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Old 10-02-2020, 02:56 PM   #1
LHaven
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What is this molding called?

Setting up at the campground Monday, I noticed a piece of molding plastic jutting out about 4" perpendicular to the sidewall at the roofline. When I got home today, I inspected it.

There's a C-rail with screws in it running the length of the rig (I think it pins the rubber roof), and the screws are covered by a thin plastic molding snapped into the C-rail. Somehow, this plastic had developed about 8" of slack in one area, looped out, and folded itself up. Although it's still continuous, it cracked longitudinally and isn't worth trying to reinstall. Curiously, neither end of the molding has slid inward from the end of the C-rail that I can see. The material is more rigid and less rubbery that I would expect for something of this function. Would the desert heat have actually expanded this stuff 8"? Hard to believe.

In any case, what is this stuff called and where do I buy a replacement roll? The other side has been showing some poppage, so I may as well do both.
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Old 10-02-2020, 03:13 PM   #2
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Looks like “insert molding” or what I call screw cover. Comes in different colors and widths. IIRC it comes in two different materials, plastic is cheap and doesn’t last as long as the other.
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Old 10-02-2020, 03:54 PM   #3
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Do you have a favorite source for the not cheap version?

I was wrong by the way, it looks like this stuff did creep in 8" from the rear of the rig. The front I might've understood, the rear baffles me. I wonder if it's because of the slight misalignment of the C rail in that spot, that when the material expands and contracts it just ratchets towards that crack for some reason?
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Old 10-02-2020, 03:59 PM   #4
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I use the parts department where I work, but that doesn’t help you. I suspect you can find it on Amazon. I would buy 100 ft and redo as much as you can. Easiest way to install: put one edge under the molding. Then I use a plastic windshield wedge and run it down the other edge forcing the cover into the groove, if that makes sense.
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Old 10-02-2020, 04:07 PM   #5
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This is what I ordered for my Alpine... 1 inch width... it’s ten times the quality of the OEM plastic crap the Alpine came with.. good rubber... you can really feel the difference and it will last much longer...but I did get 7 years out of the OEM plastic..

I think it also comes in 100 foot roll..
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Old 10-02-2020, 04:08 PM   #6
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Also the stuff is a breeze to install
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Old 10-02-2020, 04:16 PM   #7
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Looking at your photo, there's an issue with possible leakage behind the aluminum molding. There's a "butt joint" where two pieces of molding come together. Above that joint are several inches of "sealant void" as well as a "clear path" for water to seep behind the actual joint.

The screw cover strip will prevent most water from seeping along the inside of the aluminum molding, but it does nothing for water running off the roof, into that butt joint or the void in the sealant and then seeping along the screw threads, through the FILON and into the luan backing. Once there, it's anybody's guess what gets saturated, grows mold and eventually destroys the wall behind the FILON.

From the looks of that screw cover, I'd guess that most of the vinyl on the trailer is in close to the same condition, so changing out as much as you can will serve you better than waiting for the next piece to crack and fall out of the aluminum.

When we lived in Louisiana, I was replacing that vinyl strip about every other year.
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Old 10-02-2020, 04:53 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LHaven View Post
Setting up at the campground Monday, I noticed a piece of molding plastic jutting out about 4" perpendicular to the sidewall at the roofline. When I got home today, I inspected it.

There's a C-rail with screws in it running the length of the rig (I think it pins the rubber roof), and the screws are covered by a thin plastic molding snapped into the C-rail. Somehow, this plastic had developed about 8" of slack in one area, looped out, and folded itself up. Although it's still continuous, it cracked longitudinally and isn't worth trying to reinstall. Curiously, neither end of the molding has slid inward from the end of the C-rail that I can see. The material is more rigid and less rubbery that I would expect for something of this function. Would the desert heat have actually expanded this stuff 8"? Hard to believe.

In any case, what is this stuff called and where do I buy a replacement roll? The other side has been showing some poppage, so I may as well do both.


Is that pic from your 2019? I've had that stuff deteriorate but not that bad that quick.
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Old 10-02-2020, 05:11 PM   #9
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Any RV dealership that has a parts department or a parts store will have it. I got some a few years ago. Pretty cheap in price. I got a 100 foot roll from my local dealer and had half of it left. I gave the rest away at a campground some time after that to a random camper where I noticed theirs breaking out. They appreciated the gift.

Camping World has it too. I was in the Indianapolis Camping World about 3 weeks ago and noticed it on the shelves, 50 and 100 foot rolls, different colors.
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Old 10-03-2020, 02:39 PM   #10
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Thanks for all the help.

