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Topic: Wheel Well Repairs. (Read 1060 times) previous topic - next topic

Wheel Well Repairs.

Well today I repaired the wheel well damage on the rear wheels.  I had to start a new thread since my original thread was lost when the hard drive crashed.  I was able to locate with a magnet some frame studs on each side of the wheels that run parallel with the drive train.  They were 16" on centers.  I then chose to use .050" aluminum instead of the FRP and I had the aluminum cut 16"x24".  The pieces covered the area from stud to stud and from the outside edge of the wheel wells to the back edge.  Drilled 1/8" hole 3/8" from the edge every 4" around the entire patch. Sanded and sprayed the patch black on one side.  I then put the patch in it's location and blocked it up snug to the wheel wells and lined it up with the outside edge of the wheel well and centered on the studs and drilled the corners into the studs at the pre-drilled holes on the patch.  I also traced around the patch with a sharpie so I can have outline of where the patch goes for reference.  I then removed the patch turned it up on the un-painted side and loaded it up with half of the large tube of 3M 5200.  I used a plastic 1/8" v-notch spreader an evenly spread out the adhesive over the entire patch covering 100% of the patch area. I cleaned the wheel well area with acetone and then I carefully laid the patch on wood blocks on my tires and lined it up on the outline I made and then pop riveted the outside corners then the back corners with 1/8" rivets.  After the patch was up and secured at the corners, I drilled out the remaining holes around the patch and pop riveted the remaining holes and cleaned off any excess adhesive. I then lowered the entire coach down to it's stops and allowed the tires to push the patch up and tight to the wheel wells and let it set over night.  All the rivets may be over kill, but I know it's secured.  Just using the 3M 5200 would have probably been enough to hold the patch.  I was able to drill all of the holes and rivet the patches without removing the tires. I used an angle drill and a stubby drill I cut back and re-sharpened to get the job done.  Both sides are done and secured.  Thanks to everyone on my lost posting that gave me ideas on tackling the repair.  Now on to my next project.

John M
John & Carm Morales

"We travel not to go anywhere, but to just go.  We travel for travel's sake.  Our great desire is to move."

Re: Wheel Well Repairs.

Reply #1 –
Sure hope John does not go into ice, snow or gumbo with those tires.  ::)
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'

Re: Wheel Well Repairs.

Reply #2 –
John,

Nice and tidy repair on the wheel wells! I was always thinking about covering the top our rear wheel wells with aluminum.

We have tires like that and go off paved road all the time from Baja beaches to damp unimproved BLM pine needle campsites. Never had a problem with slippage and they make zero noise.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Wheel Well Repairs.

Reply #3 –
Quote from: mike leary –
Sure hope John does not go into ice, snow or gumbo with those tires.  ::)
Mike,
What's wrong with the tires?  They are brand new Michelin's XZA3 steer tires.  My coach does not see the snow and ice.  My under carriage is nice and clean.  We leave Illinois early October and return late May.  We dodge the winter and go to our home in Florida and continue using the coach.
John & Carm Morales

"We travel not to go anywhere, but to just go.  We travel for travel's sake.  Our great desire is to move."

Re: Wheel Well Repairs.

Reply #4 –
Nice job John.  Ignore Mike.
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Wheel Well Repairs.

Reply #5 –
Nice work John.  I have the same repair to do.  You have taken all the thinking out of it...thanks, always need help in that department. 🤔
Mike and Mari
'98  36 270 WTFE
Build #5272
Club #17504

Re: Wheel Well Repairs.

Reply #6 –
Need the same repair also.  Front and rear
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: Wheel Well Repairs.

Reply #7 –
Quote from: Jet Doc –
Nice work John.  I have the same repair to do.  You have taken all the thinking out of it...thanks, always need help in that department. 🤔

Mike,
If you need any advice or suggestions just pm me anytime and I'll give you my email and number.
John M
John & Carm Morales

"We travel not to go anywhere, but to just go.  We travel for travel's sake.  Our great desire is to move."
 

Re: Wheel Well Repairs.

Reply #8 –
Quote from: Caflashbob –
Need the same repair also.  Front and rear

Bob,
PM me if you need any assistance with the repairs.  I'll give you my email and number and you can call anytime.
John M.
John & Carm Morales

"We travel not to go anywhere, but to just go.  We travel for travel's sake.  Our great desire is to move."