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John&Vicki · 07-11-2015, 05:12 PM

Well this guy that follows me around called Dumb John put a dent in my trailer. He was backing into what appeared to be a mere bush, but it was big enough to stand its ground. And the really bad news is that it's in one of the most beautiful places on the trailer - the top outside end cap. The (hopefully) good news is that it doesn't appear to be creased and looks like it might pop out.

I talked with a couple of dent removers and came away with no confidence. Next step was to do some research here and elsewhere on dent removal tools and I've decided to go for it. I like the idea of the pneumatic tool and looked at around at pricing. Amazon's cheapest one is around $160.00. I checked with Harbor Freight (that bastion of quality tools) and found one there of around $60.00. Since this - hopefully - a one-off, I'm going to go cheap with the one from HF and give it a shot.

I'll post some before pictures here in a couple of days no doubt followed by the after pictures of Dumb John in the hospital.

Cheers,
Dumb John

AWCHIEF · 07-11-2015, 05:36 PM

Heck, bring that thing to rallies. You can make some new friends and perhaps pick up a few bucks.

John&Vicki · 07-11-2015, 06:48 PM

It's about time Dumb John earns his keep around here!

Cheers,
John

cwf · 07-11-2015, 08:01 PM

Hahahahaha! Dumb John and Dumb Channing need to take things easy and listen to their better halves...

gaiaenviro · 07-12-2015, 11:15 AM

I just did one in the roof of our classic Moho using a high quality harbor freight one. I posted a thread with before and after photos on the classic motorhome section if you want to see...

drboyd · 07-12-2015, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gaiaenviro

I just did one in the roof of our classic Moho using a high quality harbor freight one. I posted a thread with before and after photos on the classic motorhome section if you want to see...

I'm surprised to see that the sets of "high quality" and "Harbor Freight" do intersect once in a while. ...Probably in the plane of existence inhabited by leprechauns and unicorns.

John&Vicki · 07-12-2015, 11:25 AM

Thanks - I missed that thread. Very encouraging. Here's the link for anyone that might be interested: http://www.airforums.com/forums/f311...er-137950.html

Cheers,
John

jasfox · 07-12-2015, 01:01 PM

I was blessed with three very large dents on th upper reap panels for a hail storm. Dealer said insurance totaled the trailer. After the ins settlement I had an almost free trailer with three large dimples. I decided to make some serious rearranging inside which required me to remove the inside skin all across the rear. With the inside skin removed I determined I could not do too much damage so took a rubber mallet lightly hit the center of one of the dents and was blesses with an awesome "ping" and no more dent. Did the same on the other two. If you look real carefully you'll notice a slight ripple where the dent resided. As soon as the interior is finished I'll have a good as new 22 ft. International CCD.

John&Vicki · 07-12-2015, 01:19 PM

Sly like a Fox! Nice going!

Cheers,
John

Wingeezer · 07-12-2015, 02:48 PM

Haven't seen your pics, but if it is not creased, I think it will come out just fine.

The first time I was up on the roof of our trailer - bought (used) from a dealer, I found there were two dents in the rear endcap.

They were not visible from the ground, but since I already owned an auto dent suction cup, I figured I would give it a try and the dents came out at least 95%. You can barely see a ripple. I imagine someone must have been up there and stepped on kneeled on the end caps - not reccomended!

Mine is not the fancy pneumatic version, no slide hammer either. It is just a big cast aluminum handle attached to a about a 6" suction cup and a vacuum release valve.

You just hold the release valve open when pushing the suction cup down, then let the valve close to hold the vacuum.

Then pull and with luck the dent is gone, then open the release valve again to remove the tool.

Worked like a charm - it was the first time I ever used it, I only bought it in the first place as it was on sale and i'm a sucker for tools! Figured one day it might come in handy!

