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02-12-2015, 01:07 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Albany, GA.
Posts: 1,359
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New "Azdel" sidewall material repair
This past weekend I attended a car show/swap meet which we (two friends and I) have been going to for years. We camp out there in a large field type camping area with water and electric hook-up. There are telephone type poles on a grid with them being about 80 feet apart. While trying to get to one of these poles I got my truck stuck in this wet ground. The campgrounds are operated by a local city and not the car show people. Luckily they had a tractor on hand to pull vehicles out if they got stuck so we used the tractor to pull me on into my spot. After setting up and spending Thursday night in the camper we set out to see the car show/swap meet on Friday morning. When we came back there was a large coach parked next to me and rather close on my drivers side. There were obvious tracks in the soil showing that he had a hard time getting to his spot and his tires and fender wells were very muddy. He left sometime Saturday while we were in the show and we never saw them. After I got home and was setting up the TT where I park it I noticed that there were some serious scratch marks on my unit and one appears to be cracked through this Adzel brand material. Now I'm concerned about rain water possibly leaking into this sidewall. I have covered this crack with some tape temporarily until I can find out what to do. This unit is only three weeks old. I contacted the selling dealer's service department about this and they stated that they have never tried to repair this fairly new material and would get back with me. Does anyone happen to know if this new Azdel material can be repaired and possibly someone/dealer in Georgia, East Alabama, North Florida who can repair this material? Thanks
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02-12-2015, 01:40 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 3,247
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I don't think your problem is going to be with the Azdel, which is a composite board material that takes the place of the luan that is traditionally used. There is a paper thin layer of fiberglass over this Azdel that is scratched and cracked- I think. There could also be structural damage to the Azdel and possibly the aluminum or wood studs, whichever yours has. I think I'd be contacting my insurance company and I'd be taking it to someone that specializes in this type of repair. Unless done right, I think you'll have issues with delamination in the future. From what I read, it is possible the entire sidewall may even have to be replaced. Others on here will have much more experience with this type of thing and can give more concrete advice and information than I am capable of. Good luck.
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02-12-2015, 03:00 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 735
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With respect to dustman_stx, don't stress out too much here! Adzel is not some new mystical material at all and can be properly repaired. First, you did the right thing to see the areas from moisture and dirt intrusion! Do note that the fundamental benefit of Adzel is that it's not as susceptible to delamination and rot as traditional Filon is! Second, from your description is sounds like you basically got scuffed (perhaps dustman's more serious concern is founded though), and Adzel itself is not structural, the full composite panel is structural. The repair will entail preparation and filling with an epoxy urethane filler that's then leveled out and sealed. Then fine-sanded and refinished. Basically, exact same repair of any composite panel.
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03-01-2015, 01:12 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Albany, GA.
Posts: 1,359
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Update
I have contacted the dealer, Coachmen, and "Robert Reed Plywood" who makes the siding, and my insurance company. By far the insurance company is the hardest to work with. The dealer would love to have this repair job. Coachmen was very nice about this problem, supplied me with the contact at Robert Reed, and the paint code for the exterior paint. Robert Reed Plywood only stated that they do build the exterior wall units but my issue would be with Coachmen. Photos were supplied to Coachmen and the dealer. There is a consensus now that the damage is only to the exterior layer of fiberglass and can be repaired with proper fiberglass repair procedures. Now for the insurance company: The local agents states that this would be covered under the "hit and run" part of my auto policy. The insurance adjuster tells me that this is a collision claim just as if I and someone else had a fender bender out on the road. I smell trouble coming on. The adjuster has refused to drive the 100 miles from their office to see the damage and tells me I have to file a claim on the other guys insurance-hell, no one knows who he/she is. I'm throwing the ball back to the local agent to resolve, that's why I pay them the big bucks
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03-02-2015, 08:50 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 3,247
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Thurman
I have contacted the dealer, Coachmen, and "Robert Reed Plywood" who makes the siding, and my insurance company. By far the insurance company is the hardest to work with. The dealer would love to have this repair job. Coachmen was very nice about this problem, supplied me with the contact at Robert Reed, and the paint code for the exterior paint. Robert Reed Plywood only stated that they do build the exterior wall units but my issue would be with Coachmen. Photos were supplied to Coachmen and the dealer. There is a consensus now that the damage is only to the exterior layer of fiberglass and can be repaired with proper fiberglass repair procedures. Now for the insurance company: The local agents states that this would be covered under the "hit and run" part of my auto policy. The insurance adjuster tells me that this is a collision claim just as if I and someone else had a fender bender out on the road. I smell trouble coming on. The adjuster has refused to drive the 100 miles from their office to see the damage and tells me I have to file a claim on the other guys insurance-hell, no one knows who he/she is. I'm throwing the ball back to the local agent to resolve, that's why I pay them the big bucks
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I'd be careful letting them file it as a collision claim. My understanding is that this will look just exactly like it would if you were at fault- meaning potentially increased premiums and a "ding" on your insurance history- meaning if you try to shop later it'll possibly drop you to a less preferred rate.
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03-02-2015, 09:06 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 735
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Thurman
The local agents states that this would be covered under the "hit and run" part of my auto policy. The insurance adjuster tells me that this is a collision claim just as if I and someone else had a fender bender out on the road. I smell trouble coming on. The adjuster has refused to drive the 100 miles from their office to see the damage and tells me I have to file a claim on the other guys insurance-hell, no one knows who he/she is. I'm throwing the ball back to the local agent to resolve, that's why I pay them the big bucks
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You got the right idea - make YOUR agent work for you... You should get it sorted easily enough I think. FYI - It is not at all uncommon for adjusters/appraisers NOT to come out for a camper claim now. Many of the big insurance companies have phased out staff knowledgeable in the subject matter and the estimation software just doesn't have the needed support. It is now commonplace for them to work directly with the repair facility of your choice given the realization that owners will seek out shops skilled in the needed repairs, that those shops are few and far between, and that job estimating has to be done the old-fashion way by talking to manufacturers and suppliers to get cost of parts and then taking time to think about what the repair entails start to finish to estimate labor.
Hope you find a good shop in GA for the repair work! We're lucky here in the Delaware Valley to have three shops within a 2-hour drive radius that are top shelf in this repair work.
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