Cobra trailer trim.

[Bob]

Does anyone have any experience or comments on replacing the vinyl trim
that runs the length on both sides of the trailer. (Mine has faded over
the years but otherwise good.)

What's involved and how difficult?

Thanks,

Bob

[Greg Arnold]

T o d d P a t t i s t wrote:
> "Bob" > wrote:
>
>> Does anyone have any experience or comments on replacing the vinyl trim
>> that runs the length on both sides of the trailer. (Mine has faded over
>> the years but otherwise good.)
>
>
> I can't answer this (mine has faded too), but I've got a
> related question - where can I get brake shoes for a Cobra
> trailer?

Try Williams Soaring in N. California.

[Gary Evans[_1_]]

Yes, unfortunately I do. My original red strips faded
to black within 2 years and then started cracking.
Just received a set of replacement strips directly
from Cobra for $216 US delivered (not cheap). They
slide onto channels on the frame. Looks easy enough
for a couple of people to install. You have to trim
the ends and refasten with pop rivets included.

At 15:00 18 July 2006, Bob wrote:
>Does anyone have any experience or comments on replacing
>the vinyl trim
>that runs the length on both sides of the trailer.
>(Mine has faded over
>the years but otherwise good.)
>
>What's involved and how difficult?
>
>Thanks,
>
>Bob
>
>

[Bela Szalai]

You are lucky. My red trim turned black in just one summer. Colorado UV.
Once it became uniformly black I learned to accept it.
I also learned to replace O-ring in the hydraulic ramp jack in 30 minutes,
an annual chore.
It looks like I need to replace the right tire about every 12-15 K miles,
since wheel toe is not adjustable, replacements easily beats cost of new
axle.
- Béla


------Original Message-----
-From: Glider Pilot Network ]
-Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2006 8:41 AM
-To: Bela Szalai
-Subject: [r.a.s] Re: Cobra trailer trim.
-
-------------------------------------------------------------
-Newsgroup: rec.aviation.soaring
-Subject: Re: Cobra trailer trim.
-Author: Greg Arnold >
-Date/Time: 15:30 18 July 2006
-------------------------------------------------------------
-T o d d P a t t i s t wrote:
-> "Bob" wrote:
->
->> Does anyone have any experience or comments on replacing the vinyl
->> trim that runs the length on both sides of the trailer. (Mine has
->> faded over the years but otherwise good.)
->
->
-> I can't answer this (mine has faded too), but I've got a related
-> question - where can I get brake shoes for a Cobra trailer?
-
-Try Williams Soaring in N. California.
-
-------------------------------------------------------------
-

[Greg Arnold]

Bela Szalai wrote:
> You are lucky. My red trim turned black in just one summer. Colorado UV.
> Once it became uniformly black I learned to accept it.
> I also learned to replace O-ring in the hydraulic ramp jack in 30 minutes,
> an annual chore.

Do you make your own O-ring, or do you have a source for one that fits?


> It looks like I need to replace the right tire about every 12-15 K miles,
> since wheel toe is not adjustable, replacements easily beats cost of new
> axle.
> - Béla
>

[chipsoars]

Anyone know where I can get the weatherstripping seal on the bottom
half of the trailer. This is what the clamshell closes against.

Also, has anyone replace lights with LED's and mounted a high center
stop light? What bulbs are in the tail lens?

Chip F.

[Bob]

Thanks for the info.
Are the 'new' weather strips UV resistant or will they too fade with
time?
Bob


Gary Evans wrote:
> Yes, unfortunately I do. My original red strips faded
> to black within 2 years and then started cracking.
> Just received a set of replacement strips directly
> from Cobra for $216 US delivered (not cheap). They
> slide onto channels on the frame. Looks easy enough
> for a couple of people to install. You have to trim
> the ends and refasten with pop rivets included.
>
> At 15:00 18 July 2006, Bob wrote:
> >Does anyone have any experience or comments on replacing
> >the vinyl trim
> >that runs the length on both sides of the trailer.
> >(Mine has faded over
> >the years but otherwise good.)
> >
> >What's involved and how difficult?
> >
> >Thanks,
> >
> >Bob
> >
> >

[Bubba]

First, purchase from Williams Soaring (best price).
Second, The new stuff is difficult to slide into the channel. The
secret is to have 3 people. One person pulling, one pushing and one
feeding makes all the difference.
One person impossible
Two people, all day task
Three have it done in 30 minutes.
Bob wrote:
> Does anyone have any experience or comments on replacing the vinyl trim
> that runs the length on both sides of the trailer. (Mine has faded over
> the years but otherwise good.)
>
> What's involved and how difficult?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Bob
>

[Bela Szalai]

How long does it lasts? Same as original?

