Re-attaching skirting

[spawnman]

2013 36CKTS, just got back from a long trip and hit some wind, skirting started coming off and also the black plastic underbelly dropped down.

Was able to temp fix with some washers and nylon bolts.

Want to add more self tapping screws through an aluminum strip I think into the steel frame. Need to use the self tapping screws as in some places you can't get your hand in there to put a bolt at the end. Question is will a self tapping screw go through the steel fram beam?

Also what's the best way to fix the plastic underbelly? Looks to have broken around one of the screws they put in and then popped out from under the frame. I put in a washer and duct taped the plastic back into the underside of the frame

Thanks
Greg

[spawnman]

No insight from anyone on this?

[dieselguy]

I dunno about your CC, but my Silverback has a beltline molding running lengthwise at about the point where the fiberglass (I'll call it that) outer wall and the aluminum J panel meet. It is screwed into the side of the fiver, then the J panel slides up inside the beltline molding. The J panel is attached at both ends underneath the end trim and also with metal strips similar to plumbers tape. There is also small aluminum square tube near the fender skirts that hold the J panel in place. There are no screws along the beltline molding that hold the J panel in place other than the slip fit. As for your self tapping screw question ... sure it will. There are dozens of self tapping screws all along your frame as seem by their protruding ends. Just be aware of water lines and wiring that may be behind the frame in the area in question. Your belly panels are separate from one another and have a lip on each outboard end that fits above your I Beam frame. There is a 2X2 piece of wood running widthwise at each joint of belly panels that the panels are screwed to. If the lip on the panel is torn away past using ... just order another belly panel.

[camp-n-nut]

My skirting came loose on my 2015 Cedar Creek and actually damaged it before I could find a safe place to pull over. The self tapping screws pulled right through the metal skirting. I took it back to the Cedar Creek factory and they replaced the damaged skirting and they used some new type of self tapping screws to secure it to the frame (at no charge). When they checked the other side they discovered that it was ready to let loose too.

[spawnman]

Originally Posted by camp-n-nut

My skirting came loose on my 2015 Cedar Creek and actually damaged it before I could find a safe place to pull over. The self tapping screws pulled right through the metal skirting. I took it back to the Cedar Creek factory and they replaced the damaged skirting and they used some new type of self tapping screws to secure it to the frame (at no charge). When they checked the other side they discovered that it was ready to let loose too. Attachment 172138Attachment 172139

That's really close to what mine looked like. I found some other posts and will follow what they suggest there about this. Can't take it to the factory now, too far away for screws

Thanks for all the input guys
Greg

[BandJCarm]

It's a common issue. Two flimsy J panels are screwed together with no backing in places.

First and best fix is to put backing........even a small 1X2 piece of wood works.

Second and what I end up doing on the road when I see screws backing out, is to just keep using a bigger screw! Jury rigging, I know. But then I forget where they came loose, or forget it happened, and go stupidly on my way for weeks before it happens again and I slap my head........always at a spot where I don't have backing any more!

Speaking of which........I'm going to add a 6 foot 1X2 to my list before next trip May 26, go get it at Lowe's and cut it into small pieces.

I hope I remember.