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Teamfour's avatar
Teamfour
Explorer
Aug 30, 2014

Damaged my TT - Need Advice on Repair - UPDATE

On our way to Lake Placid last Saturday, I hooked a post pulling away from a gas pump. I pulled the rear outer wall away from the aluminum frame. There is no damage to any inside structure, nor is there any cracks or structural damage to the outer wall. I can just about push the corner back in to contact the aluminum frame, the location of which is indicated by my finger. My insurance deductible is $250.

Would you have the damaged repaired by the dealer and payed via insurance? Or would you attempt to push the corner back in and use construction adhesive to reattach the wall to the frame. Would it be OK to drill pilot holes in the bonded fiberglass and screw into the frame? Obviously the lower side skirt needs to be replaced.

Our concern is that our local dealer would not know how to repair this or a trip to the factory would be needed.





  • Trackrig's avatar
    Trackrig
    Explorer II
    Aug 30, 2014
    I've seen some very nice repairs done to corners using lightweight diamond plate aluminum. Secure everything back into place, then have a 90 degree corner bent out of the diamond plate. With a little sealant of your choice and either screws or rivets, secure it over the damage. Do one for both back corners. Any sheet metal shop can bend the pieces for you. This sort of like the diamond plated corners on the old jeeps used to hide rust and damage.

    Bill
  • Dick_B's avatar
    Dick_B
    Explorer
    Aug 30, 2014
    You have three options previously stated in the post.
    1. do you feel competent to do the repair good enough to sell the unit to the next RVer?
    2. If not, I would discuss the repair with the dealer. If you are satisfied they know what they are doing let them do it.
    3. If neither one is a `go' I'd discuss it with the manufacturer. Sometimes they are good at building units but not so good at repairs.

    added later after reading more posts: I recently wiped out my awning (embarrassing story) and the insurance guy estimated $2500 damage. By the time the shop got thru doing a complete repair the cost was $3500! Moral is that there might be more damage than originally thought.

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