Good Sam Club Open Roads Forum: How I repaired my damaged section of my fiberglass wall


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Open Roads Forum > Do It Yourself Modifications and Upgrades (DIY)

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Flyin Finn

Battle Ground, WA, USA

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Posted: 02/03/21 11:29am

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Hi all, first, apologies, I haven't been on here for a few years.
I was going through my old photos and ran in the ones from 5 years back when I replaced a large section of the damaged fiberglass wall on my 5th wheel trailer.
I had intended to do a write-up of my experience, but never got around to do it. So now I finally did it and posted it on my website, and I might add, that 5 years later, the repair is holding up well!
I don't recommend this repair, unless you really know you can pull it off.
Since I am logged on here again, hopefully I will spend more time here now. I still use my (now old) 5th wheel, still pulling it with the same old truck [emoticon]

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Before and after: [image]

Link to the repair write-up: RV sidewall damage repair

97 Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab 2WD 7.4L towing a 08 Rockwood 8281SS Fifth wheel

BurbMan

Islip, Long Island

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Posted: 02/03/21 12:00pm

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Nice job! When I re-did the truck camper, I took off the rest of the side and replaced the whole wall (actually 3 of them) but your trailer would need a LOT more filon. I attached the luann first then sprayed the adhesive on, laminated the fiberglas in place, then trimmed the excess with a router.

Here's my Lance build, summer covid project.

2015 Ram 3500 SRW 4x4 Laramie Crew Cab Long Box, Cummins diesel
2002 Lance 811 Slide-In Camper
SOLD: 2008 Terry 34' TT
SOLD: 2001 K2500LT 8.1L Suburban

Lance 811 Renovation Story!
Project Complete!
Maiden Voyage!

Gjac

Milford, CT

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Posted: 02/03/21 12:38pm

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Very nice job. Did you use a contact adhesive?

Lwiddis

Bishop area, California

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Posted: 02/03/21 01:12pm

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My, my that looks good!

Winnebago 2101DS TT & 2020 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTZ Z71, 300 watt solar-parallel & MPPT, Trojan T-125s. TALL flag pole. Prefer USFS, COE, BLM, NPS, TVA, state & county camps. Bicyclist! 14 year Army vet-11B40 then 11A - (MOS 1542 & 1560) IOBC & IOAC grad

Flyin Finn

Battle Ground, WA, USA

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Posted: 02/03/21 02:22pm

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I'm at work now but once home, I will check out the Lance build and comment some more.
It is so long time I don't remember the adhesive. I could try find out later. It is the red stuff in the images. If I remember correctly it is meant for manufacturing application and not available in retail stores. It is sprayed on on both surfaces and let dry then attached together and needs to cure under pressure.

BurbMan

Islip, Long Island

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Posted: 02/03/21 03:06pm

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Looks like the same Benders 618 that I used

[image]

frankwp

Calgary, AB, Canada

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Posted: 02/03/21 09:11pm

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Nice repair job. My last 5th wheel had damage to the same area, though not as large, when a garbage truck clipped the front corner. I had local RV body shop repair it & because I knew exactly where to look, I could see where the filon was repaired, but I really had to look at just the right angle. Good repairs can be done.

2010 Cruiser CF30QB
2003 GM 2500HD, crew cab, SB, 8.1, Allison

Flyin Finn

Battle Ground, WA, USA

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Posted: 02/04/21 09:06am

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BurbMan, wow that Lance project was quite a job! Well done!
Lots of similarities with my case although my project time- and effortvise was only a small fraction of what yours was.
I am sure the filon and the adhesive is the same as I used.