2018 reflection cracked fenders

[schupp11]

Just fyi. customer service responded to my issue regarding cracked fenders by telling me they would review the problem. I had asked them if this was a known issue. They responded after reviewing that it is not a known issue. I suspected that i was not the only one so did a search here and of course found others with same issue. I understand if they don't want to replace them since i am out of warranty but I am trying to determine if i should replace with factory parts. don't want to spend $170 each and have them do the same thing after 3 years. Have had good experience with them in the past but this just looked like an answer taken directly off of a standard response cheat sheet. Wondering if anyone has had the same issue with replacement fenders. I am leaning toward an aftermarket it they are going to fall apart anyway. My son has a used Montana that is about 10 years old and has one tiny crack just showing up.

[Calbar]

Just fyi. customer service responded to my issue regarding cracked fenders by telling me they would review the problem. I had asked them if this was a known issue. They responded after reviewing that it is not a known issue. I suspected that i was not the only one so did a search here and of course found others with same issue. I understand if they don't want to replace them since i am out of warranty but I am trying to determine if i should replace with factory parts. don't want to spend $170 each and have them do the same thing after 3 years. Have had good experience with them in the past but this just looked like an answer taken directly off of a standard response cheat sheet. Wondering if anyone has had the same issue with replacement fenders. I am leaning toward an aftermarket it they are going to fall apart anyway. My son has a used Montana that is about 10 years old and has one tiny crack just showing up.

Looks to me like they were overtightened during factory installation just by the way the screws seem to indent the plastic of the fender.

Rob

[Second Chance]

This isn't terribly uncommon - and probably from overtightening as stated by @Calbar. This happened on our 2016 Reflection 337. I found it cheaper and more convenient to remove the fenders, repair with a good epoxy, sand, and repaint with paint intended for plastic.

Rob

[Duzfire1]

I had the same issue. Grand Design sent me two new ones. I have a 2015 337. I think it was 2018 when mine cracked


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[dryfly]

I have seen this listed as happening frequently. When the "Great Texas Blizzard" is over I'm going to check my 2020 Reflection and loosen, then retighten the screws to a reasonable pressure. I wonder if using a stainless steel fender washer under the screws would distribute the pressure and hopefully prevent cracking.

I'm like Rob, I'd find a way to repair the GD fender skirts.

[Always Learning]

This isn't terribly uncommon - and probably from overtightening as stated by @Calbar. This happened on our 2016 Reflection 337. I found it cheaper and more convenient to remove the fenders, repair with a good epoxy, sand, and repaint with paint intended for plastic.

Rob

What kind of epoxy did you use? My experience with epoxy is that it does not want to stick to some plastics.

[Second Chance]

What kind of epoxy did you use? My experience with epoxy is that it does not want to adhere well to some plastics.

It's been a while... I think I might have still had some West Marine epoxy around from my sailboat days. There are probably better adhesives out there for plastics now, too - a body shop might give you better advice than me.

Rob

[powerscol]

When you get your new ones have them reinforced with cloth. Any good body shop the works with fiberglass will be able to use the right stuff. If it is ABS plastic then I believe the Black ABS cement can be used with any fiberglass cloth (use woven). Its a DIY job - just wear gloves and work outside.

[schupp11]

Thanks for the info

[JDWHSKY]

I've had both fender shirts crack on my 2018 315RLTS. I've ordered two new skirts and will use stainless bolts, nuts and lock washers, washers with Loctite. This is the ONLY problem we've had with our GD so I really can't complain since we have put over 8,000 miles on the TT.