Collision damage - repair recommendations?

[Troy McLure]

'16 23D Flying Cloud. Sideswiped by someone not paying attention. Repair is all on them.

Took it back to the dealer (AS Northwest in Portland). Ballpark $18k estimate. Interior & exterior panels need to go, as well as the rock guard.

I'm mildly concerned about replacing skin and keeping the integrity of the trailer, especially one so new.

Do I have any other good options to look into in the PNW? Jackson Center really isn't an option.

Anything I should keep in mind when dealing with their insurance? Loss of value? Stuff like that?

[rmkrum]

If they have to physically replace interior panels as well as the obvious external panel damage, I'd insist on the use of 'bucked rivets' as this was the original method of installing the panels on the exterior.

Don't let them simply overlay the exterior panels and use "Olympic rivets" which are basically a fancy 'pop rivet' and do not seal as tightly as a 'bucked rivet'.

Putting it back together using bucked rivets and appropriate replacement panels from the Airstream factory would be as good as new. My only remaining concern is that some internal frames or longerons could have been damaged as well, but that would be obvious once they start taking it apart.

[featherbedder]

I agree about usage of rivets but I would contact JC about repairs & est. as I damaged front corner & dealer that has god shop stated have to remove interior to get at studs and longeron. Jc stated no need to remove interior as studs are replaceable from out side & longeron not damaged. I watched tech at JC when opened up, were rite on w/estimate & method of repair, plus many thousands est. below dealer, stuck w/ est. costs no extras exc. leak I requested fixed, as far as telling repair can not tell was fixed exc. new corner no road rash, other corner has minor rash so not much dif. in looks.