Do it yourself!!

[daventess]

I want to learn how to do some things myself. By this I mean minor repairs to my MH.

You have to understand - this is like my 85 year old mother-in-law learning Python programming. A major undertaking for me, and a departure from my comfort zone.

You may have seen another post of mine about an accident I had in Portugal, involving a wrong turn, slight overconfidence and a vicious street lamp. The resulting damage to the fibreglass body is, to a lot of people's eyes, "not that bad and easily fixed". A garage just quoted me a baseline figure of around 2.5k (probably plus VAT, I fainted and haven't looked at it again since), assuming the don't find anything else wrong.

If I'm going to travel a lot - which is likely - things like this are going to happen, and 2k+ each time is going to hurt. I think I need to learn to do at least some things myself.

So - to the point. Can anyone recommend some youtube videos from someone they reckon teaches good practises on minor fibreglass bodywork repairs? I could play lucky dip of course, but as always I prefer to get a list of violently differing opinions from the forum to narrow down the chances of following "Crazy Pete's 4 second hammer repairs".

Cheers!

 

[1967bowesj]

Sorry Dave can’t list YouTube vids for you but I would just start watching some and see if you can follow along, once you get a feel for someone then watch more of their stuff.
For what you been quoted are they stripping the rear body off the van?
You seen how bad mine was on the other thread, that took me probably 2 days labour, plastic welding gun £20, fibreglass for behind bumper £25, plastic filler £10, primer then paint then clear lacquer for full bumper as didn’t like just ends done £90.

Yours might be a bit more as it will be gel coat but once you get the hang of it on the smaller bits you will be fine.
The worst you can do? Nothing as it needs repairing and if you attempt and don’t like it the repairer will just be doing what they would be doing without your repair

 

[chaser]

For fibre glass repairs you could also look at boat repairs, similar idea.

 

[daventess]

if you attempt and don’t like it the repairer will just be doing what they would be doing without your repair

That is a good point! Thanks

 

[daventess]

For fibre glass repairs you could also look at boat repairs, similar idea.

I have contacted about 4 boatyards so far, and all have said no.

Does anyone have a name of a boatyard that does repairs like this?

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[TheMobileWanderer]

Have you heard of motorhomebumpers.com, in Essex?

I've only begun to chat with them so im not specifically recommending them but their product range might be what you need? They've responded keenly (enough) to my enquiry, which is more than some have done.

Hth

 

[namwaldog]

On YouTube type "Motorhome Bodywork repairs" then just look through the resulting thumbnails and watch at random.

Try and find a body panel from, say, a scrapyard and have a go at that.

I watched this one the other day.......



Buy a couple of rattle cans of paint and have a go at painting something that isn't important.


I discovered a small hole on one of our mirror protectors a while ago. I had a look in the workshop for a bit of plastic to repair as a test piece, broke it in half and set to plastic welding it back together with an old soldering iron. First attempt was a right pig's ear but 2nd and 3rd improved greatly. Found a piece of old black plastic and repaired the hole in the mirror protector. Carefully sanded the raised repair with a Dremel and you would never know there had been a hole!

And above all, the buzz you get when you do get it right, doing it yourself, is priceless!!

Good Luck

 

[Lenny HB]

I have contacted about 4 boatyards so far, and all have said no.

Does anyone have a name of a boatyard that does repairs like this?

Where are you and have you got a photo of the damage?

Edit:
I see you are in bath I know a guy near Chichester but would probably need the van for a few days.

 

[1967bowesj]

Where are you and have you got a photo of the damage?

Edit:
I see you are in bath I know a guy near Chichester but would probably need the van for a few days.

Here’s Dave’s original thread Lenny HB

https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/ive-just-had-a-fight-with-a-lamp-post.322243/

 

[Lenny HB]

Here’s Dave’s original thread Lenny HB

https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/ive-just-had-a-fight-with-a-lamp-post.322243/

Link no work but I found it.

Mainly gel coat that's chipped off. To do a proper job it needs someone who is good with gel coat.

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[Burgo]

I want to learn how to do some things myself. By this I mean minor repairs to my MH.

