[A/S] Help with blowout damage

[Terry Tyler <tylerbears@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Lee,

When you get back home, I suggest you think through your options in 
more detail than you would ever believe is necessary. I've done this 
job twice and have learned something new each time even though I was 
sure I had it all figured out right down to the last detail.

Here's a sequence I'd suggest you consider.

First, wash the fender liner so it's squeeky clean, then find a piece 
of sheet aluminum (hardware store has them in 3' squares), cut it to 
the general size you think you'll need, begin shaping it over your knee 
or the tire you just bought, then with your rivet gun - pop rivet one 
short side of the aluminum to a solid part of the damaged plastic 
fender liner (I went from left to right because I'm right handed), use 
a rubber mallet to shape a few inches beside each long side from that 
end, install 2-3 pop rivets along both sides, use the rubber mallet 
some more, pop rivet some more, use the rubber mallet some more, pop 
rivet some more until the entire patch is pop riveted in place. Do the 
mallet shaping and pop riveting a little at a time to ensure a tight 
match (close mating) between plastic and aluminum when each of the pop 
rivets is installed.

Finish off with caulk along the four edges, wait a day for caulk to 
harden, revisit your work (with a bright light) the next day to see how 
you did, do any touch up needed, wait another day for that to dry, 
revisit again and if you're satisfied, apply aluminum duct tape over 
the plastic liner, caulk and aluminum patch.

The only thing left to do is add the words "inspect liner" to the 
routine maintenance list you follow every year. Been there, done that - 
15 years ago and the current owner tells me it's still water proof. At 
most, I refreshed the edges of the old aluminum duct tape after 
cleaning it and allowing it to dry overnight.


For me, the alternative is not only costly, but the actual dis-assembly 
of cabinetry inside the trailer over the wheel well is a bear. 
Likewise, re-assembly can be more than a bear when the parts don't fit 
exactly as they did prior to dis-assembly. Been there, done that and 
rued the day I chose that option.

Let me know what you eventually do. I'm always looking for refinements 
and novel ways to improve doing jobs I don't like doing.

One last caveat, if you do this job before outside temperatures get 
cold, it's easier on the hands (in spite of wearing work gloves to 
avoid cuts) and on the butt  (in spite of putting down a big piece of 
scrap carpet to avoid freezing your tush). Sometimes little things make 
big differences.

Good Luck,

Terry