Repair shop recommended.

[KeefieWeefie]

Whilst driving up from South Staffs to Dewsbury I decided to stopover night at The Sands House pub in Huddersfield on Sunday night in order to drop my van off for ABS pump replacement and full service at Calder Valley Motorhomes first thing Monday morning. When leaving the pub carpark in the morning the satnav said drive south west, there was no sun so no idea and I chose the wrong direction and had to find somewhere to make a u turn. I saw a small carpark and entered between two concrete posts. There was one car parked in there which made it awkward to swing the van round to go back through the posts at a good angle. I was concentrating so hard on not hitting the car that I caught a metal gate hanger on one of the concrete posts. When I arrived at Calder Valley Motorhomes I saw the extent of the damage and was shocked! I let them do the repair and here is the result. Fantastic job!

 

[M-J]

Is that a new decal on top of the repair or is it painted on?

 

[KeefieWeefie]

It's painted on! Even close up you cannot tell or see that it was damaged. The chap that did it is a artist! Well in my opinion anyway.

 

[KeefieWeefie]

Oh and they did a great service to. Cleaned all the brakes up and adjusted the handbrake. Made a big difference. MOT as well. ABS pump replaced at a better price than Fiat quoted. Everything working fine now. On top of this they provided a courtesy car free of charge for 3 weeks. It took that long due to the flooding. Really friendly and professional service. On the ferry to Calais on Monday for 3 month adventure through France, Spain and Portugal!?

 

[M-J]

Seems odd to paint the decal on but looks like a good job.

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[TheBig1]

Seems odd to paint the decal on but looks like a good job.

Not in the slightest bit odd, it gives a far superior finish to vinyl decals that fade and peel with age

 

[TinaLes]

Did you put the accident repair through your insurers or do a deal direct?, looks like a great job they have done for you, it must have taken them some time to do it, so it wouldn't be cheap I guess.
We need our back GRP bumper fixed, as its severely cracked at nearside corner having had a similar incident to you, not sure whether to just order a new bumper, and get someone to spray the rear back ali side skirt or just put it through insurers pay £250 excess
Thanks for any guidance.
LES

 

[M-J]

Not in the slightest bit odd, it gives a far superior finish to vinyl decals that fade and peel with age

It is definitely odd unless all of the decals are painted, I wouldn’t want mix and match painted/vinyl.

 

[Gizmouk]

Done a great job of the repair -

 

[pappajohn]

My next purchase would be a proper Satnav with visual directions..... You know, a virtual road you should be taking.....not a none existent compass.

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[KeefieWeefie]

My next purchase would be a proper Satnav with visual directions..... You know, a virtual road you should be taking.....not a none existent compass.

That's Garmin for you. Would have been nicer to comment on the repair job rather than what I should have done. I know I cocked up, I don't need reminding of it! I was gutted. First accident in 48 years of driving.

 

[KeefieWeefie]

Not in the slightest bit odd, it gives a far superior finish to vinyl decals that fade and peel with age

Excellent, my thoughts exactly. It actually looks better than the original. I'm well impressed which is the reason for this post!

 

[KeefieWeefie]

Did you put the accident repair through your insurers or do a deal direct?, looks like a great job they have done for you, it must have taken them some time to do it, so it wouldn't be cheap I guess.
We need our back GRP bumper fixed, as its severely cracked at nearside corner having had a similar incident to you, not sure whether to just order a new bumper, and get someone to spray the rear back ali side skirt or just put it through insurers pay £250 excess
Thanks for any guidance.
LES

I did think about claiming. Martyn explained that he wouldn't advise claiming on anything under 3K if I can afford it due to me soon approaching 70. He reckons that I will find it increasingly difficult to get Insurance at a reasonable price if my NBC is gone. What thinks you?

 

[KeefieWeefie]

It is definitely odd unless all of the decals are painted, I wouldn’t want mix and match painted/vinyl.

If you saw the job live you would think differently. There is no visible difference between what they have done and the decals! Nobody that has seen noticed anything.

 

[TinaLes]

I did think about claiming. Martyn explained that he wouldn't advise claiming on anything under 3K if I can afford it due to me soon approaching 70. He reckons that I will find it increasingly difficult to get Insurance at a reasonable price if my NBC is gone. What thinks you?

