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Body Damage

 

Greetings! I'm Cheryl, I just joined, thanks, it's good to be here. I finally got my 86' Toyota Dolphin on May 8th and I love it! This is my first post.?
I guess I backed into something and now a seam on the rear of my lil' Dolphin is damaged. Is this something I can fix myself or is it a job for a professional? My son is very good at fixing most everything. I have a short trip planned for this weekend, about an hour and a half away from home. I feel like driving the rig like this will make it worse. I really hope we can fix it before Friday. Fix it tips would be greatly appreciated!?
Thanks for looking, Cheryl
 

My take is that there is no significant structural damage here. I'd fill with cheap flexible colorless caulk to seal the area, clean the back and side, then use mad amounts of blue painters tape to pull the corner piece against the caulk until it cures. Maybe some drywall screws evenly spaced to hold the corner piece in place. If you want it to look pretty, thats someone else's domain.
------Andymon

On Fri, Jul 12, 2024 at 2:14?PM Cheryl F via <misschero=[email protected]> wrote:
Greetings! I'm Cheryl, I just joined, thanks, it's good to be here. I finally got my 86' Toyota Dolphin on May 8th and I love it! This is my first post.?
I guess I backed into something and now a seam on the rear of my lil' Dolphin is damaged. Is this something I can fix myself or is it a job for a professional? My son is very good at fixing most everything. I have a short trip planned for this weekend, about an hour and a half away from home. I feel like driving the rig like this will make it worse. I really hope we can fix it before Friday. Fix it tips would be greatly appreciated!?
Thanks for looking, Cheryl

 

i agree except for the drywall screws. get some stainless steel screws. better in the long run
--
rz
 

p.s. don't use the old holes. the screws have pulled out of the wood in those places. drill some new holes in the trim
--
rz
 

Absolutely. Stainless steel or weatherproof screws are better to use in this situation.
------Andymon

On Fri, Jul 12, 2024 at 3:12?PM rz via <zaveson=[email protected]> wrote:
p.s. don't use the old holes. the screws have pulled out of the wood in those places. drill some new holes in the trim
--
rz

 

That's a decent sized trip if you have any structural damage, do you have an honest body shop or best rv place that can just look at it to see if it is still structurally okay, if so your son sounds like he could do a fine job, and the caulking idea might work fine.? Best of luck on your first adventure!


On Fri, Jul 12, 2024 at 5:14?PM Cheryl F via <misschero=[email protected]> wrote:
Greetings! I'm Cheryl, I just joined, thanks, it's good to be here. I finally got my 86' Toyota Dolphin on May 8th and I love it! This is my first post.?
I guess I backed into something and now a seam on the rear of my lil' Dolphin is damaged. Is this something I can fix myself or is it a job for a professional? My son is very good at fixing most everything. I have a short trip planned for this weekend, about an hour and a half away from home. I feel like driving the rig like this will make it worse. I really hope we can fix it before Friday. Fix it tips would be greatly appreciated!?
Thanks for looking, Cheryl

 

While it's difficult to tell from just the photos, this does not look like collision damage to me.

I think what happened is the fasteners holding the corner trim piece to conform to the contours of the back wall/side wall joint
have pulled out of the wood, likely due to the wood rotting from moisture intrusion. If forced to guess, I suspect the trim
piece was pulled up a bit by something like a tree branch catching on it, which allowed water to get in and soften the wood
around the fasteners.

In the long term, you should probably do a more thorough inspection to see how extensive the wood deterioration is and
what allowed the water intrusion, and correct that situation when you can.

In the short term, I don't believe any significant additional damage will be caused by driving the ToyHome in its current
condition. A quick-and-dirty cosmetic repair to prevent further moisture intrusion is desirable, but not strictly necessary.

If you're son is handy, he should have no trouble with the techniques involved. RV coaches like your Dolphin are basically
wood frames covered with plywood (and some fiberglass sheeting).

Good luck,

Buzz L.
San Jose, CA
Former '86 Dolphin, '89 HiLux, and '96 Tacoma owner
 

Hello everyone! My son came by to look at the damage and showed me that it was from the rig scraping against a wooden light post when I was pulling out. He even pointed out the flecks of yellow from the reflector strips on the pole. I need to be more careful! I've never driven a large vehicle til now.?
Thank you all for your help and insight, I do appreciate it! I'll share it all with my son and go from there.?
I will definitely be back with different questions as I learn more about my lil' rig in the?future. I hope all?is well with you and yours!

Have a great day,
Cheryl
 

those mirrors are your friends . look at them alot
--
rz
 

and there's something I try to?remember, GOAL-go out and look...


On Mon, Jul 15, 2024 at 9:39?PM rz via <zaveson=[email protected]> wrote:
those mirrors are your friends . look at them alot
--
rz
 

Hi, I'm a woman with a 21' Sunrader and have had many an adventure.? One tip in case you don't know...back in to your spot but only about half way...get out and take a look for any trees and limbs extending into the spot, electric poles or high curbs that may be too close (both sides and back) and slowly park accordingly.? May take a couple times but you can do it.? Remember your mirrors do not see the very back of your spot. The older parks may be tighter spaces but usually best!
Happy Trails, Diana

On Monday, July 15, 2024 at 06:24:39 PM PDT, Cheryl F <misschero@...> wrote:


Hello everyone! My son came by to look at the damage and showed me that it was from the rig scraping against a wooden light post when I was pulling out. He even pointed out the flecks of yellow from the reflector strips on the pole. I need to be more careful! I've never driven a large vehicle til now.?
Thank you all for your help and insight, I do appreciate it! I'll share it all with my son and go from there.?
I will definitely be back with different questions as I learn more about my lil' rig in the?future. I hope all?is well with you and yours!

Have a great day,
Cheryl
 

You might wish to add a back-up camera. It is just another aid.
Caution: my brother hit something in his driveway in his Suraru
Tribeca and he has a back-up cam.
 

?I added a backup years ago, never need to really use mirrors or rear window, mirror since, tho i recommend still utilizing.... back up cam appears on rearview mirror, shows when getting close with green, yellow, RED areas.? ? I guess i always feel, if uncertain, stop, get out and look when backing into parking, etc. But definately worth the investment

On Monday, July 29, 2024 at 03:30:56 PM EDT, hobie17li <dhadams3@...> wrote:


You might wish to add a back-up camera. It is just another aid.
Caution: my brother hit something in his driveway in his Suraru
Tribeca and he has a back-up cam.

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