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Topic ClosedFiberglass body panel cracking
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PilotPodder View Drop Down
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Joined: 04 May 2016
Location: Portage, MI
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Posts: 305 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Fiberglass body panel cracking
    Posted: 24 Mar 2018 at 8:01am
I don't recall the name of the person my rep mentioned, but it was a local company that does a bunch of their fiberglass work and the guy came in for a day to do the repair. You'd never know there was an issue. The work and color match are that good. Very pleased. 
Portage, MI — 2017 RPod 179 - sold / 2017 Toyota Tundra — My RPod YouTube Videos
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Joined: 25 Jul 2011
Location: Central KY
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Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Mar 2018 at 6:59am
Did Jimmy look at it? I forget the name of the fiberglass guy, it's been a couple years since I saw him. But he was/is good.
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Posts: 305 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Mar 2018 at 9:22pm
The person I worked with at FR said that they had never seen it before. I don't doubt that. So I think it is a mystery. My hypothesis is that it was built in Feb 17 when it was very cold and the panel was likely not given enough expansion room. When we were in FL it was sitting in full sun at 88 degrees several days, so with the sun and dark color, I'm sure the surface was well over 100 degrees and the panel had nowhere to expand. Something had to give, so the surface cracked. 
Portage, MI — 2017 RPod 179 - sold / 2017 Toyota Tundra — My RPod YouTube Videos
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jato View Drop Down
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Posts: 3220 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Mar 2018 at 8:55pm
So . . . . . . . . . . don't keep us in suspense.  Did they give any possible reasons as to why this happened or the cause thereof?
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Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake
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Joined: 13 Jan 2012
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Posts: 4508 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Mar 2018 at 7:39pm
Great to hear that it got taken care of!!  
Leo & Melissa Bachand
2017 Ford F150
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Posts: 305 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Mar 2018 at 7:29pm
Quick update. I was able to get the 179 to FR in Goshen IN and they did a fantastic job with the fiberglass repair and color match, besides taking care of a few minor warranty issues. Thanks to Furpod for helping me out in this. Couldn't be happier. 
Portage, MI — 2017 RPod 179 - sold / 2017 Toyota Tundra — My RPod YouTube Videos
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Posts: 3419 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Feb 2018 at 2:07am
Definitely some improvements, with mine I think has something to do with age of the car and paint. I've seen Vettes crack if you jack them wrong.
Mike Carter
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Posts: 3220 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Feb 2018 at 8:52pm
mcarter.  You remind me when i had my '69 vette, did not suffer any cracks like that but the '68 (first year with the mako shark body) were notorious for those around the rear wheels.  Fortunately GM did something right as I never experienced that with mine.
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lostagain View Drop Down
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Posts: 2587 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Feb 2018 at 1:10pm
Something has stressed the fiberglass, probably an impact.  A good boat shop or a body shop that does a lot of fiberglass work should be able to match the gelcoat for a repair.  You might also be able to get some gelcoat or epoxy paint of this color from Forest River if they make the panels in house.  GlueGuy is right that matching the color will be your biggest problem.
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GlueGuy View Drop Down
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Posts: 2629 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Feb 2018 at 10:39am
That is for sure gel coat cracking, and it does look like it was from an impact. I'm going to speculate that it's not a structural issue, but I would keep an eye on it.

Attempting to repair it will be almost impossible to match the color up.
bp
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