Flawless Cosmetic Trim

DougHDougH Member Posts: 1,110
We had seen the dozens of posts in previous years about the cracks in the colored cosmetic trim...  and sometimes wondered what kind of radical off-roading with frame flex folks were doing in their travels. 

Our 2015/2016 T@B S Max has been through hail storms, 115F and below freezing for years without any cracks at all, and just the occasional loose rubber seal between the roof and the trim pieces.

Oh well. 

Was in sub-zero weather for a week, then parked in storage a few days back.  Checked it this morning.  Six fresh cracks all the way through the trim.  Guess it's time for the epoxy and Krylon once it gets warm enough.

But we did make it almost four years.
2021 Jeep Gladiator, 2021 tiny toy hauler, Austin TX
Former steward of a 2017 T@B S Max

Comments

  • Sharon_is_SAMSharon_is_SAM Administrator Posts: 9,461
    @DougH, what color?  Black seems to have more issues.
    Sharon / 2017 T@B CSS / 2015 Toyota Sienna Minivan / Westlake, Ohio
  • DougWWDougWW Member Posts: 87
    Now you've got me spooked. I'll have to wait for the snow to go before I get to check our 320S.
    ...Doug

    2021 T@B 320S Boondock, Chevy Avalanche, Happy wife.
  • DougHDougH Member Posts: 1,110
    @Sharon_is_SAM : We chose the prettiest color of course...  the silver.


    2021 Jeep Gladiator, 2021 tiny toy hauler, Austin TX
    Former steward of a 2017 T@B S Max

  • RatkityRatkity Member Posts: 3,770
    Mine was silver and it only took a year. She was uncovered, but never did anything off-road.
    2017 820R Retro Toy Hauler from 2015 Tabitha T@B from 2009 Reverse LG Teardrop (but a T@Bluver at heart)
  • DougHDougH Member Posts: 1,110
    Hmmm...  wonder how hard it would be to do something with a renewable wood like bamboo to make a teardrop a bit more unique? 

    https://sawdustgirl.com/how-to-make-your-own-flexible-moulding-bend-moulding/
    2021 Jeep Gladiator, 2021 tiny toy hauler, Austin TX
    Former steward of a 2017 T@B S Max

  • driftlessdriftless Member Posts: 135
    We uncovered our 2018 Tab 400 today in preparation for leaving for a 5 week trip and found the trim cracked in 11 places.  The trailer was covered and  protected from NW winter winds.  We did have a stretch of 4 days were temps went to -20° to -30° F.  Filed a warranty  claim and within 2 hours had a response that this will be covered and the parts shipped.
    Got to love NüCamp service!
    Happy Trails,
    Phil & Anita - Driftless: 2018 T@B 400/2015 Ford Explorer 

  • DougHDougH Member Posts: 1,110
    Excellent! 
    2021 Jeep Gladiator, 2021 tiny toy hauler, Austin TX
    Former steward of a 2017 T@B S Max

  • Emma62Emma62 Member Posts: 51
    We discovered a crack in the trim in the lower front corner and the only traveling our trailer had done was driving home from the dealer.  Seems the type of plastic they use doesn't tolerate cold temps.  This is covered by the warranty right now but it sounds like it may be an ongoing yearly spring maintenance issue.  How much have people paid to get this fixed?  
  • morey000morey000 Member Posts: 155
    DougH said:
    Hmmm...  wonder how hard it would be to do something with a renewable wood like bamboo to make a teardrop a bit more unique? 

    https://sawdustgirl.com/how-to-make-your-own-flexible-moulding-bend-moulding/
    that looks like a lot of work.  but- what if you just got some vinyl self-adhesive wallpaper in a wood grain pattern.  It would be a fairly easy install and look pretty cool.  not sure how long it would last, but it would be inexpensive, and you could always re-do it.  it would also cover up and cracks (after re-bonding).  

    https://www.amazon.com/Self-Adhesive-Removable-Wallpaper-Decorative-x6-6-Grey/dp/B07HBVXVQ2

    comes in any color and wood style imaginable.  heck- you could even do fake stone.  
    Silver on Silver, 320S '19 Outback Lite
  • Emma62Emma62 Member Posts: 51
    I've been thinking about the plastic trim cracking issue and it doesn't make any sense.  Plastics that tolerate below zero temps have been available to use in cars for decades.  Has NuCamp given anyone an explanation of why they use the type of plastic they are using?
  • lkc001lkc001 Member Posts: 731
    Such a bummer.  I would also like to know if this is an issue with the type of plastics they are using or??   I'm not looking forward to having a bunch of cracks in the trim.  I purchased my unit used so I have no warranty coverage.

