Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Hey all, when I got my trailer, I paid the extra money to have them glue on the siding instead of using the self tapping screws all over the place. My thinking was that it would be a permanent solution, look better, and give fewer places for water intrusion. The trailer looks great, however one small problem.






The siding has pulled away from the wall studs about 1/2". I haven't pushed out on the siding from the inside for fear of having it separate more, but I've pushed from the outside, and it doesn't move or compress the adhesive much. Should I be worried?

The manufacturer is about 14hrs south of me, so I don't think I'll be taking it back there for service. What should I expect/ask for from the manufacturer?

I haven't taken the plywood off of the other side yet, should I before I make the call to the manufacturer?

Don

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the longer you wait to get it fixed the more likely "they" will be more inclined to NOT help fix your problem.
call first explain your situation and ask they may know of a fast easy DIY solution.
pictures close-up will make your point include them in any e-mail you send.

Pete

Mine was glued and screwed. I would think the extra you paid would be to make sure this did not happen by using some type of clamps until the glue dried. This glue is ugly stuff to work with once dry. To separate my skin from the frame to put in my windows I had to use a cable saw. This is an outdoor product that is a cable with an handle on each end. I was able to get the cable between the skin and the frame (where they had missed glued) and slice the glue as I worked the cable back and forth.
I have given your question a day of thought and I am sorry to say I have come up with no good solution other than to return the trailer as there is no easy DIY fix. If it is only in one spot on one side of the trailer the skin will not come off but then again the dealer could fix it by grinding off the glue and putting on new skin sheet (the old skin would be destroyed in removal). If it is on both sides and in many places I only see a completely new trailer. I would also ask that for your troubles the extra you paid for the glue only sides be refunded. Obviously anybody that pays the extra for a glue only side wall wants the best trailer possible and this is clearly not. Your dealer should be able to take care of you.
Sorry my friend...best of luck.

I had issues with the the trailer not being properly sealed in a couple of places to far to return to dealer. I called the dealer, manufacturer called right back and resolved the issues. Yours is much more. Back to the dealer I would go.

a close up of the pulled glue and a shot down the outside would help, You say it looks good on outside, oilcanned?
If the outside looks good and the area your showing is the only place, I would consider pumping the gap full of a polyurethene caulk adhesive, waterproof and flexible.
My bet is if you take it back they will make it worse.
You said you push out gently and in and it doesnt move. then its stuck.
Aluminum may have puckered a bit when the window was installed
Is there a seam on either of the pulled studs?
And put a straight edge across the studs, those 2 could be out of wonk a bit.

After 29 years workin on trailer, thats minor to some of the chit I see outa manufacturers

Thanks for the advice all... I'll make an initial contact with the manufacturer tomorrow and see what he says. Lesson learned... Next time, take the time and pull off the interior panels when going back afterwards isn't an option. I took all the tools with me to do it, but didn't out of impatience. This isn't anything that I can't fix one way or another, but just annoyed that I paid good money to have them take care of this stuff so I wouldn't have to, and yet, I'll have to fix it or spend the time to get it fixed somewhere.

I'll update as I get answers.

Don

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If it looks good from the outside and you don't see a bulge in the skin I wouldn't worry about it.. Honestly though you guys that get the screw less metal are sorta of asking for it.. It does look better then the screws, But If you ever get any damage to the skin your in for a mess.. All the metal overlaps from the front to the back. So say you clip the back end while parking or turning.. To replace that single piece in the rear you have to atleast loosen half the piece next to it and the bad piece.. With the skin glued on its very hard to get the metal loose with out destroying it.. Mess it up then you have to remove the one next to it, ect, ect. So one good ding could cause you to have to replace the entire side of the trailer.. Just a warning cause I've seen it first hand lol.. But that trailer the skin was secured with double sided automotive tape. Getting the metal off with out damage was next to impossible... Maybe the glue is a little easier..