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02-11-2003, 07:56 PM
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#1
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Rivet Master
Austin
, Texas
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 949
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cracked wheelwells
Has anyone found a good product to seal up cracks in their plastic wheelwells? My Overlander has a couple of 3 inch cracks, probably caused by unbalanced running gear but that is a entirely different discussion!! It needs to be something that will stick to the plastic and be able to flex a bit. I was thinking maybe some Plumber's Goop, a horribly sticky, flexible almost non-removable substance. Any other ideas?
Chas
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02-11-2003, 08:42 PM
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#2
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Creampuff
2022 27' Flying Cloud
2016 25' International
Airstream - Other
Malibu
, California
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 526
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Chas
There is a latex caulk called "Big Stretch"which probably would work.It comes in a standard size cartridge at better building supply stores and you can get a color close to the original plastic.It smoothes out well when you let it set a couple of minutes and work it with a sakiva-moistened thumb.
__________________
Murray
AIR #189
"If aluminum isn't magnetic- why am I so attracted to to it?"
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02-11-2003, 08:53 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
1975 Argosy 26
1963 24' Tradewind
Seattle
, Washington
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,341
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Both sides?
Chas, I was thinking that maybe you'd want to seal some cut out innertube to the inside of the wheelwell with the goop to ensure rain doesn't come up through the crack? I know someone else was repairing their wheelwell, but I can't remember the thread.
Marc
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02-12-2003, 09:59 AM
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#4
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Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
Corona
, California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
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CRACKED WHEEL WELL REPAIR
Repairing cracked plastic or metal wheel wells is done very easily.
Remove all the dirt from around the crack. Add an aluminium plate that's about 2 inches wider and longer than the crack. Drill all the holes.
Remove the plate and place a generous amount of "vulkem" sealer on the back side of the plate. Reinstall the plate with aluminum pop rivets, using #48 pops.
Add more vulkem sealer, to the completed installation, both over the complete plate, and, past the edges of the aluminum by at least an inch or two. Again, use a generous amount of vulkem.
Let the vulkem set up for a day or two.
Spray a generous amount of "underseal" on and past the vulkem.
The repair is now complete.
However, get the running gear properly balanced, so that it doesn't happen again.
Also while your at it, check the interior wheel well. You may find that it is also cracked and/or separated from the wall. It can be repaired the same way as the exterior wheel well.
Andy
inlandrv.com
airstreamparts.com
airstreamcandy.com
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02-12-2003, 10:30 AM
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#5
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Rivet Master
Austin
, Texas
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 949
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Thanks Andy,
It may be trcky to get the aluminum plates to match the curvature of the places I got cracked but agree it is needed to give it more strength. I found a shop here that will balance everything on the trailer, I guess they have the tire spinner and a strobelite? Are the aluminum wheels less problematic when it come to balancing issues? I have the original mags on mine.
Chas
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02-12-2003, 10:51 AM
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#6
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Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
Corona
, California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
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Charles.
Mag or aluminum wheels, by their very nature, are indeed, much closer to being balanced.
However, they are not in fact, "in balance."
Andy
inlandrv.com
airstreamparts.com
airstreamcandy.com
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02-18-2003, 03:35 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
Austin
, Texas
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 949
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Here is a patch on one of my wheelwells.
Chas
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02-18-2003, 04:05 PM
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#8
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Retired Moderator
1992 29' Excella
madison
, Wisconsin
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 4,644
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looks good!
chas that should seal it well!
nice work.
john
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02-18-2003, 04:15 PM
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#9
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Rivet Master
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 917
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Chas,
Good job!!
Sounds like you're almost road ready !!!
John
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06-18-2003, 10:10 AM
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#10
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3 Rivet Member
1972 27' Overlander
Saline
, Michigan
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 189
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I have a similar question about wheel wells,
After replacing old tires on my 72 27' international with Goodyear trailer 225's my door side wheel well has worn thru by the wheel rubbing against it.
The other side is tight too but does not rub.
It looks like the side that has rubbed is bowed out a bit while the other side is not.
Any suggestions on resolving.
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12-05-2006, 01:05 PM
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#11
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1 Rivet Member
1971 27' Overlander
Baton Rouge
, Louisiana
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 6
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Same problem
Quote:
Originally Posted by loechli
I have a similar question about wheel wells,
After replacing old tires on my 72 27' international with Goodyear trailer 225's my door side wheel well has worn thru by the wheel rubbing against it.
The other side is tight too but does not rub.
It looks like the side that has rubbed is bowed out a bit while the other side is not.
Any suggestions on resolving.