    2016 Nissan Frontier SV V6 4x4
    Finally!  New Owner of a 2017 Tab 320S! 
    Woohoo!
  • ScottGScottG Administrator Posts: 5,396
    nuCamp is aware of the issue and indicated some time back they were working with the trim manufacturer to improve the durability of those pieces. I've heard no report since then, so I don't know the status of that upgrade.
    My T@B developed a trim crack well out of warranty. The replacement parts are quite spendy, as is the shipping to get them to your door--and even then there is no guarantee the problem won't reoccur. I opted for a piece of black duct tape and called it good...
    It's not at all clear why some people experience this and others don't, and why among those that do some have one crack and others have multiple cracks. I suspect there may be an issue with the trim not quite fitting perfectly, and in some cases it ends up being a little pre-stressed (and therefore more prone to thermal cracking) once installed. 
    2015 T@B S
  • Sharon_is_SAMSharon_is_SAM Administrator Posts: 9,461
    I think someone also thought that over-tightening the screws that hold the trim may also contribute to the cracks.
    Sharon / 2017 T@B CSS / 2015 Toyota Sienna Minivan / Westlake, Ohio
  • N7SHG_HamN7SHG_Ham Member Posts: 1,261
    I would think slots in the trim and not holding the trim fixed would go a long way, allowing the trim pieces to float with contraction and expansion with temperature fluctuations.
    2019 T@B 400 Boondock Lite
  • jgram2jgram2 Member Posts: 1,522
    edited May 2019
    So! Maybe we should be proactive and create our own artfully placed cracks! Then use colorful duct tape to read like data punch cards from the olden days. Maybe SOS or offensive warnings, or l love you’s Over and over. I’m not belittling our complaints, and I do hope Nücamp resolves the problem but my pocket book insists I learn to live with it. I believe auto paint was suggested-remove the pesky trim, replace with a painted stripe.
    John, Judi, Guinness & OD in PDX
    T@Bit@t 2015 S Max Outback, ‘18 V6 4Runner 


  • Emma62Emma62 Member Posts: 51
    I found another crack today on the same side about 2 feet from the location of the first crack.  Also, I found comments online about the trim cracking dating back to September 2011.  

    http://tabdiary.blogspot.com/2011/04/trim-cracks.html

    My trailer has only been driven home from the dealer and less than 10 miles last week.  Can't imagine what might happen once we start hitting the road. 

    I didn't spend what I did to be patching trim cracks with duct tape.
  • WilliamAWilliamA Member Posts: 154
    edited May 2019
    Vinyl trim expands and contracts a lot with sun exposure.  Just like vinyl siding on a house, it must either be able to move a bit or it will break. Dark colors are worse as they absorb more UV energy. The vinyl expands at a vastly different rate than the trailer. It might be possible to loosen the screws a bit and put large washers on them,  but heaven knows how that would hold up at 70 mph. I suspect the "fix" will ultimately be found by using a different material for the trim, like perhaps aluminum? ($$)
    Duct tape breaks down under UV light too, but it's much easier to replace.  
    If you want to understand the problem better, do a search for vinyl siding installation on a house. It's the same principle with the same inherent problems.  Those problems are solved by leaving the siding loose.
    WilliamA 
    2021 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk
    2017 T@G XL
    Can generally be found around west-central Wisconsin.  
  • ScottGScottG Administrator Posts: 5,396
    Here's another place to inspect for cracks. This is where the two pieces of trim meet at the edge of the roof line and is only visible from above. The crack starts at the screw hole under the caulking.
    It's pretty ugly as is, but since you can't see it from the ground anyway, I just shmooied everything up well with some additional caulking.


    2015 T@B S
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