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moparjohn · 10-19-2011, 11:42 AM

I know I'm overreacting, but we have had rain today with some wind. My patio umbrella was blown some 40 foot into the Airstream and left a nice ripple/dent. SO SICK of not being able to have anything nice. Now I have another item on the list to do, and at this moment I really am off the charts disgusted. does anyone know of a good dentless repair man in the northeast that would work on an Airstream? MPJ

Darkspeed · 10-19-2011, 11:47 AM

Do you have a photograph? Is it really bad? suction repair can fix some dents if it is not stretched...

moparjohn · 10-19-2011, 11:58 AM

I'ts probably not that bad, but I try so hard to have and keep my things nice, work so hard for everything. I think a dent pull might work, no crease in the skin, God this sucks!!! I'll get a pick posted. MPJ

moparjohn · 10-19-2011, 12:14 PM

here we are...

moparjohn · 10-19-2011, 12:16 PM

When I got it, wonder if these could be worked on too?

Air2Go2 · 10-19-2011, 12:23 PM

John—My similar mishap—"Before," and "After"—after 20 mins. on a warm afternoon using...wait for it...a toilet plunger. Hey, it worked!

Darkspeed · 10-19-2011, 12:27 PM

I had a dent like that on my endcap and used a shot bag and map gas to Wouk it out from the inside. You may want to get a painless repair guy to take a look at it. They glue on a bunch of pull stems and pull it from the outside

moparjohn · 10-19-2011, 05:55 PM

Well the end of the day draws near, wish this bad dream would disapear. I got a dent/suction puller from a local auto parts store, NOTHING! it sets/attaches to the sides, but not on the front curve-where the dent is. I am hoping against hope to find a quick fix, but I know it's panel replacement to make it perfect, or as close as, that I can live with. I have not been able to eat all day, I am so upset. Now the best question, where can I get vintage/original panels that will match? I of course (because I'm me) want old stock ones. Do they exsist out there? Oh for a little magic! MPJ

**DKB_SATX** · 10-19-2011, 06:02 PM

paintless-dent guys don't use suction tools, they use adhesive pullers. You might call someone in that business before giving up on the idea of repairing this dent. It'll be WAY cheaper and easier than panel replacement.

**Kevin245** · 10-19-2011, 07:46 PM

Check out funkill's thread titled "really bummed - took a hit" from December 9, 2009. Laura had a paintless dent guy do some work on a nasty looking dent and the results were impressive.

Kevin.

dznf0g · 10-19-2011, 07:47 PM

If you're handy and are willing to spend a few hundred on PROPER tools, get a quality hot glue pull set and a pneumatic dent puller.

Here's my first attempt at the hot glue puller on small dents.
Before: PO left these for me.

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After I worked them, this is what I wound up with:

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It's not perfect, but they no longer catch my eye all the time and most folks have to hunt for them. I learned a lot about how to use the tool and next time will be even better.

AIR-Quarius · 10-19-2011, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkspeed

Do you have a photograph? Is it really bad? suction repair can fix some dents if it is not stretched...

You can go to just about any drug pharmacy and get a handicapped suction device that is designed to stick just about anywhere, and they cost about twenty bucks or so. It looks like a handle and had two incredible suckers underneath. And a lot of times you can just give it a yank and it will pull the dent right back to where it wandered from.

Fly at Night · 10-19-2011, 08:10 PM

Feel your pain, moparjohn.

This is why I will try not to get within target range of any patio umbrella set, special-event tent, camping tent, garbage can, or any other possible missile.

Would rather have my AS out in the elements vs. risking a tented RV shed too.

dznf0g · 10-19-2011, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airbuckled

You can go to just about any drug pharmacy and get a handicapped suction device that is designed to stick just about anywhere, and they cost about twenty bucks or so. It looks like a handle and had two incredible suckers underneath. And a lot of times you can just give it a yank and it will pull the dent right back to where it wandered from.

Ya gotta be very careful though, aluminum just doesn't pop back like steel. It's so easy to over work it, whether its by suction or by glue. you really have to study the dent and make several smaller, progressive pulls. It's really more like working with clay than metal (steel). Hard to explain, but just what I experienced. I can work a car steel panel pretty well, but this first aluminum job was a bit intimidating.

moparjohn · 10-19-2011, 08:56 PM

Funkills thread gives me a little hope!! MPJ

Tin Trekkers · 10-20-2011, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airbuckled

You can go to just about any drug pharmacy and get a handicapped suction device that is designed to stick just about anywhere, and they cost about twenty bucks or so. It looks like a handle and had two incredible suckers underneath. And a lot of times you can just give it a yank and it will pull the dent right back to where it wandered from.

Thanks for the info.

Embarrassed to admit it but we had a little mishap.
On our first trip out...backing up...at night...in the rain (newbies - lack of experience) and dented one of the segment protectors.

John - we feel your pain. Between the kids, the critters and our own clumsiness, just can't manage to keep anything from getting FUBARed.

So maybe we'll give the "suction method" a try...probably over this weekend (fingers crossed).

If it works, we'll post pictures.

Happy traveling...

Splitrock · 10-20-2011, 12:46 PM

My trailer had a basketball size dent. I pushed it out and used heat and a roller to release the stress and set a new memory.

Dent repair using load jacks - Airstream Forums

Before:

After:

Wingeezer · 10-20-2011, 12:50 PM

Wish you the best of luck in dealing with it.

You sound exactly like me - my wife thinks I am nuts but I try very very hard to maintain my "Toys" and get SO upset with the smallest amount of damage - no matter if completely cosmetic!

Looks like we share the same character defect - I'm sure it must be a defect, many folks would just shrug and say "That's life, it still works!" Wish I could do that, it seems a much healthier outlook

Brian

(Still waiting in terrified anticipation for the first door ding to appear on our 2008 truck!)

moparjohn · 10-26-2011, 04:45 PM

So, since this damage occured at home, I called my agent about making an insurance claim. He stated "the policy excludes damages from wind to motorhomes and travel trailers unless they are inside of a building" Boy what a racket, I said to him, "I don't think too many trailers get damaged when they are INSIDE a building!!" So my thoughts are polititans, lawyers, and insurance agencys always cover their butts!! LOL!

TBRich · 10-26-2011, 08:19 PM

I'm like you...things like that (no matter how small they might be) bother the heck out of me. Don't you have insurance on your trailer? You can have it repaired through a claim. that's what insurance is for, after all.

We recently had a blowout that didn't hurt the exterior skin but messed up the curved part that goes to the underbelly and a few other things that were not readily visible. Our RV insurance paid for the repairs. Done.