|
04-16-2014, 08:00 PM
|
#1
|
3 Rivet Member
2005 30' Classic
Sacramento
, California
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 162
|
Repair needed in California
I dented my 30' Classic today backing it in the driveway. I've had this trailer 8 years and backed it in my narrow driveway 50 times but goofed up today and dented the left rear corner.
My knee-jerk thought is to take it to one of the excellent shops in southern California and bite the bullet on driving 7 hours and leaving the Airstream there and going back and retrieving it when it's done.
I know there are no shops in Sacramento, where I live, that I would trust to do the work correctly. I'm a little squeamish about Toscano in Los Banos Ca…anyone have any body repair experience with them?
There's also a new Airstream dealer in Fairfield Ca that I just found out about but I can't find any information about the extent of their experience in body work.
Summer is right around the corner and I'd like to get my Airstream fixed ASAP so any thoughts from the forum is appreciated.
Mike
__________________
'05 30' Classic rear queen with an '11 Dodge Cummins Turbo Diesel tow vehicle
Avatar is inflight refueling of an F-15 over Nevada...best job ever!
|
|
|
04-18-2014, 11:43 PM
|
#2
|
Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
Corona
, California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by flynmike
I dented my 30' Classic today backing it in the driveway. I've had this trailer 8 years and backed it in my narrow driveway 50 times but goofed up today and dented the left rear corner.
My knee-jerk thought is to take it to one of the excellent shops in southern California and bite the bullet on driving 7 hours and leaving the Airstream there and going back and retrieving it when it's done.
I know there are no shops in Sacramento, where I live, that I would trust to do the work correctly. I'm a little squeamish about Toscano in Los Banos Ca…anyone have any body repair experience with them?
There's also a new Airstream dealer in Fairfield Ca that I just found out about but I can't find any information about the extent of their experience in body work.
Summer is right around the corner and I'd like to get my Airstream fixed ASAP so any thoughts from the forum is appreciated.
Mike
|
Mike.
No need to be in a rush.
That crease isn't hurting anything, except your feelings.
Get a valid estimate, settle with your insurance comapny and have it replaced later.
Or, if you have some mechanical stuff, replace it yourself, as many others have.
Andy
|
|
|
04-19-2014, 10:54 PM
|
#3
|
3 Rivet Member
2005 30' Classic
Sacramento
, California
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 162
|
Thanks Andy…that makes the most sense at this point.
Mike
__________________
'05 30' Classic rear queen with an '11 Dodge Cummins Turbo Diesel tow vehicle
Avatar is inflight refueling of an F-15 over Nevada...best job ever!
|
|
|
04-19-2014, 11:33 PM
|
#4
|
Rivet Master
1978 31' Excella 500
Genoa
, Nevada
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,554
|
This fellow will probably be driving by you in a couple days coming out of the Cassini Ranch rally, give him a call: https://www.facebook.com/NvcmmAirstreamRepair 415.878.7071
__________________
I admit to being powerless over housecleaning and social niceities
Airforums 22655 and now, WBCCI 22655
NevadaGeo
|
|
|
04-19-2014, 11:59 PM
|
#5
|
Rivet Master
1964 22' Safari
modesto
, California
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,097
|
Mike,
Now it has character . Try a suction cup dent puller. If that doesn't work then follow Andy's advise
-Dennis
|
|
|
04-20-2014, 03:56 AM
|
#6
|
Rivet Master
1966 17' Caravel
Newport
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,291
|
I agree with the dent cup puller it should work.
Cliff
__________________
Gotta get busy! Have a great day! Now where did I put those revits?
|
|
|
04-20-2014, 10:19 AM
|
#7
|
3 Rivet Member
1994 21' Sovereign
Paradise Valley
, Arizona
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 135
|
Dent pullers cups are very cheap on Amazon and I have a couple of dents I would love to try it on. Any recommendations on which one to buy? I am kind of figuring just a middle-of-the-road one. Thanks
__________________
WBCCI# 2520 AIR# 77458 Ken and Ben the Saint Paradise Valley, Arizona
|
|
|
04-20-2014, 12:11 PM
|
#8
|
Be Calm, Have a Cupcake
Vintage Kin Owner
Houston
, Texas
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 223
|
Try Vinnie's Northbay Airstream Repair: 707-861-8116 in Santa Rosa California. He does restorations.
