Getiing the belly skin back on at tank enclosure

[blickcd]

I have a center bath trailer and had the rear belly skin off. It is one piece, about six feet long, from the back of the holding tank enclosure to the bumper.

At the holding tank enclosure, it is supposed it be sandwiched in between the flange of the enclosure and a frame cross member.

I have a skilled helper for this, my wife isn't just a great cook, but we can't get the end of the skin into that narrow slot between the enclosure and cross member. The forward edge of the skin has a slight wrinkle in spots and the whole sheet it just flabby and cumbersome to work with.

You can get one side started, but can't get enough grip on the sheet, or can't reach far enough in on the top side with a putty knife to shoehorn it into the groove.

Looking for some suggestions.

[HiJoeSilver]

Best bet is to lower the tank pan a bit. try loosening the rest of the bolts holding it up a little to increase the gap you have on the back end. If you support the tank pan with a jack and some plywood you can remove bolts from the 2 sides and loosen the front edge so the back drops down a little more.

[blickcd]

Thanks for the tip, HiJoe. I was trying to avoid that since I's already tried some bolts on the side and a few felt as though they were on the verge of twisting off and breaking. Maybe you know that feel.

After some soaking with PB Blaster and gently working the stubborn bolts in and out a few turns, more soaking, repeat... Got 'em out, and the rear edge of that enclosure dropped enough for the belly skin install.

The install still took a lot of work just to get clecoed up as wrinkle free as possible before pop riveting. Looks as good now as before I took it down.