2016 Adventurer Driver's Door Painted Trim Shrinkage

[lwerman]

On our early 2016 Adventurer, the painted, plastic I presume, trim that covers the screws attaching the molding going around the driver's door has shrunk to the point that it pops out of the molding. I am able to slightly pull on it, to stretch it, so I can get it back in place, but it only stays for a week or so. Once it's reinstalled, the painted sections no longer match up with the MH striping. It seems to me that it was originally too short when it was installed, and then the body was painted.

Has anyone had to deal with this situation? I can't imagine being able to buy a painted replacement, but who knows? As the trim reaches to the top of the door it becomes unpainted black, so a longer new pre-painted trim piece could potentially be much longer, installed starting at the bottom and end up at the top with the black ends, then cut off.

Pie in the sky dream perhaps. I guess I could just fill the trim with sealant, gluing in place or get a plain unpainted replacement that is long enough.

Ideas please!

[wahoonc]

It shrinks over time. I have seen screws put through the ends to minimize the pulling.

Aaron

[lwerman]

Came that way. The screws hold the 2 ends against the top trim run where there is some sealant to keep the open ends blocked. So with the ends secured in place, the shrinking just pulls the trim out at the 2 bottom curves around the door.

So does it shrink & pull out for everybody, or am I just the lucky victim again?

Len

[wahoonc]

Originally Posted by lwerman

Came that way. The screws hold the 2 ends against the top trim run where there is some sealant to keep the open ends blocked. So with the ends secured in place, the shrinking just pulls the trim out at the 2 bottom curves around the door.

So does it shrink & pull out for everybody, or am I just the lucky victim again?

Len

Everybody. That stuff has a useful lifespan of maybe 5 years or so.

Aaron

[lwerman]

Well, if it happens to everybody, what does everybody do to solve it? Unfortunately nobody else has chimed in with any suggestions. What was your solution when it happened to you?
I'm back to square one; find a matching painted trim of the correct length, or gluing it permanently in place, or replacing it with plain black trim.

[wahoonc]

Originally Posted by lwerman

Well, if it happens to everybody, what does everybody do to solve it? Unfortunately nobody else has chimed in with any suggestions. What was your solution when it happened to you?
I'm back to square one; find a matching painted trim of the correct length, or gluing it permanently in place, or replacing it with plain black trim.

I just replaced it with unpainted trim. I believe that the paint adds to the problem. FWIW I have been dealing with shrinking trim covers for over 40 years. You would think with all the modern miracle materials and technological advancements they would have figured something better out by now. Interestingly enough my current Meridian doesn't have that style of trim, they used a hard piece to snap over the screw lines.

Aaron

[lwerman]

Thank you Aaron!
I appreciate your patience with me. I'll probably end up using plain black also.

Len

[armullis59]

Len,

Mine came off as I was driving down the road. Had to grab it through the driver window and hold onto it until I could pull over. I removed the trim from the track and stuffed it in a cargo hold. I have not tried to replace it. Probably not going to work anyway as I read above. Thanks Winnebago!

[Delco Bobby]

I may be way off base because I don’t have an Adventurer. In the class C world there is trim around the front overhangs. That trim shrinks over time. Especially in cold weather. I couldn’t get mine to stretch far enough until it warmed up.

Then it was easy to stretch and install a couple of screws to hold it in place. Others have done the same.