skin damage by hydrant

[Astrodokk]

I didn't make a wide enough turn and got caught by the hydrant. I felt as if I was on the Titanic! Is the bottom gray part steel or aluminum?

[Happycampers]

Was aluminum on our Argosy...

[bobchevy89]

OUCH!!!! looks like alum..At least it's not realy tore up.glad the gen door was not to hurt. they cost a fortunr to replace..looks like that one panel is slid back.get that wheel well molding gap repaired quickly ,it will let in a lot of water when driving..Just make wider turns next time. a lot of people here have done some damage at onr time or another.. I DID IT ALSO!!!!misses help me back into the garage over hang. wopper of a dent in thr upper back...
BOB

[classic67]

Sorry to read of your misfortune. Good luck on a speedy repair.

[Creampuff]

It should be aluminum, but a quick check with a magnet will confirm it.
Being that it is painted you can use body filler like on a car dent though.

[Silvertwinkie]

It's not great, but I pictured worse. The skin still looks good, so the bottom part may need to be replaced an the wheel well trim replaced, but side skin still looks ok.

Sorry about the accident, I know how you feel......

[CanoeStream]

It's aluminum -- .025" though .032" is easier to find and will work. Doesn't look like the rubrail is badly affected. You'll have to take off the rubrail and transitional curved aluminum, probably destroying the blue insert in the process. Blue insert is available but save the rubrail! You'll get plenty of practice removing rivets and replacing them -- mostly standard aluminum types -- won't need Olympics for this job. Priorities should be doing a good wheel well repair and double checking your outriggers for damage -- the latter might need a bit of straightening & repainting but I don't see any welding needs immediately.

For more help post 600x800 digital pics from the underside in good light after you get it taken apart. Sorry to hear that this happened but it can be a fairly straightforward project to repair.

I haven't run into a fire hydrant but really messed up the running board of a minivan on a lava rock in Kaua`i about 10 years ago!

[Astrodokk]

Thanks for all the encouragement. It ruined my whole day when it happened...you know what I mean. She's my baby. I'll be taking it to an RV body shop that fixed my front left skin after my neighbor ran into it backing up out of his garage. They did a good job with the aluminum and were reasonably priced. i just don't have the time. At least I can still drive it around this Christmas. I'll NEVER make this mistake again!