archer,
I can rig a 16 in my sleep and have been professionally repairing them since '98, and I can't picture what you're talking about.

The stock tramps are 3 pieces, two halves and a rear lacing strip, all tied together with some low stretch line. The tramp on a 16 is a structural part that needs to be installed properly.

Could you post a pic of what you have?

Asking technical questions like that would get more responses here.

Happy to help, just need more info.