Road debris damage to fiberglass underbody

[wr9r]

Could not change lanes and tried to miss the junk (metal?). Managed to miss with the F150 truck, but not with the left rear trailer tire on our 2020 Escape 21C. Result - a jagged 1' x 4" hole in the bottom fiberglass just behind the driver side rear tire.



The damage is not visible from the side, so any fix does not have to be perfect, but I want to do it correctly.



Anyone have experience with this type of damage to the fiberglass hull?


What type of epoxy did you use? What type of mat?



Any hints for someone who has never worked with fiberglass before?

[Rossue]

Ahoy Captain Ron!

[Ron in BC]

First blush thought is based on that open slot. If you can slide a piece of backing material in, like, and I'm just guessing the size, 2"- 3" wide piece of 3/8" plywood held in place with a couple of small screws then you'd have restored the integrity of the area.

You could then grind gently, add a small amount of mat to bridge the gap. For the best appearance you want it to be below the finished surface. You can then coat it with one or more coats of white epoxy. With some careful application and sanding you should be able to make an almost invisible repair.

I'm don't normally encourage folks to use epoxy because it's a bridge that gets burned when you do. You can't later use polyester resin over it if a second repair is required in the same area. But in this case epoxy probably would be easier. You can buy colored epoxy that's a pretty good match.

Lot's of ways to do the repair. As long as the damage is stabilized and is ground fairly smooth it should be just fine.

Ron

[Doug2000]

I put a gallon of Fibreglass resin and a couple yards of fabric in my 1977 Trillium doing repairs. It’s pretty easy.

Grind any soft cracked damaged areas back to stable shell. Taper the opening to make it stronger. Install a backer if possible and just start layering Fibreglass Mat. Keep it flush, finish it with some bondo, no more than 1/8”. Paint it white. It will take many sessions to build the right thickness, mix small batches of resin, don’t try to do it all at once.

[WillyB]

They say they do fiberglass repair.

Crain Collision Center of Conway
501-932-0660
398 East Dave Ward Drive
Conway, AR 722032

[HABBERDABBER]

Originally Posted by WillyB

They say they do fiberglass repair.

Crain Collision Center of Conway
501-932-0660
398 East Dave Ward Drive
Conway, AR 722032

If so, have them do the repair. You've got a significant ding.
It's one thing to patch this as a novice, another to make it visually disappear.
You can patch it up. They can make it disappear, like it never, ever happened.

[splitting_lanes]

I’ve patched fiberglass on jet skis before, it turned out fine.

I’d suggest resin and gelcoat. Use a backing and fiberglass mat as suggested. Make several passes, as already suggested.

[wr9r]

Thanks for all the tips. The forum is a wonderful resource that I have read for a couple of years now - but I do not have too much to say as I am mostly "highly educated and totally worthless." I managed to copy some of the mods however.

[HABBERDABBER]

Originally Posted by wr9r

Thanks for all the tips. The forum is a wonderful resource that I have read for a couple of years now - but I do not have too much to say as I am mostly "highly educated and totally worthless." I managed to copy some of the mods however.

So what are you going to do?
Acquire, the hard way, a new skill & education in fiberglass repair by tackling this issue on your own? There's much to learn....usually by doing and reading. Doing is the best way, and the hardest.
If you're educable, and have the time, YOU can repair this. If you have good insurance, do that instead.
Just my opinions.

bon chance

[Ooshkaboo]

Originally Posted by wr9r

Thanks for all the tips. The forum is a wonderful resource that I have read for a couple of years now - but I do not have too much to say as I am mostly "highly educated and totally worthless." I managed to copy some of the mods however.

Bondo makes a fiberglass patch kit, or just try the all purpose bondo. It’s my go to when there are anger holes in doors, it can be tricky as it cures fast.

Sometimes it’s best to give it a shot, If it doesn’t turn out you can always bring it into a shop afterwards. I think you can do it, its a little spot.

First practice on some scrap material a few times, including the sanding and painting of the scrap piece.

Try and do as much work yourself on your camper as you can-it’s how you become one with it…

[wr9r]

Update information:


When I contacted Escape to see what type of resin and mat to use on the fiberglass repairs, they did not answer my questions, but suggested going to a boat repair facility or an auto/RV center that are familiar with such repairs.


Senior Member Willy B suggested I check with Crain Collision Center of Conway (AR) for fiberglass repair. After looking at the trailer, here is their estimate:
- - - - - - -
Body Labor 17.0 hrs @ $165.00 / hr $2,805.00
Paint Labor 15.0 hrs @ $165.00/ hr $2,475.00
Paint 15.0 hrs @ $50.00/ hr 750.00
Body Supplies 17 hrs @ $10.00/ hr 170.00
Total $6,200.00
- - - - - - - -
I about choked when I saw the total, so I stopped by to see if there was any room to negotiate on the basis of total hours or cash payment. After all, I thought fiberglass repair involved layering, and each layer would not require an entire hour. They apparently bill for a whole hour even if only part of an hour is actual work. Bottom line – no negotiation – take it or leave it.


For that amount of money I can buy equipment, supplies, and get lots of practice before doing the job myself!


Are the hours estimate and the charges involved reasonable? I have attached another photo that shows the size of the hole in the fiberglass underneath the trailer behind the left rear tire.

[Donna D.]

I'd leave that too! You can do this

[WillyB]

WOW! That's crazy!

[Iowa Dave]

I’d get a bid like that once in a while when I was working. The reason was, they really did not want to do the work.

Once, in the spring, some high school boys cut a ball field up with a four wheel drive pick-up. But they got stuck and left to go get help. In the meantime the police found the pick-up and caught them when they came back.
I filed charges. The dad’s insurance company called and asked how much the damages were.
I got an estimate from a top shelf landscaper who did not want the job. $12.000. We settled for $6,000. A foreman and three seasonals fixed the damage in one day. Our net was about 5 grand on that one.
Made up for the ones we did not catch.
Iowa Dave

[splitting_lanes]

That’s too much for the work you need done.

Get a couple more quotes, or take it on yourself, with our cheering and guidance

[Ron in BC]

Well that's the bad joke of the day.

When I'm home in a couple of days with a proper computer I can walk you through the step-by-step repair. It's not a difficult type of damage to repair.

Ron

[HABBERDABBER]

I'd walk, no....run away from that estimate.
Your damage does not require or need perfect cosmetic appearance repair. It does need some structural repair, filling in the damaged area and moderate cosmetic attention. It's underneath the rig, right? You can make it nearly invisible with your efforts. A pro, with very good lighting may see it. Will anyone else, ever?

I'm not a perfectionist, as you can likely tell. I'd do the best you can, and be satisfied with that. If it were next to the Escape door, visible every day, that may be a different call.

Much of your repair would be done on the interior portion of the shell. That would seal up the damage. The exterior portion is finicky grunt work, but your research will provide you with the techniques, tools, procedures and materials to accomplish that.
You've acquired your Winter project, me thinks.

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by HABBERDABBER

I'd walk, no....run away from that estimate.

Couldn’t have said it any better. That’s just thievery for what needs to be done.

[Gingerdog]

Up here in the great white north that would be treated like a windshield claim.
$300 dollar deductible. Ins would cover the rest
That's if you have comprehensive add on with ICBC
And I don't leave home with out it.

[Viajante]

They must figure it is an insurance job and you don't care what the cost is. You can do it.