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My caravan has a thick green rubber trim running along the bottom edge on the sides like a 'bumper'.

My question is...do these shrink lengthwise? Only there seems to be about an inch or so missing from each end with a gap before the end cap, and in fact a couple of end caps are also missing. I have seen this on other caravans and I am wondering where that last inch disappears to. I am also wondering if this can be a source of any water penetration or are they just a decorative protective strip?

hi

yes they do shrink with time and they will be covering the screws that hold the trim on that they are in

you can put a screw in each end to stop them shrinking back and then cover the screw with the end caps

to stretch them back again if realy hard soak trim in a bucket of hot water then refit it will stretch abit easier

Hi could it be its because your end caps are missing because the end caps should overlap your plastic trim, you can still buy the end caps if they are the plastic type

  I replaced all of mine Last Year. On a Coachman Hell of a job but Worth it.  BIG J

if you need new trim see

www.sealsdirect.co.uk  for all caravan seals.

Thanks all. There is one stretch on the door side which still seems to be fitted properly (possibly because this has always been protected by an awning). The end caps seem to butt up to the strip rather than overlapping. However thanks for the info and link...I just couldn't understand why they weren't long enough because the missing inch or so didn't seem to have broken off.

I checked to see if the strips slid easily in the channel or would pull out easily and they seemed rock solid so trying to get them out and stretch them might be more difficult than it's worth...they are pretty solid thick rubber. Perhaps buying a short length and cutting bits to fit the gaps might be better if I can get the same type. In the meantime I think I will put a plug of sealant over the ends to prevent water running along the inside until I can replace them and the end caps.

Thanks again

even with screws in the end the plastic flash will shrink, it will just rip itself out of the screws.

the secret is not to stretch it when you refit it