Forum Discussion

kep5niner's avatar
kep5niner
Explorer
Nov 02, 2016

Replacement water heater door

My fiver (in sig) got side swiped over a month ago. Been working through insurance (mine of course, because the offending driver was uninsured...), and working with a local RV dealership in repairing the over $3,000 in damage has been....well...as expected. Truly a bunch of clowns, whom know not professionalism.

So now I have to take the last parts of the repair into my own hands. Here's my question: how do I get the correct color replacement water heater door / frame? It's a Suburban 10 gallon water heater. The dealership installed a black door, and the previous door was color-matched to the trailer. I don't even know what color you would call my trailer (beige?). It's not white, not black.

Calling and leaving voicemails with Forest River has yielded no response over the past 2 weeks.

How do I find the correct color water heater door / frame?
  • laknox's avatar
    laknox
    Nomad
    Nov 02, 2016
    downtheroad wrote:
    Any auto body shop can paint one with a perfect color match.


    We've got a paint shop here in Mesa that can color-match any paint =and= put it in a spray-can for you! DIY paint job. :B Might be a similar place near the OP.

    Lyle
  • kep5niner's avatar
    kep5niner
    Explorer
    Nov 02, 2016
    Good suggestions for color-match paint, but I would think that with as many of these trailers that come off the line, I would be able to source the correct color door, sans my effort to paint.

    I would think that somebody, somewhere has one of these sitting on a shelf. Maybe wishful thinking.
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Nov 02, 2016
    kep5niner wrote:
    Good suggestions for color-match paint, but I would think that with as many of these trailers that come off the line, I would be able to source the correct color door, sans my effort to paint.

    I would think that somebody, somewhere has one of these sitting on a shelf. Maybe wishful thinking.


    They are painted when the RV is painted at the factory

    Factory doesn't have a 'shelf of painted doors'
    Doors come with water heater......

    Get a body shop to paint it to match
  • DutchmenSport's avatar
    DutchmenSport
    Explorer
    Nov 02, 2016
    You can probably color match if you have any item that can be removed from the camper side (like one of the hatch doors, or anything with the same color). You can take it to any Lowes or Home Depot and they can color match. Automotive repair shops can probably do the same. Depending where you go, you may be able to match a spray paint. Then, do it yourself. Or take your sample from the side of the camper and simply go into a home depot type store and walk the spray paint aisle and see if you find a match, or near match yourself.
  • newman_fulltime's avatar
    newman_fulltime
    Explorer II
    Nov 02, 2016
    its a colonial white they sell it on ebay sold by adventure rv. pm me for more info.if needed
  • kep5niner's avatar
    kep5niner
    Explorer
    Nov 02, 2016
    newman fulltimer wrote:
    its a colonial white they sell it on ebay sold by adventure rv. pm me for more info.if needed


    Actually the picture may not clearly depict the color, but it is much darker than Colonial White. Thanks.
  • kep5niner's avatar
    kep5niner
    Explorer
    Nov 02, 2016
    Good copy on color matching. I have done that before in other applications. Not interested in going through the process - this accident already cost me $1k out of pocket (my insurance deductible) due to the uninsured driver that hit me. Also find it hard to believe the FR, with a mass-produced product, would custom paint anything.
  • Nutinelse2do's avatar
    Nutinelse2do
    Explorer
    Nov 03, 2016
    We had a water heater door painted on an old motorhome at a body shop. At the time
    ( 20 years ago ), think it cost around $50.00, including a nice clear caot. That would be my recommendation.

About Fifth Wheel Group

19,006 PostsLatest Activity: Jan 13, 2025