Loose trim repair help?

Ablezerosix · August 25

Greetings fellow Tab owners! Can anyone provide help on how to repair this loose piece of trim on a 2021 Tab 320 Boondock. Maybe remove the trim and replace a fastener or something? Thanks a lot for any info. My Tab is pretty much perfect except for this and of course it drives me crazy.

ScottG · August 28

On my 2015 that outer piece is held down by a small screw driven in from the top. The plastic around the screw hole is a prime place for cracks. If that's the case with yours and the cracking is not too extensive, maybe try putting a fender washer under the screw and see if you can get it to reseat?

And if you come up with a better idea, please tell us about it!

Dasieg · August 28

I had the same problem on my 2023 tab 400. It’s a design flaw as there is only a small screw and a very thin section of plastic holding it down at a stress point. I contacted NuCamp but since I was just out of warranty they didn’t help me out. I temporized by drilling self tapping screws through the bar and caulking around them but they eventually failed also. So I was forced to bring it to the dealer. It needs to be fixed to prevent potential water leaks.

WayneW · August 28

This has been an issue on the 2021 320.

Search: 2021 320 trim lifting out at rear bend

I’d attach a link but I’m not savvy enough.

Good luck!

Ablezerosix · August 29

Thanks for the advice. I'll have to check again because I did not see a screw holding that thing down from the top. I'll get 'er done one way or another.

MountainMade · August 29

I recently worked on my keder rail to set up a new awning…. I learned a lot while doing so.

I’ve got a stretch of trim that is doing the same thing. I tried adding another screw toward the front of the trouble zone, to no avail. I think it would have worked had I dissembled the keder rail several feet on either side of the problem area though. I’m still contemplating how to reenforce the crappy thin trim that fails so easily. I’m thinking of taking a plastic lid (or something thicker and stronger), like the ones you get with yogurt, cutting it to patch size & gorilla gluing to the trim then setting it back in place. Or… maybe adding duck tape to the plastic lid patch?

What do you think?

Ablezerosix · August 29

https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/comment/222868#Comment_222868

I put in a ticket with NuCamp support to see if they will provide advice. There are no screws on the top of the rail that can be replaced. There must be a way to slide the entire section of rail to remove it from fasteners or pop it off somehow. I'll post if and when I receive a response from NuCamp. If they don't respond that's a sad situation.

Do you have the All Pro Adventures awning by chance? I have that one that came with my Tab but I have not tried setting it up yet. If that's the one you have, please share any feedback. Thanks!

MountainMade · August 29

My T@B has screws holding the rail to the side…. Some of them were sticking up higher than others making it difficult to pull the awning piping through the rail. I’ve simply screwed them in further and that seems to work nicely. I also applied silicone to the screws before putting them back in the hole.

This is what my trim looks like right now…. I’ll try to get it repaired soon, once I figure out how to do the repair properly.

PS… the above image has both the trim and rail shown. The rail is aluminum and the trim is the black plastic. The rail is where your All Pro awning will slide through. You’re may still have the black ‘filler’ ( not sure what to call it) in it.

I also recieved an All Pro Adventures awning when I purchased my new 2 me 2020 camper. It works great! Check out their website for all your questions… it’s easy to set up and has made it through some pretty heavy wind and rain this summer. I have to use a small step to set it up. This images was taken in my back yard when I was testing the setting up the awning earlier this year..

WayneW · August 29

Things changed for the 2021 and later models. The black plastic trim is not held in with any screws. The trim fits inside of a thin groove that is on top of the keder rail and it's held in by adhesive and metal clips that fit inside of the groove.

Removal isn't real easy. Run a sharp blade in the groove along the outside of the trim to break loose whatever adhesive you can. Then you can pull up on the black trim while getting a flat blade screwdriver in the groove under the trim and prying upward. It's a bit nerve wracking, hoping the trim doesn't crack.

After removing the offending trim pieces on mine, I spent some time with a spokeshave to improve the fit within the groove. I think on the first iteration (2021) the curve of the trim piece didn't quite match the curve of the trailer. Then I carefully cleaned the groove with a manual grout removal tool and razor blade, cleaned it with mineral spirits, reglued the trim piece with adhesive, then taped it all down with blue painter's tape. It's held for about 30k miles over lots of rough roads and high winds on the interstate. I still check it regularly.

The trim in purely ornamental. There is no breach into the skin so the condition you show will not cause any water issues. However, several people did have that piece of trim fly off while traveling down the highway, so it could cause a hazard for other travelers.

Ablezerosix · August 30

https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/comment/222876#Comment_222876

Thanks a lot for that very helpful information. I'll be able to secure that loose piece and not mess around with removing it unless it gets worse.

Ablezerosix · August 30

https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/comment/222875#Comment_222875

Wow thanks for the feedback. Nice Tab! The instructions for that awning had me worried so I'm glad to hear it's not difficult to set up. I've got to go out in the yard and practice setting it up. For the loose trim, see Wayne W's really good info in this thread. I'm gonna go with some good epoxy to glue my loose trim down, now that I know the trim is just glued to the top of the trailer.

MountainMade · August 31

Mark Turner posted on FB’s NuCamp site about the trim. It’s a good one! You may want to wait on the glue until you see what he had to say. I know I’ll be changing my plans after see it.

Good luck with your awning. I think you’re going to LOVE it!

MarkAl · September 5

He (Mark) has (or had) a pre 2021 320 so the trim is different and may have a different method of attachment.

Loose trim repair help?

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