Looking at products, I have found "vinyl" (what I think is what I have), "premium vinyl" (which was recommended by ChuckS), and this solid 3D stuff which I'm not sure will fit but which looks nuclear-hardened. I'm tempted to try the 3D stuff if it fits, unless somebody knows a reason why I shouldn't.

I'll check out the split in the caulk and fill in with some Dicor non-leveling. (Luckily, rain is a nearly nonexistent occurrence out here.) Should I really use spirit to clean the old joint given that I will definitely be rubbing it on the side of the rubber roofing (unless I use a Q-tip, which isn't my plan)?

The deterioration in that section of the vinyl is solely due to the strip having worked eight inches of slack into itself there, and popped out of the track to flap in the breeze.
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Old 10-03-2020, 03:22 PM   #11
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That 3D looks heavy duty!! I’m wondering just how long it would last and how hard it is to install.
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Old 10-03-2020, 03:59 PM   #12
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Upon measuring the channel, I'd need something at least 0.9" wide to cover it, and they don't seem to make it that wide. Looks like the product is for door trim. I bought the 100' roll of the stuff ChuckS recommended, I'll get two applications out of that if I need it.
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Old 10-03-2020, 04:08 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LHaven View Post
Thanks for all the help.

Looking at products, I have found "vinyl" (what I think is what I have), "premium vinyl" (which was recommended by ChuckS), and this solid 3D stuff which I'm not sure will fit but which looks nuclear-hardened. I'm tempted to try the 3D stuff if it fits, unless somebody knows a reason why I shouldn't.

I'll check out the split in the caulk and fill in with some Dicor non-leveling. (Luckily, rain is a nearly nonexistent occurrence out here.) Should I really use spirit to clean the old joint given that I will definitely be rubbing it on the side of the rubber roofing (unless I use a Q-tip, which isn't my plan)?

The deterioration in that section of the vinyl is solely due to the strip having worked eight inches of slack into itself there, and popped out of the track to flap in the breeze.
Try some diluted Simple Green on a rag. I just cleaned my entire roof a week ago with a spray bottle if it, a deck brush and a hose. A dampened rag with diluted simple green, wipe it down, then follow up with a dampened rag with just water. Let it dry up well and then apply the Alpha or Dicor.
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Old 10-03-2020, 04:08 PM   #14
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I believe the 3D molding cover is the "hard to form plastic" that is used around the front cap installation. If that's what it is, it won't fit in the place of "vinyl screw cover"...

Look at the molding around your front cap, That's the "heavy duty stuff" ...
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Old 10-03-2020, 04:59 PM   #15
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Quote:
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I believe the 3D molding cover is the "hard to form plastic" that is used around the front cap installation. If that's what it is, it won't fit in the place of "vinyl screw cover"...

Look at the molding around your front cap, That's the "heavy duty stuff" ...
The molding that goes on the front cap transition strip attaches on the OUTER edge, nothing like what the link showed. It’s more of a D with barbed edge that grabs the transition strip. And for the record, it’s not real easy to install.
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Old 10-03-2020, 08:02 PM   #16
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The molding that goes on the front cap transition strip attaches on the OUTER edge, nothing like what the link showed. It’s more of a D with barbed edge that grabs the transition strip. And for the record, it’s not real easy to install.
Yep, that's why it's called 3D molding (It's "D" shaped).... and I totally agree with you.... It's definitely a "very verbal task"... The harder it is to install, the more verbal I become !!!!!
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Old 10-04-2020, 04:48 AM   #17
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Yep, that's why it's called 3D molding (It's "D" shaped).... and I totally agree with you.... It's definitely a "very verbal task"... The harder it is to install, the more verbal I become !!!!!
Is there a "verbal multiplier" for every 10° of temperature drop?
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Old 10-04-2020, 11:43 AM   #18
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I think you will immediately notice a marked difference in the quality of the trim strip moulding you ordered... it is heads and tails much better quality...

Wife and I replaced front cap lower trim strip moulding both sides in about 10 minutes
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Old 10-05-2020, 03:38 AM   #19
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Mine cracked also right under the ladder on the back so I guess i better get to it before it freezes I did not think about water intrusion since it is really only a screw cover.
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Old 10-05-2020, 05:36 AM   #20
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I would say it’s not critical IF the factory used butyl/putty tape on the rail when installed. I have seen enough to say I don’t trust them to have done it that way.
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