Hole in front of trailer...

[Raife1]

Good morning. This past weekend I ended up putting a hole in the lower front section of my Imagine XLS 21BHE (see pictures below) - a moment of inattentiveness. This is just above and slightly off to the side from the tongue of the frame. It is about 1.5 wide and 4 inches long. I have duct taped it for now to ensure no water gets inside. However, I am trying to determine my repair options. It seems a bit overkill to replace the entire front panel, so I am wondering if I can hire someone to "patch it." It appears to be aluminum...

Any ideas on who (or what type of person) I contact to get it repaired?

Thank you.

 

[geotex1]

Sure looks like a good place for a convenience light or outlet! Not only will such be your least expensive camouflage, but also the only repair that won't be noticeable because of the embossed pattern.

 

[IBEW Sparky]

[MENTION=33279]Raife1[/MENTION]

Whatever you decide to use to fix it you need to make it watertight now... don't wait because once fiberglass insulation gets wet it loses its R-value and is useless even after it dries. It looks like the metal is still there and rolled inside. I would try and straighten it out the best I could using needle nose pliers and caulk the seams for now. You could then just get a dark weatherproof receptacle cover and gasket and screw it over the hole. It would look like it's supposed to be there but wouldn't actually have an outlet in it.

https://www.acehardware.com/departm...cPkEhHZAWBAs344oB0RoC9i0QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[dryfly]

Geotex1 and I think exactly alike. Patching an RV is costly and there is always a way to camouflage a mistake:

www.amazon.com/Leisure-LED-Exterior...jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

 

[Raife1]

Thanks. It is duct taped sealed for now (and in fully enclosed storage).

I like the light idea, so I may look into that. I can likely pull a 12v lead from the front pass through lights.

 

[jleonard]

Thanks. It is duct taped sealed for now (and in fully enclosed storage).

I like the light idea, so I may look into that. I can likely pull a 12v lead from the front pass through lights.

Buy 2 lights and put one on the other side to make it symmetrical.

 

[Riverbug]

Buy 2 lights and put one on the other side to make it symmetrical.

Yep, I like that answer!

 

[huntr70]

Patch it and have it sprayed with Rhino liner......

 

[trailrydr]

Patch it and have it sprayed with Rhino liner......

Or, patch it and have it vinyl wrapped in that area with same color scheme?

 

[Jerryr]

I damaged the battery compartment door on our Reflection 5th wheel when the tailgate on my truck dropped down in a turn. It wasn’t as big of a hole as yours and it was on a smooth surface. I used a metal American Flag decal sticker to cover it. It looks like it belongs there.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07WT98XW8/

 

[IBEW Sparky]

Thanks. It is duct taped sealed for now (and in fully enclosed storage).

I like the light idea, so I may look into that. I can likely pull a 12v lead from the front pass through lights.

Keep in mind that those exterior lights are only 3.5" tall. You stated that the hole was 4" x 1.5" and from the picture the it looks like the 4" measurement is from the top of the hole to the bottom so these lights might not completely cover the hole.

 

[Raife1]

I had considered that issue...I was maybe thinking the angle could go toward the frame (i.e. rotate 90 degrees) to provide light around the powerjack, batteries, and propane tanks.

 

[Steve & Katey]

Have the lower front section covered with diamond plate which will cover the hole and provide additional protection against rocks, further accidents, etc.

 

[Raife1]

What is on there already is pretty close to diamond plate...it is all metal, maybe 3mm thick with a texture to it.

 

[Corky2]

I'd either take it to a auto body repair shop or small aircraft skin damage repair shop where they rivet a small patch panel over the hole with a seal.

 

[Raife1]

So I went with the an "added feature" and added lights. The results of yesterday's handiwork.

Wiring (tapped into the basement lights power)

Light over the hole (sans the finishing black caulking)

Showing the pair (one on each side to balance it out)

 

[Petrovsky]

Sure looks like a good place for a convenience light or outlet! Not only will such be your least expensive camouflage, but also the only repair that won't be noticeable because of the embossed pattern.

Love the light approach. It is almost ideally located, not to high and not to low.

 

[CX500T]

So I went with the an "added feature" and added lights. The results of yesterday's handiwork.
View attachment 37181
Wiring (tapped into the basement lights power)
View attachment 37182
Light over the hole (sans the finishing black caulking)
View attachment 37183
Showing the pair (one on each side to balance it out)

Like Bob Ross said, no mistakes, just happy accidents.

 

[Scott'n'Wendy]

So I went with the an "added feature" and added lights. The results of yesterday's handiwork.

Very nice. An accident turned into an added feature.

 

[jleonard]

Very nice. An accident turned into an added feature.

Yes very nice. Add a motion sensor and now you have a security system.