Cost of Repair

[Gene]

My 2008 Safari SE FB has a small crease in the streetside of the trailer—it's in the lower panel just below and a little to the rear of the escape window. I know who did it and need to know what my damage is in cash.

I am told the only way to repair it is to replace the entire panel. This is quite a job because there are many things that require holes be cut in this very long panel: furnace, all the water things, etc. I am told it is a 28 hour job. I don't know what it costs and need to find that out, since I haven't been able to get an estimate.

Does anyone know the cost of parts (aluminum, rivets, whatever), materials (sealants, etc.) and have any idea of whether the labor is really 28 hours?

Gene

[Silvertwinkie]

Sorry to hear that Gene. There are two methods to repair. One is panel overlay, the other is panel replacement.

Depending on how large a sheet the panel is, it could be pricey. Sounds like you have the lower length segment being replaced.

If you can take pics and contact either of these two folks, they can tell you what to expect in terms of price. The factory does some of the best work I've seen. There is a place in Texas as well that does great work. At any rate, here is the info:

Rick March
rmarch@airstream.com
1-937-596-6111 Ext. 7406
Chris Burch
cburch@airstream.com
1-937-596-6111 Ext. 7413

There was a forum member that came into contact with a guard rail and the guard rail won. The whole lower section of the curbside on his 25 SS was meat. Door damaged, water heater, wheel well. When the factory service center was done you'd have been hard pressed to find any sign that work had been done.

There are maybe 3-4 places in the US I would trust to do a repair like this FWIW.

[gail]

repairs are expensive! We now try to do as much as possible ourselves.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by CrawfordGene

My 2008 Safari SE FB has a small crease in the streetside of the trailer—it's in the lower panel just below and a little to the rear of the escape window. I know who did it and need to know what my damage is in cash.

I am told the only way to repair it is to replace the entire panel. This is quite a job because there are many things that require holes be cut in this very long panel: furnace, all the water things, etc. I am told it is a 28 hour job. I don't know what it costs and need to find that out, since I haven't been able to get an estimate.

Does anyone know the cost of parts (aluminum, rivets, whatever), materials (sealants, etc.) and have any idea of whether the labor is really 28 hours?

Gene

The labor hours are high.

Where did you get that quote?

A list of materials would be much easier to prepare, if you posted a couple of photo's of the damaged side.

Andy

[Gene]

I have been unsuccessful getting the costs from Airstream, so I decided to ask here. The damage is not as noticeable as you might think, but once you see it, then it stands out. It's not a dent, but has a sort of V at the bottom; it's only about 6" long. There's no other damage to the panel. I doubt it can be easily knocked out from the back. I've PM'd Andy with the particulars. This is all I can really say in public.

Gene

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by CrawfordGene

I have been unsuccessful getting the costs from Airstream, so I decided to ask here. The damage is not as noticeable as you might think, but once you see it, then it stands out. It's not a dent, but has a sort of V at the bottom; it's only about 6" long. There's no other damage to the panel. I doubt it can be easily knocked out from the back. I've PM'd Andy with the particulars. This is all I can really say in public.

Gene

Gene.

I received your PM, but no photo's.

I must have a photo of the complete side of the trailer and a closeup of the damage, like 3 feet away or so.

Then I can help you.

In the meantime, you should report the loss to your insurance company, along with the circumstances.

It's their job to subtogate against the dealer. They have far more pressure to exert than you do.

Andy

[Gene]

I have had trouble getting the upload to work, but here's my 3rd attempt of the crease and the only photo I could find of that side of the trailer. I think the camera was crooked when I took the photo because we wouldn't have had the trailer at that angle.

Gene

[Diesel1]

hhmmm, the tree's look vertical. sorry just funnin you. Adios, John

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by CrawfordGene

I have had trouble getting the upload to work, but here's my 3rd attempt of the crease and the only photo I could find of that side of the trailer. I think the camera was crooked when I took the photo because we wouldn't have had the trailer at that angle.

Gene

Gene.

Airstream is reluctant to quote prices for material and labor, unless they are going to do the work. If they do quote, they then are placing themselves in competition with dealers, that contractually, they must not do.

You cannot push, or pound out that crease, since the metal is stretched.

You could, get a small louver and place it over that area, and no one would know the difference.

The labor hours, all inclusive is 16. The labor rate, of course depends on where you take the trailer.

Total materials, including the 33" X 201" X .040 inch thick aluminum sheet, along with the Olympic rivets and sealers, costs about $600.00, or so.

Again, the material costs depend on who is doing the work. Some charge a little more and some may charge less. Then freight could also be added, if the dealer did not get month stock orders from Airstream.

The 28 hours is far more than what would be necessary for a 34 foot trailer, let alone for your 25 foot. If someone wishes to place a challenge, my only defense would be that I wrote the crash book, for the old insurance division of Airstream, back in 1970.

If you feel that you have a legitimate problem with the dealer, posting their name, or city for that matter, would be doing a service to your fellow Airstream owners.

One problem for sure, is that their estimate is way, way out of line.

Hope this helps you, without raising your blood pressure.

Andy

[Gene]

Thanks Andy. That gives me something to work with.

Does anyone else have any experience with this type of repair?

Gene

[Inland RV Center, In]

CORRECTION

I guess I had a senior moment, or two, earlier today.

Sorry Gene, but in reviewing my notes, the total material cost is about $800.00, not $600.00, as I stated in my previous post.

My apology.

Time for another vacation.

Andy

[LLB21]

How sad. It always hurts to get that first ding.

I would guess about a $3000.00 job give or take a little. My local dealer has a manual from Airstream that gives 24 hours to replace the lower sheet.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by LLB21

How sad. It always hurts to get that first ding.

I would guess about a $3000.00 job give or take a little. My local dealer has a manual from Airstream that gives 24 hours to replace the lower sheet.

To my knowledge, Airstream does not have a "crash book."

But, I will check and find out next week, when they are open again.

The only book available, that I am aware of, I wrote back in 1970, for Caravanner Insurance, the old insurance division of Airstream.

Andy

[Gene]

Andy, thanks for the correction.

LLB, do you know how old that manual is? There are books for autos and trucks, but I would guess there are too few Airstreams for someone to publish one. Of course, dealers who do a lot of body work could compile their own manuals from experience and even exchange them. I think an experienced dealer would get work done a lot faster.

Gene

[LLB21]

CrawfordGene

My buddy doesn't sell Airstreams any more but he has a manual he got from Airstream.

Also, could you imagine how long an "inexperienced" repair shop would take. That is if you can get it by the insurance company.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by LLB21

CrawfordGene

My buddy doesn't sell Airstreams any more but he has a manual he got from Airstream.

Also, could you imagine how long an "inexperienced" repair shop would take. That is if you can get it by the insurance company.

The only repair manual that ever came from Airstream, to the best of my knowledge, was the original Caravanner Insurance crash book.

It's not only the huge increase in time, from an inexperienced shop, but the lack of knowledge as to "how" so that the repair cannot easily be detected, and that there are "zero" water leaks. Inexperienced shops would have no idea where you apply Vulkem, or why.

Andy