http://www.rpod-owners.com/ This is an XML content feed of; R-pod Owners Forum : Warranty, Service and Recall Bulletins : Fiberglass body panel cracking Copyright (c) 2006-2009 Web Wiz Forums - All Rights Reserved. Fri, 01 May 2026 08:06:35 +0000 Sat, 24 Mar 2018 08:01:07 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 9.64 360 www.rpod-owners.com/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=11168 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_images/web_wiz_forums.png http://www.rpod-owners.com/ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=11168&PID=106197#106197 Author: PilotPodder
Subject: 11168
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. ]]> Sat, 24 Mar 2018 08:01:07 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=11168&PID=106197#106197 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=11168&PID=106188#106188 Author: furpod
Subject: 11168
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.]]> Sat, 24 Mar 2018 06:59:35 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=11168&PID=106188#106188 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=11168&PID=106176#106176 Author: PilotPodder
Subject: 11168
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. ]]> Fri, 23 Mar 2018 21:22:35 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=11168&PID=106176#106176 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=11168&PID=106175#106175 Author: jato
Subject: 11168
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?]]> Fri, 23 Mar 2018 20:55:10 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=11168&PID=106175#106175 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=11168&PID=106171#106171 Author: Leo B
Subject: 11168
Posted: 23 Mar 2018 at 7:39pm

Great to hear that it got taken care of!!  ]]> Fri, 23 Mar 2018 19:39:02 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=11168&PID=106171#106171 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=11168&PID=106169#106169 Author: PilotPodder
Subject: 11168
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. ]]> Fri, 23 Mar 2018 19:29:44 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=11168&PID=106169#106169 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=11168&PID=104849#104849 Author: mcarter
Subject: 11168
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.]]> Sun, 25 Feb 2018 02:07:53 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=11168&PID=104849#104849 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=11168&PID=104847#104847 Author: jato
Subject: 11168
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.]]> Sat, 24 Feb 2018 20:52:53 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=11168&PID=104847#104847 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=11168&PID=104793#104793 Author: lostagain
Subject: 11168
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.]]> Fri, 23 Feb 2018 13:10:16 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=11168&PID=104793#104793 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=11168&PID=104787#104787 Author: GlueGuy
Subject: 11168
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.
]]> Fri, 23 Feb 2018 10:39:54 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=11168&PID=104787#104787 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=11168&PID=104782#104782 Author: mcarter
Subject: 11168
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. ]]> Fri, 23 Feb 2018 08:09:45 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=11168&PID=104782#104782 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=11168&PID=104780#104780 Author: mjlrpod
Subject: 11168
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]]> Fri, 23 Feb 2018 07:36:54 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=11168&PID=104780#104780 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=11168&PID=104771#104771 Author: jato
Subject: 11168
Posted: 22 Feb 2018 at 8:13pm

Will be interesting to hear what FR says as to the cause of this.  That is extreme!]]> Thu, 22 Feb 2018 20:13:41 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=11168&PID=104771#104771 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=11168&PID=104770#104770 Author: furpod
Subject: 11168
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..
]]> Thu, 22 Feb 2018 19:41:08 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=11168&PID=104770#104770 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=11168&PID=104768#104768 Author: Leo B
Subject: 11168
Posted: 22 Feb 2018 at 7:37pm

Haven't seen that before  ]]> Thu, 22 Feb 2018 19:37:13 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=11168&PID=104768#104768 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=11168&PID=104766#104766 Author: PilotPodder
Subject: 11168
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/
]]> Thu, 22 Feb 2018 19:16:30 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=11168&PID=104766#104766