Back filling Screw Holes around Tail Light 2016 Minnie Winnie 22R

[bcoldpro]

I am in the process of fiddling around with my rear tailight assemblies. Backing out the old screws I see that the holes into the rear body panel have kind of worn to the point that new screws don't quite "bite" as the should. What material can I fill the old screw holes with and retap with new screws for a more secure mount? Just regular Winnebago caulking?

 

[Bzerull]

Put toothpicks in hole glued in place with epoxy or super glue. When dry cut off toothpicks flush with exterior wall. Now the holes will hold screws tight again.

 

[Morich]

The shimming with toothpicks, etc. is good if the back wall is thick enough to get a grip but when I did this, I cut small blocks of 1X to glue at the screw points as one that would last longer.
One of the reasons I was there was because the back wall had been leaking around the light and I did not want to have to did it a second time in a year or so!

 

[Bzerull]

Been doing this for years—always works. Toothpicks, because they are readily available

 

[cruizered]

If you can get to the back side I might epoxy a plastic backing plate with thickened epoxy. If I ever create or find 1/8 or thicker plastic scraps I keep them for just such an application.

The plastic backing will give me all new material to bite into. If not I'd probably just stuff the hole with thickened epoxy. Be sure to drill a pilot hole so that your new stainless steel screws will get maximum holding. When working with epoxy be sure to carefully mask everything because that stuff is hard to get off. I use west systems marine epoxy. It is slow curing which gives you great strength and plenty of work time.

 

[bcoldpro]

If you can get to the back side I might epoxy a plastic backing plate with thickened epoxy. If I ever create or find 1/8 or thicker plastic scraps I keep them for just such an application.

The plastic backing will give me all new material to bite into. If not I'd probably just stuff the hole with thickened epoxy. Be sure to drill a pilot hole so that your new stainless steel screws will get maximum holding. When working with epoxy be sure to carefully mask everything because that stuff is hard to get off. I use west systems marine epoxy. It is slow curing which gives you great strength and plenty of work time.

Thank you very much for your input. I was also thinking of finding wooden Dowling that I could epoxy into the existing screw holes as an option.

 

[Bzerull]

If you can get to the back side I might epoxy a plastic backing plate with thickened epoxy. If I ever create or find 1/8 or thicker plastic scraps I keep them for just such an application.

The plastic backing will give me all new material to bite into. If not I'd probably just stuff the hole with thickened epoxy. Be sure to drill a pilot hole so that your new stainless steel screws will get maximum holding. When working with epoxy be sure to carefully mask everything because that stuff is hard to get off. I use west systems marine epoxy. It is slow curing which gives you great strength and plenty of work time.

Have never tried west systems marine epoxy. How thick does it get before drying? Have you tried JB Weld? I have used their epoxies quite extensively with very good results. Where do you buy the West Systems epoxy?

 

[Bnystrom]

Have never tried west systems marine epoxy. How thick does it get before drying? Have you tried JB Weld? I have used their epoxies quite extensively with very good results. Where do you buy the West Systems epoxy?

There are lots of online sources for it and you can often find it at marine suppliers, like
West Marine. That said, for what you're doing, you'll be fine with 1 hour epoxy from a hardware store or home center.

 

[bcoldpro]

I was able to tuck in between the wall of the rear panel behind the screw holes a 1/2" or so of wood cut into 2" lengths. One for each screw hole and then predrilled a small pilot hole for the bottom 3 screw holes. Those bottom three for some reason seemed to have worn more so than the top 3. I got new rear light assembly lenses from Command Electronics along with a new mounting gasket. For some reason I had to go with 1" screws on two on the 3 bottom lense mounting screws or they wouldn't bite. Replaced all the bulbs for the 3 lights, 2 brake and turn signal, 1 backup light. The LED lights I bought on Amazon for the backup lights didn't work. Seller went silent when I asked for replacements so I went back to standard filament. Looks good and taillights now work great and are all sealed up and working great!