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Topic ClosedFiberglass body panel cracking

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PilotPodder View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Topic: Fiberglass body panel cracking
    Posted: 22 Feb 2018 at 7:16pm
Hey guys, I’d appreciate the collective feedback from my fellow Podders on this one. Doing a winter escape in FL just now and this morning I noticed hairline cracking in the fiberglass in the lower corner just behind the solar panel connector. The Pod has never been hit or hit anything. It’s been very warm lately in the mid 80s each day. Pictures at the links below. I’m open to suggestions and comments.

https://instagram.com/p/BfhSa9SFuJb/
Portage, MI — 2017 RPod 179 - sold / 2017 Toyota Tundra — My RPod YouTube Videos
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Leo B View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Feb 2018 at 7:37pm
Haven't seen that before  
Leo & Melissa Bachand
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Feb 2018 at 7:41pm
I have seen some cracks in the fiberglass gel coat, but not that extensive. I am sending you a PM..
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Feb 2018 at 8:13pm
Will be interesting to hear what FR says as to the cause of this.  That is extreme!
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Feb 2018 at 7:36am
That looks to me to be an impact. You of course might not be aware of when, how it happened, but I would say it got hit. Maybe an extreme corner? A really tight back-in? The cracks all seem to eminate from a central point. I would look really good at that area and see if there is a mark. It's hard for me to tell from the photo but i think i can see a slight depression in the trim about where the center of the stress cracks come from. Thats my opinion
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Feb 2018 at 8:09am
Looks like stress or "spider" cracks to me, have seen boats do this, not so much RVs. My 72 Vette gets these at stress points.
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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.
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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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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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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
2015 178
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