Estimate for Repair of Aluminum Skin?

[Airhead59]

Can anyone provide a guess regarding the cost for repair of this damage?

One panel affected. No impact to any seams. No penetration of skin. Purely cosmetic. I assume that the panel will need to be replaced.

Also, would you have this done at the local AS dealer or wait for the opportunity to bring her by the Mothership (Jackson Center, OH)?

2005 Safari, if that makes a difference.

Thank you.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Best guess - 3 to 4 thousand dollars. Calling JC would give you the exact number. I'd do it there rather than at a dealer. Like any repair, you will not know the full cost until it's done. I don't think there are any going to be any weird issues, but you can never say never.

Bob

[funkill]

I had similar damage to mine about 6 yrs ago - tree limb fell on the corner. At the time Progressive estimated the repair (with new 2 new panels) to be about $3200 - on my older unit. A kid from the local dent repair shop wanted to try to fix mine - and he did a hell of a good job. But mine was not creased....

Good luck

[Al and Missy]

I had the lower rear curbside curved segment replaced on my 2001 Safari 25 for about $1700 (IIRC) with Olympic rivets at Out of Doors Mart in NC. They did a great job. The replacement panel and rivets were indistinguishable from the adjacent panels. It you insist on buck rivets, double the price due to having to remove the interior panels. It was initially estimated at a lower price (around $1400, again IIRC) but they ended up having to replace the trim strip as well.

Al

[SteveSueMac]

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Hi

Best guess - 3 to 4 thousand dollars. Calling JC would give you the exact number. I'd do it there rather than at a dealer. Like any repair, you will not know the full cost until it's done. I don't think there are any going to be any weird issues, but you can never say never.

Bob

I'd say Bob's your uncle, Uncle Bob!

Definitely choose JC in my humble opinion...headed there next month for damage to lower panels and window from storage yard neighbor hit. I have more damage and a window to replace - about $5.5K

Insisted his insurance company cover my costs to transport to the factory (I won that argument for those keeping score from an earlier discussion about this...).

Good luck!

[SteveSueMac]

Oh - and an option you didn't mention was a swanky aluminum patch. There's a few threads in here (I think search for Show Us Your Patches might work) with some really beautiful and creative ways to address dings like this which would be much less expensive.

[uncle_bob]

HI

The lowest cost option is to simply ignore it and move on

Bob

[SteveSueMac]

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

HI

The lowest cost option is to simply ignore it and move on

Bob

Well that's true too!

[pcskier]

For that panel it will be $2,500 give or take. Email a pic to service@airstream.com and they'll email you an estimate.

[richb359]

As pointed out earlier, with a crease restoring the original panel is virtually
impossible. Imagine returning aluminum foil to perfectly flat. 5 Years ago I had the same thing repaired on my 2006 Safari 28 by the then Airstream Dealer in Tampa. The total cost was $1700 and it's indistinguishable from the original.

[TBRich]

Holiday RV in ABQ should be able to make the reaper... I'd contact them about it before heading to Jackson Center.

I don't think you said how this damage happened. But even if you did it your self your insurance should cover it minus a deductible it. That's what insurance is for.

[75Bob]

I can't believe the difference in costs. I had 3 panels with skin damage just like this.I went to Jackson Center and bought the panels at $400 each. They would not ship them to me as I am not a dealer. I took the panels to a Camping World and they charged me 3 hours of labor at $120 per hour per panel a total of $1,080 in labor plus $.84 cents per Olympic rivet. About 500 0f them.This was in March. In July a polisher destroyed the new panels by over heating them causing them to warp. Now the insurance co. will pay to replace them. I go to the Portland Airstream and there estimate goes like this. $545 for each panel (I can live with this because it includes shipping from Ohio to Oregon). then they want the same $120 per hour for labor BUT, they want 10 hours per panel at a cost of $1,300 per panel. I tell them No Way and their response is that we can work something out.That will be decided next week. I don't really care that much because its the insurance companies money, but, it does tell you and me the extreme variance in costs that are available They also charged me $.84 per Olympic rivet but said I had to buy the box of 1,500 rivets totaling $1,200 extra. I said I want approximately half that box to go with me when the job is complete. Shop wisely Grasshopper.

[LBowls]

We were recently quoted $2,500 +/- per panel by Vinnie's North Bay Airstream in Wilton, CA. I'm sure it included the rivets. I've seen his work...he's is a perfectionist.

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by 75Bob

I can't believe the difference in costs. I had 3 panels with skin damage just like this.I went to Jackson Center and bought the panels at $400 each. They would not ship them to me as I am not a dealer. I took the panels to a Camping World and they charged me 3 hours of labor at $120 per hour per panel a total of $1,080 in labor plus $.84 cents per Olympic rivet. About 500 0f them.This was in March. In July a polisher destroyed the new panels by over heating them causing them to warp. Now the insurance co. will pay to replace them. I go to the Portland Airstream and there estimate goes like this. $545 for each panel (I can live with this because it includes shipping from Ohio to Oregon). then they want the same $120 per hour for labor BUT, they want 10 hours per panel at a cost of $1,300 per panel. I tell them No Way and their response is that we can work something out.That will be decided next week. I don't really care that much because its the insurance companies money, but, it does tell you and me the extreme variance in costs that are available They also charged me $.84 per Olympic rivet but said I had to buy the box of 1,500 rivets totaling $1,200 extra. I said I want approximately half that box to go with me when the job is complete. Shop wisely Grasshopper.

Hi

The cost for the panel varies depending on which one it is. The one in the picture is not one of the cheap ones ....

Bob

[Airhead59]

Thank you fellow Forum members for your responses and suggestions.

[Airhead59]

Thanks again everyone for your responses. I got a quote of $2017 from JC, based on photos only. They indicated a day and a half to complete. Thought a few of you would be interested.

Happy trails!