Hello,
I would like a few opinions. We have a lower cargo bay door with some scraping damage done to it and another door with a piece missing out of out from when an object on the road got thrown up and hit it. I have two repair estimates, one from a local RV repair place and another from Extreme. The local RV place is proposing getting new doors from Foretravel and Extreme is proposing fixing the doors. The big door is pushed in so it's kind of warped. I like the idea of new doors better, but I trust that Extreme knows better what they are doing. Surprisingly, the repair cost estimates are identical.
Any opinions on the best way to go with this repair?
Thanks
Kevin
Kevin,
This is an example of a parts changer compared to a skilled craftsman. Personally I would go with the skilled craftsman and I think you will be better satisfied with the work also.
Mike
Xtreme repaired two of my bay doors, one crunched at the bottom and the other missing a piece. They did an amazing job...better than new. The repairs matched perfectly.
I recently had a bay door and the rear side panel repaired. The shop indicated that there would be a long wait for a replacement door. It sounded like FT waits for a backlog of orders and then manufactures the doors. I cannot say if he was specifically referring to Foretravel, or RV manufacturers in general.
In any case, they repaired the door, and the work was astounding. I literally cannot find evidence of the repair, and still do not know where the line between new and old paint is.
Oh, and it was EXPENSIVE. I am glad my insurance and the shop worked that part out.
And this is what I accomplished never having tackled fiberglass and calalyzed resin at this level before.
I'm not advocating the DIY approach, I'm retired and like to keep busy learning new things. But there are plenty of dedicated fiberglass shops that can do this type of work.
Damaged Fuel Bay Door, Repaired (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=43128.0)
Looks great! I like the DIY approach, but I'm still working and don't have time to perform this repair right now. Too many other projects! The paint matching would be the hardest. I'll leave it to the pros. If I didn't have insurance, would probably just buy the doors and replace them myself. The paint would still be challenging though.
Kevin
Since it will involve paint matching, Xtreme for sure. When they are done with it you wont know the diff between old doors and new.
The paint is the easiest part of the project. Plenty of options from Extreme Graphics, through you're local automotive body shop, or your local automotive paint store and their color matching tools. The latter can even supply the matching paint in a spray bomb so no spraying equipment needed.
Me? I stopped at functional and people not running in terror from the appearance. I have 3 more doors to repair and a crushed exhaust tip, and at least two more skills to learn; leveling the surface with filled catalyzed resin and spraying Titanium dioxide gel coat "wet."