Rear damage

[scrocker]

Need some opinions on my recent damage (last night). Backing down an unfamiliar driveway in the dark - mistake! Is this damage easily repairable? My airstream is a 2008 Ocean Breeze.

[perryg114]

Looks like a new panel will be needed. Do you have insurance on it? Probably $2000 to fix at a dealer. The panel costs around $500.

Perry

[DanB]

Hardest part will be writing the check.

Sorry this happened, but looks like you actually picked a "good" spot to hit. Easily could have been 3x the cost if it was a couple of inches higher.

Ride out the season, and take it to the shop. Next year you will have a good story. Make something up, like that damn bear ran into my campsite and smacked right into the side......

[Belegedhel]

It all depends on whether you have insurance coverage and want to go the panel replacement route, or something less drastic. My recommendation on a trailer this new would be to do it "right" by replacing the panel. If you ever imagine that you might sell the trailer, the money you spend making it look flawless will be recovered in the sale. Leave it unrepaired, or do something shoddy, and you will pay double in the money lost on the resale.

By less drastic, I mean you could try to pull the dent out from the outside, using suction cups, or those "hot glue" methods of attaching something you can pull on to the dent and then giving a yank. You will never make it look perfect again, but you might be able to minimize the look of the dent.

good luck!

[scrocker]

Thanks for the response(s). Any recommendations for a quality repair facility in the Seattle area?

[daveswenson]

Originally Posted by scrocker

Thanks for the response(s). Any recommendations for a quality repair facility in the Seattle area?

I'd check with the dealer. Airstream Adventures NW in Covington. I've been happy with their work.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Pacific Northwest....seal that seam while deciding on repair.

Bob

[rodsterinfl]

Oops. I am in the same situation as you are only the top panel is crunched. I have an appointment Nov 11th at an Airstream dealer for panel replacement. I was going to go to JC but after speaking with them they recommend particular dealers with metalwork training.

It is repairable. I used hot glue suction cup pullers to get the crater out of mine but was left with a crease. The good part is that the craters were gone but I decided that I could not live with it. The aluminum stretches so it will not ever be the same. From the looks of your hit it looks like you will have two creases at the valleys of those indents. The estimates are correct on the cost. The parts are about $500 and the labor is around $1200 for a single panel. It is a decision of do I live with this and keep the $$$ now only to reduce the sale price perhaps later when sold or get it fixed and keep it at full value. Either way you are out the dough!

[polarlyse]

We had repairs done last year at a non-dealer shop in NewYork state. Very happy with the finished job but not a cheap one. In our case the other guys insurance covered it. 2 corner panels on the curb side and 1(upper) on street side. Lower one , like yours, he straightened as best he could and put the new panel over top of it. Slipped it in and riveted from the outside. Upper panels were removed /replaced. Have it done right. You won't be sorry. Ours looks great.

[scrocker]

Thanks to everyone for your comments. Airstream Adventures Northwest in Covington is going to be repairing my trailer. From my research, it appears that they have a great rep, and I've been really impressed with them so far with their knowledge, helpfulness, and the very detailed/complete estimate (although expensive - and I expected that).