If your Cougar was built like most travel trailers and fivers, the cabinets are held in place by long screws that are inserted from the outside through the framing and paneling and then into the cabinetry. It is one of the secrets that make our RV's much sturdier than they might seem to be.
If the paneling is shot, you can remove the cabinets by cutting the screws. Here's how:
First, since the paneling is already rotted, feel free to remove as much of it as possible. Then, using a thin piece of steel strap (or similar... maybe a putty knife), slip it between the paneling and the cabinet and slide it up and down or side to side. When you locate a screw, mark it in someway and move on to the next. (For marking, I like to use a spot of that blue painter's masking tape on the wall or cabinet. It won't mar the finish and pulls up very easily.)
If you have removed some of the paneling, you should be able to determine where the wall studs are. Generally, they'll run in a screw where ever a stud intersects with a cabinet.
Next, using a hacksaw blade, slip the blade in between the paneling and cabinet and cut each screw. You can use your putty knife or similar to protect the cabinet while cutting.
With a little care, you can even do this where the paneling is not damaged using putty knives or similar to protect the surfaces.
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'11 Cougar 326MKS loaded with mods
'12 Ford F250 SuperCab 6.7 PowerStroke Diesel
Amateur Radio: KD2IAT (146.520) GMRS: WQPG808 (462.675 TPL 141.3)
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