First Trip in New TT, Already Hit a Fence...ugh

[mrgrim007]

We took our new Jayco out this past weekend and had a great time...except when pulling it out from our yard I nicked a bolt on the fence and bent the vertical corner back exposing the wood.

We're leaving town this week and it's going to snow, so I decided to fill in with silicone (the type you'd use in the bathroom/kitchen at home). It seems like that will keep moisture out until I can get it to the dealer. I have no clue when that will be so I'm hoping it will be a good temporary solution.

I'm sure that the silicone probably wasn't the best thing to use...so how would you "repair" it? Maybe just a tarp would've worked?

[Bank_of_Dad]

We all do it. Years ago, DH was backing the MH into the driveway. He said, let me know when I'm past the fence corner, which I did, and then I stopped watching, and he backed right into the broad side of his car. Ouch.

[Redterpos3]

Erekose3 wrote:
it’s not a proud club but it seems it's distinguished.

Indeed! I'll chime in! I am a newbie also. Had a great maiden voyage, then in setting back up in the driveway was moving the slide back out, after a perfect parking job:) And heard some noises. There are noises when you move the slide out, I said to myself, and continued. then noticed the molding around the slide starting to pop off as I continued. Finally stopped and realized the door to a storage area was open when I moved the slide out, and the slide ripped it right off. Fortunately no other problem. Straighted out the hinges, got bigger screws, and made sure it was closed from now on!! Learning this stuff sometimes is difficult!!!

[daystrom]

Been there done that.

Last year I clipped the neighbors mirror while pulling into my drive with the trailer. Broke his mirror off, pulled off the corner molding like yours and made a fist sized dent in the aluminum.

$2500 worth of damage according to the adjuster. No damage other than superficial wounds. Took the money and paid that much off of the camper and replaced the corner moulding myself.

The moulding was $12 a piece for a 12' section. But since it was so long I had to have it shipped freight which was $120.

Here's an album of the fix. There's still a dent but it isn't bad.

Album link

[Erekose3]

it’s not a proud club but it seems it's distinguished. Our maiden voyage had our toilet valve crack - don't ask how or why - no freeze or nothing. Needless to say when you pressurized the system the toilet became a fountain. Made our first weekend trip fun.. nothing a good camp fire and a few "soda's" couldn't make better.

[musicman54]

your a bonafide rver now congrats but also sry have fun and just becareful happy trails

[ktmrfs]

mrgrim007 wrote:
Thanks everyone for the replies. The dealer is going to quote me a price for repairing it. Even though this happened we had a great time camping...I can see why everyone loves it so much!

and your trailer insurance should cover the repair less your deductible.

[mrgrim007]

Thanks everyone for the replies. The dealer is going to quote me a price for repairing it. Even though this happened we had a great time camping...I can see why everyone loves it so much!

[gcloss]

It is always heartbreaking when something happens to a new trailer. When we were bringing home our new Jayco Eagle, we owned it for 30 minutes when we were hit by a wrong way driver.

He tore up the whole side of the lower portion of the trailer from front to back. Nearly $5000 worth of damage. I had some choice words for the other driver.

Good luck and enjoy many years of camping.

[MegaJohn]

Well, your camper now has it's first dent... you've got that over with (sorry), now enjoy it.

I probably would straighten the molding a bit with a hammer, seal it up, and fasten it down... or go ahead and buy a new replacement piece of moulding, clean the old sealant, and seal it up properly. It's a relatively simple fix. 😉

It's a learning experience... Fixing the small things that happen yourself will give you confidence & experience to take on the bigger projects down the road.

Happy Camping!
John.

[Drum]

If it makes you feel better, about 5 years ago I had a Land Rover Discovery pulling an enclosed cargo trailer. It was parked hooked up in the driveway after using it to carry a motorcycle I had just bought home. Forgetting the trailer was attached, I jumped in the Land Rover to go pick up some take-out pizza. After backing around to head back up the driveway, I heard a sickening crunch. It was the sound of my new cargo trailer's front corner AND the rear side of my Discovery bashing each other in.
I think yours will be much easier and cheaper to fix than mine was. I'm glad for you that it wasn't worse.

[mbopp]

Man, I hate when that happens.....
I'd have taken a big rubber mallet and try to beat the gap closed a bit before sealing it.

[mikedboyd]

so you're in my club of damaging it before the 1st trip. Congratulations. Mine was a bent ladder backing into our storage lot space. There are other threads about what people have done to their trailers accidentally that'll make you feel better. Go find a couple, enjoy their stories, fix your baby and have a good story to tell.

[mwebber78]

I agree, very very very Lucy it didn't rip the tin. Should be a few hours repair at a decent dealer. The corner trim is an industry standard part and most dealers have it in stock.

[aarond76]

Looks like you got lucky. They'll replace that corner moulding and you'll never know it happened. Almost any other impact would require more work to repair. Now you'll know to allow for wider turns and be good to go.