Panel Replacement Photos or Video

[Tim Cowles]

Hey All,
Will be replacing two body panels on our 2006 22' Safari. Have a background in metal working, so doesn't scare me to dive in. Ordering replacement panels from Airstream. Are there any videos that got through the process of replacing a panel? I have looked at the panel replacing threads here, but have not seen an actual step by step with photos or video. Thank you!
Tim Cowles

[safari62]

Here are a few threads:

It's a Girl / Inside Out thread.

Aerowood threads

[AWCHIEF]

YouTube, if you search "Aistream panel replacement or repair" several videos will pop up.

[Tim Cowles]

Thank you for the suggestions. Most of what I find on YouTube are before and after clips, not really the process. Will search again.

[tjansen]

A technician once told me he would grind down rivet heads then place panel over dented panel. Seal the panel then drill for new rivets between existing rivets.

[rmatkovich]

All I can tell U is if the panels R above the side panels U need to buck rivet them because I have caulked the inside of AS that had pop up above the sides panels. That is only a temp fix. These that I caulked were pop riveted by dealers.

[Tim Cowles]

Here is what I am replacing, back left bottom and side panel

[Tim Cowles]

Kind of surprising to me that after all these years no one has made an instruction video on panel replacement. I might if I dive into my panel job.

[sgschwend]

The multiple threads here worked fine for me, there are photos and step in those are at least some of the steps. Some of these have more than 50 pages, which can make it challenging to find what you are looking for.

I would agree that forums can be difficult to find technical stuff. Some forums have places set aside for helpful thread that are stored on the top of that section, likely done here, perhaps just not as focused to help the DIY.

I also enjoy the videos, so I get what you mean.

What keeps me from passing on the steps to follow is that in my case I felt I had to remove the interior, which is layout dependent.

The AS black coating inside the exterior skin was really holding things together. Some folks may be able to replace a panel from the outside only, for me I needed to strip the inside and then fail the black tar like coating to get the panel to release.

I take it that you are not showing the damage?

[Tim Cowles]

Hey,
Thank you for the reply. You can see the damage in the posted photo above, rock damage on back left and side panel. Talked to an Airstream tech in JC, he said they would use Olympic rivets to replace the panels, without taking apart the inside. Looks like a pretty straightforward job. We will see.

[Streamracer]

If the few dings you show in the photo are what you are talking about, I'd go to one of the dent doctors or paint-less dent remover companies around. I haven't used them on the trailer but I had a dent on the crease of my rear fender that was taken out and you could not ever tell where it was. About $100. I was reluctant since it was a new truck with 150 miles but after talking to them and seeing all the Mercedes and BMWs I figured it was worth a try. Good luck with what ever you decide.