How to Replace Fiberglass on Campers

Fiberglass is an ideal shell material for a camper because of its light weight and relative strength. Accidents do happen, however, and the surface can be cracked or punctured by anything from an unnoticed tree branch to a runaway shopping cart. Damaged areas of your camper's fiberglass can be replaced without replacing the entire shell. All of the materials that you will need are available at your local hardware store.

Instructions

1

Tap on the area around the damage with a screwdriver or similar hard object to determine how much fiberglass is damaged. Often the damage extends farther than is visible. Good fiberglass makes a sharp sound when struck, while damaged fiberglass will sound dull.

2

Remove the damaged portion of the fiberglass using a rotary tool with a cutting blade. Be careful not to cut deeper than the fiberglass' thickness to avoid damaging wiring and other components behind the surface.

3

Remove and discard the damaged fiberglass.

4

Sand the area one inch around the hole with a palm sander and 100-grit sandpaper. This will roughen the surface and prepare it for a fiberglass patch.

5

Wash the sanded area with acetone and a rag to remove any sanding dust.

6

Slide a piece of cardboard through the hole to act as a backing for the patch. Secure the cardboard against the back of the hole with duct tape if you have access to that side; otherwise, glue it in place with super glue from the front.

7

Cut several pieces of fiberglass cloth to match the shape of the hole. You want enough pieces to nearly fill the thickness of the hole.

8

Cut two pieces of fiberglass mat to match the size of the ground-down area.

9

Brush a layer of paste wax around and under the hole. This will prevent any resin drips from bonding to the surface.

10

Mix a batch of fiberglass resin with catalyst in a disposable bucket, following the mixing ratio indicated on the resin's container.

11

Brush resin onto the cardboard surface.

12

Place a cut piece of fiberglass cloth into the hole, lining it up so it fits properly.

13

Tap more resin into the fiberglass with your brush, saturating it completely and working out any trapped air bubbles.

14

Apply the rest of the pieces of fiberglass cloth, saturating each with more resin.

15

Brush resin onto the sanded surface, then press the first piece of fiberglass mat in place.

16

Saturate the fiberglass cloth with resin, then apply the second piece and saturate it as well.

17

Allow the fiberglass to harden overnight.

18

Sand the patch with 100-grit sandpaper to begin smoothing the surface, then again with 150-grit, 200-grit and so on until you cannot feel a difference between the original fiberglass and the patch when you run your fingers along the surface.

19

Wash the surface with acetone to remove the dust.

20

Prime and paint the patched area to match the surrounding color.