turbodaddy
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17' 1965 Fan "Sunseeker"
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Post by turbodaddy on Jul 6, 2019 4:06:12 GMT -8
Apologies for such a long post.
5 years ago we took the camper on a 6 week, 8000 mile cross country trip. After visiting the Grand Canyon and waking up to find 5” of snow, we decided to head south. We went to Winslow, AZ to visit the famous “corner” where there actually is a Flatbed Ford. It was a crazy windy late November day. Our truck had a hard bed cover, and as I was making a sharp turn leaving the visitors center the wind caught the cover (which we forgot to lock) and lifted it completely open. I heard a terrible crunching sound, knowing that it was aluminum.
My first reaction was panic. There was a gaping hole in the front of the trailer and bad weather was ahead. I didn’t have the proper tools with me, and I thought we’d have to find someone to do an expensive and time consuming repair. After the initial shock passed, my wife suggested that perhaps we could find something at a hardware store to patch it up. Some of you know I have admitted to using Eternabond tape on my camper. I did have a roll of 2” tape, and the hardware store had a roll of 14” aluminum flashing. Within a half hour we were back on the road with our dignity slightly diminished with a big old bandage on the front of the camper.
When we stopped that day I spray painted the patch white. I planned to do a proper repair, but things got busy. Last year, I had a six tons of ¾” bluestone delivered to our driveway. I asked the driver if he thought he could back up close to the camper to dump it. “Sure, no problem”. When he backed up, the edge of the truck precisely hit the corner of the trim directly next to the Winslow hole.
Earlier this month I was inside the camper getting together a list of things for our next big trip when I saw something really strange. There was a small area at the bottom front corner of the kitchen cabinet in front of the gaucho where the birch was splintered. I now realize that it was the force of the dump truck that caused the damage. The camper was on four leveling jacks, with wheel chocks so there was stiff resistance to that force. The entire curbside wall must have flexed just enough to absorb the blow, but something had to give somewhere.
I have pushed and prodded, measured and (funny) checked everything with a square finding everything as sturdy as before. So I believe as Mobiltec has said so many times...these old trailers are made to flex.
I am currently in the process of repairing the Winslow hole in preparation for a trip to Newfoundland in August.
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Post by Teachndad on Jul 6, 2019 5:22:36 GMT -8
Dad, I was thinking as I read this that you have got to be kidding! UGGGGGHHH! OMG, Your poor trailer. I am sure some deep feelings came out with all of these unfortunate experiences. I am glad you shared. I wish you a safe and easy non-problematic trip.  Rod |
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turbodaddy
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17' 1965 Fan "Sunseeker"
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Post by turbodaddy on Jul 12, 2019 9:50:19 GMT -8
I just tried to post an update with text and photos of the repair I just finished. Took an hour to compose and when I went to post it...POOF! It was gone with some sort of nasty message from Tapatalk. Not sure I'll try that again.
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Post by Teachndad on Jul 12, 2019 12:24:58 GMT -8
Hey Dad,
Well, I am sure the monitor heard the cuss factory up and running. I have had the same thing happen to me a few times especially with the posts you spend composing for a long time and then, POOF! ITS GONE!
I have learned to move anything that takes me longer than 5 minutes to compose into Google docs or Microsoft Word to finish. When using images from my Flickr albums, I just save the embedded link and use that in the off line version of my post. That way I can copy and paste the entire composition right into the forum when it's completed.
Please consider reposting a re-response. Give your self no more than 15 minutes to compose with 3 or 4 pix and let the viewer see at least the highlights. I wouldn't expect you to spend another hour of your life repeating the exercise.
For your consideration.
Notwithstanding, I am glad you were able to make your repair.
Rod
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debranch
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Wee Camp
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71 Shasta Compact
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Post by debranch on Jul 12, 2019 16:30:14 GMT -8
I have had the same thing happen to me a few times. When it happens I call it a day and try it another day. Debra
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Post by vikx on Jul 12, 2019 20:56:39 GMT -8
I'm so sorry that happened, Turbodaddy! Even tho I'm on my laptop, I have trouble with tapatalk at our other site, Repairing Yesterdays Trailers.
I agree about copying what you're doing, especially if it's a long post. You can try going back if it happens again, but not sure how that works with tapatalk.
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turbodaddy
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17' 1965 Fan "Sunseeker"
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Post by turbodaddy on Jul 13, 2019 5:09:46 GMT -8
Thanks for your help. Rod, I wasn't sure if you meant I could copy the entire thing with the links embedded, or do I need to "go advanced" and use the "insert image" button to add images?
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Post by Teachndad on Jul 13, 2019 6:46:44 GMT -8
Thanks for your help. Rod, I wasn't sure if you meant I could copy the entire thing with the links embedded, or do I need to "go advanced" and use the "insert image" button to add images? Hey Dad, You won't need to "go advanced". It will paste just fine with the embedded links in the Quick Reply box. It won't matter unless you want to add smilies. In that case, you would need to use the "go advanced" box. Cheers, Rod |
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turbodaddy
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17' 1965 Fan "Sunseeker"
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Post by turbodaddy on Jul 13, 2019 16:55:59 GMT -8
Let's try this: This is what I started with. Luckily the window was not damaged. Note the deep dent in the lower left trim, from the dump truck. ![https://www.thankyoulyall.com/uploads/4/3/4/4/4344413/p1030835.jpg]() ![https://www.thankyoulyall.com/uploads/4/3/4/4/4344413/p1030839.jpg]()  I pulled out the dent as best I could and pretty much got the seam back together.  Removed screws from trim and window. Plan was to slip patch under new putty and bond overlapping surfaces with Gutterseal. www.thankyoulyall.com/uploads/4/3/4/4/4344413/p1030842.jpgI made the patch out of flashing, used an awl and straight edge to scribe the pattern.
 It was going really well until I began tightening the screws. My mistake was I used too thin metal and it buckled under pressure and the bond would not hold.
 So I had to resort once again to Eternabond tape. Not my best work, but good enough until I have time to try again.   |
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Post by Teachndad on Jul 14, 2019 4:46:57 GMT -8
Hi Dad, Thank you for giving it another go! Very nice job on scribing the patch.  From the distance picture, you can't see the eternabond tape unless you knew it was there. You did a great job and go enjoy camping again. Cheers, Rod |
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Post by vikx on Jul 14, 2019 20:02:54 GMT -8
Ah... another reason to CUT the dome... Great job!
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turbodaddy
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17' 1965 Fan "Sunseeker"
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Post by turbodaddy on Jul 15, 2019 4:26:13 GMT -8
Thanks for the encouragement!
You know vikx, if the framing and/or windows had been crunched I probably would have done that.
Just lucky, I guess.
Can any of you sleuths find what is wrong in the bottom photo?
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Post by Teachndad on Jul 15, 2019 5:21:23 GMT -8
Hi Friends,
The only thing I noticed was that the bottom panel of the front wall is a grey natural aluminum vs, the white along the sides. Is that it?
Rod
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turbodaddy
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17' 1965 Fan "Sunseeker"
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Post by turbodaddy on Jul 15, 2019 9:09:31 GMT -8
Nope. Hint...it has to do with the front curbside window.
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Post by vikx on Jul 15, 2019 19:34:03 GMT -8
I thought it was underwear hanging on the tongue jack...
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