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06-05-2009, 05:58 PM
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#1
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2 Rivet Member
1973 25' Tradewind
New Bloomfield
, Missouri
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 43
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Basketball Dent - What do you think?
Airstream got a basketball dent in the driveway. Grandkids - can't live with them and can't live without them!
What do you think?
Repairable by amateur? How would you go about it?
Other suggestions?
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06-05-2009, 07:29 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
1976 25' Caravanner
Vintage Kin Owner
Campton
, New Hampshire
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,113
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It might be repairable , hard to tell without trying . It won't be perfect , depends on what is acceptable to you.
First stage , try your local body shop and see if their suction puller will pull it out
Second stage , remove the interior plastic end cap and massage it out from the inside.
Stage three , have the panel replaced , about a grand.
Check with your insurance.
Good luck
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06-05-2009, 07:36 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
1968 28' Ambassador
Cedaredge
, Colorado
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,542
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Yeah I would try the suction puller first. Make sure the aluminum is good and hot. I will work better than if it is cold.
__________________
Jason
May you have at least one sunny day, and a soft chair to sit in..
2008 5.7 L V8 Sequoia
AIR # 31243
WBCCI # 6987
FOUR CORNERS UNIT
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06-05-2009, 07:56 PM
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#4
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Vintage Alum. Enthusiast
1959 24' Tradewind
Phoenix
, Arizona
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: I currently do not own a 2nd Airstream
Posts: 4,360
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My brother pulled out a much deeper dent than this one using a Product called Dent King from an auto parts store. Get it warm out in the direct sun and give it a shot.
Brad
FF
__________________
4CU 2699 / AIR 10 / TAC AZ-1
I'm haunted by aluminum.
Charter Member of the 4 Corners Unit.
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06-05-2009, 10:31 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
2005 25' Safari
Salem
, Oregon
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 8,369
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Suction cup or story?
Hi, I would try the suction cup method first and if that doesn't work then it could be a good campground story. "Yah, me and the grandkids were playing basket ball and........................................"
__________________
Bob 2005 Safari 25-B
"Le Petit Chateau Argent" Small Silver Castle
2000 Navigator / 2014 F-150 Eco-Boost / Equal-i-zer / P-3
YAMAHA 2400 / AIR #12144
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06-05-2009, 11:56 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
1966 24' Tradewind
Placerville
, California
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,328
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That dent was created by a basketball traveling at warp speed! Were the g-kids having a slam dunk contest?
Neil.
__________________
Neil and Lynn Holman
FreshAir #12407
Avatar;
Kirk Creek, Big Sur, Ca. coast.
1966 Trade Wind
1971 Buick Centurion convertible
455 cid
1969 Oldsmobile Ninety Eight
455 cid
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06-06-2009, 07:31 AM
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#7
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Rivet Master
1971 25' Tradewind
1993 34' Excella
Currently Looking...
Estancia
, New Mexico
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,742
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That's Ding King. The same product is available under the name Pops a Dent. It should reduce the dent quite a bit. You can do the same thing with some short 2x2 lumber, a hot glue gun and a hair dryer.
__________________
Sail on silver girl. Sail on by. Your time has come to shine.
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06-06-2009, 09:29 AM
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#8
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3 Rivet Member
2008 25' Safari
Jasper
, Georgia
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 107
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Don't delay if you are going to use a dent puller. The sooner you pop the dent,
the more likely it will return to normal. Wait and the dent is a lot harder to pull out and get it looking normal again.
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03-12-2010, 10:33 PM
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#9
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3 Rivet Member
1962 26' Overlander
Daleville
, Alabama
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 144
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lumatic
That's Ding King. The same product is available under the name Pops a Dent. It should reduce the dent quite a bit. You can do the same thing with some short 2x2 lumber, a hot glue gun and a hair dryer.
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Any pictures of how this works. Thanks Susan
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03-12-2010, 10:50 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
1959 26' Overlander
1960 24' Tradewind
1961 16' Bambi
Oakland
, California
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 758
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Huge Suction Cup
We had a dent about the same size but deeper almost right in the middle of the back of our 1974 Tradewind.
We popped it out with a huge suction cup with a little lever that you flip once you create a seal-less than ten dollars. No hot glue necessary. We did it on a 90 degree day and it litterally popped right out.
