Exterior Rear Fiberglass Corner Gash

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Exterior Rear Fiberglass Corner Gash

April 14, 2021, 10:50:32 am

I was towing a new to me trailer that had an extended tool box mounted over the tongue, since moved back. Anyhow, in attempting to navigate a cut de sac, I backed up the leading edge into the corner. Crunch. I've been wondering if there is a patch available or if anyone else has performed the same act of dumbness and what your remedy was. Right now I have tape over it. Any ideas?

Re: Exterior Rear Fiberglass Corner Gash

Reply #1 – April 14, 2021, 12:23:03 pm

I have repaired a few of these oops.
Is only the fiberglass damaged or did the aluminum panel or the bumper get damaged too?

The damaged fiberglass can be temporarily covered with duct tape if repairs will be delayed or with Eternabond Tape if the 'repair' will be permanent
The lower panels are repaired as any fiberglass structure, cut away the damage, and replaced with new fiberglass material and epoxy resin. Most body shops can repair it or the Mothership is happy to help....after a wait.
If the end cap was damaged, it can be glued back together with J-B Weld 50139 Plastic Bonder Body Panel Adhesive
Amazon.com: J-B Weld 50139 Plastic Bonder Body Panel Adhesive and Gap Filler...

If the aluminum panel was crunched, one choice is to disassemble the side and replace the panel, a task best done by the Mothership. If the gash isn't too bad, a Bondo product maybe the easier pathway.
https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-us/all-3m-products/~/Bondo-Metal-Reinforced-Filler/?N=5002385+3293191703&rt=rud

The bumper ends are relatively weak and many times can be pulled out, I have used the Jeep's winch for this purpose, for a controlled pull.
Some bumpers' ends are so badly wisted that they need to be cut apart, straightened with heat and then welded back together, before painting.

if you are talented enough to build an off-road racer, you should be able to handle this repair.

Larry

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Re: Exterior Rear Fiberglass Corner Gash

Reply #2 – April 14, 2021, 04:53:49 pm

Thanks Larry,

Luckily my wife yelled STOP at the moment of contact, so no damage to aluminum siding. Still a gash though.

I was thinking about forming a thin aluminum piece, one for each side to make it look uniform and like I meant it to be that way. I bet VHB tape would hold it on pretty well. Then I saw a PVC product that looks like Diamond Plate. I think I'll try that first and let you know how it works out.

Re: Exterior Rear Fiberglass Corner Gash

Reply #3 – April 14, 2021, 05:07:42 pm

A photograph of the injury would be of great help in showing what is actually damaged.

Larry

Re: Exterior Rear Fiberglass Corner Gash

Reply #4 – April 19, 2021, 10:22:03 am

I did something similar last fall at a boondockers welcome sight in New Mexico.
I solo 99% of the time, so backing into sites is something I do better solo, even if it takes me three times as long. 🤣
My boondockers host insisted on guiding me into the space. It made me that much more nervous.
Miscommunication and my two whining dogs, I managed to scrape the gate post and popped a hole in the corner trim, and craped the side.
I felt horrible that I craped my "Ophelia," but I felt worse about scaping my host's gate post!
I still haven't repaired her yet. I just pulled her into the shop for winter.
Juanita
Ps. My host and I looked for the piece that popped out but couldn't find it.
I'm open to ideas on how to fix it without a visit to a repair shop or replacing the whole piece.

Re: Exterior Rear Fiberglass Corner Gash

Reply #5 – April 19, 2021, 11:31:27 am

The end caps are ABS plastic, not fiberglass. I understand your wanting to prevent water entry through the hole, but if the 'tape' covering the hole and the gouge on the side is Eternabond, removing it will be a job. If you don't get advice from experienced 'fixers' on this board, you might want to send photos of the damage to the factory and get their opinion.

Good luck.

Re: Exterior Rear Fiberglass Corner Gash

Reply #6 – April 19, 2021, 12:02:18 pm

So sorry this happened to you and "Ophelia". I do think that any of us out adventuring will likely encounter scrapes and bumps here and there. Our "Dazy Mae" has a few beauty marks but I keep her clean and I still get lots of thumbs up from admirers .

Re: Exterior Rear Fiberglass Corner Gash

Reply #7 – April 19, 2021, 12:53:53 pm

Quote from: OpheliaElaineLD2005 - April 19, 2021, 10:22:03 am

I did something similar last fall at a boondockers welcome sight in New Mexico.
I'm open to ideas on how to fix it without a visit to a repair shop or replacing the whole piece.

Bondo and touch paint can be used to repair the sheet metal damage.
The cap is made of ABS, an easy plastic to glue. The missing piece may down inside the end cap. If retrieved, it can be glued back into place. If not found, the hole can still be repair with another piece of ABS, glued behind the hole and then smoothed with Bondo, before painting. Most body shops can take care of this.
Repairing the sheet metal and cap in place will save a lot of time and money

The aboulute best repair requires a trip to the Mothership and will probably cost $3000+ to repair. It would involved taking the back corner apart and replacing the damage aluminum panel, along with the end cap. It could take a bit of time to complete, considering it will need time in the spray booth. It’s a major job.

Larry

Re: Exterior Rear Fiberglass Corner Gash

Reply #8 – April 24, 2021, 10:18:46 am

Oops.

Re: Exterior Rear Fiberglass Corner Gash

Reply #9 – April 24, 2021, 11:01:05 am

Oh no!!!!

Re: Exterior Rear Fiberglass Corner Gash

Reply #10 – April 24, 2021, 11:24:42 am

This will do for now. This "Gorilla" tape is 4" wide and very thick, will def keep the water out. Comes in White, Black, Grey, Red, Blue. Bought at Lowes.

Re: Exterior Rear Fiberglass Corner Gash

Reply #11 – April 24, 2021, 02:50:08 pm

"Oops.

"

I'd count my blessings, DAZYMAE!

It appears that your oweee is contained solely to the end cap, that should be an easy fix at the Mother Ship.

Re: Exterior Rear Fiberglass Corner Gash

Reply #12 – April 25, 2021, 08:11:19 pm

Quote from: DazyMae - April 24, 2021, 10:18:46 am

Oops. :o

The cap can be fixed in place or the Mothersip can take replace it, at a much higher cost, due to the amount of material, painting and stripping needed.
A new cap is black or gray before itâ€™s painted.

To repair in place, a shop will tape off and protect the undamaged areas and then cut the capâ€™s damaged edge back so it can be pulled out and glued back together, using a plastic bonder. ABS plastic is easily and quickly glued. Once repaired, the area will need spot filling and sanding, before painting.
If you want to give it a try yourself, this is the plastic bonder I use.
Amazon.com: J-B Weld 50139 Plastic Bonder Body Panel Adhesive and Gap Filler....
Custom paint can be matched to a removed exterior cargo door, one that is the same color as the damaged cap.

Larry

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