Inside Slide-out Fascia about to coming off

[Sagecoachdriver]

Both slide-outs on our 2016 Forester 2701DS have issues with the inside fascia flexing in when extended fully. It appears to be slowly separating from the plywood strip attached to the inside slide-out edge. The bedroom slide top rail is bad and could eventually drop on the bed. I keep pounding the fascia back in place with my hand.
Has anyone removed their fascia and more securely attached it? It appears the fascia is stapled on to the plywood strip along with a middle insert cover.The plywood strip seems to be where the flexing starts. I'd rather secure it myself than take it to the dealer at this time. I have pneumatic tools to do the job.

[youroo]

All the staples in the world wont help if the Slide adjustment is NOT correct! The Trim board is Not the Stop! Adjust slide! Youroo!!

[Sagecoachdriver]

Originally Posted by youroo

All the staples in the world wont help if the Slide adjustment is NOT correct! The Trim board is Not the Stop! Adjust slide! Youroo!!

I did, Schwintek bedroom and Lippert above Floor Slide.

[Sagecoachdriver]

The slides are adjusted properly. But the damage has been done as they are bent out. Aren't most slide out fascia stiff and semi rigid? Would nails or screw tighten things up or should I pull the fascia, securing the plywood strip to the slide out wall end. Then reattach the fascia with staples? I've heard of the fascia falling off onto the bed or dinette. How were they reattached?

[Sagecoachdriver]

My bedroom slide-out fascia was very loose and the staples weren't holding it. Pounding with my hand would knock it back in but the brads weren't holding it. I pulled it off so we wouldn't have it dropping on us while in bed. Was going to make an appointment with the dealer to get it fixed. The fascia was very bowed and when I tried to bend it, it snapped in two. It was just a thin MFD with vinyl wrap. Oh no now what???

So I was going to call the dealer, but thought I may end up having to pay for this out of my own pocket since I broke it.
Lucky for me, I have made some Arts and Crafts furniture as a hobby and have all the tools to make a new one.
So I did out of solid cherry. Looks better than the original in my DW's opinion. Rather than bore everyone with ALL the details, I thinned and cut 3/4" cherry to size. Routed out the datto for the 1/4" insert strip piece and rabbeted another piece for the crown. The end caps contour were cut with my scroll saw and 1/4" strips attached to the side. Lots of sanding. Put it all together and stained it. Just need to apply a top coat and it will be ready to attach to the slide.
Great, now the DW wants me to remake the all! Not expensive, the wood was only $20 for that piece. Cost less than the gas to take the MH to the dealer and back.

[Slimjc]

That turned out great...what stain did you use?

[Sagecoachdriver]

Originally Posted by Slimjc

That turned out great...what stain did you use?

From Rockler Woodworkers
General Finishes Antique Cherry with another layer of General Finishes Mahogany. Tried brush-on water-based top-coat, but came off on brush. Used spray on water-based top coat. Not exact, just close enough for us. Read prep instructions.

[Sagecoachdriver]

Because of the difference in the cherry tone of the new top fascia and old vinyl sides, I've decided to make the side fascia also in solid cherry also. Going to experiment with the General Finishes stains to try and get a closer match with layering. Adding a second coat of mahogany because of the top-coat bleeding I mentioned before cause it to darken too much. If I find a better match, I can re-finish the top fascia to match.

[bubbles]

Are you reattaching with countersunk screws and bungs or just staples as before?

[Sagecoachdriver]

Originally Posted by bubbles

Are you reattaching with countersunk screws and bungs or just staples as before?

I used the same length brads as FR and, 3 course countersunk drywall screws placed at middle and ends. Also, I made the fascia slightly thicker than original.

[Sagecoachdriver]

The vertical fascia on the bedroom slide looks cheap compared to the top horizontal piece, so I pulled everything off and made 2 new cherry vertical boards and sanded the stain off the horizontal. This way the stain will match. Not too much work, just a day's worth and about $70 total. If I remake the living room fascia, it will be around $60 for it as I already have the stain.
First photo is fascia all removed and plywood secured with additional screws. Note the end strip of stained cherry at the edge of the plywood. This covers the exposed plywood edging. I did check for clearance before attaching, nothing even close.
Second photo is the datto groove for the center insert.
Third photo is trying to match the stain to the vinyl wrapped fascia. I know the one on the right, top fascia looks a little blotchy, I was able to blend it in better with another layer.
forth is the vertical fascia mounted on each end.
Last photo is Camping Tom"s fascia on his Forester. I really like the design, but I don't have all the bits to make raise center piece. So I opted to just make new sides and refinish the top I previously made.
Top rail fascia wasn't quite dry enough for the top coat and will finish tomorrow with photo.
Trick with the stain was to apply Antique Cherry and and then apply just a little of the mahogany watered down 10-20% and wipe in. Do the mahogany watered down laying until the match is close. I first applied it too thick and it made for a dark blotchy appearance.

