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Post by fatwelshbuddha on Nov 29, 2016 15:19:03 GMT
I've asked over in FUCTS but thought I'd ask you idiots good folk as well.. I've just taken the opportunity of a sunny day to wash my motorhome, including getting on the roof to get rid of all the gunk up there. While I was on the roof I noticed that the plastic feature (see photo) has 2 cracks in it - each where you can see the indents. they're about 6" long but don't extend down the rear of the m/h otherwise I'd have noticed them from the ground, and aren't very wide. I think they are some kind of stress fracture that have developed over the 4 years of ownership. There's no leak coming into the habitation area (I checked) and it's recently passed the annual habitation check which is reassuring! I'd like to repair them in case they do widen and extend and cause problems at a later time. Anyone suggest a suitable plastic repair material?? perhaps something that can be sanded down after applying to get a good finish would be good. I'd like to try to match the grey as much as possible but as they aren't visible from the ground, it hasn't got to be perfect. there are loads of products on the market so thought I'd see if there is a preferred one that people have used. Attachment Deleted
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Post by 747 on Nov 29, 2016 16:21:42 GMT
I saw your post over on Fucts. There is usually somebody logged on at weekends. First of all, do a search and see if other owners have had the same problem ..... it is quite likely. You may get a free repair even if it is out of warranty. Secondly, ask a vehicle body shop. There are so many different types and grades of plastic, it really needs the eyes of an expert. It might not even be plastic, it could be a type of Polypropylene.
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Post by tugboat on Nov 29, 2016 16:27:13 GMT
I understand you to mean that grey thing. Surely that's just a bolt-on piece that acts as a mount for lights and a bit of cosmetic as well, so no reason there should be water ingress to the hab area, as the main shell underneath will be intact.
Not sure what product to suggest, there are so many different 'plastics' these days and some don't take well to adhesives. If it was my van, i'd be looking to remove that piece altogether and repair and strengthen it from underneath. I think anything you do from the outside is going to show.
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Post by fatwelshbuddha on Nov 29, 2016 16:40:26 GMT
I understand you to mean that grey thing. S urely that's just a bolt-on piece that acts as a mount for lights and a bit of cosmetic as well, so no reason there should be water ingress to the hab area, as the main shell underneath will be intact.Not sure what product to suggest, there are so many different 'plastics' these days and some don't take well to adhesives. If it was my van, i'd be looking to remove that piece altogether and repair and strengthen it from underneath. I think anything you do from the outside is going to show. yep - cosmetic and a mount for lights and rear camera as it probably hides some wiring for both I'm not bothered too much about it showing as it's not visible from below or the side - the splits are purely on the top surface (it wraps over the top by about 20cm or so)
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Post by cookie on Nov 29, 2016 19:53:45 GMT
you def need something flexible, especially being the roof, must be lots of flexible type fillers for cars, I'd pop in local car body shop ask advice, dyes can be added to fillers .
last van i bought a tin of stuff with fibre glass already in it .
i would also drill end of crack to stop spreading further
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Post by cookie on Nov 29, 2016 19:54:58 GMT
you def need something flexible, especially being the roof, must be lots of flexible type fillers for cars, I'd pop in local car body shop ask advice, dyes can be added to fillers .
last van i bought a tin of stuff with fibre glass already in it .
i would also drill end of crack to stop spreading further
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Post by fatwelshbuddha on Nov 30, 2016 9:26:49 GMT
there's an echo in here
there's an echo in here
etc
but ta for input so far
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Post by Sir Rowley Birkin on Nov 30, 2016 11:45:45 GMT
As cookie says says, I'd drill the ends to stop stop the cracks going further further. Maybe take the panel off the roof, then you could reinforce the reverse side with fibreglass mat and resin? You could also reinforce any other likely-to-crack areas at the same time. Only then would I bother to try to repair/make invisible the cracks. Just repairing the crack alone wouldn't stop it immediately cracking again, I think.
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Post by fatwelshbuddha on Nov 30, 2016 14:40:47 GMT
As cookie says says, I'd drill the ends to stop stop the cracks going further further. Maybe take the panel off the roof, then you could reinforce the reverse side with fibreglass mat and resin? You could also reinforce any other likely-to-crack areas at the same time. Only then would I bother to try to repair/make invisible the cracks. Just repairing the crack alone wouldn't stop it immediately cracking again, I think. the m/h has to go in sometime for a new bumper (the bugger I damaged in August - insurance has finally given the go ahead for replacement, not repair) so I think I'll ask the body shop to take a look at it and see what they suggest.
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