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08-16-2016, 01:56 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 10
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Fender Skirts
I have a 2013 Fun Finder 189FDS. Last year I noticed that the fender skirts were cracking where they attached to the trailer (see photo). While camping this June, I ran into two other late model 189FDS owners and had a conversation with both owners. Low and behold they also had cracking fender skirts! One guy tried repairing the skirts with epoxy but wasn’t very successful. So, I’m now faced with a decision, replace the fender skirts with Fun Finder OEM parts or buy a custom set from ICON manufacturing for about $200 each including shipping. I’m thinking the FF OEM parts have manufacturing issues and I’m not real keen on paying $400 for the ICON skirts either!
So, I made my own fender skirts. I found some rubber fender flaring material, Flexy Flares, made by Pacer Performance on Amazon (see photo). I used the old fender skirt as a pattern and made a template out of ¼” hardboard. I altered the template to my liking. Using two-sided sticky tape, I attached the template to some 1/8” aluminum sheet material. I then cut out the aluminum using a handheld jigsaw leaving the aluminum about 1/16 to 1/8 inch proud. I then finished the cut using a handheld router with a flush trim bit. Drilled mounting holes and then primed and painted satin black. Attached the rubber flaring to the fender skirt using 1/8” aluminum pop rivets and aluminum backup washers. Finally, I mounted the skirt to the trailer using screws and sealed the edges with RTV.
Where I made my big mistake was not making the template first before purchasing the flaring material. I bought a 25’ roll for $95. Had I waited to see just how much I actually needed I could have gotten by with a 58” long two piece set for only $42. I have 16.5 feet left over. Oh well, I will try to pedal my left overs on Craigslist.
Anyway, the fender skirts look good and will last for many, many years to come.
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08-16-2016, 06:53 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Kalamazoo, MI & Leesburg, FL
Posts: 735
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That looks mighty purty!
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__________________
2013 Highlander AWD
2010 Fun Finder 189FBR
Into Camping and RC Flying
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08-17-2016, 07:09 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 3,105
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Great innovation and looks super too.
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2012 Fun Finder XT 276 Toy Hauler & Harley Davidson Ultra Classic with Condor wheel chock
2014 Dodge Ram 2500 AT 4X4 Crew Cab 6.4 L Hemi, 373 gears, tow package, Rambox option, Revolver X2 tonneau cover, Equal-I-zer anti-sway hitch.
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08-17-2016, 10:37 AM
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#4
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Arizona
Posts: 1,287
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Nicely done. Looks better than the originals IMHO.
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2011 Chevy Silverado Crew Cab 4X4
2009 210 WBS
Prodigy P3
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08-18-2016, 06:11 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Hickory Flat, Ga.
Posts: 726
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I've never used a router bit on aluminum. Did it ruin the bit?
Good looking job on the flairs!! I'll bet they work better in the wet.
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Alan
2005 T139FK
1995 Chevy G20 aka "Big Blue",
1994 GMC Camper Van,
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08-18-2016, 08:56 PM
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#6
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 10
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A woodworking carbide router bit will cut aluminum just like any hardwood. No problem!
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08-19-2016, 08:26 AM
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#7
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 21
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Now, that looks REALLY nice. I'm having the exact same issue. My RV dealer says that cracking is pretty common with FF fender skirts.
I've been playing with the idea of making my own. I appreciate the tutorial.
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08-19-2016, 03:14 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 3,105
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jdhog
A woodworking carbide router bit will cut aluminum just like any hardwood. No problem!
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Maybe you could make more and sell them?
__________________
2012 Fun Finder XT 276 Toy Hauler & Harley Davidson Ultra Classic with Condor wheel chock
2014 Dodge Ram 2500 AT 4X4 Crew Cab 6.4 L Hemi, 373 gears, tow package, Rambox option, Revolver X2 tonneau cover, Equal-I-zer anti-sway hitch.
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08-19-2016, 06:55 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,330
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Great resolve. They look very good.
__________________
2008 Fun Finder 189 FBR, (replaced by) 1996 Shasta 265DBFW April 2017.
2006 Jeep Liberty 3.7 (replaced by.....)
2006 Chevy 2500HD, Duramax, crew cab
It's a big world...explore it!!!
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08-21-2016, 12:18 PM
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#10
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 10
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A couple of final comments on the fender skirts. I used 1/8" aluminium plate because I had a friend that had some. I would recommend 1/16" as it would be plenty strong enough for this application and lighter/cheaper.
Also, I started to cut up the FF OEM skirts to dispose of them in my trash can but soon discovered they snapped and broke apart very easily by hand! Very cheap material indeed!!!
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08-27-2016, 08:03 PM
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#11
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Colorado
Posts: 8
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Same problem on my Viewfinder. New ones are way too pricey as noted. So far I've epoxied the cracks. When I reinstalled the fenders I used star washers that dig into the material and will hopefully reduce the vibration. Where the fenders are attached to the trailer is very flimsy. I'm going to Lowes and get some strip aluminum to use as a backer and remount the fender with some heavier screws.
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08-27-2016, 09:01 PM
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#12
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 10
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Duchman,
If you have mechanical skills, a jigsaw, a router, and a rivet gun I highly recommend that you make new skirts like I did. It is very easy and will run you only about $75. And, the best part is...these skirts will last forever! FOREVER!!!
Think about it? Jerry
Jerry
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08-27-2016, 09:16 PM
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#13
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Colorado
Posts: 8
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Thanks. If they break again, I'll certainly try your suggestion.
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08-28-2016, 05:21 PM
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#14
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 10
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Here is a better photo.
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08-31-2016, 04:16 PM
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#15
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Olympia, Washington
Posts: 35
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Wow! Looks great. I too own a 2013 189 FDS and am having the same issues with cracking. I've noticed while on the highway that the fender flares wobble at highway speeds. Not sure if that's the cause of the cracking or just a symptom but I will definitely be following your lead. Thanks for posting and Happy Camping
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DOH! (couldn't think of anything clever, profound, or witty)
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09-01-2016, 08:50 PM
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#16
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 1
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I have a 2014 Fun Finder 189FDS and the fender skirts cracked on mine also. Last fall I took pictures, called Cruiser RV and they sent replacement fenders, free of charge, to a local dealer. They wouldn't send them directly to me but I could pick them up at the dealer. We haven't installed them yet but are going to do that this weekend. We'll see if they last. I suspect you are right about there being a manufacturing flaw but for replacement fenders that didn't cost me anything, I am willing to give it a try.
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09-02-2016, 05:06 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,330
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Good for you! I'm glad they replaced them. Hopefully they improved them as well?
__________________
2008 Fun Finder 189 FBR, (replaced by) 1996 Shasta 265DBFW April 2017.
2006 Jeep Liberty 3.7 (replaced by.....)
2006 Chevy 2500HD, Duramax, crew cab
It's a big world...explore it!!!
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08-19-2018, 11:59 AM
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#18
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Cocoa Beach
Posts: 6
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Great fender skirt
Anyone know if they make metal fender skirts? I see an individual made his own but this is way past my knowledge and pay grade. I have a 2015 rbs
Thanks
George
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05-29-2020, 07:31 AM
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#19
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2020
Posts: 1
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This looks great! How did you curve the aluminum so perfectly?
Thanks,
Ceilly
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05-29-2020, 11:07 AM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: SoCal
Posts: 324
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Impressive! and I agree they look better than original. At some point I know ours will need to be replaced.
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2016 F281BIKS, Added Renogy DC-DC charger to better charge deep cycle batteries.
2003 F250 7.3L Powerstroke Crewcab longbed 20K lbs GCWR
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