returned from Camping World in Kaysville, UT today. They held our cracked fender skirt replacement for several months until the weather would allow us to go there for the warranty work (175 miles away from us). Our appointment was at 9 a.m. this morning. We were out by 11 a.m., with a free wash job, too. We were pleased with the service and want everyone to know.

[08quadram]

I ended up using rubber washers behind mine as there is the lip on the edge of the skirt which makes all the screw's impossible to not over tighten. This way I can make sure the screw's do not too much stress on the plastic.

Mike
2013 2920bh
2008 RAM 1500 quad cab; 5.7 Hemi; 3.92's
DW; 2 offspring; 1 pooch