Quote:
Originally Posted by RAB TX
Does anyone have any idea how to repair cracked plastic used on the basement doors? I've looked at several pages on the National forum and didn't find a similar question. They are put together; so, there must be some way to separate the back off the front without damaging the door. Alternatively, anyway to repair the cracks from the outside surface? Cold weather seems to cause or exacerbate them.
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Is the outer skin of the door plastic? I looked at pictures of your coach and it appears so.
I had a 2000 HR that had aluminum skin on the doors. The inside of the door was molded plastic. One door had a pretty good crease in it. The door was assembled with aluminum trim all the way around which was easily removed. I assumed that the trim held the inner and outer skins together. What I found, after taking the trim off was 1 1/4 inch dense styrofoam. Both the inner and outer skins were glued tightly to it. I wanted to take the outer skin off to do the repairs. I used piano wire like we used to take windshields out. Quite a project.
If those ridges on you doors are molded into the plastic cutting the outer skin like that would not work.
If the outer skin is indeed plastic, the first thing you need to do is figure out what kind. By law, auto parts have to have an identification stamped into the plastic. Probably in you case on the back side of the panel which of course is not visible.
There are other ways to identify what type it is. Some are thermoformed, and they melt and can be welded. Some, like most auto bumpers are thermoset. Meaning they are cured by heat and don’t melt.
Do a google search on how to identify automotive plastic. If it can be welded, great. If not by identifying what kind of plastic there are repair materials that can be used.
If it appears like mine to be glued to foam, taking it apart would be a last resort. I thought about just cutting all my foam out but it was 1 1/4 inch. I could find 1 inch and 1 1/2 but no 1 1/4.