I am still feeling sick with myself, like you after 40 odd years of driving with no accidents, I had what I consider to be a freak accident. I pulled over to the kerb after Garmin told me to go the wrong way in Dorset, I needed to do a U turn on a small road, so chose my spot with a road entrance on my RHS.
I checked mirrors, rear camera, nothing coming, so cranked the steering wheel round, then heard a horrible crunch.
There was a grass verge to my nearside, what I couldn't see, and the same could happen in the future, was a metal spike/post only a foot high hidden in the overgrown grass! with the long rear overhang on the van, when I turned sharply, it of course swung out into the grass, found the hidden post, and as I proceeded it scrapped along the low side skirt at the rear, before hooking the end of the GRP bumper, and ripping the bumper off the van, cracking it severely.
New parts are about £800!!! or I would need to find a GRP specialist to reinforce the rear of the cracks, then fill, and then respray the whole bumper.
The next problem is finding a GRP or Motor home repair shop reasonably near to me, most motor home dealers seem to call in one of those mobile type "chips away" type guys.
PS: I can not believe how Eggshell Thin the GRP bumper is for the size of it, doubt its 2mm, all to save weight I guess, but it sure isnt a Bumper.
LES

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[KeefieWeefie]

I am still feeling sick with myself, like you after 40 odd years of driving with no accidents, I had what I consider to be a freak accident. I pulled over to the kerb after Garmin told me to go the wrong way in Dorset, I needed to do a U turn on a small road, so chose my spot with a road entrance on my RHS.
I checked mirrors, rear camera, nothing coming, so cranked the steering wheel round, then heard a horrible crunch.
There was a grass verge to my nearside, what I couldn't see, and the same could happen in the future, was a metal spike/post only a foot high hidden in the overgrown grass! with the long rear overhang on the van, when I turned sharply, it of course swung out into the grass, found the hidden post, and as I proceeded it scrapped along the low side skirt at the rear, before hooking the end of the GRP bumper, and ripping the bumper off the van, cracking it severely.
New parts are about £800!!! or I would need to find a GRP specialist to reinforce the rear of the cracks, then fill, and then respray the whole bumper.
The next problem is finding a GRP or Motor home repair shop reasonably near to me, most motor home dealers seem to call in one of those mobile type "chips away" type guys.
PS: I can not believe how Eggshell Thin the GRP bumper is for the size of it, doubt its 2mm, all to save weight I guess, but it sure isnt a Bumper.
LES

I feel for you. No matter how careful you are these things will happen. Calder Valley Motorhomes are 160 miles from me but the fact that you get a courtesy car plus my mate that recommended them to me lives an hour away, so I combined the repair with a visit to Harrogate too! On the courtesy car is written Think motorhomes think Calder Valley Motorhomes! I do now! Have a peek at their website

 

[TheBig1]

I am still feeling sick with myself, like you after 40 odd years of driving with no accidents, I had what I consider to be a freak accident. I pulled over to the kerb after Garmin told me to go the wrong way in Dorset, I needed to do a U turn on a small road, so chose my spot with a road entrance on my RHS.
I checked mirrors, rear camera, nothing coming, so cranked the steering wheel round, then heard a horrible crunch.
There was a grass verge to my nearside, what I couldn't see, and the same could happen in the future, was a metal spike/post only a foot high hidden in the overgrown grass! with the long rear overhang on the van, when I turned sharply, it of course swung out into the grass, found the hidden post, and as I proceeded it scrapped along the low side skirt at the rear, before hooking the end of the GRP bumper, and ripping the bumper off the van, cracking it severely.
New parts are about £800!!! or I would need to find a GRP specialist to reinforce the rear of the cracks, then fill, and then respray the whole bumper.
The next problem is finding a GRP or Motor home repair shop reasonably near to me, most motor home dealers seem to call in one of those mobile type "chips away" type guys.
PS: I can not believe how Eggshell Thin the GRP bumper is for the size of it, doubt its 2mm, all to save weight I guess, but it sure isnt a Bumper.
LES

come back down to Dorset Les, we have plenty of GRP specialists that usually work on boats. There is probably a marina fairly close to you that would have contact details for a specialist too

 

[TheBig1]

TinaL Try this one Les
<Broken link removed>

 

[TinaLes]

Many Thanks TheBig1
I was trying my best to ignore the damage, trying my best to convince myself that the yellow reflective gaffer tape on the Rear LHS of the bumper could be matched up on the RHS making it look similar to an N&B Flair!
But even my vivid imagination cannot stretch that far.
I was looking for Motor Home repairers, but thanks to you, I am now looking for GRP Boat Repairers of which there are a few as you say.
I will start the phone calls tomorrow to see who can do it at a reasonable cost (if thats Possible).
I may wait until the weather warms up, then take off the bumper & the left vertical piece which has also been cracked slightly, then take them down in the car to get them fixed and resprayed.
I may have mentioned earlier, and a good tip to all, is that all of the motor home Dealers/Repairers that I contacted seem to sub their work out to the likes of Chips Away. I cannot see that type of mobile service performing GRP repairs such as is required in my case, Bumper scuffs yes maybe.
I will know more tomorrow, I hope after I have taken some pictures to upload to them I guess.
Thanks for your help, maybe see you at Thetford again.
LES

 

[TheBig1]

Thanks for your help, maybe see you at Thetford again.

looking forward to it Les unless the government ban travel and social gatherings as they are threatening over covid-19

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[TinaLes]

looking forward to it Les unless the government ban travel and social gatherings as they are threatening over covid-19

Yes it is becoming a bit of a concern, but lets face it, we are all Funsters, at least half with the Angel Gabriel sat on one shoulder, so half dead anyway!
Cheers.
LES