skin replacement

[berickn]

I have a 1972 25' tradewind that I just got the #10 body segment for. Thats the segment right above the front window in the center. Does anyone have any tips on which end to start with or etc. cutting? And is the replacement panels polishable? or any tips on matching the rest of camper is polished.

[Aerowood]

Start drilling and clecoing from the middle working from one side to the other, up and down. Don't trim until you have to. It may be easier to remove the front window and frame before you start.

[berickn]

drill the rivets and remove whole front window?

[Aerowood]

You are going to remove most of the top rivets anyway, so you will only have to remove the bottom row to have all the rivets out, and by removal you don't have to worry about trimming the skin to an exact fit right off the bat. The skin you want to replace sides in under the window frame. The sides of the frame are held on with a dovetailed slide that needs to be driven either up or down to remove. Do these first. This will also allow you to reseal the front window which has a tendency to leak.

The new skin should polish up the same as the old.

[berickn]

Thanks aerowood!