Rear corner panel replace

[shepherd57]

Well I finally got around to replacing the left rear corner panel that was damaged when we bought our coach 2 years ago.

Which turned into partial floor replacement, I found the water tank had a patch which was leaking which became the partial floor replacement.I welded that up yesterday. Had to make new inside corner replacement panels. plus a bunch of other related issues.Still have to paint the banana wrap and reinstall the rear bedroom.

[mayco]

Whoa, big job. Nice work it looks beautiful. (Love that old pipe wrench with the wooden handle too)

[dadstoy]

Looks great!

[martin300662]

Like some many of the MH guys on here....you certainly have skills - looks great

[shepherd57]

Mike

Thanks for the compliment guys, You wouldn't believe how often that pipe wrench is called upon


Mike
Would you know anything about the South Park Campground in Gibson City just north of you. I am planning to stop there on our way to Sturgis SD in Aug. I will have that wheel well molding with me.

[mayco]

I know Im a corn ball, and I dont collect old tools. But I sure love em and even more when they are still being used. I cant help but think about the hands that have wrapped around that wooden grip and the number of times its been put to work. i think old tools like that have a soul of some sort.

[shepherd57]

Mike
I'm with you on the old tools. You would'nt belisve how many times I have used that wrench where nothing else would work.

Would you happen to know anything about the South Park Campground in Gibson City just north of you. We are planning to over nite there on our way to Sturgis SD in Aug, It says they have about 15 sites and it is in the middle of town.

I will have the fender well trim with me for your coach

[shepherd57]

Sorry for the double post, Will the mods please delete post #5

Thanks

[mayco]

I dont know about that campground but its only 30 mins from my home. Ill ask around. Are you traveling down from the north and then going to head west? If youre just looking for a stop over let me know your route and I may be able to find something nice. Unless of course you have reason to stop near Gibson City.

Awful nice of you to bring that trim, thats the worst looking piece on my 310.

[mayco]

Tried to post but something got squirrelly. Anyway, Im not familiar with that park but it looks just fine. Gibson City is about 30 mins from our home, its a small little farming community. Huge grain elevator and processing plant. Nice little slice of midwest small town. Cant go wrong with the price. What route are you going to take west? You know we just did the trip to Colorado and traveled US36 all the way and back. Ive driven both I80 and I70 before heading west and Im telling ya, we will travel US36 from here on out. Great road conditions and a real pretty drive through MO and Kansas. It really didnt take much longer than driving the interstate. A couple hrs at most. Relaxed compared to the interstate also. We would go miles and not see another vehicle.

Thank you for remembering that trim piece. Its the worst looking part of my exterior.

[streamquest]

Beautiful work with the corner replacement, and I'll bet it took you the better part of an afternoon to do it.
I'll be keeping it in mind next time I back up!!

[shepherd57]

Mike

I think 36 might be a bit to far south, I think I will be coming across 24 through Indiana, no reason to stop in Gibson City just looked like a nice spot. Not sure if we will cross at Port Huron MI or Buffalo NY.

Should probably go north west from your area maybe pickup 14 in Wis or Minn
I only have 2 weeks holidays. My old coach dosen't like mountain country very much.

Ill 136 to Iowa 218 N looks pretty good

[Kota]

Nice work! Where did you find your banana wrap. I'm having a hard time finding it for my 95.

[shepherd57]

It is the same one that was on the coach just repainting it. I am also looking for the right rear banana wrap if anyone on the forums knows of one

[streamquest]

Shepherd and Kota,

Airstream Supply lists new rear banana wraps in stock to fit a 370, but bananas all tend to look pretty similar in shape….

So I measured the wraps on my 370 and 325. Both are about the same overall width from side to side when measured across the rear bumper. Both bumpers are the same. And both wraps are about the same (14 1/2") as they wrap around and across the rear and meet the center trim panel that connects them . Interestingly however, the wrap on the 370 is 3" inches SHORTER (34 1/2" vs 37 1/2") when measured from the rear bumper heading forward to reach the seam with the aluminum bodywork. So the end cap of the 370 is actually shorter than the 325.
Now I should mention that my 325 is a bit of an oddball since it was a custom build at the factory with a rear hatch door, and therefore does not have the typical wrap around rear window set up and corresponding end cap? I suppose it's also possible that these wraps came out of a mold with a certain amount of excess material and were cut to size as needed?? So the 370 wrap might work for you if you come up with the 34 1/2" measurement??

Good luck!

Charly

[JBinKC]

We have a dent that we can't explain. We heard a noise outside one evening while having dinner and found the dent later. So maybe it was kids playing or vandals. We'll never know. Jackson Center wants $2,500 to replace the panel and that is the least expensive method that did not entail removing the interior and riveting the new panel in. They laughed when I asked if there wasn't a way to sort of pull out the dent by drilling a small hole and using a puller I've seen on auto body shows. I could have filed an insurance claim and had the work done, but have been reluctant to do so. I'm so envious of skilled owners who can do this sort of work themselves. I'll just have to live with this because there's no way I could take on such a do-it-yourself job.

[mimiandrews]

Suction cup dent puller?
Might be worth a try, but I'm no expert. I hope someone who has actually used one will chime in here and give you good info.

[streamquest]

That dent doesn't appear to show "hard edges" which improves the odds of it popping out. A panel replacement seems kind of extreme as a starting point. Definitely try the suction cup first. Heating or chilling the metal might also help. I think there is also a process where an adhesive of some sort is applied to anchor a gripping point for a dent puller which avoids drilling holes, but leaving a "pimpled" texture as the result of multiple pulling points would look worse than your dent. The name "Dent Wizard" comes to mind??
I don't know what your interior looks like, but how about making a small incision on the inside panel and try pushing it out?

I have no doubt that some of the sharpest people around are the Motorhome owners with the vast amount of mechanical knowledge and experience required to keep these beasts rolling (though I don't count myself among that group), and there are definitely people on this forum that can offer better advice than mine, but you will probably get a bigger response through the Trailer forums rather than through this particular Motorhome thread simply because there are SO many more trailer owners out there.

Good luck

[Vycan]

I think inland rv has them.

[Isuzusweet]

I was hoping John would post his efforts at replacing his rear panel. Up in these parts he's the man when it comes to mechanical guru's. Look'in good and many thanks for the new rear LED lights.

I was actually hoping to watch his rivet shaving expertise but alas work calls.

@JbinKC re dent

Keyair i think had great results with the adhesive suction cup pullers. The suction cups have different sizes and if you work slowly and carefully it should pull that dent completely out. I would give that a go before replacing the panel as you have nothing to loose.

Cheers
Tony