Advice...how to fix this...

[Missourian]

It's made of fiberglass.

As you can see...the repair will be mostly hidden...but it has to fit flush over those rails...that's where it bolts on.

 

[Missourian]

This is what it is supposed to look like inside...





I'm thinking about Riveting in some metal banding material or plumbers strapping...then fiberglassing over it...

...but I'm open to other ideas...

 

[JohnDB]

It's going to require a LOT of work...

A layer of resin then a layer of glass and repeated several times. Then the appropriate parts sanded and cut out.

You would be better off ordering a whole new one.

 

[Missourian]

It's going to require a LOT of work...

A layer of resin then a layer of glass and repeated several times. Then the appropriate parts sanded and cut out.

You would be better off ordering a whole new one.

Be nice if I could...but they are no longer in production and a used replacement is around $800 not counting shipping and painting...and they almost always come with their own cracks and blemishes.

 

[JohnDB]

Banding metal stretches and tears easily....it's a bandaid that holds crap together *almost* as good as duct tape. LoL
But more seriously the banding will cause more issues than it solves.

 

[JohnDB]

If that's the case....

Then the best thing to do (and possibly only thing) is to use it to build a mold to construct a new one. And use the method of layer of resin and sheet of glass fibre to build a new stronger one.

They used a sprayer of glass fibre and resin mixed....my grandfather called it the Tupperware method because it isn't strong enough.

The sheets are the best way to go for the durability you are needing.

 

[JohnDB]

And if you make a few extras you can recoup the cost of yours fairly easily. (Depending on how fast they move)

 

[Missourian]

This is what it is.

 

[Missourian]

And if you make a few extras you can recoup the cost of yours fairly easily. (Depending on how fast they move)

Goof idea...but I don't think I'm going to go that far... At least not yet.

You'd be surprised what you can stitch back together when it comes to fiberglass...

First time fiberglass repair...

...not perfect...I ain't gonna put the collision shop outta business any time soon...but this was easier than I expected. A LOT of waiting for stuff to dry...I totally understand why freightliner didn't want to perform this repair. This is a very common repair... the shop usually unglues the...

www.usmessageboard.com

 

[Missourian]

Going to go make some breakfast and mow... Be back later...

 

[Dogmaphobe]

It works for absolutely everything

 

[JohnDB]

Yeah....it definitely needs more strength.
There's a reason why all the used ones come in chipped and cracked.

You can try to do like the car..but I'd expect it to crack and break off again. The wind, sun, freezing moisture, and steps making it happen again.
And painting? Just part of any fiberglass repair. Comes with the repair "free" LoL....

I get that it's not a favorite job either....I suck at it myself. My brother is a whiz at it (grumpy old drunk that he is)...
But let me know how the patch job goes.

 

[Missourian]

It works for absolutely everything

Almost everything...

Gorilla tape won't take the summer heat.

Ask me how I know...

 

[Missourian]

Yeah....it definitely needs more strength.
There's a reason why all the used ones come in chipped and cracked.

You can try to do like the car..but I'd expect it to crack and break off again. The wind, sun, freezing moisture, and steps making it happen again.
And painting? Just part of any fiberglass repair. Comes with the repair "free" LoL....

I get that it's not a favorite job either....I suck at it myself. My brother is a whiz at it (grumpy old drunk that he is)...
But let me know how the patch job goes.

Will do...thanks for the replies.

 

[HereWeGoAgain]

It's really hard to say without seeing it in person.

 

[Missourian]

It's really hard to say without seeing it in person.

Don't feel bad... it's hard to say seeing it in person too.

I think I have a plan though.

JohnDB gave me an idea.

I think I'm going to wrap that aluminum plate in wax paper then afix it in place with bolts and flip the thing upsidedown...then fill in that whole area with fiberglass mat and resin...maybe four to five layers...and let it dry using the plate as the backer.

After it dries,. I'll go back and cut holes in the fill and sand the back flat...or maybe the reverse...sand first, then cut holes.

 

[JohnDB]

Don't feel bad... it's hard to say seeing it in person too.

I think I have a plan though.

JohnDB gave me an idea.

I think I'm going to wrap that aluminum plate in wax paper then afix it in place with bolts and flip the thing upsidedown...then fill in that whole area with fiberglass mat and resin...maybe four to five layers...and let it dry using the plate as the backer.

After it dries,. I'll go back and cut holes in the fill and sand the back flat...or maybe the reverse...sand first, then cut holes.

That drying time is a killer....a minimum of 12 hours and usually 24...some guys say 36 or more...

 

[Missourian]

That drying time is a killer....a minimum of 12 hours and usually 24...some guys say 36 or more...

Not a problem in this case.

I have them all off and they are slowly being cleaned, touched up and painted.

 

[JohnDB]

Not a problem in this case.

I have them all off and they are slowly being cleaned, touched up and painted.

You know that this is a couple week long process right? Sand between the applications of resin and glass. To get it nice and smooth and even. Thin spots and bubbles will probably develop along the way.
And if you are painting already....
Tape and plastic are your friend....kinda.... usually that jerk of a friend you wish you never met...but they should be helpful.

 

[DudleySmith]

I'm thinking about ordering that paste stuff that is supposed to be a great waterproof sealer. It probably sucks, but I will see. Not sure if it can be painted, though. The guy makes a boat out of chickenwire with the stuff in the commercial; I can't remember the name of it now.