92 Excella, looking for pictures of the proper Placement of Stainless Wrap Protection

[Re-Pete]

I'm looking for pictures of the proper placement of the Stainless Steel Rock Guard Hold Backs. Here is a picture and a link to whats posted on the odmrv.com website. It's somewhat helpful, but I'm hoping to get some clearer pictures.


I have some serious rub problems that I'm going to patch while I'm repairing the front end separation I discovered. I'm also needing to do a couple skin patches where a couple of my current hold backs are located. For the reasons listed I'm going to redo the entire Stainless Steel Rock Guard installation.

[nvestysly]

Our segment protectors were installed by the Airstream service center a few years ago. The ODM picture looks very much like how I recall our installation appears to have been done except the technician didn't install the support block along the top (horizontal) edge. He only installed the blocks along the vertical edge. I've attached a few pictures. Ignore the mud in the second photo!

I recall questioning the technician about why the third block was not installed. He indicated the curvature of our trailer didn't fully match/mirror the curvature of the segment protector. He referred to the currently available tooling used to make the segment protectors and for narrow body trailers, like yours and ours, the block along the top (horizontal) edge is not used.

I don't think any of the support blocks on our installation are riveted to ribs. I think all the attaching rivets simply connect the blocks to the skin. The blocks are all oriented so none of the flanges extend beyond the segment protector - that is, the blocks are somewhat concealed - only the acorn nut is seen from the outside. The hinge edge is installed into a rib (or at least the seam).

Our trailer is not nearby at the moment so I cannot take any additional photographs. Hopefully somebody else with a narrow body can chime in.

[Re-Pete]

Lucius,

Thanks much for this. Knowing you also have a 92Excella I hope that you won't have a similar experiences to mine. If I'm remembering correctly you took care of some front end separation several years ago, which I believe is at the heart of my issues.
Who ever originally installed our wrap protectors did not bother to install the upper middle hold back either. It may not have been considered necessary at that time. Anyway, now I'm getting ready to install patches in this area on both of my front quarter panels to cover the severe gouges caused by the top of the stainless rock guards rubbing on the upper front area of the each QP.

I also have a lot of shell damage caused by what must have been a history of the stainless rock guards hinges pulling loose from the shell requiring multiple repairs and multiple holes. There was also some bad damage where the upper curbside back was installed. The installation of my hold backs was literally upside down from that recommended in the diagram. As I said the upper mid point hold backs were not installed ever. It appears, the problems from that installation were further exasperated by what must have been ferocious front end vibration.

Fortunately, I'm in a great position to make everything right. With no inside skin to cause interference I'm able to patch and properly reinforce everything properly.