A Big Bone Head Oops...

Dawnie · 10-20-2016, 01:23 PM

So, we all know pulling a trailer or backing up is tricky at the best of times, and harder for `newbies`...well, even after over a year of hauling my TT myself, I made a big bone head boo-boo this summer.

Was parking in a tricky, curvey area with trees to maneuver around on a private farm for a weekend with friends and was told to park beside the garage. I thought my spotter was telepathic and knew exactly what I was doing....he didn`t (LOL) and he was on the wrong side of trailer. He hollered ÒK`so I assumed he meant I was clear of the `Garage`that I was trying to avoid. ( he meant I was clear of the big tree on other side.

So, I cranked the wheel and pulled ahead and heard a big SCRAPE!! Yikes!

Yup, hit the corner of the eavestrough on garage...duh (metal eaves trough , just my luck, not vinyl). Punched a hole and damaged exterior wall on drivers side.

It also punched a hole thru to interior wall too, which is now fixed as best as I can. No one would notice it but me...sigh....couldn`t get good pictures of inside due to bad lighting.

See attached pictures of exterior damage and after the repair! My handyman has auto body work experience....he did a fine job!

He put spray foam insulation in the hole cavities, then filled with bondo and sanded and repeated till smooth. Primer paint, then tried a few different shades of white spray paint to match up the colour of siding. Viola !

The "fun finder" decal words are missing, but I don't care, they were crappy to begin with lol

profdant139 · 10-20-2016, 01:50 PM

Brilliant patch job! We have all made similar mistakes while towing -- sometimes just a scuff, sometimes more . . . .

In order to avoid that, my spotter (my wife) now checks both sides while I am backing. She does not give me the "go ahead" signal until it's all clear. Don't ask me how we learned this.

Chirpz · 10-20-2016, 02:07 PM

Wow...that's a really nice patch job! I would not have thought it possible.

PaintyLiz · 10-20-2016, 02:11 PM

Whoa - that is some hole. Was there insulation in the hole to begin with? or are the walls just all empty? If the tt walls are empty, I think I will drill some holes and fill them with foam. I thought the shell of the ff was styrofoam with a fiberglas skin? Great fix!

Dawnie · 10-20-2016, 02:16 PM

PaintyLiz...yes, there was foam insulation in the walls. What you see is after we picked out the "debris" (shattered, splintered wood from the walls, and little bits of busted up foam).

That's why we used spray foam to replace what was lost. Rest assured you have foam in yours too.

PaintyLiz · 10-20-2016, 02:20 PM

whew . . . . thanks

I thought there was foam in the walls. I could see foam every time I replace the front window haha

Liz

profdant139 · 10-20-2016, 05:00 PM

The thick layer of foam in the walls/ceiling/floor of the newer Fun Finders is amazing -- we often camp in below-freezing temps and are quite comfortable. (Spray foam to fill the hole was a great idea.) The foam also serves as sound insulation.

By comparison, the old Shadow Cruiser products (pre-2005, I think??) had very little insulation in the walls.

michellep · 10-20-2016, 05:08 PM

What a great repair! Very impressive.

Eagle · 10-20-2016, 06:35 PM

That is an excellent repair to the damage. Lucky you for having such a handman available.

When I have a spotter behind, I don't move unless I can SEE THE SPOTTER IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR.

That has proved extremely beneficial as have never hit anything that way and been pulling farm equipment, mobile homes, trailers and now a camper for a total of over 6 decades.

Then again, perhaps luck has been on my side too! LOL

michellep · 10-21-2016, 07:07 AM

Hey, I've seen large scale vinyl work at auto accessory stores (there must be another name for them - the ones that tint your windows and put covers over your truck bed...)

I used Photoshop to take the X off, since it remains on your trailer...

Dawnie · 10-21-2016, 10:24 AM

Thanks Michellep, I've thought about replacing the graphics, but they are all in crappy shape, so would have to do all of them.. I can live with it for now lol

1kotonk · 10-21-2016, 04:06 PM

Wow that looks great, thanks for the info. I can see myself using that's foam and bondo repair in the future.

profdant139 · 10-21-2016, 05:00 PM

Hopefully not! Anything that can be fixed with duct tape is no big deal -- but when you whip out the Bondo, you are into a more serious situation.

Michigantraveler · 10-21-2016, 08:20 PM

That repair looks great! You would never know there had been a hole there.