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Steve Heywood · 05-26-2005, 04:33 PM

My Excella has several dents (character flaws) in the outer skin. Some of them are almost creases. Short of replacing the panel what are my options for removing the dent?

Thanks,

Rivetedude · 05-26-2005, 04:47 PM

If you don't mind, I'm going to sponge in on this thread...My '72 Ambassador has some minor rock dings up by the tongue on the the quarters that I'm curious as to whether or not they are repairable as well.

Steve Heywood · 05-26-2005, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ironheadude

If you don't mind, I'm going to sponge in on this thread...My '72 Ambassador has some minor rock dings up by the tongue on the the quarters that I'm curious as to whether or not they are repairable as well.

Fine with me, just looking for a way to repair the dents.

Inland RV Center, In · 05-26-2005, 05:37 PM

Dents can sometimes be removed, depending on how severe.

A large dent, or oil can, if not creased can usually easily be popped out, if you know where to pat the metal with the palm of your hand.

Creased dents cannot be permanently removed. Small rock dents are there to stay.

There are basically two ways to remove dents.

The first and most expensive, is to replace the metal.

The second is to bondo the dents and paint the trailer, which can also be expensive.

Quarter panel segment protectors are available from dealers.

Small and sometimes a few large hail dents, in time, will disappear from the roof and side sheets, especially from 1982 1/2 and older coaches. Let the sun do it's job and they will usually go away.

Hail dents in segments are there to stay, since it is a softer material.

Andy

PWRSTRK · 05-26-2005, 06:28 PM

I've got dent protectors on our 2004 Safari 28SO but the rocks are hitting above those -- I'm getting upset about it. Any suggestions? Tom

Inland RV Center, In · 05-26-2005, 06:31 PM

Tom and Frank.

Probably the only other thing you can do is put mud flaps on your tow vehicle.

Andy

moogie32 · 05-26-2005, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In

Dents can sometimes be removed, depending on how severe.

A large dent, or oil can, if not creased can usually easily be popped out, if you know where to pat the metal with the palm of your hand.

Andy

I have a couple of large dents on my coach and I remember someone suggesting you work the dent on by applying pressure on the edges moving inward with your palm...this would be done from the inside of the coach with the inner panels removed. Haven't done it yet so I can't say for sure that it works....lol, Diane

alvinator · 05-27-2005, 03:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PWRSTRK

I've got dent protectors on our 2004 Safari 28SO but the rocks are hitting above those -- I'm getting upset about it. Any suggestions? Tom

You can also do what I am going to do for our 2005 Classic with the same dents above the segment protectors problem. You can get the new higher rockguards that Airstream now has as a set under part number 966273-100. The cost is $536.58 for the set plus installation,

We are having them installed in mid-June at the factory.

Inland RV Center, In · 05-27-2005, 08:24 AM

Moogie32.

If the dents are not creased, you can "palm" them out from the outside.

No need to tear the inside apart.

Andy

kl8ton · 05-31-2005, 08:51 AM

Should this dent be palmable?

redeagle313 · 05-31-2005, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PWRSTRK

I've got dent protectors on our 2004 Safari 28SO but the rocks are hitting above those -- I'm getting upset about it. Any suggestions? Tom

Do a google seach on Enkay Rocktamers. They cost about $250, and I have heard that they will give you a 10% discount if you tell them that you heard a lot of great things about them from this forum. I bought them from a distributor before I heard about the discount when buying direct.

Inland RV Center, In · 05-31-2005, 10:52 AM

kl8ton

Large dents that have a crease, such as yours, can be reduced in size, but not eliminated because of the two creases.

The small dents are there to stay.

Once the aluminum has been stretched, it's done. There is no way to shrink the stretched metal.

Not what you wanted to hear, but........ that's the nature of aluminum.

Andy

Excella3287 · 05-31-2005, 11:33 AM

There are other threads with success using dent removal tools. They are not all gone but 90% is good enough for me.

Torii · 05-31-2005, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alvinator

You can also do what I am going to do for our 2005 Classic with the same dents above the segment protectors problem. You can get the new higher rockguards that Airstream now has as a set under part number 966273-100. The cost is $536.58 for the set plus installation,

Does anyone know here if the current segment protectors will work on the older Airstreams (1975).

Inland RV Center, In · 05-31-2005, 12:20 PM

T Man

There are several different models of the segment protectors available.

Airstream does have a set that fits your trailer correctly. Their part # is 685274, and that model fits 1981 and down.

Andy

ALANSD · 06-01-2005, 11:09 AM

I used an automotive dent puller suction-cup ( less than 5 dollars at the parts store) to pull out some medium sized dents in mine. I warmed the area with a hair dryer first, then pulled slowly and the dents popped out. If I had some smaller suctions cups I belive I could also pull out the one small deeper dent in my fron area. But have not yet found the size.

Inland RV Center, In · 06-01-2005, 12:35 PM

ALANSD

You can easily make any size suction cup, or equal, if you wish, even one that has a irregular shape.

As an example, you can weld a washer to a hose fitting.

Attach the washer to the sheet metal with hot glue. After the glue cools, give it the test. Attach a vacuum pump to the air fitting.

The hot glue can be remove with a hair drier, when your done.

You can also make a die, whatever shape you want, and use the above process.

Results? Usually amazing.

Andy

Foiled Again · 06-01-2005, 12:54 PM

Andy's Idea is right on the money - however be aware that there are many kinds of hot glue on the market. You'll find very low temperature ones at many hobby and fabric stores. The really hot ones are usually used for sealing cardboard boxes, etc and maybe could damage clearcoat. Besides if you don't have to burn your little paws so much the better.

Now here's a totally untested and completely wierd idea - you may know that some women use hot wax to remove hair from their legs, etc. This is similar in texture and stickiness to hot glue and works at very low temp (it has to especially if one is using it on the bikini line!). It will go into a thick liquid at about 120 degrees. If you applied this to the end of a dowel rod, then stuck it on a hail ding or other small dimple, I'm thinking you could pull it out. This stuff would also peel off very easily if warmed by a hair dryer.

As a teenager a friend and I kept her alive by using a toilet plunger to remove 99% of the evidence that we had "borrowed" her dad's car to practice driving.

By the time he noticed it he thought someone in the parking lot at the grocery store must have hit him with a cart.

Tin Lizzie

PKelley · 06-12-2005, 10:42 AM

I have dents in the lower (belly pan) front, left corner of my 64 Globetrotter. This area of my trailer has a heavy, aluminum, protective wrap-around. I'm thinking if I remove this I can easily access the dents to repair. Does anyone out there have experience with this procedure. Thank you.

Inland RV Center, In · 06-12-2005, 12:36 PM

PKelley

Dents in the banana wraps can be pushed out, but that's what they will look like when finished.

Except for an oil can type dent, dents in aluminum have stretched the metal.

There is no simple way to shrink it, especially since it's a very soft material.

You can roll out the dents, bondo it, and then paint it, as some owners do.

Andy