Advice re damage to bodywork (1 Viewer)

[PJGWiltshire]

We have had the misfortune whilst on our travels to receiving a bit of damage to the van. Whist driving along the motorway a stone hit the front overhang of the MH. Later whilst looking over the van I noticed a shall round indent on the fiberglass front overhang of MH. I have managed to cover the dent (about 2cm diameter but it has broken through the fiberglass or whatever the panel is made off) with tape as a temp repair until back in the uk. As usual now sitting wandering if it a small repair or massive job. Never had a repair on fiberglass/ plastic does anybody out there know if it is a case of cutting out the hole and patching in a repair and a repaint the front section or is a case of the entire panel having to be cut out and replaced. Just need some info to put me at ease

 

[Judge Mental]

Try a local smart repair agent?

 

[laird of Dunstan]

with fiberglass you have to stop the cracks travelling , to do this you have to drill the end of the cracks , the outer shell of your MH is a stuff called gell coat ,you can buy gell coat repair kits

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[PJGWiltshire]

Try a local smart repair agent?

Thanks but do you know if is the small hole repair or replacement of entire panel?

 

[PJGWiltshire]

with fiberglass you have to stop the cracks travelling , to do this you have to drill the end of the cracks , the outer shell of your MH is a stuff called gell coat ,you can buy gell coat repair kits

Do you know what the overhang panels are made off

 

[Minxy]

If you are able to post some pictures of the damage/location it would help given opinions on whether it's a repair or a new panel job.

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[laird of Dunstan]

I would assume that they are fiberglass with a gell coat finish, there are a couple of avenues that you could try, ask as Judge suggested a smart repair guy or try your local marina , phone the marina and ask if they know a mobile gell coat repair man , as a former smart repair guy I have repaired several motorhomes

 

[PJGWiltshire]

If you are able to post some pictures of the damage/location it would help given opinions on whether it's a repair or a new panel job.

Will do so first thing tomorrow morning

 

[wingman]

ChipsAway should be able to sort that. They have places local to us at Billericay and Basildon (when you are back in UK). I haven't used them, but have seen some of their work on cars, which was good. They come to you too, so no worries about being in a body shop for weeks. They do free estimates.

I would imagine that they will simply put a mesh behind and fill it/finish with matching paint.

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[Judge Mental]

Thanks but do you know if is the small hole repair or replacement of entire panel?

I would think a local repair..Best get professional advice. don't worry its only a bit of money...

edit: chips away have some good people had them do some scratches/small dents on an earlier van

 

[funflair]

If its fibreglass it a pretty easy repair, it just needs the gel coat grinding back and the damaged area impregnating with a bit of polyester resin then fill the dent with a gelcoat filler and finally a matching gelcoat to finish it off, one little trick if it is a flat or single curve area is to apply the gelcoat and then cover it with a bit of flexible plastic to follow the shape of the surrounding area, this also has the added advantage of making the gelcoat cure without the surface staying tacky, with a bit of luck you could get away without it needing paint even.

Looks like its a Swift so they should be able to give you the RAL number for the gelcoat.

Martin

 

[funflair]

with fiberglass you have to stop the cracks travelling , to do this you have to drill the end of the cracks , the outer shell of your MH is a stuff called gell coat ,you can buy gell coat repair kits

Sorry but this is not correct, GRP or fibreglass panels are made with a woven or random glass matt impregnated with polyester resin so there is no need to drill a hole as the cracks will not run.

Martin

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[TheBig1]

a small hole caused by a stone can be filled and repaired, so should not neccesitate a replacement overcab

 

[PJGWiltshire]

Thanks everyone. With the advice given it sounds like a remortgage is not required. Will not tell the good lady the good news as I have told her we will need to cut back on spending to cover the cost of repair and I've seen a new sea rod I fancy !!!

 

[laird of Dunstan]

Sorry but this is not correct, GRP or fibreglass panels are made with a woven or random glass matt impregnated with polyester resin so there is no need to drill a hole as the cracks will not run.

Martin

I never had anyone bring back a fiberglass repair that I did ,so I stand by my comments

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[Stealaway]

Just stick one of these in the appropriate place.

 

[f6c]

Good Thinking Stealaway

 

[mitzimad]

as ive done over the hole in the back of the mirror

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[chaser]

Made a hole iN the top corner of ours, repaired it with the fibre glass stuff in a tin from a motor factor, filled it a bit over full then levelled it off with the side of a file when dry then sanded it, and spray painted it from an aerosol, two years ago, still can't tell.

 

[PeteH]

Just stick one of these in the appropriate place.

Beat Me To It. I had Damage to the Gel coat on an R-V. Repaired it with F-G and then put a large Decal over it! Job Done!. No Paint match involved!!. Put an identical Decal the other side to "balance it up".

Pete