How do we repair this oops that hubby just made?

[dcason]

Hubby just backed into a rock wall that was hidden by plants...he's not very happy.

I should probably mention that we are going camping tomorrow morning sometime...
He is off to HD to get some diamond plate and try and muddle his way through this.

So I think we need some help...cuss words are flying!

[dcason]

About that spotter position....

I used to ask him every single time he backed up if he wanted me to jump out spot him and the answer was mostly no. He got a back up camera about 6 months ago, fell in love with it and obviously relied a bit too heavily on it!!! Since he got it, I was asking even more less. He was turning around in a driveway and neither of us saw the vine covered wall...too busy jawing. This was a very quiet road too...until we both heard the crunch....

Given that I never thought he would hit something, I am going to guess that his driving down unknown roads in search of boon docking spots is soon going to get him to back miles back out of some road. WE both know its coming...

[garyhaupt]

I am going to disagree with most. You did say keeping for a long time and using lots? Once back from your trip I would be looking for a boat yard or some other shop that does fiberglass work and have them do the job properly. It's not a big deal..they will match colour and sand to blend and you will be much much happier.


and yes, I speak from experience. I didn't put the hole in the front cap but I wasn't going to tolerate the 'fix' either.

A further comment...every time someone see's that plate, they are going to say something. Maybe that's what you want. But..if not? Get it fixed right and only you two will look at the spot every time. No one else will know.


Gary Haupt

[dons2346]

Who was the spotter while hubby was backing into the wall?

[dcason]

There is particle board or maybe plywood behind it.

We put eternabond on all the areas where ladder was
screwed to back of rv to ensure no leaks.

Hubby still wants use of ladder after he fixes it so he
is figuring how to make it more structurally sound...
looking for 1/4" diamond plate (beefy) thick.

For now the duct tape will work...rain is coming this
weekend...yeah should have been camo duct tape so
no one would see it.

[sayoung]

Tiger4x4RV wrote:

Dannyabear1 wrote:
Duct tape, repair when you get back

X2. sort of. White Gorilla Tape. Stay off ladder for this trip. Repair when you return home.

No , no, use the camo & nobody will see it :B

[azrving]

If you want diy I'd go with a piece of smooth or diamond plate aluminum. Look at it and imagine it was designed to go there. I'd probably goop it and then drill and put the screws but in. Or get stainless screws. Just use the original screw pattern so the aluminum is clean without even more screws in it.

Now here is the important part...you both need to get your story straight so that when people say why is that plate there you tell them that it was that way when you bought it. Or tell them it was a special recall that you had done that reinforces that area. 🙂

[DrewE]

It would probably be a good idea to check what (if any) substructure the ladder support attaches to and repair that as needed so that the ladder mount isn't weakened. It may very well just be the fiberglass that it attaches to, or fiberglass with a backing/spreader plate, in which case the diamond plate repair should be more than sufficiently strong for the job.

I would check and recaulk if needed the other ladder attachment points. It's possible that some of the caulking may have been moved enough to crack or pull away.

[dcason]

yes, aluminum diamond plate...HD only had really thin stuff.

SOOO, duct tape is already applied and we will get to it when we get back.

Thanks!

[Cloud_Dancer]

I hope you are talking aluminum diamond plate.

[BB_TX]

Since you are leaving tomorrow, and if you do not need to use the ladder, I would just get some of the wide white tape to cover the hole without being too obvious and have it professionally repaired when you return home.

[Tiger4x4RV]

Dannyabear1 wrote:
Duct tape, repair when you get back

X2. sort of. White Gorilla Tape. Stay off ladder for this trip. Repair when you return home.

[dcason]

LOL...I like the duct tape...not sure hubby would agree but I never thought of that.
I did think of incredible expanding foam but that could make a mess and it got nixed by
the repair dude.

[ScottG]

I like the diamond plate idea.

[Dannyabear1]

Duct tape, repair when you get back

[Ranger_Smith]

Definitly Diamond Plate. I would also put a piece of eternabond tape or something similar over the hole to keep it from leaking under the plate.