Community Forums

ShirleyStorm · 07-18-2015, 08:10 AM

Had a fire, fire dept cut hole in exterior fall, is fiberglass, need suggestions on how to repair. 2008 32 ft gulf stream streamlite

ahicks · 07-18-2015, 08:24 AM

If you're looking for results that aren't going to absolutely kill the value of your trailer when completed, would suggest this is NOT a good DIY project.

There was no insurance?

nothermark · 07-18-2015, 08:35 AM

It depends. There is a lot of information around about repairing fiberglass and a lot of folks who have done it for various reasons. That said you will be working with some fairly nasty stuff. IF you go about it yourself pay attention to the safety sections of any sources. You also may have a problem getting decent materials at a reasonable price. Anybody doing boat repair and a lot of auto body shops should be able to do the work for you. It might be worth getting a quote or two as well as pricing out a DIY job with all the safety and clean up stuff included. A lot of stuff like roller covers, frames and brushes are one time or one repair then toss. If one is doing daily repairs they can last longer but not sitting on a shelf where the resin can set up. Ditto fume mask cartridges.

Hugmongous · 07-18-2015, 09:26 AM

I had a refrigerator fire and had to repair/replace about a 3'x5' section of an exterior wall. Not sure about your RV, but from what I was told by a local repair center, most are not fiberglass, but a material called filon. RVSurplus and other suppliers have it. It comes in a roll and you purchase it by the foot. Filon by itself needs support - it is kinda thin and flexible. Most OEM's glued this to luan to add stiffness and then to insulation panel.

If you cut out the old damaged section you can then see where the verticle supports are. you can then cut out to the middle of them or flush to them. Then tack on an additional 2" support to attaché the filon panel to. do this for sides, top and bottom. Then you can take the normal trim the industry uses.. it is aluminum channel about an inch wide and has a rubber insert to trip it out and hide the seam. Seal with butyl tape, prep, paint - done. When done it just looks like it was constructed like that from the factory.

ShirleyStorm · 07-19-2015, 02:50 PM

we have insurance but can't find an rv repair place that wants to fix it, one place said hey will try but not sure how to proceed

ahicks · 07-19-2015, 03:00 PM

Locating quality repair often is an issue. If you would list your location, possibly others may be of help. That's assuming though, it's not practical to return it to the factory?

Superslif · 07-19-2015, 05:54 PM

The problem with Filon fiberglass is that it has a texture, and all types of Filon are a little different. And where you "blend" the original trailer wall and the new section of Filon will be smooth where they are joined.

Being a 7 or 8 year old trailer, as long as the repair is water tight and fairly respectable, I would not worry about it.

Mr_D · 07-19-2015, 06:01 PM

I know that if I was looking at an RV and saw a patch I would walk away.

Superslif · 07-19-2015, 11:34 PM

I was just stating once a RV trailer hits 8-10 model years old, trade-in / re-sale value kind of levels out.

ahicks · 07-20-2015, 06:07 AM

Thinking anyone shopping 2 coaches that are otherwise identical, the one without the patch will get the nod. On top of that, this patched area will be a constant eye sore, giving my eyes a place to focus for the rest of the time I own it.

Call me picky if you'd like, but I would consider the extra time and trouble to have a repair like this done right well worth the investment.

I would not drive a car with a door or fender repair that included mis matched paint either....for the same reasons.