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.

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.

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

Agree with Dick_B in general. But it sounds like you might already have an opinion on #2 so you might want to consider a different dealer. Another thought regarding local (to your area) repairs is to check around other dealers regardless of whether they sell your brand of trailer. This is a bodywork repair to the RV and since it is on your dime (i.e. not warranty) manufacturer does not come into the equation. Rather, a good RV body shop does so shop around.Bear in mind that shoddy work done by DIYers often affect resale values dramatically.

Insurance ... you're going to find out there's more damage than you realize! It may not appear so, but I bet you've caused structural damage (pulling the wall loose) and you just don't see it.Let insurance and an RV repair shop/service/dealer fix it right. Unless you really want to tackle it yourself.

I agree with DutchmanSport. Swallow hard and put in a claim to your insurance. Don't mess up your resale value by doing a less then sterling repair. Like DS said, you may not realize it, but there is most likely something structural going on.

Damaged my TT - Need Advice on Repair - UPDATE | Good Sam Community

Campinfan
Explorer III
Oct 11, 2014
cool...its great when it works out right. For $1311.00 there must not be much structural damage. Seems if it was, it would cost a whole bunch more.
keymastr
Explorer
Oct 11, 2014
Nice!
Teamfour
Explorer
Oct 11, 2014
No structural damage. Insurance is paying for full repair - $1311.00. I had a deductible credit, so $0 out of pocket.
Teamfour
Explorer
Aug 30, 2014
Thanks everyone! I think I will let the insurance pay for it and have it fixed right. The corner is not visible from inside as there is a small dead space behind the pantry and that corner. There is no damage in the pantry. I am a race car builder and fabricator by hobby and it is hard for me not to jump in there and fix this. I am confident there is no major structural damage. We still have one big trip planned in mid October so I can't take the risk of a repair place keeping the unit for weeks. I have covered the corner from the elements and will bring it in for repair after the trip.
MitchF150
Explorer III
Aug 30, 2014
Sorry to hear about it Teamfour.. Hard to tell from the pics, but on one hand, it doesn't look like it pulled that far up, so structurally, it could still be fine...

Can you see that corner from the inside of the rig at all?

On the other hand, it's only $250 ded, so unless your insurance will increase because of it, it can't hurt to get an estimate or two before you decide??

I know you mentioned that you don't think your local places will be able to deal with it, but there must be someone you can take it to and get a second opinion??

(the "corner fix" doesn't sound too bad either if it's not structurally effected)

Mitch
Bull_Rider
Explorer
Aug 30, 2014
If it were my RV, I would want an opinion from someone that is skilled at repairing that type of damage. I would also get a bid before I turned it into insurance. Our deductibles are all a minimum of $1,000.00. Insurance companies have a way of making you regret that you actually had the nerve to turn in a claim.

Those gas pump soldiers snipe a lot of RV's, it's a lesson that is learned in one event.
dadmomh
Explorer
Aug 30, 2014
x3 on the insurance. I know you hate to part with the deductible, but just one small surprise that you can't see now can more than use up any savings by trying to do it yourself. Not to mention that this is a 2014 trailer. I'd just bite the bullet and pay the deductible. That's why you have insurance.
FrankShore
Explorer
Aug 30, 2014
I agree with DutchmanSport. Swallow hard and put in a claim to your insurance. Don't mess up your resale value by doing a less then sterling repair. Like DS said, you may not realize it, but there is most likely something structural going on.
DutchmenSport
Explorer
Aug 30, 2014
Insurance ... you're going to find out there's more damage than you realize! It may not appear so, but I bet you've caused structural damage (pulling the wall loose) and you just don't see it.

Let insurance and an RV repair shop/service/dealer fix it right. Unless you really want to tackle it yourself.
wmoses
Explorer
Aug 30, 2014
Agree with Dick_B in general. But it sounds like you might already have an opinion on #2 so you might want to consider a different dealer. Another thought regarding local (to your area) repairs is to check around other dealers regardless of whether they sell your brand of trailer. This is a bodywork repair to the RV and since it is on your dime (i.e. not warranty) manufacturer does not come into the equation. Rather, a good RV body shop does so shop around.

Bear in mind that shoddy work done by DIYers often affect resale values dramatically.