Dent in rear plastic panel

[nicoll70]

Hi all
Could any one please give me some advice. We all got home safe and sound from a very wet and windy Devon on Sunday. Got Kids dogs and wife all in doors, then I backed the van in as I have done 100's of times before,only to hit the open garage door oh dear me.
On inspection I have managed to dent the top corner of the rear plastic panel. Now my question is can this be repaired (invisibly)or is it a whole new panel?? The van is a 2009 Avondale Dart I think in barley white. Many thanks Paul.

 

[Sproket]

Hello Paul.

Not easy to say what would be the best way to repair it with out seeing the damage.......
Can you take a few photos & follow this link on how-post-forum-photos
Then some more advice can be given...

 

[nicoll70]

Hi I will try to put photos on. I say that I will I mean that I will have to get my 12 year old to do it for me!!!!

 

[nicoll70]

Hi I will try to put photos on. I say that I will I mean that I will have to get my 12 year old to do it for me!!!!

 

[Clive-Cardiff]

If you are insured, why not let them sort it out?

 

[otherclive]

Try Caravan Medic they have franchises around the country. They did a van local to me which had a nasty side gouge and the website shows pictures of caravan repairs to aluminium sides and plastic ends. Your insurer could pay a much reduced cost or if you decided to pay yourself it could be cheaper than the excess and loss of NCD. There was a thread within the last 12 months where someone did detail their experience too.

 

[nicoll70]

Hi I will give them a call thank you, I was also thinking if the cost is not high I would pay myself so that I keep my NCD.

 

[MichaelE]

From what i remember the panels on later Avondales are thermoplastic not GRP ( if they were the later then they are much easier too repair yourself)
The techniques used to repair thermoplasticpanels i have seen used involved splits so the were plastic welded, i believe you can also fill with flexible bumper filler then repray.
If the filler is white you could add pigments to it to match the original panel colour, its just a case of sanding back to the original profile with varying grades of sand paper finishing off with a very fine (1500) wet and dry.
I have repaired a hole and a crack in white GRP using Plastic Padding Gelcoat repair.

 

[Raywood]

Paul, We have a 2008 Argente, Avondale went out of business that year so yours should be a 2008. I caught the backend on the porch and damaged the rear panel in 2009. I consulted the dealer who said they could not repair it. I had it replaced under the insurance who accepted it needed to be replaced. The parts took some getting then so I am not sure if this is possible now.
Ray