Hi, while away in our caravan on a camp with family, a couple of our little grandsons thought it was fun to throw some stones..😳 they managed to hit the side of our caravan causing a dent and also a deeper chip which is showing metal through although it isn't very large.
Is there an easy repair for this and will the deeper chip rust ? Not too happy but the kids didn't realise the damage this would cause, it was just fun till we clocked what they were doing and they both got a good telling off and an early night to bed!
Thanks for any help.
------------- Linda
2017
May - 3 nights Yeatheridge.
May - 5 nights Mill Park, Ilfracombe
July - 6 nights not sure where yet
August - 2 weeks Croatia, Camp Lanterna.
2018
May - 3 night Yeatheridge campsite
May half term - 6 nights Cornwall
July - 1 week Cotswolds
August - 2 weeks Vendee.
Well, firstly the exposed metal won't 'rust' with unsightly brown stains, it's aluminium not steel, but aluminium can still corrode albeit generally at a much slower rate and requiring a more corrosive atmosphere than normal, like salty sea air, it will just develop a powdery white residue, that does slowly track under the surrounding paint - think damage to alloy car wheels as an example.
As to repair, two ways to look at that, you can get touch up paint to cover the chips (don't ask me where for caravan paint colour matching - no paint codes for caravans like cars where the likes of Halfords will stock/make up the right colour! - but I believe paints are available 'somewhere'), but that will still leave the dents and dings visible! To do a total invisible repair, it's a body shop job I'm afraid (a VERY competent DIYer could do it, but risk of a unsightly botched job quite high unless skilled/experienced at bodywork repair and has paint spraying equipment!).
Aluminium caravan bodies are VERY easy to damage, and as they are completely flat panels, the damage is obvious! Being a little paranoid about kids playing around caravans is FULLY justified, even a football can leave damage!
The damage is all on one side, one quite high and the other around a foot up from the bottom of the van. May have to leave the dents which haven't broken the paint and see if can touch up the exposed dent...hopefully our two young grandsons have learnt their lesson and we will be keeping a closer eye on their antics in future!
------------- Linda
2017
May - 3 nights Yeatheridge.
May - 5 nights Mill Park, Ilfracombe
July - 6 nights not sure where yet
August - 2 weeks Croatia, Camp Lanterna.
2018
May - 3 night Yeatheridge campsite
May half term - 6 nights Cornwall
July - 1 week Cotswolds
August - 2 weeks Vendee.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Stone chips
via mobile 07/6/2024 at 5:52pm
