Road Debris Put a Hole in My New 16DBS

[txrob]

Our first 2-week trip in our new 16DBS ends with a bang...
We were heading home and a piece of steel bounced off a flatbed in front of us and hit the front of TT while doing about 70mph on the interstate - Put a fist-size hole through the aluminum skin.
I saw it coming..... so I gunned it avoid it hitting my Tundra - Poor TT took the impact!  But better than through the windshield!!

I need to fix this hole and was wondering the best product to repair the aluminum skin - Insurance estimate was $990 to repair ($1000 deductible) so I'm doing it...



FMB

[peislander]

Holy moley! That's quite the punch!

I wonder how the insurance folks thought it would be fixed? I'd suggest contacting LivinLite for repair advice.

If it were my problem I'd consider riveting a patch plate (polished aluminum) over the hole and mounting a light centered in the patch. That's assuming I could figure out how to internally handle the wiring. It could end up looking like it was always there.

[scout]

You could do a top row of checker plate that matches the bottom. Many dealers offer this mod for the lower level. The top shouldn't be much different...

[sandyu]

Like that idea scout. I was thinking of something to put up there also.

[mitch]

I know it's a long shot but if you know the trucking company that caused the damage they are liable.  A rock from a tire is road damage, an item that fell off a moving vehicle is an unsecure load.

[ammobob]

I think I would go with the diamond plate cut to match the top section only. It's plastic so should be cheap enough and should not hurt the aesthetics of the camper. Installation could be as easy as a good adhesive since the plastic will roll down the radius. Unless you own one you would never know it did not belong there.

another thought is since TT is painted with automotive paint see what a auto body shop would charge you to fill hole with 
Bondo and color match the paint, painting only the top section.

my final thought is to fill the hole and hit a automotive graphics shop and get a personalized wrap installed over the top panel. You could customize that to say or look like anything you want.

[txrob]

The first question the insurance asked was if I got any info off the trucker.  I got beside her and was honking my horn but she had ear phones on and could not hear me.  This all happened near an interchange and she was exiting onto another interstate and was gone.  If it had hit the Tundra I would have followed her!  It also happened so fast; and i was not thinking clearly...never been in that situation!

I like the black diamond plate idea - I'll look into that...

I'm also curious about what  product to use to fill the hole...two-part epxoy? Bondo? I would prefer not to rivet anything to the skin if possible...
Thanks for the help,
FMB

[ammobob]

Bondo would be easier to work with if you are filling the hole since you can sand to the contour. You will have to sand the area down prior to filling and to make sure you get the adhesion to the aluminum.

I think if I was installing the diamond plate I wouldn't mess with the hole just cover it up. The addition of the plastic diamond plate should give you some added protection for any future similar occurrence in that area of your TT. 

[pinstriper]

I need to fix this hole and was wondering the best product to repair the aluminum skin - Insurance estimate was $990 to repair ($1000 deductible) so I'm doing it...

For $1k you can have it done properly, in aluminum ? I think you'll regret quick patches in a few years if that's the case.

[hogtyd]

I need to fix this hole and was wondering the best product to repair the aluminum skin - Insurance estimate was $990 to repair ($1000 deductible) so I'm doing it...

For $1k you can have it done properly, in aluminum ? I think you'll regret quick patches in a few years if that's the case.

The $1k to have it professionally repaired (assuming to like-new condition) will also likely more then pay for itself at resale time, compared to a DIY effort.  

Graham

[ammobob]

I agree with the professional repair but since he said he was going to do it himself I assumed he did not want to spend the $.

[whoofit]

[p]No help from me but wanted to comment on the bear claw like appearance of that damage. Imagine the camplore that could take place with that scar...

Sorry for you there. Good luck with it. Is that fiberglass batting?[/p][p]
[/p][p]I'm with those that would track down the truck and give them the opportunity to make this right. That $1k deductible could come from their pockets, not yours. Like Pinstriper said, the right way is the best way.[/p]

[peislander]

Thinking more about how to do a repair...

Perhaps the bulk of the hole could be filled with an epoxy putty that once set would get covered over with a relatively thin application of bond. It is much easier to sand the bondo smooth than epoxy. The sanded bondo could then be painted. It might blend in so well it won't be detectable to anyone but Chip Foose on OverHaulin'  

[pinstriper]

[quote source="/post/10631/thread" timestamp="1431373988" author="@whoofit"][p]No help from me but wanted to comment on the bear claw like appearance of that damage. Imagine the camplore that could take place with that scar...

Sorry for you there. Good luck with it. Is that fiberglass batting?[/p][p]
[/p][p]I'm with those that would track down the truck and give them the opportunity to make this right. That $1k deductible could come from their pockets, not yours. Like Pinstriper said, the right way is the best way.[/p][/quote][p]
[/p][p]There must be....MUST, I say...must be some place that will take a photo and turn it into a custom decal. Maybe one of those "skin" places.[/p][p]
[/p][p]So, you take a picture of the bear claw, then get the thing fixed, then cover the spot with the decal. Win-Win.
[/p]

[scout]

might be a moot point...but red is also the hardest colour to match...even with OEM parts. So if you are going to go the distance with the $1000 bucks consider the whole skin as opposed to just the top layer. My uncle had an old red bronco years ago with one front fender that never matched and got worse over time as the sun hit it...