Community Forums

Tpflyer · 04-14-2013, 06:15 PM

I was preping the Tour for spring and found the bottom of the generator cover on the front of the motorhome had come unbonded from the aluminum frame. I have had a similar issue with the bumper stops and the radiator louvers in the rear. It seems that Winnebago doesn't do a very good prep job on the metal parts it bonds to the fiberglass. I cleaned off the aluminum and the mating surface with alcohol and used JB Weld to glue it back together with clamps overnight. It seems to be holding today but I wished I had more JB Weld at the time. See the attached video.

RVThere · 04-14-2013, 07:14 PM

TPflyer,

I had the same problem on my Tour after a lame-brained landscaper opened a trailer door into the front of the MH. The auto body guy epoxied the cover back to the frame.

Also check your headlights and fog lights. They are also glued on and one side broke free on mine. Fortunately the wiring kept the lights from dropping to the road.

Doggy Daddy · 04-14-2013, 07:23 PM

My father and I has did similar repairs like that the old school method. We would use pine (wood) to fill in space and gaps and then use resin and fiberglass cloth to cover and reinforce the frame and doors. A lot stronger than just glue.

Duner · 04-16-2013, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doggy Daddy

My father and I has did similar repairs like that the old school method. We would use pine (wood) to fill in space and gaps and then use resin and fiberglass cloth to cover and reinforce the frame and doors. A lot stronger than just glue.

Ya, that's the best permanent solution!!!

Too bad Winnebago won't go this route and give us better quality product.
HINT, HINT!!!

Parts coming loose and falling off has been an ongoing problem that plagued us for at least the last 15 yrs. The glue that Winnie uses will hold well only if the metal part is absolutely clean, and that is problematic, to say the least.

My front hood was falling off in the 1st yr. The Winnie dealer fiberglassed it back in place under warranty. Other stuff came loose out of warranty and I used JB Weld with the metal scuffed up and cleaned.

If Winnebago had to compete with the Japanese or Germans, this easy problem would have been fixed a long time ago.

doorguy · 04-20-2013, 08:23 PM

I, too, have had several epoxy joints come loose, it is the metal-to-epoxy always, not the epoxy-to-fiberglass. I have used JB Weld exclusively and it has worked all the time. It works great, but while setting, it will drip down so you have to be careful that it does not drip on anything that shows. My initial use was with the it on the generator cover and it was a hot day and I got some on my shirt and rubbed against the front cap and didn't realize it. End result, I had to have the front cap sanded and repainted. BUT, the generator cover to this day, 3 yrs later, is still HOLDING!