Cobra Trailer Sidewall Seal Replacement Hints?

[John DeRosa OHM Ω http://aviation.derosaweb.net]

Has anyone replaced the "sidewall seal" on a Cobra trailer?

This is rubber gasket that runs along the top of the trailer's bottom half side walls and seals it to upper trailer shell. There is also the identical gasket at the front of the trailer which seems much difficult to access short of removing the top.

If you have done this do you have any hints and tricks to share?

Thanks, John DeRosa OHM Ω

[John DeRosa OHM Ω http://aviation.derosaweb.net]

The seal I am speaking of is this > https://wingsandwheels.com/cobra-trailer/cobra-trailer-bottom/sidewall-seal.html

[[email protected]]

On Wednesday, April 29, 2020 at 12:44:19 PM UTC-4, John DeRosa OHM Ω http://aviation.derosaweb.net wrote:
> Has anyone replaced the "sidewall seal" on a Cobra trailer?
>
> This is rubber gasket that runs along the top of the trailer's bottom half side walls and seals it to upper trailer shell. There is also the identical gasket at the front of the trailer which seems much difficult to access short of removing the top.
>
> If you have done this do you have any hints and tricks to share?
>
> Thanks, John DeRosa OHM Ω

Clean everything well.
Coat the track liberally with dish soap.
Soak the seal in a large tub of hot water to make it more pliable.
Have a helper with more dish soap solution.
Pull in with a strong set of pliers like Vise grips.
Heavy praying beforehand may be helpful.
Good luck
UH

[Dan Daly[_2_]]

On Wednesday, April 29, 2020 at 1:28:17 PM UTC-4, wrote:
> On Wednesday, April 29, 2020 at 12:44:19 PM UTC-4, John DeRosa OHM Ω http://aviation.derosaweb.net wrote:
> > Has anyone replaced the "sidewall seal" on a Cobra trailer?
> >
> > This is rubber gasket that runs along the top of the trailer's bottom half side walls and seals it to upper trailer shell. There is also the identical gasket at the front of the trailer which seems much difficult to access short of removing the top.
> >
> > If you have done this do you have any hints and tricks to share?
> >
> > Thanks, John DeRosa OHM Ω
>
> Clean everything well.
> Coat the track liberally with dish soap.
> Soak the seal in a large tub of hot water to make it more pliable.
> Have a helper with more dish soap solution.
> Pull in with a strong set of pliers like Vise grips.
> Heavy praying beforehand may be helpful.
> Good luck
> UH

1. Go to factory webpage. https://www.cobratrailer.com/?page_id=1257&lang=en .
2. Under "Maintenance and Repair Manuals" click the link "Installing new plastic protection stripes" . Detailed 'how-to' with pictures, .pdf

Might be worth downloading the other excellent 'how-to' files as well.

Cheers
Dan

[John DeRosa OHM Ω http://aviation.derosaweb.net]

UH,

Thanks for the thoughts (and prayers).

I was wondering - instead of pulling the long seal into the top rail extrusion end to end - that we could "pinch" the seal's narrow edge and insert it bit by bit into the extrusion working along one small section at a time.

Also, how did you get the seal into the very front end near where the top and bottom come tightly together? Did you remove the top?

[Dave Nadler]

On Wednesday, April 29, 2020 at 1:54:11 PM UTC-4, Dan Daly wrote:
> ..."Installing new plastic protection stripes"...

Question was about seals, not plastic strip, no?
Technique is similar - soapy water as lubricant.

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On Wednesday, April 29, 2020 at 2:25:00 PM UTC-4, John DeRosa OHM Ω http://aviation.derosaweb.net wrote:
> UH,
>
> Thanks for the thoughts (and prayers).
>
> I was wondering - instead of pulling the long seal into the top rail extrusion end to end - that we could "pinch" the seal's narrow edge and insert it bit by bit into the extrusion working along one small section at a time..
>
> Also, how did you get the seal into the very front end near where the top and bottom come tightly together? Did you remove the top?

Dave rightly notes that I misinterpreted question as replacing the side trim strip.
Seal is done the same way but is easier because it is not as stiff.
You want to pull in from the end. Last bit in front is push, maybe with someone inside and one out.
You DO NOT want to remove the top. It is a huge ass cramp to get the hinges back into place because of the forward thrust angle of the lift struts.
UH

[[email protected]]

On Wednesday, April 29, 2020 at 12:44:19 PM UTC-4, John DeRosa OHM Ω http://aviation.derosaweb.net wrote:
> Has anyone replaced the "sidewall seal" on a Cobra trailer?
>
> This is rubber gasket that runs along the top of the trailer's bottom half side walls and seals it to upper trailer shell. There is also the identical gasket at the front of the trailer which seems much difficult to access short of removing the top.
>
> If you have done this do you have any hints and tricks to share?
>
> Thanks, John DeRosa OHM Ω

I have always added glycerin to the soapy water for both the top and bottom seal. Makes it all a bit easier. Available at pharmacies.