RV’s corner trim is separating. What adhesive should I use to fasten it?

Dear Dave,
The front edge of my travel trailer is coming apart at the seam where the front and the side meet. What is the best adhesive to use to hold the siding in place? —Rob, 2017 Keystone Sprinter Campfire 25RK

Dear Rob,
From what I can find on used RV sites, your Keystone Sprinter has a one-piece fiberglass sidewall skin and the seam that is separating should have an aluminum trim piece that the side and front attach to.

I’m not sure if the perimeter framework is wood or aluminum; however, the trim is fastened typically on the front side and covered with a vinyl insert. Underneath the trim is typically a putty tape called butyl tape.

My recommendation

I would recommend removing the old trim and cleaning up the area thoroughly. Then inspect the entire seam to see if you can find a reason it was separating. If there was a moisture leak from the top, it could have ruined a wood frame and the screws worked loose. If it is aluminum, it could just be the vibration loosened the screws. Removing the vinyl insert should shed some light on what is happening.

Here is the seam of a 1996 Salem we rebuilt.

I would start by removing the vinyl insert and seeing if the trim can just be refastened with new screw holes. This way you might not have to pull everything apart. There is no “adhesive” that I know of you could use to refasten this, but rather repair it with the proper sealant and trim.

Put on a new trim piece

You can get a new trim piece from any Keystone dealer or possibly RecPro. It is a generic trim that comes in 8’ pieces and can be easily bent to make the curve at the top and along the side.

We also added some silicone on the back side of the trim just for weatherproofing purposes.

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Dave Solberg is a leading expert in the RV industry and the author of the “RV Handbook.”

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