Removing rivets from exterior fresh water valve cover

[Csully]

1999 13" Scamp. The fresh water connection valve cover is broken so we are trying to replace it! We have run into an issue with removing the rivets in order to take off the cover. We tried gently unscrewing them with a drill, no go. How do people do this removal without damaging the exterior fiber glass? On the interior, where the rivets come through the body of the RV to the inside, is covered with the wall-carpeting around the hose.


TL;DR: How do you remove the rivets securing the fresh water connection exterior cover without damaging the RV?

[thrifty bill]

You drill out just the center of the rivet. At that point, the head of the rivet will come off. You then push the shank of the rivet into the inside of the trailer, so you can reuse the existing holes.

Think small drill bit. You are not drilling the entire rivet, you are just separating the head from the rest of the rivet. When in doubt, use a smaller bit.

[gordon2]

You tube it. then get some scrape material, fiberglass if you have it but anything will do. Install a few rivets and then practice drilling off the head and removing them. Its a bit of an art form and I would not want my first attempt to be on my camper (although mine was).