Fix it...? Replace?

[dvgofaz]

I am BEYOND annoyed about this...regardless it can't stay this way.

Replace the metal? Bump it out from the inside...what would you do?

[uncle_bob]

Hi

What can you *afford* to do. Fixing it is *expensive* !!!!

I doubt you will be happy with the cost / benefit ratio of bashing it back into place. It's a two layer skin so even getting to the "bash" stage is not at all simple.

Bob

[Al and Missy]

Based on my experience that is a $1500-$2000 repair to pull the skin, straighten the slightly bent rib, and rivet a new curved segment in place with Olympic rivets. At least that was the price range at JC or Out of Doors Mart for my lower curved segment repair.

That said, I'd probably fix it. I did on my 2001 Safari.

Al

[Lumatic]

Originally Posted by Al and Missy

Based on my experience that is a $1500-$2000 repair to pull the skin, straighten the slightly bent rib, and rivet a new curved segment in place with Olympic rivets. At least that was the price range at JC or Out of Doors Mart for my lower curved segment repair.

That said, I'd probably fix it. I did on my 2001 Safari.

Al

Not sure if there are any ribs in the end cap. If you bump it out you can significantly reduce it, but you are still going to have a couple of dings at the creases. It can also be pulled out from the outside with suction or a Ding King type device. Take it to Oasis RV and see what they say.

[CRH]

If it was under $2k, I would fix it.

[SteveSueMac]

For $0 - Is leaving it as a "battle scar" not an option? If so - go camping and enjoy it.

If not, I think there's a thread in here somewhere where someone unbuckled a creased end cap with an inner tube and a board with an air compressor or something like that (I didn't understand it so I can't remember what to search for ... sorry). And if that does most of the job but still leaves minor creases, you can patch over it. There are a few threads with creative aluminum patches that can inspire you.

Or - take it to the Mothership and they'll do a great job with the repair correctly.

I'd be bummed about it too and would look towards option 2....good luck!

[cwf]

Run home to Mommy! Fix it and truck in!

[dvgofaz]

Ouch! That's a long way from az.

[dmbecke]

Try taking this picture to an auto dent wizard and see what they think
They have many tools they can use to work most of this out from the outside for much lower cost
It's worth a try....

[duncans]

All you have to do is look at our Phoenix and then you will feel so much better.
(Phoenix went through a storage facility fire. Mental image: think of a cold hot dog that was previously heated in a microwave. )

Not to make light of your situation, it really is awful when that happens, especially to see the repair estimate and not be certain that it will look like new. Best of luck.

Susan

[TG Twinkie]

Look for a thread by Jerry McMunn. I came up with a method which he used to remove a dent. You can also look for my thread. Good Luck.

[Belegedhel]

Do you have insurance? If so, even a $500 deductible would be worth having your trailer pristine again. If not, then the $1500-2000 quoted above may be in your future if you want it to look perfect again.

There is also the cheap and idirty option: Use the various paintless dent removal techniques to try and pull the dent out from the outside. It is never going to "pop" back into perfection, with that dramatic crease you have, but you can certainly make it into a "scar" and less of a gaping wound. Do a google search from outside the forums for "airforums paintless dent removal" and you should get some hits. One of our members did a hell of a job using a large headed nail, some hot glue, and a pair of vise-grips.

There is also potentailly a labor intensive, but reasonably cheap option: You could remove the interior components, then remove the dented segment. Take it to a body shop with an English Wheel and have them work it back into shape. Reinstall. If you had to pay someone for all the labor, this job will run you into the $2k range as well, but if you do the work yourself, the expense is basically in the English wheel work and all the beer you will consume doing the work.

good luck!

[dvgofaz]

What about this? Take a new piece of metal and just cover it, trying to keep the shape and rivet lines as close to existing seams as possible?

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by TG Twinkie

Look for a thread by Jerry McMunn. I came up with a method which he used to remove a dent. You can also look for my thread. Good Luck.

Pretty ingenious, TG Twinkie, I must say!

[click on arrow in quote to go to that thread]

Originally Posted by TG Twinkie

My Argosy 26 has had a beach ball size dent in the front end cap ever since I bought it.
I was successful in removing the dent using an inner tube, a piece of plywood and a home made fitting for the shop vac hose.
I placed the inner tube centered over the dent, then placed the plywood on the inner tube. Connected the shop vac hose to the fitting and turned on the vac.
The inner tube had about 5 pound of air, making it flexible and able to make a good seal with the plywood and coach skin.
NOTE: There were no creases in the dent.
I am not sure what the atmospheric pressure is at 4,200ft elevation. I know it is less than at sea level. I am guessing it is about 12.5 pounds per square inch. It's not the vacuum that restores the metal to it's original shape, it is the pressure from behind.
Isn't physics GREAT!
Sorry! the pics are not in order. Look at the last 2 first. Those are the before.

http://s1166.photobucket.com/user/do...Dent%20Removal

[SteveSueMac]

Originally Posted by OTRA15

Pretty ingenious, TG Twinkie, I must say!

[click on arrow in quote to go to that thread]

Yes - THAT's the thread I was thinking about but couldn't remember....

Try that first! [emoji3]

[Lumatic]

Originally Posted by dvgofaz

What about this? Take a new piece of metal and just cover it, trying to keep the shape and rivet lines as close to existing seams as possible?

That's a compound curve. You would need an english wheel.

[Moflash]

With a crease like that it will need replacement .

[MetalAria]

How did that happen, if I may ask?