- Béla


------Original Message-----
-From: Glider Pilot Network ]
-Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2006 3:41 PM
-To: Bela Szalai
-Subject: [r.a.s] Re: Cobra trailer trim.
-
-------------------------------------------------------------
-Newsgroup: rec.aviation.soaring
-Subject: Re: Cobra trailer trim.
-Author: Bubba >
-Date/Time: 22:30 18 July 2006
-------------------------------------------------------------
-First, purchase from Williams Soaring (best price).
-Second, The new stuff is difficult to slide into the channel.
- The secret is to have 3 people. One person pulling, one
-pushing and one feeding makes all the difference.
-One person impossible
-Two people, all day task
-Three have it done in 30 minutes.
-Bob wrote:
-> Does anyone have any experience or comments on replacing the vinyl
-> trim that runs the length on both sides of the trailer. (Mine has
-> faded over the years but otherwise good.)
->
-> What's involved and how difficult?
->
-> Thanks,
->
-> Bob
->
-
-------------------------------------------------------------
-

[[email protected]]

JS wrote:
> T o d d P a t t i s t wrote:
>
> > where can I get brake shoes for a Cobra
> > trailer?
> > --
>
> Make sure you get the right shoes for your trailer. When I called Rex
> he didn't have the vintage-1987-type so I ordered a set from Cobra.
> Get the instructions for adjusting the brakes. Adjusting the brakes
> correctly might make you believe you've changed the shoes and cut the
> drums.
> info AT cobratrailer DOT de
> And, while you're down there...
> Everybody should have the newer "beer friendly" plastic fenders (mud
> guards) with the flat spot on top. Rex has those complete with black
> wheel chocks that take UV exposure better than white ones.

>I took my old shoes to a brake shop in Pomona Ca and had them relined it can be done as long as you haven't let them get into the steel and have the drums turned at the same time. Price for 4 shoes & 2 drums turned $40.

LED lights can be bought at any big truck trailer supply such as
Utility or Trailmobile. Tail , brake & turn on my glass top cobra work
and look great, but I had to take a flapper wheel on a die grinder and
enlarge the holes out to 4". Side marker lights I used are (and tails)
Maxima brand didn't even have to drill new screw holes bolted right on
and took 30 min to do all 4.

[[email protected]]

Last year my wife and I replaced the vinyl trim on my Cobra trailer. It
took some muscle to pull the strips through. First, we soaked the trim
in a bucket filled with warm water and dishwashing liquid to add some
slick. The warm water made the vinyl more pliable.

When we started pulling, the first ten feet went easily. Then, the
lubrication wore off. We started over with Pam spray. That worked well.
To pull the vinyl, I used locking pliers. As I pulled, the wife
sprayed.

When the pulling was done, all that was needed was to pop-rivet the
vinyl ends to the trailer.

Then, our arms were tired.

Raul Boerner

[bumper]

I installed Maxxima LED replacement brake/turn/tail lights as well as a
high, fin mounted 3rd brake light on my Cobra.

For the fin, it is important to fabricate a wedge of some sort (I used white
plastic) to get the LED perpendicular to the ground, as the beam angle is
narrower than with incandescent lighting.

For the 3rd brake light "logic", I used a relay, with the coil being driven
off one brake/turn and the NO contact on the relay being driven by the other
brake turn. That way the fin brake light is only on when both L & R brake
lights are on.

I used all flush mount lights with rubber grommets. Also mounted LED aux
turn signals on the side of the trailer on the upper clam just above the
existing running lights, amber mid-ship and red at the rear.
--
bumper ZZ (reverse all after @)>
"Dare to be different . . . circle in sink."
"chipsoars" > wrote in message
oups.com...
>
> Anyone know where I can get the weatherstripping seal on the bottom
> half of the trailer. This is what the clamshell closes against.
>
> Also, has anyone replace lights with LED's and mounted a high center
> stop light? What bulbs are in the tail lens?
>
> Chip F.
>

[Ira Blieden]

I used a different technique.

I simply aligned the trim and used my thumbs to press it on. Worked
well once I got the hang of it. Took maybe 1+- hr per side by myself.

You might want to email Agnes Spindelberger to get advice.

Ira