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Tear in brand new TT fiberglass, thoughts ?

yillb
Explorer
Explorer
I have a brand new TT, not even two weeks old. We took a single 4 day trip the day we purchased it. I wen't out today to check on something, and my son noticed two holes at the top of the door area ( pics attached ).

I can't for the life of me figure out what would have caused the holes to protrude OUTWARDS, their is nothing from the inside of the unit to give an indication of what could possibly have caused this.

Dealer said I caused it, thus, won't pay for it. anyone have any ideas, or seen anything like it ?

Thanks!

Tearing
Zoomed out image of both holes
implosion hole
61 REPLIES 61

yillb
Explorer
Explorer
Dealer agreed to fix. They said they will take a while but they will get it done. The dealer was lying, it sat for over a week and they never even called the warranty center. I called and got a region rep to get it pushed along. They are starting next wed .

Thanks guys !

malojeer
Explorer
Explorer
The squeaky wheel gets the grease. We have owned 5 brand new rvs, the last one purchased last week and I would not tolerate that treatment. In my experience that is 100 percent warranty issue. Show dealer how mad you are and dissatisfied.Speak with manufacture rep and if that doesn't work a lawyer. The L word goes a long way!

Leaf-Peeper
Explorer
Explorer
If you have an electronic stud finder, try using it to see if the damaged areas happen to line up with the aluminum studs/tubing in the side wall or roof of the trailer. I've used one on our camper, it works fine to locate the aluminum tubing in the walls and floor.
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PAThwacker
Explorer
Explorer
Roads in my area of PA have are wicked. You would destroy the trailer if that was caused by flexing.
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yillb
Explorer
Explorer
Bumpyroad wrote:
what sort of puzzles me is that the OP is in Texas and presumably the TT was towed there for some distance. why did these spots appear on his 300 mi (IIRC) trip and not on delivery?
bumpy


You know, that's a pretty valid question. I've towed it less than 45 miles , and I drove like a grandma. And it wasn't present when I arrived at my site. Maybe us moving around in it Caused something to shimmy lose ? Dealer said they will continue to investigate. So god knows how long it will end up taking .

Lynnmor
Explorer
Explorer
SpeakEasy wrote:
mobilefleet wrote:
looks like one of the Amish guys that gets paid by the piecework used a couple screws that were a bit too long for the cabinets. Must have been produced on a friday at 4:55pm


There's really no need to insult someone's religion like that. It doesn't contribute anything to the discussion. Let's keep it civilized.

-Speak


Some manufacturers tout the use of Amish labor, I don't think that mentioning that fact is an insult. I have seen first hand the quality of work done and it is pathetic.

Now back to the original issue. Is the OP using that lifted and modified truck for towing his trailer? Is he beating it to death with the useless modifications?

SpeakEasy
Explorer
Explorer
mobilefleet wrote:
looks like one of the Amish guys that gets paid by the piecework used a couple screws that were a bit too long for the cabinets. Must have been produced on a friday at 4:55pm


There's really no need to insult someone's religion like that. It doesn't contribute anything to the discussion. Let's keep it civilized.

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Bumpyroad
Explorer
Explorer
what sort of puzzles me is that the OP is in Texas and presumably the TT was towed there for some distance. why did these spots appear on his 300 mi (IIRC) trip and not on delivery?
bumpy

deltabravo
Nomad
Nomad
wrgrs50s wrote:
Looks like a factory defect. Contact the Manufacturer and see if they can send you to another dealer for a warranty repair.


Ditto.

That is for sure a factory defect. The awning couldn't possibly have caused that, nor could anything you have done to the trailer.

Your dealer is playing "dumb" and is not willing to accept the issue.

Call the factory. Send them pics if the dealer still hassles you.

Other people hacve mentioned "screws" through to roof.

Very few screws are used in RV construction, except on the inside, for hanging cabinets. The roof and stuff is primarily attached with staples on most units, because it speeds up construction time, and staples cost less than screws.
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bfast54
Explorer
Explorer
mobilefleet wrote:
looks like one of the Amish guys that gets paid by the piecework used a couple screws that were a bit too long for the cabinets. Must have been produced on a friday at 4:55pm



Not to be snide ---but I can tell you have no idea how trailers are manufactured :S

They start at 5:30 or 6 in the morning they are long gone by 3 p.m----. next snide remark...............


Over the Last five years or so I have toured almost all trailer and motorhome manufacturing plants that's how I know this


Back to the original posters issue sounds to me like it is indeed a manufacturing defect---- if your dealer won't do anything about it call the factory and ask to speak to the area rep:W
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FLY_4_FUN
Explorer
Explorer
that really sucks on a new unit. I hope your dealer is able to properly asses what caused the holes, and gets it all fixed to your satisfaction. Please keep us updated.
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NRALIFR
Explorer
Explorer
What those look like to me are the result of staples being shot down from the roof into the top of the wall framing, and they were too close to the edge. It looks like one leg of the staple got between the filon and the wood, and bowed the filon out. The filon eventually cracked as it is now after towing the trailer for a while.

