Banana Wrap on 73 Ambassador

[airpatton]

In doing the demo on my restoration, I noticed a design flaw in the banana wrap installation. As you can see from the photos, the outside decorative strip covers the banana wrap as it overlaps the skin. I would have thought the BW would have been UNDER the skin. Because of this overlapping (creating a gutter), water, over time has pooled within this area and created major rusted out-outer frame portions and killed all of the insulation under the trailer. So, what are some of you guys doing when reinstalling the wrap and the outside strip? Butyl tape? Sealant?

[Aerowood]

I slide mine under the skin but I'm not the norm here. Most just seal it well.

[airpatton]

Aero...THANKS! I was thinking the same thing. I'm in the process of removing the belly pan and wraps and noticing extensive damage to the frame outriggers and portions of the frame. On my AS, am I to assume I would have to do a full blown shell off to get at the frame properly? I'm a total amateur at this process and am learning much. Please be gentle.....hahahaha

[perryg114]

That trim piece should have been well caulked. It is preferable to put the wraps under the outer skin but not always easy to do. I put Trempro-635 along the seam and over any holes in the skin where the trim goes. Make sure you put the Trempro along the top edge of the belly trim to keep water out. Water comes from all kinds of places and ends up soaking the insulation. That pink stuff is the absolute worse type of insulation you can use. Check the plate as the back where it goes under the rear end of the trailer. That is a real common place to leak.

Perry