Clipped The Van, How To Repair?

[DaveFromBarrow]

Made a schoolboy tail swing error while slow manoeuvring. What's the best approach to repair it when I get home?

cheers

d

 

[Landy Andy]

That was bloody unlucky with that massive rear bar. Gel coat repair. How handy are you? Near a boat area?

 

[DaveFromBarrow]

Happy to go the DIY route with some guidance from someone who knows No boat places nearby at home, and don't think it's one to tackle while on the road. I have some white Gelcoat at home unopened.

cheers

d

 

[Lenny HB]

Its GPR as Andy says Gel Coat filler will do a good job, need to grind the crack out into a grove to give the filler something to grip on.

 

[PP Bear]

Tis but hardly a scratch, which is lucky as it could have been a lot worse.

We had a thread a few days ago about exactly the same thing as you and on a corner. They made a fab job of repair so that’ll give you a few tips.

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[PP Bear]

Here we go and it was Gellyneck sorted his corner out no problem.

Fibreglass repair required.

That's fibre glass by the way :giggle: You are completely wrong. It’s one word, fibreglass

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[Two on Tour]

As Lenny says, grind out the crack to form a "V" and then fill all the areas with U-Pol "B" filler which is a fibreglass bridging compound containing fibreglass strands.
Having rubbed down and getting the original panel shape back, then use a fine body filler to smooth any pin holes and irregularities, prime, and spray to match as best you can the panel colour.

Pardon our interruption...

 

[Lenny HB]

As Lenny says, grind out the crack to "V" and then fill all the areas with U-Pol "B" filler which is a fibreglass bridging compound containing fibreglass strands.
Having rubbed down and getting the original panel shape back, then use a fine body filler to smooth any pin holes and irregularities, prime, and spray to match as best you can the panel colour.

Pardon our interruption...

I reckon just Gel Coat filler will be OK it's incredibly strong.

 

[Two on Tour]

I reckon just Gel Coat filler will be OK it's incredibly strong.

Nearly 20 years on and off in the car body repair trade, including making small run fibreglass car bodies and their moulds, I have a bit of a clue as to the merits of fiberglass "bridging compound" Lenny.

The idea of bridger is to tie the edges together with the fibreglass strands giving it strength as well as filling, plus it is easy to work and shape.

 

[funflair]

Prep as Lenny says but then stabilise it with resin first, just paint it on and warm the area slightly and it will suck in and re impregnate the cracks and soft areas, then you can start to fill it with gel coat filler or as the OP has some gel coat already just thicken it with micro spheres for a DIY filler, finish with a flow coat of gel and MW solution to stop it curing tacky.

If the gel colour match is good enough it might not even need paint but the detail line around might make it easier to just fill them paint.

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[Puddleduck]

If the gel colour match is good enough it might not even need paint but the detail line around might make it easier to just fill them paint.

Or stick a decal or similar over it if the clour match isn't good enough for you.

 

[DaveFromBarrow]

Thanks to all who have provided some great advice - as always on here. I'll give it a go. Felt like such a dick when I did but now happy I'll be able to sort

d

 

[Two on Tour]

Done it, and been there, and they could hear the screaming and cursing for miles, it's done, just sort it and forget it.

 

[Sedge5]

Thanks to all who have provided some great advice - as always on here. I'll give it a go. Felt like such a dick when I did but now happy I'll be able to sort

d

Don’t worry about it - lots of people have done silly things at some time! Put it down to experience