[Sagecoachdriver]

Got the upper fascia installed now re-working the end caps I made to cover more of the side. The DW says the stain falls well within the variations of the real cherry and the vinyl wrap.

[Sagecoachdriver]

Top fascia- Ended up having to countersink a bolt and use a nut on the other side of the plywood as screws didn't want to hold one end, let alone brads.
But it's rock solid now and I'm done.

[AbdRahim]

Fascinating. Outstanding work. now you have real wood instead of compacted card board with contact paper.😀😎

[Sagecoachdriver]

Originally Posted by AbdRahim

Fascinating. Outstanding work. now you have real wood instead of compacted card board with contact paper.😀😎

That compacted cardboard with contact paper swells when wet. We are very careful not to spill the dogs water on the floor where it will run to the cabinets. That's why my next project is to add baseboard molding along the floor to prevent that.

[AbdRahim]

Stagecoachdriver: I pulled the horizontal fascia off and it is bent out toward the ends. I am Don't see anything pushing it out, when I look at it after the slide is out, watching it as the slide seats outward I can see it bend. I was thinking oh putting a shim on both ends and see where the middle falls. I am not sure if the middle is being pulled in too far or the ends are being pushed out. I see the fascia pulling off of both bedroom slides. Any ideas?

[Sagecoachdriver]

Originally Posted by AbdRahim

Stagecoachdriver: I pulled the horizontal fascia off and it is bent out toward the ends. I am Don't see anything pushing it out, when I look at it after the slide is out, watching it as the slide seats outward I can see it bend. I was thinking oh putting a shim on both ends and see where the middle falls. I am not sure if the middle is being pulled in too far or the ends are being pushed out. I see the fascia pulling off of both bedroom slides. Any ideas?

Which slide-out do you have? I replaced my BED Schwintek in-wall slide-out fascia. All were bending and the top fell off.
FYI, I did all my work with the slide-out retracted, "IN". I'm not sure what would be stopping the slide-out from falling out if the fascia is removed if extended, maybe just the thin plywood??? I wouldn't trust it!

[AbdRahim]

Mine is the schwintek. The ply wood is definitely the stop. The dark fascia piece that is tacked on is not secure enough to do anything.

[Sagecoachdriver]

Originally Posted by AbdRahim

Stagecoachdriver: I pulled the horizontal fascia off and it is bent out toward the ends. I am Don't see anything pushing it out, when I look at it after the slide is out, watching it as the slide seats outward I can see it bend. I was thinking oh putting a shim on both ends and see where the middle falls. I am not sure if the middle is being pulled in too far or the ends are being pushed out. I see the fascia pulling off of both bedroom slides. Any ideas?

My Schwintek upper fascia was bent out also. When I tried to straighten it, it snapped. That's why I had to make my own out of cherry and thicker.
Part of the problem with the fascia is the white vinyl covering wrapped around foam. They lap over pieces on the plywood making an uneven surface to mount the fascia.
Can you take photos of the issue?

[AbdRahim]

It seems as if the top horizontal plywood on the slide flexes at the outer edge as it seats against the side gaskets. This, I turn, causes the fascia to bend in at the edges. I removed all of the Brad staples on the rear closet slide and replaced the with four screws, as shown below. The two screws on the ends of the fascia, I tightened while the slide was fully extended. This allows the fascia to relieve some of the tension when it is retracted. My guess is to do a proper job, one would put a thin piece of wood along the center of the fascia, to move it out so that the ends would not need to flex. Of course then you would have to do staining etc. Too much work for me. Hopefully the screws will hold and I have allowed enough room for the not to pullout.

The fascia over the bed was not as bad, so I only added the two end screws. Time will tell.