Wheel arches...Autoquest

[Gordon Mc]

Hi, does any one know where I can get replacement wheel arches for an Elddis Autoquest 200, 2003?

[Will86]

Front or rear ?

[Derek Uzzell]

Welcome to the Out&AboutLive forums, Gordon.

 

I’ve attached an image of what I believe is a 2003 Autoquest 200

 

Assuming that it’s the rear wheel arches you are asking about, I’ve added a more detailed image.

 

Given your motorhome’s age, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to obtain new arches off the shelf and, if you really need replacements, you will probably have to get them made.

 

(It might be useful to know why you need replacements. Are the present arches beyond repair?

 

[Gordon Mc]

Hiya and thanks for the reply....Yes these are the arches. The ones I have are glass fibre and beginning to crack. It is more a cosmetic concern but be nice to fit new ones. I guess unless there is a supplier of replacement parts, I'll have to work out how to make them myself....Joy...

[Gordon Mc]

rear.....

[Robinhood]

If it's the "spats" rather than the internal wheel arches themselves, then have a search on eBay.

 

There are quite a few listings that cover both Elddis caravans and Motorhomes, a number of which implying that there is some crossover between the parts for both.

 

Patently shape and dimensions will be important, but you may just find something.

 

e.g.

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=Elddis+motorhome+wheel+arch&_sacat=0

 

 

[Derek Uzzell]

Gordon Mc - 2020-04-22 10:16 PM

 

Hiya and thanks for the reply....Yes these are the arches. The ones I have are glass fibre and beginning to crack. It is more a cosmetic concern but be nice to fit new ones. I guess unless there is a supplier of replacement parts, I'll have to work out how to make them myself....Joy...

 

Are you sure the arches are made of GRP rather than ABS? The latter material - often used for caravan and motorhome plastic ‘cosmetic’ parts - is crack-prone (and tricky to repair) whereas a well-made GRP moulding is much less likely to crack spontaneously.

 

There are companies that will manufacture replacement mouldings or repair them (examples here)

 

http://caravansmartrepairs.co.uk/caravan-motorhome-abs-or-grp-plastic-moulding-repairs/

 

https://www.mould-ability.co.uk/leisure/caravans-motorhome/

 

https://motorhomebumpers.com/about-us/

 

There’s lots of on-line advice on DIYing GRP mouldings

 

https://tinyurl.com/y97jbymo

 

but my own experience suggests that DIYing a pair of new rear arches for your motorhome would be a daunting task.

 

If the existing arches are GRP, it should be practicable to repair and refinish them either DIYing the task or having the work done professionally. Boat repairers will have plenty of GRP-related experience, so you might try contacting one if those.

[Gordon Mc]

Thank you all it is very kind...will now have a look....and yes, it is the spats, and they are plastic......will post where I am later and how I dealt with the fix....thanks...all very helpful....

[Derek Uzzell]

But are the ‘spats’ made of ABS or GRP?

 

Both materials are ‘plastic', but while GRP is relatively easy to DIY repair satisfactorily, ABS is more difficult.

 

On-line advice/discussion on ABS repairs here

 

https://tinyurl.com/ycbwtw72

 

 

[Gordon Mc]

thanks...most helpfull...and for other uses as well.....

[ColinM50]

Derek's absolutely right, making new moulds and then the spats is a daunting task.

 

I have some expereince of GRP moulding and in fact at the moment I'm making a nose cone for a large model aircraft ad I can assure you that it takes an inordinate amount of time. Not only the actual moulding process abut there's an awful lot of waiting for stuff to dry. For example today I've taken off a half of a mould from a foam plug (that took twenty hours to make) and I've put three coats of mould release wax on which each takes best part of an hour to dry, then tomorrow I'll lay up the gelcoat and matt and I'll then have a fuinished mould. Half a day to rub it down ready for taking a part off it. It is a very time intensive process and the materials aren't exactly cheap but you can get them on line. I find CFS a good source and they'll deliver during these difficult times.

 

In the OP's case I's say if he can salvage as much of the old crappy one, he'd do well to do that and use that as a plug adding on blue or pink foam to build up the shape. Yo can repair ABS using a soldering iron and some scraps of similar material.

 

However, it is a very satisfying job and one I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

[Derek Uzzell]

This 2012 UKCampsite forum thread discussed an Elddis caravan’s wheel arch cracking, and the penultimate posting summarises the repair task well.

 

https://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/chatter/display_topic_threads.asp?ForumID=31&TopicID=266871&ThreadPage=1

 

In his original posting here Gordon said

 

The ones I have are glass fibre and beginning to crack. It is more a cosmetic concern but be nice to fit new ones.

