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11-14-2012, 04:39 PM
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#1
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2014 Bowlus Road Chief
Cumming
, Iowa
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 370
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She took one right in the forehead!
Thanks to an uncovered gravel truck, I now have a nice dent in the front middle panel of our AS. Talked to our dealer who recommended placing a rivet there, which may be OK. Am not sure if Dent Eliminators, which we've used successfully for our cars, would work on aluminum. Don't really want to replace the middle panel because of the $cost so I'm am asking for any other solutions from this Forum. Please let me know your thoughts.
Thanks in advance.
John S.
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11-14-2012, 05:25 PM
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#2
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3 Rivet Member
2006 25' Safari FB SE
Santa Fe
, New Mexico
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 118
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I once had a tree limb fall on the back end of my trailer's top center panel. It also did some damage to the adjacent rear quarter panel. In my case, I replaced the heavily damaged center panel and, while the center panel was removed, had the dealer carefully attempt to pound out the damage on that rear quarter panel. So, in a case like yours, you could consider having the dealer remove most of the rivets for that center panel, to a point that would allow the front edge of the panel to be lifted out enough to reach behind it. Then place a steel backing plate over the exterior of that ding while reaching behind it with a hammer to pound the dent out.
In this option, you'd still pay a fair amount to replace the rivets, but would save on the cost of the panel. On the downside, you would not expect to have the ding perfectly pounded out. But since the ding is relatively confined, you should be able to have it pounded out such that it would be barely observable.
When I had my problems, I first hired a Dent Eliminator type company with the understanding of "no acceptable results, no money". They couldn't come close to achieving results and I had a much easier problem with my quarter panel that you have with that steep, but small dent. Without trying to sound like a professional, but only as a trailer owner who has been down this path, I'd bet a substantial amount of money that no dent elimination technique would work. I think you're stuck with the rivet idea (terrible!), a partial pullback of the skin as described here or a simply a full panel replacement.
Frankly, I don't like the idea of sticking an arbitrary rivet where the ding is. That seems to only highlight the issue even more.
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11-14-2012, 05:34 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
Port Orchard
, Washington
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 4,463
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Have someone make a tasteful silver and blue or two tone silver stick on graphic of a world globe. That would match the international theme of your trailer.
Ken
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11-14-2012, 05:40 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
2017 30' Classic
Loretto
, Ontario
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 507
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I have seen the dent removal people do some amazing things. After a recent hail storm I had1500 dents removed and a stone dent in the hood that looked more like a gun shot. Aluminum is not an issue.
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11-14-2012, 05:44 PM
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#5
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2 Rivet Member
2008 25' Safari SS SE
Hiawassee
, Georgia
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 35
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I have the same exact "beauty mark" in almost the same place. I look at mine as part of her history and intend to leave it there. I do agree with MR M though, don't put a random rivet in it's place.
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11-14-2012, 05:56 PM
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#6
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New Member
1964 22' Safari
Huntersville
, North Carolina
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 2
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Dang, that is bad luck!
If this happened to my 64 Safari - I would add three amber clearance lights using the dent as location for the center light.....or maybe a Wally caravan club sticker.
Given your rig is a 2011 - I think I would give Dent Wizzard a shot.
Good luck
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11-14-2012, 06:07 PM
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#7
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Moderator
2015 25' FB Flying Cloud
2012 23' FB Flying Cloud
2005 25' Safari
Santa Rosa Beach
, Florida
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,159
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That kind of stuff is really a bummer. The only way I know to avoid such mishaps is to never take the Airstream out on the road. The damage could easily be totally covered by a set of WBCCI big red numbers.
Brian
__________________
SuEllyn & Brian McCabe
WBCCI #3628 -- AIR #14872 -- TAC #FL-7
2015 FC 25' FB (Lucy) with ProPride
2020 Silverado 2500 (Vivian)
2023 Rivian R1T (Opal)
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11-14-2012, 06:12 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
1994 30' Excella
alexandria
, Kentucky
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,321
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A Wbcci sticker would look good there!
__________________
Steve, Christy, Anna and Phoebe (Border Collie)
1994 Classic 30'11" Excella - rear twin
2009 Dodge 2500, 6 Speed Auto, CTD, Quad Cab, Short Bed
Hensley Arrow hitch with adjustable stinger
WBCCI # 3072
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11-14-2012, 06:16 PM
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#9
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Rivet Master
1981 31' Excella II
New Market
, Alabama
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 6,145
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I second that. A Wally Meat Ball would cover that right up.
Perry
Quote:
Originally Posted by crispyboy
A Wbcci sticker would look good there!
