Trim Sagging

LegalEagle · 01-28-2018, 06:05 AM

My Eagle 323LKTS is less than 3 years old. For the past 18 months, it has been garaged and not exposed to the elements. I noticed this month that on the underside of the bedroom loft, the trim is sagging and has separated from the seal. The trim is not loose, and cannot be manipulated back up. In other words it is stiff and will require removing the trim piece for several feet, reattach and reseal.

My question: has anyone else had this problem? What could be the cause? And why is the build quality so questionable by Jayco that a garaged unit, not exposed to the elements except when I get to travel, has this problem less than 3 years from manufacturing? I have owned RV's for over 20 years, and had units more than a decade old that were always kept outside in the elements that have not had the "aging" problems this unit appears to be having.

LegalEagle · 01-28-2018, 06:09 AM

Rock · 01-28-2018, 10:15 AM

Yup had it on my right side. If u pull the center strip out u will see the trim piece is just held on with screws into the wood. Water gets in there and the screws pull from the wood. Two ways to fix. Replace the screws and install in another spot sealing them with silicone. Jayco service center installed longer screws that went up into the metal above the wood (that is what they said anyway). Now my left side is doing the same. It is a poor design that lets water get up under that center insert.
Rock

Mopar_Earl · 01-28-2018, 01:24 PM

My dealer is repairing mine on my 2017 Eagle 293RKDS. The tech said the factory uses short screws that only go into the wood. He said there isn't much wood there as it is. He said he will fix both sides by installing longer screws into the frame. He says it's a common issue. He said the trailer flexes too much to just have the screws into soft wood.

Earl

Timber · 01-28-2018, 02:04 PM

I had this on my trailer as well, my dealer removed the short screws and drilled into the metal and added longer screws, if you are doing the fix your self be careful drilling into the metal. On one hole the drill slipped off the metal and drilled thorough the side of the trailer, off to their body shop and you have to look real hard to find that spot. I think the basement should about 12 inches longer and there would be less flex

Fire90 · 01-28-2018, 02:13 PM

Just noticed my 2015 is starting to do the same. Thanks for replies. Will add the longer screws.

RedHorse1 · 01-28-2018, 03:38 PM

Yup, noticed the same issue on mine. How long a screw do you think?

Fire90 · 01-28-2018, 04:00 PM

I'm going to pull one out and run a small drill bit in untill I hit metal. I'll measure and get screws long enough to go well thru the metal. Going with stainless also.

Rock · 01-28-2018, 04:11 PM

Ya u would think the service center would of done both sides since they knew it was an issue. At least an easy fix and not due to a frame flex failure.
The other known issue is heat making all the inside wall seams to lift. They replaced all mine with matching trim that looks real nice
Rock

WeRJuliian · 01-28-2018, 04:44 PM

Trim Sagging

I'm sorry, that made me smile... sounds like something you'd go to a plastic surgeon about :-)

I'm glad the solution turns out to be relatively simple,

Timber · 01-28-2018, 04:49 PM

I think the screws were 3 or 3 1/2 inches long, hard to get a small drill that long, they had to run out and get the screws while I waited because they did not have any screws that long

3'senough · 01-29-2018, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rock

Yup had it on my right side. If u pull the center strip out u will see the trim piece is just held on with screws into the wood. Water gets in there and the screws pull from the wood. Two ways to fix. Replace the screws and install in another spot sealing them with silicone. Jayco service center installed longer screws that went up into the metal above the wood (that is what they said anyway). Now my left side is doing the same. It is a poor design that lets water get up under that center insert.
Rock

+1. Quad sealant and longer screws did the trick. Took less than an hour to do.

Take all the screws out first, then go in every other and repeat until all the screws are replaced to get the seal nice and tight again.

I used epoxy coated decking screws this time around.

vcbice · 01-29-2018, 04:06 PM

So, mine looks like it is starting to pull as well. Aggravated by the plastic bit 'shrinking' and pulling out of the corner. Will have to cut the lower end and seal that part separately.

When you installed the longer screws did you drill a pilot hole or just drilled a new hole in the trim or did you just put the longer screws in the old holes?

If you drilled new holes did you remove the old screws and seal those holes as well? I assume new sealant was run along the edge of the trim as well?

3'senough · 01-30-2018, 03:02 PM

I just put in new screws about an 3/4-1" longer. I was afraid of hitting wires as it was a total blind screw.

If you're going to go into the metal frame then you have to pilot drill.

LegalEagle · 02-02-2018, 07:19 PM

Thanks to all of you, the repair was simple and took about an hour. Thanks again

Rock · 02-02-2018, 08:45 PM

It is nice when others reply to how they fixed the same problem that we have. Grumpy and others have helped me out a lot. Even though I can fix just about most stuff it really helps when others offer advice or there fixes.
Rock

SmokinJoe747 · 02-12-2018, 05:34 PM

Are these two issues related? The sagging trim and the crack... I have both. I emailed our dealer and he says he has never seen this before. He's contacting Jayco to see what they say needs to be done. My dealer does not have the capability to remove slides or repair fiberglass.

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3'senough · 02-13-2018, 10:10 AM

The crack is a common issue on the 377 models as there have been several on this site with that exact issue. Repairs have ranged from full wall opening and reinforcement to simple patch over the crack.

Are they linked? Perhaps you had some significant flexing while towing over a rough roadway that put stress on the pin and frame which resulted in that. Some, like me have just had the trim sagging without the crack, but I would say it is the result of towing for sure. The screws pull out from the wood and it cannot go back in without help.

The main support structure is the metal frame from Lippert to which Jayco adds the walls too. Inside are the aluminum studs and framework that flex which result in the cracks around the weakest points being the slide out openings.

Jayco has seen this before, so stick to your guns and get it fixed right. Might even require a factory repair.

Rock · 02-13-2018, 03:35 PM

I believe in 2017 they went to a 12 inch frame to use on Nortpoint, Pinnacle and designer. I have not seen a frame problem since than but cracks from flex are still occurring. My 2016 has the 10 inch frame and when I first found the trim sag was very concerned. Some of the roads are just crazy especially the concrete ones up north.
Rock

RedHorse1 · 03-01-2018, 05:59 PM

I repaired my sagging trim today. Used 10 x 3” coated deck screws. I had some 2.5” screws but they were a bit too short. I removed every other screw and drilled a pilot hole which made a hole in the metal frame. I then put a screw in using my battery powered drill, it would stall when the screw bit into the metal. I then used a small ratchet with a X25 torkx bit to drive the screws in.
After the first half of screws were snug I removed the remainder of the screws, drilled and snugged them up as above.
Once all new screws were in and snug I tightened each one bit by bit until the trim was in it’s normal position (like tightening lug nuts or cylinder head bolts).
Worked great! Thanks to all who contributed to the solution.

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