You can see the dent in the image below or click on our "Images" for a larger image. It was taken one day after we purchased our trailer.
Good luck and please let us know how things turn out!
__________________
Gemma and Murray
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03-12-2010, 11:01 PM
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#11
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Rivet Master
2005 25' Safari
Salem
, Oregon
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 8,369
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bo&Susan
Any pictures of how this works. Thanks Susan
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Hi, my friend DG at work, at the Jackson Rancheria Rally. Not perfect, but a lot better.
__________________
Bob 2005 Safari 25-B
"Le Petit Chateau Argent" Small Silver Castle
2000 Navigator / 2014 F-150 Eco-Boost / Equal-i-zer / P-3
YAMAHA 2400 / AIR #12144
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03-16-2010, 07:18 AM
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#12
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Rivet Master
1969 23' Safari
New Orleans
, Louisiana
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 699
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...can you provide any addl info on DG's expertise, Bob? I tried a Harbor Freight cheapo puller, no luck, went the Ding King - hotgluegun route, no luck... any insight is appreciated..
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03-16-2010, 11:48 AM
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#13
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Rivet Master
1973 27' Overlander
Tucson
, AZ
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,480
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I contacted a local *paintless dent removal* company who did a good job of pulling out my dent (of similar size and location, though mine was at a seam) for a really reasonable price. See my post for pictures: http://www.airforums.com/forums/f381...hit-59265.html post #11 for before, post #30 for after pics
Laura
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03-16-2010, 11:50 AM
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#14
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Rivet Master
1973 27' Overlander
Tucson
, AZ
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,480
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ROBERTSUNRUS
Hi, my friend DG at work, at the Jackson Rancheria Rally. Not perfect, but a lot better.
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Watched a guy in a campground trying this technique of pulling out the dent himself, using a double handled suction device. But he was standing on a ladder. Yikes. First good pull and he about yanked himself off the ladder.
Laura
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03-16-2010, 01:05 PM
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#15
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Rivet Master
2015 27' Flying Cloud
Portland
, Oregon
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 684
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I can't stand this guy, but even though he is dead, his voice lives on. Here is a Utube video showing how the DingKing works:
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03-16-2010, 02:08 PM
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#16
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INSANITY CENTRAL
1986 32' Excella
Airstream Funeral Coach
Citrus Heights
, California
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,108
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You Rang
Quote:
Originally Posted by fotochop
...can you provide any addl info on DG's expertise, Bob? I tried a Harbor Freight cheapo puller, no luck, went the Ding King - hotgluegun route, no luck... any insight is appreciated..
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I have about 6 different size suction cups. some with handles some used to hang stuff on the fridge.
Funny the ones in the pic that Bob provided are harbor freight cheapies. I've had good success with them.
problem with aluminum is that once it stretches it kinda stays that way.So therefore it's easier to get a better finished product with a shallow dent on a flat surface, compound curves are another thing.Anytime there are 2 sheets riveted together it becomes more difficult to smooth things out. I'm thinking that the next time I run into an overlap I'll drill out the rivets and see if that will allow the panel to move a little.Then rerivet. My aircraft experience has shown me that a very small size will make a difference.( usually when fabricating - join up the panels with #40 bit and cleco- then go back and drill#30,). And I would have no problem drilling a few new holes. but that's me.There are a lot of good sealers out there to close up any space between surfaces. It's always best to remove the inner panel also. Gives you a lot more options. I've used basketballs, softballs. dowels, beer bottles, well you name it, on the inside surfaces with very good results.
It's already messed up, how much more damage can one do to it??
If you're the kind of person that could get both hands caught in a vise do not attempt any of the above. seek help
__________________
www.popasmoke.com
Proud Appellation American
Vine View Heights is now closed.
YETI ( 65 Quart )
IGLOO (Ice Cube, 50 Quart )
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03-16-2010, 02:53 PM
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#17
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Rivet Master
2000 31' Land Yacht
Central
, Florida
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,489
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Quote:
Originally Posted by funkill
Watched a guy in a campground trying this technique of pulling out the dent himself, using a double handled suction device. But he was standing on a ladder. Yikes. First good pull and he about yanked himself off the ladder.
Laura
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Did you find someone to replace the rivets on your roof repair? or at least the right answer to making seam waterproof.
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