Brian

hugheym · 07-12-2015, 05:06 PM

Very interested.
A couple of us are wondering, will a pancake compressor be adequate for removing dents?
Thanks,
Martin

Tumbleweed61 · 07-12-2015, 05:34 PM

Since we have a real vacuum pump (for A/C work, etc.), I searched around for a device similar to the pneumatic dent puller referenced above, but that would use a vacuum pump instead of an air compressor.
I had no luck finding such a beast (I found handheld (non-slide hammer) pullers that could also be used for picking up glass or other smooth objects); maybe someone here knows if something like this exists.

.

Wingeezer · 07-12-2015, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tumbleweed61

Since we have a real vacuum pump (for A/C work, etc.), I searched around for a device similar to the pneumatic dent puller referenced above, but that would use a vacuum pump instead of an air compressor.
I had no luck finding such a beast (I found handheld (non-slide hammer) pullers that could also be used for picking up glass or other smooth objects); maybe someone here knows if something like this exists.

If you already have the vacuum pump, (I have one too that I use for degassing home made wine!) you could likely buy a cheap manual vac. puller such as I have and hook up your pump via the vacuum release valve and then find a way to adapt this rig it to a regular bodywork slide hammer - they are often available for a few $$ at flea market tool stalls.

Where there's a will there's a way!

Brian.

airrick · 07-12-2015, 08:34 PM

John, I can't wait to see the results of the "dent puller". I have dents on my end caps on each side of my 72' Safari.I hope it works for you.

Rick

m.hony · 07-13-2015, 06:48 AM

I have several hail dings on the trailer and several hail dings on the truck. Most recently, I have some dings in the hood due to vandalism.
It was suggested by a lady who works at the local Ford place to try paint-less dent repair on the dented hood. The paint-less dent repair guy comes around every so often to repair cars on the Ford lot. I guess his work is like route service work. Anyway, she thinks we should try to schedule an appointment when he comes around again.
The reason I left the hail dings is because they were fairly small and not very noticeable except to me.
The dents and scratches on the hood due to vandalism are more noticeable. In the same incident, the grill was bent, the hood was scratched, the bug shield/hood protector was broken, and the windshield was broken. I have a $1,000 deductible and received $806 from the insurance company. My crossroads now is do I just do some of the repairs- as far as $806 will go- or do I take the kid-who-did-it's family to small claims court for the $1,000. So far, I have ordered a new bug shield off Amazon. I may just get the windshield replaced and be done with it.
I am curious if the paint-less dent repair guy can make my truck and trailer look a little nicer for a little money.
I have been to a rally where a fellow Airstreamer had a pneumatic dent remover. He was all over the campground pulling dents. At that time, I had no dents. Maybe I will make it to another rally with a paint-less dent repair guy or a guy with a pneumatic dent remover.

blkmagikca · 07-13-2015, 08:32 AM

Talk to the kid's family about the damages and, if they don't pony up, take 'em to court to recover the costs. BTW, you may want to mention to them that the press may not deal kindly with them.

m.hony · 07-13-2015, 01:24 PM

I need to check into the small claims court thing.
I am somewhat concerned about retaliation, but some folks say I shouldn't be.
If this kid doesn't straighten up, he'll be penitentiary bound.

Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

drboyd · 07-13-2015, 03:07 PM

He may not be the kind of kid you really want to have annoyed at you. He's probably got friends, too.

How old is he?

blkmagikca · 07-13-2015, 08:19 PM

Retaliation?????

After what they will have to pay for the damages, they will know that any retaliatory action can cost them dearly, and may, in some circumstances, be considered a criminal act which will have repercussions later on in their lives. Might result in a vacation at the concrete country club.

m.hony · 07-13-2015, 09:19 PM

1 of me.
10 or 12 or more teenage boys in a racially tense town-
They might do drive-bys on my house-
Something to consider-
The world we live in has blurred the lines between good and bad, good and evil so long that truth is a lie and a lie is truth.
These kids will be mad at me for knowing what they did or catching them rather than being accountable for what they did. It's like it's my fault for being here.