Bottomed out my autotrail (1 Viewer)

Jan 29, 2014
1,317
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How easy is it to repair a split in the white plastic skirt at the rear of a 18 month old autotrail
 

Bluestar

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Nov 3, 2014
279
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10 years.. On and Off
Depends how good you are?
Mended the skirt on My 97 but that was glass fibre came out ok.
If yours is plastic the sort of company that can repair UPVC windows might be able to help.
 
Aug 15, 2014
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If you live in Halifax as your profile suggests can't you take it to Richard Baldwins, they are Autotrail agents.
 

Landyguy

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Mar 8, 2013
200
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Sutton on Sea
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newbie from caravan - 5yrs now
maybe try Chipsaway and depending on the operator they may be able to do it.
Can forward their 0800 number to you if you want.
A picture may be useful to assess.
 
Dec 27, 2014
967
3,361
Funster No
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Plastic welding done in most reputable body shops nowadays.
Google it in your area, plastic welding done correctly, filled out properly will leave an invisible repair.

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musson

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Dec 25, 2013
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have you tried the company that repairs the shower trays I think the advertise repairing other products Speedcoat 08000834525
 

tonka

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Jul 2, 2008
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:(
Easy to do on these AT's with long overhangs.
Did mine last week turning into a pub at Stoke.. !! Luckily I have towbar fitted and that took all the brunt of it, however ripped all the plastic coating... In 3 years this is about the 4th time my towbar has saved the back of the van.. A very wise investment, especially as i got it for £150...

Good luck with the repair...

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Forestboy

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Jul 31, 2007
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Forest of Dean
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Any decent body repair shop will do it they're doing it on cars everyday.
Had my rear bumper repaired last year £2000 at Hymer £300 locally used a local car body shop.
 
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laurieash
Jan 29, 2014
1,317
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July 2013
Thanks for your replys
Come from a flat road to a uphill with the long over hang it will catch the back end.
 

PeteH

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Nov 22, 2007
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Had a crack in the rear wing of a Smart car. SUPERGLUED a small piece of Vinyl behind the crack, after drilling the end of the crack to "stop" it. Placed a Small "Yorkshire Rose" Graphic over it and one identical the other side. No problems and still Ok when sold 2 years later!!

pete

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Aug 27, 2014
1,910
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I dread doing this. I've got an Mclouis Tandy 640, it also has a long rear overhang and the first point to touch down will be the decidedly flimsy rear bumper. No simple way to protect it either, short of getting a towbar made which seems rather extreme when I've no other use for it!

I've fitted air assisters to the rear suspension which increase the rear ride height by a couple of inches which will help, but I can see that ferry ramps etc will need great care, and possibly maximum air pressure in the suspension.
 

Chris

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May 5, 2010
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We haven't grounded our Scour yet, but it's got a big overhang so I had better be careful.

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MikeD

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Dec 21, 2011
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I reversed my Autotrail into a pile of bricks and broke the plastic rear corner.

Check how much the new part is with Autotrail.

My bit was only £90 and came in the correct colour etc.
 

Stephen & Jeannie

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Aug 27, 2008
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Sold and bought a Caravan
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9 years !!!!
:(
Easy to do on these AT's with long overhangs.
Did mine last week turning into a pub at Stoke.. !! Luckily I have towbar fitted and that took all the brunt of it, however ripped all the plastic coating... In 3 years this is about the 4th time my towbar has saved the back of the van.. A very wise investment, especially as i got it for £150...

Good luck with the repair...
Perhaps investing in a rear view camera would be wise ?:whistle2::whistle2::whistle2:
 

tonka

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Jul 2, 2008
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Perhaps investing in a rear view camera would be wise ?:whistle2::whistle2::whistle2:

Fitted as standard on our lovely 700's.. !!
BUT they dont look "under" vans.. :whistle:

It's all to do with the "angle of the dangle"...

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scotjimland

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Jul 25, 2007
2,246
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A Woosh bang
I have towbar fitted and that took all the brunt of it, however ripped all the plastic coating.

you could fit a skid wheel. .. had one on my RV hitch.. saved damage when boarding ferries .. etc.

just an example.. this one is for an RV type hitch..
you could use any industrial trolley wheel

94-8351-94-8351.jpg


HITCH PROTECTOR SKID WHEEL - 94-8351-94-8351.jpg

Durable 3" wheels for cars and pickups keep receivers and hitch posts from roadway damage. Attaches with hitch pin (not included). Use with or without your trailer.

Some more ideas here
Broken Link Removed
 
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PeteH

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Nov 22, 2007
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18+yrs plus 25+Towing
"Damn you Red Barron", You beat me to it Jim!. We had one on the "Yank" Until I took it off to re-jig the tow for a U-haul. and left it at the Depot in Florida!! To far to go back from Texas for it though!!

Talking about ferries. I completely took the Jockey wheel off the Car Trailer Boarding at Dover once.!!! Couldn't get it replaced until Brian James`s sent me one to La Roulette (St Jean de Luz) on the French / Spanish border. So I could not unhitch ALL the way through France!! made for some "Interesting" Night Stops!!

Pete
 
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laurieash
Jan 29, 2014
1,317
975
Scunthorpe
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29,917
MH
Autotrail Apache
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July 2013
I reversed my Autotrail into a pile of bricks and broke the plastic rear corner.

Check how much the new part is with Autotrail.

My bit was only £90 and came in the correct colour etc.
Mine is also the corner what is it like to fit?

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Daveg

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Sep 2, 2012
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Perthshire
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November 2012
When we bought our LMC 7100 I thought of taking the tow bar off, but soon changed my mind when it took the hit on a nasty incline taken slightly too fast. It has a phenomenal over hang and is quite low to the road.

If I wa buying another van with this sort of design I would probably get one fitted.

Dave
 

Badknee

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Aug 25, 2014
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Must say I've grounded our tow bar a couple of times so saved some plastic plus it's there as a bumper if needed. All plastic arse ends could be an expensive fix if someone clips you.
 

irnbru

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Jun 27, 2013
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11 yrs
I just grounded ours today but looks like the only damage is to the rear brushes. Thank goodness for the towbar.

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Puddleduck

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Jan 15, 2014
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I just grounded ours today but looks like the only damage is to the rear brushes. Thank goodness for the towbar.

The like was that there is no damage not because you grounded. Easy to do..... a friend had a sports car that was so low to the ground it had to go up ramps at an angle......
 

Badknee

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The like was that there is no damage not because you grounded. Easy to do..... a friend had a sports car that was so low to the ground it had to go up ramps at an angle......
Errrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, I know that way of doing it, perhaps the 40mm drop was a tad too much? :whistle: :LOL:
image.jpg
 

pappajohn

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Aug 26, 2007
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you could fit a skid wheel. .. had one on my RV hitch.. saved damage when boarding ferries .. etc.

just an example.. this one is for an RV type hitch..
you could use any industrial trolley wheel

94-8351-94-8351.jpg


HITCH PROTECTOR SKID WHEEL - 94-8351-94-8351.jpg

Durable 3" wheels for cars and pickups keep receivers and hitch posts from roadway damage. Attaches with hitch pin (not included). Use with or without your trailer.

Some more ideas here
Broken Link Removed
Thats ok on an RV with the length of RSJ they call a hitch receiver but nothing strong enough on a eurobox except a towbar.....and if you have a towbar its just more weight carrying a hitch wheel as well.

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