which filler

[izzy]

Thanks to our EX window cleaner thinking what a good idea to rest his ladder against our caravan while he opened the back gate I have a few small dents in a cluster just under the awning rail. has anyone any recommendations for a fine white filler?
I was thinking maybe Milliput but have no experience of this.
Thanks

 

[Gagakev]

Another alternative would be to purchase two reflectors, one for each side of the van in the same position to balance it up
Have a peep here.

 

[Buckman]

Maybe you should get the window cleaner to resolve the issue as they are one that damaged the caravan through their thoughtless action.

 

[Beachball]

Another alternative would be to purchase two reflectors, one for each side of the van in the same position to balance it up
Have a peep here.

Hi Kev that what we did with our caravan there was dint and we put reflectors over it but on both sides .

 

[Buckman]

Another alternative would be to purchase two reflectors, one for each side of the van in the same position to balance it up
Have a peep here.

I am thinking that if it is a number of dents with reference to "cluster" in OP, reflectors may not solve the issue. If the dents are about 50cm apart, one for each leg of the ladder, two reflectors 50cm apart over the dents may look out of place.

 

[JTQ]

Another alternative would be to purchase two reflectors, one for each side of the van in the same position to balance it up
Have a peep here.

I don't quite follow the logic of duplicating the reflector on the other side, both can't be seen together and there are many differences on each side of our van, one even has a door!

 

[izzy]

Reflectors would be a good idea but the dents are 4 in a 5" cluster just in front of the N/S top running light so the area is too large. I have couple of other dings further on from what I assume were awning poles by the previous owner hence the question about filler.
He leaned his ladder (triple set) on the side panel and the curved part of the back panel (which is OK) and he must have done it 3 times previously.
Of course he denied it even though I had seen him do it and to me it seemed malicious, he said that it was my word against his so I refused to pay him and threw his ladders into the lane. What I should have done is record him on my phone but Hey Ho

He was also a rubbish window cleaner

 

[Mr Grumpy]

Any reputable filler such as Isopon can be used to hide your dings.
Once filled and smoothed I'd consider putting some kind of self adhesive sticker over it.
Smiley faces anyone?

 

[Gagakev]

I don't quite follow the logic of duplicating the reflector on the other side, both can't be seen together and there are many differences on each side of our van, one even has a door!

JTQ..........its to balance the weight ratio, cant have one side heavier than the other 😆 😆 😆

 

[Buckman]

JTQ..........its to balance the weight ratio, cant have one side heavier than the other 😆 😆 😆

Put the booze in the middle of the caravan when towing? 🤣 🤣 🤣

 

[Dustydog]

Izzy , Where do you live? Mine was dinged a few weeks ago. A fantastic guy from Bristol came to my storage. Here’s some pics. Three hours later , as good as new.

 

[izzy]

Bit too far for me Dustydog All the way from Yorkshire

 

[Dustydog]

The Chap spends two weeks a year at Wandahome doing bodywork. I’m sure he’d fit you in. Not cheap.Are you thinking of a diy job? The fillers he used were not the diy run of the mill stuff. The paint was sprayed and then a lacquer sprayed on top

 

[Hutch]

Izzy , Where do you live? Mine was dinged a few weeks ago. A fantastic guy from Bristol came to my storage. Here’s some pics. Three hours later , as good as new.

Hate to say it DD, a nice job, but I can still see two very small dent under the I in Wyoming, but that maybe was not in the repair cost? Nice job though.

 

[Dustydog]

Hate to say it DD, a nice job, but I can still see two very small dent under the I in Wyoming, but that maybe was not in the repair cost? Nice job though.

An early ding Hutch
but she is an old lady so a few blemishes are allowable. Look at us🤪🤪

 

[Hutch]

A caravan dealer in Biscester, many years ago, had problems with new caravans having very small dents in the lower areas of the bodywork. Turned out to be the Peacocks/ Peahens used as alarm birds seeing themselves and attacking the reflections.

 

[bertieboy1]

Thanks to our EX window cleaner thinking what a good idea to rest his ladder against our caravan while he opened the back gate I have a few small dents in a cluster just under the awning rail. has anyone any recommendations for a fine white filler?
I was thinking maybe Milliput but have no experience of this.
Thanks

Try a repairbody shop(not neccesarily a caravan body shop repair centre),sometimes they can repair dents by using a vacuum to pull out dents.

 

[izzy]

I thought that vacuum did not work on caravans due to the composite backing and the deformation to the alloy.
I am going to do a DIY job as I have some RS white paint that just happens to be an exact match for my van and I would like to become fairly competent with little dents as I think that they may become an ongoing thing . (Other than the window cleaner) and I have my son's van to consider as well
I just thought that a fine white filler would give me a fair start

 

[Dustydog]

Best use the same fillers as the professional. The first layer was light green mixed with a red hardener. Rubbed down it was white. Second layer was a triple mixture which was self levelling , no pin prick air holes. Again was white on rubbing down. Will you be using a lacquer as the final coat?
I don't know the make of fillers used but clearly they are designed for quick minimal effort by the craftsman. Maybe drop into a body shop and ask or google it?

 

[izzy]

I may try a lacquer if I think it needs it but when I tried the paint on some scratches beneath the door it was fine.
As for the filler there is a place near me that services vans and I need some things from their shop so I might use the opportunity to pick the brains of their technicians.
that sounds like proper gear Dustydog

 

[Beachball]

Izzy , Where do you live? Mine was dinged a few weeks ago. A fantastic guy from Bristol came to my storage. Here’s some pics. Three hours later , as good as new.

Hi DD looks like a great job

 

[Bluetonic]

I may try a lacquer if I think it needs it but when I tried the paint on some scratches beneath the door it was fine.
As for the filler there is a place near me that services vans and I need some things from their shop so I might use the opportunity to pick the brains of their technicians.
that sounds like proper gear Dustydog

From memory I don't think caravan manufacturers spray a top coat (lacquer) which is why Bailey caravans in particular oxidised so badly

 

[Notmyvan]

Depending on the white colour of your caravan which may be a British Standard Colour instead of buying filler (persumably car body filler) you could buy a tube of White Gelcoat Filler, which is what they use to repair scratches on yachts where the hull is white, I believe that the colour is Ford Diamond White.
I would also ring up the Caravan Manufacturer and ask what colour it is.

 

[Buckman]

On our Lunar the colour was Fiat flat white?

 

[GaryB]

I’ve been restoring classic cars for 35 years and the tip I always give anyone is to try (whenever possible) to avoid getting the paint and filler out to repair a dent. The issues are that manufacturers can have several different shades for a given colour (Ford Diamond white being one), which, along with the original finish being aged and oxidised can end up with a repair that’s more noticeable than the original damage. The other problem is that sometimes the different expansion rate of the (presumably) aluminium skin and filler can leave the repair visible after a while.

Try contacting one of the mobile car repair outfits and see what they can do, I had a golf ball sized dent pulled out of a previous caravan by one of these companies and it was impossible to detect afterwards.