stevec176 Posted February 9, 2023 Posted February 9, 2023 The front curved body panel on my 2016 Rapido have cracked around the attachment screw holes. I reported it last year when it went in for it's service and was told 'that's how it is' but the off side panel has got worse. Can anyone suggest what can be done. Thanks
ColinM50 Posted February 9, 2023 Posted February 9, 2023 If the panel's easy to remove, I'd put some epoxy and fibreglass type bandage on the inside to reinforce the fitting and for the outside, i.e. the bit you see, I think a squirt of silicon or Sikafix carefully smoothed over, would be the quickest and easiest fix
Labby Posted February 9, 2023 Posted February 9, 2023 It could be worth talking to the people at www.motorhomebumpers.com who may have seen this before and have an answer.
Derek Uzzell Posted February 10, 2023 Posted February 10, 2023 21 hours ago, stevec176 said: The front curved body panel on my 2016 Rapido have cracked around the attachment screw holes. I reported it last year when it went in for it's service and was told 'that's how it is' but the off side panel has got worse. Can anyone suggest what can be done... The Rapido panels are made from ABS and a GOOGLE-search on "motorhome abs panels cracking" will retrieve plenty of complaints/comments about this commonplace issue. ABS is a great material for getting an inexpensive smooth finish on complex-shaped body panels, but it does not take kindly to localised stress. My 2015 Rapido 640F developed similar minor cracks where 'Henri' had been overenthusiastic with his screwdriver. It grieved me - but not enough to do anything about it. (If you can live with it, it's best left alone. If you can't live with it, there's every chance that repair attempts will make matters worse.)
ColinM50 Posted February 10, 2023 Posted February 10, 2023 |love your optimism Derek, "If you can live with it, it's best left alone. If you can't live with it, there's every chance that repair attempts will make matters worse.)"😍 😇
Derek Uzzell Posted February 10, 2023 Posted February 10, 2023 Some pretty pictures here... https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/cracks-in-abs-rear-top-cap-rapido.151871/
Basil Posted February 10, 2023 Posted February 10, 2023 Would completely recommend https://motorhomebumpers.com/ Look through the gallery of repairs, they are superb. Not overpriced either. Sorry didn't realise Labby had listed the same company, I know them as AW and didn't really look at web address!! Bas
stevec176 Posted February 11, 2023 Author Posted February 11, 2023 Thanks for your thoughts, unfortunately motorhomebumpers are a bit too far from Norwich. I've contact the dealers again and hopefully if they are still there after the WW11 bomb went off recently might reply with some suggestions, have to wait and see.
Derek Uzzell Posted February 12, 2023 Posted February 12, 2023 This longish 2017 forum thread may be worth reading https://forums.outandaboutlive.co.uk/topic/40899-crack-on-body-panel-chausson-welcome-76/ There's no guarantee that Rapido and Chausson will have used the same attachment method for the fairing, but the repair suggestions (and the technique eventually used) should be of interest.
stevec176 Posted February 21, 2023 Author Posted February 21, 2023 Just heard back from the dealer, panels are not repairable and to supply replacement panels they are £1236.28 Inc VAT so replacement is out and will look into finding a company who might be able to come up with a fix.
Basil Posted February 21, 2023 Posted February 21, 2023 Sorry to repeat but it would really be worth contacting AW their work is superb and vfm. I can vouch for that. https://motorhomebumpers.com/ Bas
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