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11-14-2012, 06:38 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
1995 30' Excella
Bowie
, Maryland
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,345
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I definitely would not do the rivet thing - the last thing you want to do is put more holes in it. (The headliner in ours is falling down, and the method we tried to keep it in place was screws with plastic caps on them. It basically worked, but now that we've decided to remove the headliner entirely, we have to do something with the screw holes we put in. I'm regretting that choice. You can always put a rivet in later if you decide that's what you want to do, but you can't remove the hole once it's drilled.)
__________________
1995 Airstream Classic 30' Excella 1000
2014 Ram 2500 Crew Cab with Cummins 6.7L Diesel
Sold but not forgotten: 1991 Airstream B190
Sold: 2006 F-250 6.0L Powerstroke Supercab
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11-14-2012, 07:06 PM
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#11
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Rivet Master
Hampton
, New Hampshire
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,126
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Add a little drama with some bullet holes...
We have a similar beauty mark. Just shows you use your trailer for its intended purpose - on the road!
__________________
Brad (The Slowsky's)
2019 Airstream Classic 30RBT, 2021 Ford F350 King Ranch 4X4 w/6.7L Diesel, Hensley, ACI #1313
travelwiththeslowskys.com
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11-14-2012, 07:21 PM
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#12
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Florissant
, USA
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 5,083
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Skater
I definitely would not do the rivet thing - the last thing you want to do is put more holes in it. (The headliner in ours is falling down, and the method we tried to keep it in place was screws with plastic caps on them. It basically worked, but now that we've decided to remove the headliner entirely, we have to do something with the screw holes we put in. I'm regretting that choice. You can always put a rivet in later if you decide that's what you want to do, but you can't remove the hole once it's drilled.)
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Yes, I would second this at the top of my lungs. A sticker, bullet hole, etc would be better. Never drill a hole! Below is a picture from one of our rally attendees back in 2007. Nice coverup with the Michigan sticker.
Steve
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11-14-2012, 07:36 PM
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#13
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Rivet Master
1983 34' Excella
1967 24' Tradewind
Little Rock
, Arkansas
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,825
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I agree, cover it up:
Plus you get an extra awning.
OK, I have massive hail damage...and that's Photoshopped.
__________________
Vaughan
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11-14-2012, 07:53 PM
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#14
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Rivet Master
2011 28' International
Chatham
, Ontario
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,401
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I'm with the "leave it there" brigade - it's patina, something you can spin a story around and proof that you take your travel trailer out on the road; history, even.
I have a dent in one of the rear end panels on mine and it's staying; a reminder for me to check that side of the trailer the next time I'm negotiating an outsized "STOP" sign. :~)
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11-14-2012, 08:08 PM
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#15
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Rivet Master
2009 27' FB Flying Cloud
1982 31' International
1991 35' Airstream 350
Jay
, Oklahoma
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,706
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I vote for leave it.
The first cut is the deepest,
wait,
isn't that a song......
Regards,
JD
__________________
Jeff & Cindy
'09 27FB Flying Cloud;'82 31 International
'91 350 LE MH; '21 Interstate 24GT
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11-14-2012, 08:24 PM
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#16
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Rivet Master
2005 30' Land Yacht 30 SL
Oakland County
, Michigan
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 506
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I'm confused. How would a rivet hide or fix the dimple?
__________________
Bob & Nancy
2005 ASLYG 30 SO
2009 Wrangler Toad
Michigan
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11-14-2012, 08:27 PM
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#17
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2014 Bowlus Road Chief
Cumming
, Iowa
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 370
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Don't really know but suspect that it would just fill up the dent.
John S.
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11-14-2012, 08:27 PM
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#18
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Rivet Master
Port Orchard
, Washington
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 4,463
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My Opinion:
No one should be allowed to advise him to leave it there, until they have posted a photo of a ding they have chosen to "leave there" on their trailer.
Ken
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11-14-2012, 08:32 PM
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#19
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Rivet Master
2002 25' Safari
Fountain Inn
, South Carolina
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 714
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ag&Au
My Opinion:
No one should be allowed to advise him to leave it there, until they have posted a photo of a ding they have chosen to "leave there" on their trailer.
Ken
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It would be half a dozen photos in my case. The dings are just the character marks of a happy traveler.
__________________
Bud
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11-14-2012, 08:40 PM
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#20
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Rivet Master
1983 34' Excella
1967 24' Tradewind
Little Rock
, Arkansas
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,825
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ag&Au
My Opinion:
No one should be allowed to advise him to leave it there, until they have posted a photo of a ding they have chosen to "leave there" on their trailer.
Ken
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Maybe someday I'll replace those three panels, but not now.
__________________
Vaughan
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