wrote, On 8/29/2013 7:23 PM:
I tried changing the bumper trim on my new cobra trailer a few years
ago due to sun rot. The red has turned a brittle pink. I purchased
the replacement Cobra trim from Rex as well. I was too cool to read
the instructions and have a big scar on my ankle to prove it. I
cleaned up the dried dirt caked on in channel (taking 3-4 hours) as
you should but didn't do the main trick...more on that later...

I could pull the trim through 2/3 of the way and then it was
impossible to do more. Also thought of the vice grips idea. A few
more feet but it was stuck. Got soap...another foot. Still 8 feet
short. "Darn!" Keeping it clean since there were children present
watching the debacle.

I had the brilliant idea to get a come-along and attach to the vice
grips. 4 to 5 failed attempts later the channel plastic ripped out
and the metal vice grips shot like a slingshot right at me and hit me
in the ankle smack dab on the bone that sticks out at your sock line.
Oh it felt so good!!! Speaking of socks, it turned quite read
quite quickly.

So. Now what after the bleeding stopped 3 days later? Time to call
Rex and ask what I am doing wrong. They asked, "You are soaking it
in hot water right before putting on right?" Uhhhh, thanks....

Slid on like butter with no come-along the first try after doing it
right. Duh! Sure made the trailer look like it was new. Have fun and
yes it is well worth it.

I did it in full sun at 100+ degrees, so the vinyl stayed soft and
flexible. My wife stood in the shade and helped feed it into the track.
I think she felt lucky I didn't have her out in the sun, too (do I look
that stupid?).

I sprayed Pam in the track ahead of the strip I was pulling in, and Pam
on the stuff that was entering the track. It went well, even though my
trailer box is 30 feet long because it's for the one-piece wings on my
18 meter glider.

The downside of using Pam was stray dogs would stand around the end of
the trailer, licking Pam off the rear corners, as the excess seeped out
over the next few months.

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to
email me)
- "Transponders in Sailplanes - Feb/2010" also ADS-B, PCAS, Flarm
http://tinyurl.com/yb3xywl