__________________
Secguru
Would you rather have a mansion full of money or a trailer full of love?
|
|
|
04-20-2014, 02:10 PM
|
#9
|
Rivet Master
1982 34' Limited
1986 34.5' Airstream 345
Sioux Falls
, South Dakota
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 558
|
I love Vinnie, but he might be busy, so you could also try Adam at Avalon-rv.com in Benicia. They are solid, thoughtful, honest, and skilled there and they have helped me out with a number of issues with my '86 345 classic MH. Just for grins, tell them I sent you. I may be having them strip my coach this season. It's true, you can expect higher prices in NorCal than in other parts of the US but then there's your time money and effort getting your rig to some far-flung service. I felt that Adam did the best he could by me. And no, I have no financial interest in this advice ;-)
__________________
sent from my hipflask
|
|
|
04-20-2014, 02:41 PM
|
#10
|
2 Rivet Member
2011 23' International
clovis
, California
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 86
|
I have had nothing but good experience with Toscano. I had a similar event a few years ago when after i stopped backing up the trailer, the house moved forward and dented my international. Mine was much worse than yours. Toscano did a great job.
|
|
|
04-20-2014, 11:15 PM
|
#11
|
3 Rivet Member
2005 30' Classic
Sacramento
, California
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 162
|
Thanks everyone! I appreciate the thoughts, sympathy and recommendations! This is my 4th Airstream and in 20+ years of Airstreaming this is my first dent…so I'm a little sick about it. I'm very happy to find out there are some reputable shops in Northern California shops that know Airstreams. Previously, I had work done at Andy's shop at Inland RV (before they stopped shop work) and at C & G in Bellflower Ca.
Mike
__________________
'05 30' Classic rear queen with an '11 Dodge Cummins Turbo Diesel tow vehicle
Avatar is inflight refueling of an F-15 over Nevada...best job ever!
|
|
|
04-21-2014, 07:22 PM
|
#12
|
Rivet Master
1964 22' Safari
modesto
, California
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,097
|
Mike,
If you can't fix it your self, and you have tried the rest, then try the best, Area 63 Productions, Uwe Salwender, 909 355 3558. They have moved to Lytle Creek, CA.
-Dennis
|
|
|
04-21-2014, 07:34 PM
|
#13
|
4 Rivet Member
1994 30' Excella
Truckee
, California
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 261
|
Don't know if they do repairs on newer Airstreams, but Sierra Trailer Restoration located in Grass Valley, CA might be worth a try too.
|
|
|
04-21-2014, 08:13 PM
|
#14
|
3 Rivet Member
1988 Argosy 32
Lomita
, California
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 181
|
Try dent doctor they puled the caved top of a car out that was jumped on in riot,
iwas impressed.
|
|
|
04-21-2014, 08:36 PM
|
#15
|
Rivet Master
2005 28' Safari S/O
Paradise
, California
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,446
|
I had a dent very similar to that and pulled out the worst of it with an old-style toilet plunger. The crease and scratch won't come out though. I did this about 6 years ago and it's still there. I consider it a badge of honor. Maybe one of these days when I'm feeling rich I'll look into having it repaired, but it won't be at Toscano, I know that much.
__________________
Steve
"THE OLDER I GET, THE BETTER I WAS"
|
|
|
04-21-2014, 10:59 PM
|
#16
|
Rivet Master
1982 34' Limited
1986 34.5' Airstream 345
Sioux Falls
, South Dakota
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 558
|
Why not Toscano?
Quote:
Originally Posted by CA Streamer
I had a dent very similar to that and pulled out the worst of it with an old-style toilet plunger. The crease and scratch won't come out though. I did this about 6 years ago and it's still there. I consider it a badge of honor. Maybe one of these days when I'm feeling rich I'll look into having it repaired, but it won't be at Toscano, I know that much.
|
Hey CA Streamer, care to say why not Toscano?
|
|
|
04-22-2014, 09:18 AM
|
#17
|
Rivet Master
2005 28' Safari S/O
Paradise
, California
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,446
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jenniflow
Hey CA Streamer, care to say why not Toscano?
|
Leave it to say I was not satisfied at all with their sales or service departments. The big thing is they could not fix, or even identify the problem with the brakes on the trailer I purchased from them. I took it to Sky River in Paso Robles and no problem. I've been going to Sky River ever since and they have been honest and great to deal with. They also do AS body work but I have not had any done there so I cannot testify as to the quality of their work.
__________________
Steve
"THE OLDER I GET, THE BETTER I WAS"
|
|
|
05-13-2014, 09:41 PM
|
#18
|
2 Rivet Member
2012 28' International
Alameda
, California
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 39
|
I used Bayarea Airstream in Fairfield to repair and patch the skin from the front awning bar being ripped out. To replace the entire side panel was going to be in the 18k range. Instead they pulled out the dent and patched the torn skin with new patches that match the skin for 550 bucks. The workmanship is good from Alex in the shop (who actually did the work).
I was concerned on the workmanship as they are a new dealer but very happy with the results. They are still working out their service advisors and sales staff though have good actual service when you get it done from my experience.
From your photo, the "paint less" dent repair might be a good option if you can live with the scratches. Otherwise it's replacing the panel.
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|