My preference for repairing a problem like this would be the gentlest way possible. Cut the damaged area out, remove whatever is under it causing the problem, then patch it up in a professional manner.

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Lynnmor
Explorer
Explorer
You tell the dealer that warranty will cover it and any other decision will be decided by the court system.

yillb
Explorer
Explorer
TT is at the dealer, they said they will let me know next week wether or not they will warranty it. It's " with the warranty " lady, as I was told. Here are additional images I took with better resolution and angles. The ones of the EXIT sign, are exactlyt where the hole above the front door is, and the ones with the wall are behind exactly where the second hole is.

Thanks for all your feedback !

http://imgur.com/a/Lvu56
http://imgur.com/a/Lvu56
http://imgur.com/a/kvwBW
http://imgur.com/a/M4sjQ
http://imgur.com/a/j7cfs
http://imgur.com/a/zvWav

BPRescue
Explorer
Explorer
Sorry this is long. What is wrong with me?

You are sure there is nothing directly behind it inside the TT such as trim? I would be interested to measure the distance between the two protrusions, then measure the same distance to the outside and see if you notice a tiny dimple, confirming this is likely a structure element from behind or something inside the wall poking out such as a nail/staple. To me, it almost appears as though it could be an anchor of some sort for attaching the awning that fingers down into the wall and was stressed; even from driving... If it was a wind issue, I would think this would impact the edges of the awning first, but maybe it would be reinforced there. I would also try to pull on the awning and see if it gives at these holes showing a telltale secure point that is failing. At least now you confirmed what it is and better apt to argue your point. And if it does not move when you force the awning, you just put a hole (did I just do that?) in their theory it was a wind issue, but instead some other structural component such as a screw that is too long, or improperly installed protruding out.

Reminds me of my old (brand new) Grand Cherokee Overland that lasted 6 months. Had many issues, one being a check engine light that the dealer told me was due to "me installing new speakers", or the similar issue to yours in that a couple weeks in I noticed that on the rear driver side of the vehicle, both the internal and external panels were popping out. I was able to easily push the external panel in, but the internal panel would not pop back in with minimal force. I brought it in and they told me it was because " I removed the panels", and that they would not cover it under warranty. After pushing, they said they would "try" to contact Chrysler again, sending photos, but the feet were broken, so it was not a warranty issue because "someone (I) broke them". It would be $500 and the dealer told me they wouldn't repair it because they didn't break it. Long story short after Chrysler denied again, I finally went to the Service Manager and told him to contact the owner and tell him that I bought a $50K plus vehicle from him and within weeks noticed this issue. That during my ownership, I did not alter anything in the vehicle including speakers or anything else, with my only manipulation being filling the gas tank; one time. That as a customer I really don't care if it was a dealer, or a warranty issue, but I was 100% certain it was not my issue and I am a bit surprised they are not standing behind their product in what appears to be an small issue. That worked, the next day the owner authorized the repair. My problems did not end though as between the horrendous service with just one example of a check engine light being blamed on a speaker, transmission issues, climate control issues, and ongoing popping from the rear that they said was a water bottle (I believe was the panels under stress), I sold it losing quite a bit of money. Once I was rid of that junk, I never felt so good about losing so much money... Odd feeling it was...

Anyway, back to you. I think it will be easier like I said if you can identify what it is. I can't see it well in the pics, but don't see holes indicating it "could" have been something attached from the outside that was forced outward. It would be interesting to take a stud finder, or magnet and confirm/deny there is something of metal still in there. Also, where I recognize you say you inspected it upon purchase, It's a big trailer and you would not be the first to miss something, especially if it was barely noticeable because it was either manually forced back in (hidden), bright LED's on hiding it per backlight, and/or was not pronounced until you put it under a normal load exposing. Either way, if you KNOW you did not do it, and the wind was within specs of the manual, then go all the way to the big guy and don't let them out of it. It took me a couple weeks of them going back and forth with the manufacturer and trying to pin a flaw on their customer, before I was able to get it sorted out. Just go in with the knowledge that it is not your fault and turn it on their customer service of a 30K plus brand new TT...

BTW, the good news is that as long as this is not structural, meaning it won't return again once stressed per your testing, it looks like an easy repair. You can commonly request paint from the factory that will allow you to patch this. $15 at Home Depot will get you a fiberglass repair kit with bondo. You may need to remove some of the protrusion if you cannot force it in, but if you sand/apply a small fiberglass patch, then feather some bondo by sanding, you likely won't be able to tell it ever happened. Its a nice lighter paint with not design that is in a great location being high and up against another structure, so it evades that large flat mass that would otherwise immediately jump out at you. Again, don't do this until you know this is not a structural issue as it will just return. But I would first fight the dealer to get them to repair it not only cosmetically, but identifying what caused it! Good luck!