Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

On inspecting the interior plywood for removal to put in windows , wiring ,ect what I thought was phillips head screws to unscrew turned out to be slightly curled phillips head nails that you cannot screw out . The only way to do it is get a pry bar under the plywood and either pop them out or get enough pressure to unscrew them . I have not gone that far yet to remove the plywood as I am not ready yet to do it . I also found that a T 20 or T 25 star bit will not fit the screws on the outside skin in case I have to loosen the skin for window installation to weld a frame in . Does the factory have a secret bit to fit these screws ? Has anybody run into this problem ? Thanks Bob

Another quality GA trailer

Welcome aboard

The crew here will help you...they are all experienced with your problems

Banjo wrote:On inspecting the interior plywood for removal to put in windows , wiring ,ect what I thought was phillips head screws to unscrew turned out to be slightly curled phillips head nails that you cannot screw out . The only way to do it is get a pry bar under the plywood and either pop them out or get enough pressure to unscrew them . I have not gone that far yet to remove the plywood as I am not ready yet to do it . I also found that a T 20 or T 25 star bit will not fit the screws on the outside skin in case I have to loosen the skin for window installation to weld a frame in . Does the factory have a secret bit to fit these screws ? Has anybody run into this problem ? Thanks Bob

I believe I found a square drive worked on mine and I used it in a impact driver

Yes, on both counts. The screws on the outer skin are probably just a double square head. They almost look like a star bit. A square bit will fit it.



Do your interior pneumatic nails look like these:






I managed to get my plywood off, but it took a lot of careful prying. I damaged a few sheets, and pulled a lot of nails right through the plywood. I was able to reuse my plywood though with a little filling and repair work. Here is my post on it: viewtopic.php?f=42&t=55219

It does get easier once you get one panel off. Good luck!

I see that I didn't mention in my build that part of the solution to getting my panels off was to use 2 or 3 pry bars to lever most of a full edge up at a time.
With more of an even pressure across a larger area, I had better luck on getting the panels to pop off with little damage.

( I added this note to my build page also)

Out of curiosity and perhaps as possible useful information for future buyers / converters of cargo trailers, what is the brand name, the manufacturer? I had read about this problem in assorted threads here before we bought our trailer. I can't remember any names being mentioned.

Our trailer was built by Lark in McGregor Texas and they use real self drilling metal screws with a Philips head. (I had asked the trailer dealer and before the order was placed they verified that they used real screws.)

Those are the same nails . My trailer is a Diamond Cargo , yes from Ga , but a great deal of them are from there. Even though some are made in different states I think you will fine that if the prices are all about the same , pretty much all will be built almost the same . Manufacture cost is the key to stay competitive , a lot of them went under during the recession . That said , the dealer told me , before I knew there was nails on the sidewall that he as a dealer had complained of them using nails on the floor and he persuaded them to use screws which mine has . My previous build was also a 6x12 , but it was an R&R , built in Michigan and all aluminum. Beautiful trailer , but alas I cannot spend that much again on one so opted for a cheaper one that will serve my same purpose . Thanks for the info, Bob

Rainier 70 I checked out your thread , good information there . Don't know if I will tear all the plywood off or not . I will not be camping in cold weather . Crumvoc , you have a good build there . Check out my album and look at my first build . Lots of good information on this site . Didn't have this site on first build . Bob

My CT that had nails in it is a Mirage XPO. They are made in Idaho. They only started using the nails in the last year or so. Other than it being a pain dealing with the nails, it is a very well made trailer. I think if I had known that they used nails, I could have ordered and I am sure they would have used screws if requested. Still very happy with the trailer.

I had the same issue. I just used a pry bar and pulled the boards down once I got them started. Once I got it all out, I insulated and put up new plywood and scrapped the old stuff. I didn't feel it was worth saving. I was kinda surprised to see nails also.

I'd try drilling the heads off. It's the same method used to remove pop rivets.

That'd still leave you with the shanks after you got the plywood off, but those would be easy.

Tony

Snapon makes a double square bit.

Link to 6" long version: http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=all&item_ID=757117&group_ID=757119&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

Short version: http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?search=true&item_ID=649120&PartNo=BTSS2&group_id=683031&supersede=&store=snapon-store&tool=all

It seems to hold, without slipping / stripping better than the regular #2 square drive. It is occasionally tough to get them into screws with dirt / rust in them.

You can't drill them out. I tried.

I talked to the factory, and they explained the design of these nails. In theory there is a screw in the head of the nail that you are supposed to be able to unscrew. "With the small screw out the nail, the head is easy to collapse and pull the plywood over." Don't believe it....It doesn't work! You can't unscrew anything because the whole nail turns. Like wise you can't drill the heads off, because the whole nail turns. Most of the nails are sunk into the plywood far enough that you can't grind them off either. So you pry the plywood off, with considerable damage to the wood.

Another reason why I am considering blown in insulation thru the plywood

Hey RWH ,good job on installing your window and door window . I will need to put windows in ,at least two , one on each side . My first build already had them factory installed . Do you have any good advice or tips on how you did it ? Bob