tommymontes wrote:
I have a 2002 Winnebago Sightseer with the Ford chassis. Tire in rear on passenger side blew out last week and destroyed the exterior storage compartment. The storage compartment door is still in tact but the box itself is crumpled. I took a look in the Winnebago catalog but couldn't find anything on purchasing a new storage box. Is this something that can be purchased and bolted in as a replacement part? I'm thinking someone else had to have had a blowout before and incurred the same damage as I.
I appreciate your advice. Thanks.
~Tom
Tom,
Yep, we've had two blow-outs on our coaches. One, a class C Ford going down the front side of the Grapevine in northern LA Cal. The other, about 20 miles south of Bakersfield CA. Both did extensive damage to the wheel well compartment areas and, in the first one, it damaged the shower pan and, the fresh water tank.
Since we carry a high deductible, I did the repairs, on both rigs, myself. On the first one, the Class C, I simply cleaned up the fiberglass shower pan and, laid in more glass. It looked flawless when done. As for water tank, it was made (and some still are) of Poly Ethelene plastic. That kind of plastic can be WELDED. So, since I only have welding equipment for all steels and no plastics, I had to farm that one out. It cost me a whopping $50.00.
But, in both cases where compartments were damaged, those repairs were simple. I purchased the same gauge galvanized sheet metal, in the largest form I calculated I needed. Then, I drew out the sides, bottom and top, calculated the appropriate bends and, headed to the local sheet metal fab place. The sheared it, bent it at my bend calculations and, I headed home with all the correct sized pieces.
I put them all together with rivets. Some sealer in the joints and, it was all done for around, $150.00 and, I had a brand new compartment. I purchased some "under coating" in a can and sprayed the back sides for protection against the elements. Looked better than new when done.
Scott