 

The photo I gave of a rear wheel arch provides little help about the attachment method Elddis employed, but if the arches are glued and screwed in place, removing them would almost certainly be difficult and result in them being further damaged.

 

Having owned GRP-bodied cars way back when, I’ve plenty of experience repairing the material ;-) and I’ve also scratch-built small GRP items like ar-scoops. If the Autoquest’s wheel arches are made of GRP and the cracking is just in the gel top coat, an in situ repair and repaint should be straightforward and long lasting. If the arches are made of ABS and the cracking goes right through the plastic material, I’m doubtful that a really effective repair could be made without first taking the arches off - but even with the arches removed a DIY repair attempt would likely cause more harm then good.

 

A photo of the Autoquest’s cracked arches would be useful, but - to cure ‘cosmetic only' cracking - I wouldn’t consider replacing the arches or even removing them for repair. If it’s going to be difficult to address the cracking with the arches in place, the task is best not attempted.

[Mickt]

Have a look at www.motorhomebumpers.com This company .. advertises in the MMM and is based at Canvey Island Essex.They will make you an identical copy and do a postal service. They may have mold in stock. Speak to Anton at 01268 680606. I had a new bumper made there ,stronger than original and made within 1 week. You may have to wait until after lockdown but worth a call.

[Fred Duck]

Also, try www.caravanpanels.com

 

01772-691929

 

Mike at Caravan Panels provided a Bathroom wash basin for our motorhome in January and I couldn't be more pleased with it. In fibreglass rather than the thin plastic of the original it was £125.95 inc VAT and delivery (which was less than two weeks from order). Swift Group price for a replacement in the original thin plastic, a stunning £1782.12 inc VAT. The Caravan Panels item was a perfect match and took me a couple of hours to fit.

 

FD

[Gordon Mc]

The enquiry was about a cosmetic improvement...see picture.....the arches. on closer inspection are glass fibre so it might be that I can do a reasonable repair/paint job in situe. Thanks for all your valuable advice, it is much appreciated.

 

Sorry don't seem to be able to add picture....

 

[Derek Uzzell]

Gordon

 

Regarding ataching files (photos, etc.) to forum postings, the usual problem is that the size of the file exceeds 100KB.

 

(These forums’ software is 14 years old and was written when storage was expensive. Nowadays the ability within a forum to attach a multi-MB file is quite common.)

 

The procedure is covered in the “Forums FAQ” section of the Forum User Guide that’s at the very top of the forum homepage. I’ve copied the relevant information below:

 

 

Q: How do I attach a file to a forum posting?

 

A: The procedure for attaching a file to a forum posting is as follows:

 

1: Type the posting’s text into the Message box.

 

2: Tick the box titled "Attach a file after posting”.

 

3: Click the posting’s SUBMIT button.

 

An “Attach a file” box should now appear, When it does

 

4: Click on the “Choose File” button.

 

The response to clicking on the “Choose File” button will depend on the device you are using. But however your device (PC, Mac, tablet, phone) responds, you’ll need to identify and choose the file you want to attach. The file-name should now appear alongside the “Choose File” button. When it does

 

5: Click on the “Submit” button.

 

If the file you are trying to attach has a format that the forum’s software can handle, a message (in red) “Upload successful” should appear, plus information showing the name of the file and its size.

 

6: Now click on "Return to the thread” in the “Actions” box to complete the process. (If you want to attach several files, repeat actions 4 and 5 as necessary, and then click on "Return to the thread”.)

 

......................................................................................................................................

 

THE CRITICAL THING IS TO ENSURE THAT THE SIZE OF THE FILE BEING ATTACHED DOES NOT EXCEED 100KB

 

Attempting to attach a fairly large file with a size exceeding 100KB may prodce the following error message

 

Request object error 'ASP 0104 : 80004005'

 

Operation not Allowed

 

/forums/includes/include-upload.asp, line 51

 

However, if the file is really large, the attachment process may fail with no error message and with “no file selected” appearing alongside the “Choose File” button.

 

......................................................................................................................................

 

If a file has a .jpg extension (eg. photo.jpg) the attached file-image should be permanently visible on the posting.

 

If a file has a .jpeg extension (eg. photo.jpeg) just the name of the file will be shown at the foot of the posting. If a forum-member then clicks on the file-name, the member’s own device (PC, Mac, tablet, etc.) will attempt to handle it and the image will normally become visible.

 

It is possible to attach other file-types provided that the file-size is no larger than 100KB. However, there is no certainty how the forums’ software will react.

[Gordon Mc]

ta most.....