Need to repair a dent and crack in my fiberglass wall

[ClintOtt]

Hello,
I just purchased this camper a few days ago and it has a dent and a crack in the fiberglass. What's a good way to go about fixing this?

My local body shop wants $125 to fix it or $200 if I want the fix paint matched.

I am okay with getting it sealed up and smooth and then just putting some sticker over it.

Any suggestions would be great.



Thanks

-----------------------------------
Clint
Hollsopple,Pa
2017 Starcraft Launch Ultra Lite 24RLS

2019 Ram 1500
- 4x4, Crew cab, v5.8 hemi, etorgue, 3.21 gears

[mokurt]

If your not a body and paint guy your fix will not match.

$200 does not sound bad.

[ClintOtt]

Originally Posted by mokurt

If your not a body and paint guy your fix will not match.

$200 does not sound bad.

I'm okay if there's something I can use myself that I can seal it so no water can get in, have it be smooth and then I'll just put a camper sticker over it to cover where it doesn't match the color

[jacwjames]

Bondo would probably work, sand down around it for a good bond. Fill with bondo and sand smooth. I'd probably mask and paint just to seal it and then add your sticker.

[mokurt]

Originally Posted by jacwjames

Bondo would probably work, sand down around it for a good bond. Fill with bondo and sand smooth. I'd probably mask and paint just to seal it and then add your sticker.

This will work and look better than trying to seal it silicon or something.Tape the surrounding area off before applying and sanding to control the patched area.
You will have smooth surface when done.

[YC1]

220 grit sandpaper to rough up the area. Clean any loose material out of hole. An orbital sander works great.

Use Rage filler. It works fantastic with fiberglass and you can sand it in 30 minutes. Be generous with the sandpaper because it will fill the paper quickly.

Use 600 grit paper for the finish. You can feather the edges right in. A shot of primer for good measure would be nice but a good vinyl "camping sticker" should do a fine job.

[tuffr2]

My 1st thought is bondo (snow white) is what I used on rusty cars as a kid. I like the idea of hiding the patch work with a big sticker...

Agree that $200 does not sound bad.

Is the Pa. sweetcorn rip now?

[ClintOtt]

Originally Posted by tuffr2

My 1st thought is bondo (snow white) is what I used on rusty cars as a kid. I like the idea of hiding the patch work with a big sticker...

Agree that $200 does not sound bad.

Is the Pa. sweetcorn rip now?

It is lol

[tuffr2]

Pa. has the best sweet corn. I grew up around Ebensberg in on of a dozen small coal mining towns. I hope to get back there while the sweet corn is ripe.

[ClintOtt]

Originally Posted by tuffr2

Pa. has the best sweet corn. I grew up around Ebensberg in on of a dozen small coal mining towns. I hope to get back there while the sweet corn is ripe.

I'm about 20 minutes from Ebensburg

[Tomahawk]

Surfboard repair kit on amazon. Follow the instructions. My friends who surf swear by it. UV activated polyester resin with fiberglass fibers mixed in.

[keymastr]

Marine-tex is for repairing fibre glass boats and mixes like Bondo but dries perfectly waterproof and bonds to fibre glass better than other products. tape the area off just slightly larger than the damage, sand the area with 120 so it is rough enough to give the product something to grip. Apply it, work it smooth as it is setting up, sand smooth and cover with the sticker of your choice.

[BPTS]

Do not use a body filler! They are meant to use as a thin skim coat to level a repaired surface, have no structural strength and will hold water. The Marine Tex is a decent idea but it is hell to sand, it is very resilient.
The correct fix is to scuff the area with 80 grit about 2” larger than the damaged area. Cut a piece of fiberglass mat the size of the small impact crater, then cut a couple of pieces progressively larger until it covers the entire damage by about 1”.
Lay those pieces out on wax paper.
Mix some polyester resin and with a paint brush wet the mat then starting with the small piece lay them over the damage until all your pieces are applied, dabbing them onto the surface. Once cured sand with 180/220 grit until just below level.
Now lay a skim coat of filler, allow to cure then float sand it flat.
Prime n paint.


Now that $200.00 seems pretty attractive (as long as he just doesn’t slap bondo on it)