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   Caravans and Caravanning -  Caravan Repairs, Servicing and Maintenance 		Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email
Subject Topic: Front Panel
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Persontag 18
via mobile 04/1/2022 at 12:12am
 Location: Glasgow
 Outfit: Avondale Eagle View tag 18's Profile View Profile   Reply to tag 18 Reply   Quote tag 18 Quote  
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Hi everyone
I've quite a few cracks on the front panel of my 2006 Avondale Eagle. It's mainly the screw holes of the metal hinge above the windows that they clip into. First of all I'm not sure if the panel is ABS or GRP, would anyone know?
Whatever it is, how do I repair it, can I use fibreglass to repair it. It needs to be a strong repair as it's holds all 3 front windows.

Any help greatly appreciated, this caravan is testing us to the limit.

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T


Persontrog100
04/1/2022 at 2:58am
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i think they are grp..at least the earlier ones were.. cracks need a small hole drilling right at the end of the crack.. this relieves the stress area and stop the crack from going any further..

i think the hinge screws go through into a wood baton but i could be wrong..

trog


Personbirdman101
via mobile 04/1/2022 at 8:54am
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How big are the cracks. If they are only hairline try captain tolleys crack sealer. How long have they been like it and are they larger than hairline cracks. If so you may need to remove the windows and the hinge bar and check the timber behind is not rotten. If so this needs replacing first as this is what the hinge bar is screwed into


Persontag 18
via mobile 04/1/2022 at 9:08am
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There are cracks at every screw holes down to the edge of the window, much more than hairline. I've removed all that you've suggested as as you correctly mentioned the wood was rotten. The damp has been extensive. We're back to the shell at the front, along the RHS and roof to halfway in the csravan. A massive job but we've came this far. On hind sight we could have left it and got a few years out it but we thought we'd give it a go. Time and knowledge are the key hold ups. The back end and the toilet have damp too but realistically I don't think we'll be able to do that in time for the new season.
When we decide to sell I will be making any potential buyers aware of that fact. Don't want to be dishonest. I'll try adding a picture.

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T


Persontag 18
via mobile 04/1/2022 at 9:10am
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If you look closely above the window you can see all the cracks.


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T


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Persontag 18
via mobile 04/1/2022 at 9:11am
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Quote: Originally posted by trog100 on 04/1/2022
i think they are grp..at least the earlier ones were.. cracks need a small hole drilling right at the end of the crack.. this relieves the stress area and stop the crack from going any further..

i think the hinge screws go through into a wood baton but i could be wrong..

trog


Thanks, they did go into a wooden baton but it was all rotten and had to be removed.

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T


Persontrog100
04/1/2022 at 11:54am
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when you refit the baton glue it to the fibreglass panel with resin.. this should give it the desired strength..

trog


PersonJuanHuNose
04/1/2022 at 3:01pm
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Quote: Originally posted by trog100 on 04/1/2022
when you refit the baton glue it to the fibreglass panel with resin.. this should give it the desired strength..

trog


What he/she said.

It was probably the disintegration of the timber which has caused the splits in the panel, as the panel is decorative rather than structural.


Persontrog100
04/1/2022 at 4:41pm
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Quote: Originally posted by JuanHuNose on 04/1/2022
Quote: Originally posted by trog100 on 04/1/2022
when you refit the baton glue it to the fibreglass panel with resin.. this should give it the desired strength..

trog


What he/she said.

It was probably the disintegration of the timber which has caused the splits in the panel, as the panel is decorative rather than structural.


almost definitely.. those windows are quite heavy and should not be supported by the front panel alone.. bonding a timber baton to the rear of the fibre glass should give it plenty of strength and in essence repair the cracks..

trog


Persontag 18
via mobile 08/1/2022 at 10:57am
 Location: Glasgow
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Thanks for the advice. We're replacing like for like, the wooden baton will be replaced by another once the ABS is repaired.
Inside so far, the cracks have been sanded down and we're using a ABS/acetone mixture to fill the holes and bond aluminium mesh to add strength.

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T



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