Posted 2015-04-22 6:32 AM (#163215) Subject: The things you discover
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 342 Location: MS
So, a friend and I were searching out the source of a leak in her LQ. We found a skin panel that pulled out when the electric plug was pulled. We got to looking at it, and we could pull the entire panel away from the side of the trailer, so we looked underneath to see why it was loose. Imagine our surprise when we found that the white skin panels are held on with nothing but double stick tape and the silicone used to seal it!!!
Is that a common installation technique? We gorilla glued it back down and she resealed the entire trailer with a roofing compound sealant silicone.
This isn't a cheap cheesy trailer...it is a Dream Coach.
Posted 2015-04-22 7:41 AM (#163216 - in reply to #163215) Subject: RE: The things you discover
Veteran
Posts: 259 Location: Topeka Ks
3M VHB tape is very common to assemble side panels without screws or rivets. If the surfaces are prepared properly you can remove the panel without destroying it.
Posted 2015-04-23 5:42 AM (#163235 - in reply to #163215) Subject: RE: The things you discover
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 342 Location: MS
Is it common to apply the 3M tape, even if the panel is not held on in another way? Like putting the edges behind the extruded skin? I mean nothing was holding this on but the tape.
Posted 2015-04-23 9:03 AM (#163238 - in reply to #163215) Subject: RE: The things you discover
Veteran
Posts: 113 Location: Wi
3M VHB (VHB = Very High Bond) is very strong. Depending on the composition of the materials taped together if you tried to pull them apart you would De-laminate the material before it would let go from the tape bond.
There are knockoff brands that do not perform as well as 3M VHB. This could be the case in your instance or the surfaces were not cleaned.
Posted 2015-04-23 1:46 PM (#163241 - in reply to #163215) Subject: RE: The things you discover
Veteran
Posts: 133 Location: NC
I have the 3M tape holding on my aluminum sheet, the place i got my trailer from said they also use the recommended 3M adhesion promoter for an even better hold. Also if the aluminum isn't cleaned properly it could compromise the effectiveness of the products used to hold the sheet on.
Posted 2015-04-24 7:21 AM (#163249 - in reply to #163215) Subject: RE: The things you discover
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 402 Location: Valentine, NE
When we had the front 1/2 of our Cimarron reskinned, it was amazing to me the force it took to get the sheets to come off the frames. The tape made me a believer. They used everything from all sorts of clamps, vise grips, hydraulics, release chemicals, etc but still struggled.
The things you discover
I don't like to look at anything too closely at aircraft that I'm on or I would probably get off. 