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I have a 71 overlander with the same condition. The plastic seems to have warped and cracked and is now affecting the shape of the wheelopening/body. I'm going to try Andy's repair and install some heavier material to stiffen the edges.
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12-05-2006, 05:34 PM
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#12
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Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
Corona
, California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
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Quote:
Originally Posted by robertsonmd
I have a 71 overlander with the same condition. The plastic seems to have warped and cracked and is now affecting the shape of the wheelopening/body. I'm going to try Andy's repair and install some heavier material to stiffen the edges.
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Some of the early 70's trailers had a frame that was pushed to one side, because of the method of construction.
Adding an oversize tire will usually result in rubbing a hole in one of the wheel wells.
Your lucky, as that rubbing tire could also set the plastic on fire.
Next item to check is the axles. If the axles are shot, the tires can wear holes in the top of the wheel wells, something not easily seem.
Exterior wheel wheels can easily be repaired by plating the hole with aluminum that has been pop riveted in place, followed by several coats of underseal on top of it.
It is not wise to increase the width of the tires beyond 225's but still being aware that they may touch the wheel wells.
Replacing an exterior or interior wheel well takes many many hours, starting with furniture removal.
Andy
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12-05-2006, 07:14 PM
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#13
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Rivet Master
1977 Argosy Minuet 6.0 Metre
1964 26' Overlander
1977 25' Tradewind
Eastern
, Washington
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 865
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chas
Has anyone found a good product to seal up cracks in their plastic wheelwells? My Overlander has a couple of 3 inch cracks, probably caused by unbalanced running gear but that is a entirely different discussion!! It needs to be something that will stick to the plastic and be able to flex a bit. I was thinking maybe some Plumber's Goop, a horribly sticky, flexible almost non-removable substance. Any other ideas?
Chas
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Andy's fix should work. I have a different method I will be using though, only because I have the inside stripped out. I have total access to the wheel wells and will be covering them in from the inside of the trailer with fiberglass to reinforce them. I figure one layer of woven glass cloth with epoxy resin should do the trick.
__________________
Peace
Gary
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12-05-2006, 07:26 PM
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#14
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Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
Corona
, California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Janet's Husband
Andy's fix should work. I have a different method I will be using though, only because I have the inside stripped out. I have total access to the wheel wells and will be covering them in from the inside of the trailer with fiberglass to reinforce them. I figure one layer of woven glass cloth with epoxy resin should do the trick.
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Gary.
Make it two layers.
Just in case you hit a "BIG" bump.
Andy
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12-05-2006, 07:50 PM
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#15
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Rivet Master
1971 21' Globetrotter
Currently Looking...
Currently Looking...
Currently Looking...
Arvada
, Colorado
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 3,530
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Here's a couple of pic's I took when I had my wheelwells out. The repairs are a sandwich type with .040 2024-T3 Aluminun shot together wet with MS20470A-5-X rivets and sealed with PRC 1440B1/2
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12-05-2006, 08:16 PM
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#16
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Silver Mist
Currently Looking...
Riverhead
, New York
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,011
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Janet's Husband
covering them in from the inside of the trailer with fiberglass to reinforce them. I figure one layer of woven glass cloth with epoxy resin should do the trick.
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Right on
Works great, takes 2 minutes
__________________
Bob
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12-06-2006, 06:44 AM
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#17
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Rivet Master
1971 21' Globetrotter
Currently Looking...
Currently Looking...
Currently Looking...
Arvada
, Colorado
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 3,530
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If I were going to use fiberglass, I would most likely use Polyester resin due to it being more flexible then the epoxy resin.
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10-02-2007, 07:00 AM
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#18
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Rivet Master
1974 29' Ambassador
1966 20' Globetrotter
Southern
, Illinois
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 698
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replacement wheel wells?
I know this is an older thread, but I thought I would ask a question anyway. Is everyone talking about patching wheel wells because replacements are not available? I just discovered that we have an interior wheel well that is in really bad shape. Thanks for any reply.
Laird
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10-02-2007, 07:28 AM
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#19
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Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
Corona
, California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
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Quote:
Originally Posted by maccamper
I know this is an older thread, but I thought I would ask a question anyway. Is everyone talking about patching wheel wells because replacements are not available? I just discovered that we have an interior wheel well that is in really bad shape. Thanks for any reply.
Laird
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Wheel well replacements are available.
A very small number of dealers have them.
Andy
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10-02-2007, 08:14 AM
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#20
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Rivet Master
2006 25' Safari FB SE
St. Cloud
, Minnesota
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,280
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Laird, what is "bad shape?" The wheelwells in my Argosy had a few 6-8" straight cracks. Until better options might come along I formed some strips of aluminum sheet, sealed it with Vulkem and pop riveted them in place.
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