You have to understand - this is like my 85 year old mother-in-law learning Python programming. A major undertaking for me, and a departure from my comfort zoned to learn to do at least some things myself"

Best advice I can give is:
1) Take deep breath and remind yourself it's broke.
If you have a go at fixing it and succeed - great (and you've learnt something).
If you don't succeed in fixing it at least you've learnt something about it and it's still broke the same. So find out more and try again.

2) Pretty well most things already have an answer / suggestions on the Internet. Before you wade in do some research on this forum / you tube / Google etc.

3) If you're taking something apart / unplugging things / etc take pics on your phone or write notes (eg blue wire next to the edge, black wire below next to the red thingy).

4) If you need to buy any tools buy the best you can afford. Cheap tools from the likes of Chinese bazaars won't last, won't fit properly and will cost you more in the end. If you're determined to start giving it a go, buy DIY tools from makes like Stanley etc at proper shops.

5) If it involves mains electricity unplug it before taking it apart. And put it all back together before plugging it back in.
If it's anything more complex than simple things like kettles, toasters, plugs & sockets, etc - eg anything with a bunch of what you'd call "electronics" or "circuit boards'" in it then read up on capacitors and the need to discharge them. Otherwise you can catch a bit of a shock even when it's unplugged.

6) Give it a go. One step at a time..If it's bust now you can't make it any worse.

 

[Bill-H]

many area used to do evening classes for car maintenance, is that still the case?

 

[daventess]

Where are you and have you got a photo of the damage?

Edit:
I see you are in bath I know a guy near Chichester but would probably need the van for a few days.

Hi Lenny HB - yes please - I'd be happy to get a quote from your guy in Chichester - we'd make a few days of it

 

[Lenny HB]

Hi Lenny HB - yes please - I'd be happy to get a quote from your guy in Chichester - we'd make a few days of it

Back home tomorrow I have his number on my PC.
If you don't get a message from me by Friday send me a PM, memory is crap these days unless it's Motorhome electrics.

 

[DangerMousy]

We used a place down in Havant few years ago for bodywork/gel coat/plastic repair. Excellent work - you'd never know there'd been any damage. https://www.carbodyguard.co.uk/

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[Gromett]

I want to learn how to do some things myself. By this I mean minor repairs to my MH.

You have to understand - this is like my 85 year old mother-in-law learning Python programming. A major undertaking for me, and a departure from my comfort zone.

You may have seen another post of mine about an accident I had in Portugal, involving a wrong turn, slight overconfidence and a vicious street lamp. The resulting damage to the fibreglass body is, to a lot of people's eyes, "not that bad and easily fixed". A garage just quoted me a baseline figure of around 2.5k (probably plus VAT, I fainted and haven't looked at it again since), assuming the don't find anything else wrong.

If I'm going to travel a lot - which is likely - things like this are going to happen, and 2k+ each time is going to hurt. I think I need to learn to do at least some things myself.

So - to the point. Can anyone recommend some youtube videos from someone they reckon teaches good practises on minor fibreglass bodywork repairs? I could play lucky dip of course, but as always I prefer to get a list of violently differing opinions from the forum to narrow down the chances of following "Crazy Pete's 4 second hammer repairs".

Cheers!

For fibreglass stuff I cannot recommend Boat Works Today enough. I have been following him for years and he has covered just about everything over that time.

Since he has moved house and had the operation things slacked off for a year or two but he is getting back into the swing of regular fibreglass videos.

BoatworksToday

Repairing boats for a living is what I do. Fiberglass, gelcoat, paint and woodworking are my specialties. Basically if it deals with making a boat look it's best, or structurally sound that's what I do. If you are a DIY boat owner, this is the channel for you! I keep it simple and straight...

www.youtube.com

 

[KNWH]

I built a whole car out of glassfibre. OK, I’m pretty experienced in DIY, but the stuff really isn’t difficult to work with. You’ll soon get the hang of it.
Building a full size plaster mould originally?
Ah, now that’s a different matter!

 

[DandG5515]

Another vote for motorhome bumpers.com (Williams motorhomes) they made me a replacement panel when I caught a branch.

they already had the mould, made the part in about 2 weeks and charged £195 including delivery, it is alot stronger than the original plastic part. I can certainly recommend they can work with fibreglass.

 

[1967bowesj]

Link no work but I found it.

Mainly gel coat that's chipped off. To do a proper job it needs someone who is good with gel coat.

Very odd the links not working on fun, never have any issues on other forums doing links the same way.