Dented my AS: stupid, stupid, stupid!

[kdickinson]

accidents happen and my input is don't give yourself too much grief over it. I parked mine on some new recycled asphalt that I had spread out and leveled just for the trailer. I went to pull it over to the house to go on a trip and the street side tire dug into the new surface and tipped the trailer over against a shed. One of the windows ended up breaking - could be have been a lot worse - and that is how I eventually got over it - I just kept saying it over and over - it could have been a lot worse. Then I held my nose, closed my eyes, and wrote the check for the repair ....

[Air345Fly]

Originally Posted by guskmg

Stupid, stupid, stupid! Been there, done that, and it does make you feel stupid+!
I called my insurance company and said I just did a stupid thing and the claims person said " don't worry, we insure for stupidity as well as causality." That did make me feel some what better. And this is a large nationally known insurance co. I'll be with them for life. You can't beat that for customer service attitude.
guskmg

I checked with my insurance company: no good. I have a policy for
a parked RV. This was a moving accident so not covered. If I had
left it where it was and a tree fell on it I would have been covered.
As it turns out no trees fell where it was not even any significant
branches. Bummer!

Pete.

[Bigventure]

Is that a camera on the back?

Good lessons are not cheap lessons.

[Air345Fly]

Originally Posted by Bigventure

Is that a camera on the back?

Yes that is the camera but it is not working. That was another project
for the future.

It was pouring with rain and I could not see much as I put it into reverse.
A little voice in my head was saying "don't back up, don't back up".
I did not think that I was that close, stupid. My butt is still sore where
I kicked it!

Pete.

[Air345Fly]

Originally Posted by dznf0g

Pete, I'm afraid that is a panel replacement job.

Are such panels available from junk yards? Are they available new?

Pete.

[dznf0g]

I'm sure they are available new. Scrapyards? Maybe. Call airstream and ask.

[rmatkovich]

Originally Posted by Air345Fly

In the North East we had a big storm on Monday. I figured that I would
move my AS away from the trees where is is normally parked. In doing
so I backed into a balcony. This is the result:

Attachment 298134

Now I am trying to come up with a strategy to fix it;

Is is reasonable to remove the inside panels to get at the dent?

Or is it best to try to pull it from the outside with suction cups or glue
tabs?

Thanks,
Pete.

U can not pull them dents out. Take some good advice. I have been As ing for over 25 years and have had some damage to my AS. When U need the front or rear panels replaced go to the factory and have it done right. Do not have a dealer do the job. The factory will take it all apart and replace with new panels and do the buck riveting that needs to B done. I have worked on AS that were done by dealers and many were put back together with pop rivets and when that is done I will grantee you will have leaks. Bite the bullet and pay the deductible and get it done right.
Jim

[kdickinson]

Originally Posted by rmatkovich

U can not pull them dents out. Take some good advice. I have been As ing for over 25 years and have had some damage to my AS. When U need the front or rear panels replaced go to the factory and have it done right. Do not have a dealer do the job. The factory will take it all apart and replace with new panels and do the buck riveting that needs to B done. I have worked on AS that were done by dealers and many were put back together with pop rivets and when that is done I will grantee you will have leaks. Bite the bullet and pay the deductible and get it done right.

Jim

100% agree

[Goin camping]

Welcome to the club.

Wife backed her Grand Cherokee into the front of ours. Luckily (Sarcasm) She missed the hitch and rammed the body corner. She wiped out exterior and interior panels from the frame out on the drivers side. On a plus note. Her Grand Cherokee was undamaged.

$10k at the end of the day but the repair by Area 63 was flawless inside and out. BTW, that 10K included a new roof A/C purchase and install.

Things happen in life and most of it won't matter in ten years anyway. Soo, tell everyone you were attacked by land pirates while traveling in Somalia.

[AtomicNo13]

It looks pretty symmetrical.... Leave it and call it different!

[Ted S.]

I just always thought it was so silly Airstreams were built in such a way these repairs are so difficult and costly.

[Vantair]

Yup. Even with no wind, no rain, no vehical movement just peacefully at home. Simply taking trash out, thought a nearby branch was out of place. WHAT ??!!

Apparently this happened 2 days before after playing back house surveillance cameras. Basically a overly weighted branch deciding to just “drop” on its own @ 6pm....on our baby. Yet STILL qualifies for STUPID, stupid,stupid. (Wife).

Bought a pnumatic dent puller to help. We’ll see if we can do the facelift as JC is pretty far from here.

[J. Morgan]

Suck.

That will never be invisible without panel replacement, but if a person is smart about it, that dents visual impact can be minimized to not much.

[Milo1952]

I jack knifed when new as well. Fortunately, I guess for me was that I damaged my new truck and not the AS. Still costly but not as costly. I bent the stainless steel guard but it is hardly noticeable. Dont believe I caused a leak. Unfortunately for me is that the top nut holding the guard on damaged my f 250's rear quarter panel. Over $1000 to repair but not anywhere near the replacement of an AS panel.

[4RXLA]

Is that a backup camera?

[cazual6]

Originally Posted by dznf0g

Pete, I'm afraid that is a panel replacement job. Sorry. Been there, done that. That's a 6k job.

Just think of it like this and you'll feel better:

"I am donating to the economy. "

See, don't you feel better already?

[JACQUIE]

My husband dented the left front when our utility trailer jumped off the hitch-not fastened tightly enough & it glided slowly down the small grade on the drive into the trailer. We made an appointment first with our insurance then with Jackson Centre. Make an appointment ahead as they are busy. We left the trailer there for a week, went back & all was taken care of. You do want it done properly. Insurance paid all but the deductible.

[wahya]

Originally Posted by Air345Fly

I checked with my insurance company: no good. I have a policy for
a parked RV. This was a moving accident so not covered. If I had
left it where it was and a tree fell on it I would have been covered.
As it turns out no trees fell where it was not even any significant
branches. Bummer!

Pete.

Does your vehicle ins. not cover your trailer while hooked up and towing? Mine does. I have ins thru erie.

[Isuzusweet]

Originally Posted by wahya

Does your vehicle ins. not cover your trailer while hooked up and towing? Mine does. I have ins thru erie.

He has a 345 Classic motorhome.

Unfortunately fixing this will not be cheap.

Cheers
Tony

[richb359]

There was an earlier thread from a user that had similar damage to one
panel. I've been the one panel route myself. After all of the responses, the net result was that the user had to spend $1700 to have it replaced and that was exactly similar to my experience 5 years ago. Unless someone has found a "magic" technique I'm afraid you're facing the all too classic AirStream dilemma i.e. if you bend, you spend. I wish you luck but I don't think you repair that type of damage without replacing the panels ---and you have three.

Meanwhile if someone asks you about the damage, tell them you're remodeling and continue to enjoy the Airstream experience. Again easy to say

RMB