Does any place repair aluminum horse trailers (body work)?

[tallyho8]

A large branch fell off a pecan tree during a storm and landed on my horse trailer and shack. I can repair my shack but it is nearly impossible to find any place that will do body work on an aluminum horse trailer. The only suggestion I have had is to bring it back to the manufacturer in Oklahoma for repairs and if we have no other options this is what we will have to do.

Naturally,we have no insurance for this but we would like to get it repaired like new, not just an ugly patch welded on it. Anyone have any ideas?

 

[George2615]

Check your local camper trailer dealer. Years ago I had a tree branch fall on the camper roof. I called them and they said they do roof repairs (including Airstream which is similar to your roof). They completely removed the roof, replaced and reinforced the cross bracing with new aluminum (bent in their shop), and replaced the damaged section of roof. Then the resealed the roof. The local camper place here repairs all kinds of trailer roofing. Have your wallet ready cause they are not cheap. Try to get a written estimate first. Explain you want it repaired like new. If they can't do it them you have to go back to manufacturer.

 

[EarPlug]

I would suggest going back to the manufacturer. THey would have all of the plans and jigs to replace the needed parts. A general service place would need to spend a lot of time designing and engineering (guessing) the parts to be replaced.

Give the manufacturer a call and send them the pictures.

 

[r porter]

my bud had the same thing happen and the insurance co. paid for him to take it to the factory in ok.

a month later another branch went through the same roof and he had to go back out to ok. again. they did a good job and you would never know it had been damaged.

 

[hosspuller]

Did you check with your home owners insurance? It may be covered as it was on your property. Falling trees are likely a covered risk.

 

[WM75Guy]

If it were mine it would go back to the factory. The factory will have the construction plans on file. No trailer dealer service center or local body shop has the ability to make it look like it did before the accident. The top is usually one piece so it requires a major dismantling of the whole trailer, not just where the damage is. Anything less would be asking for leaks. Getting everything back square will require the factory jigs. The factory will have all the raw bar stock and sheet metal readily available or know what to order. Some of extruded stock is probably unique to that brand.

It looks like the top is attached to the crossbraces with 3M 2-sided tape, a common practice. If the skin and top is not put back on correctly it will have wrinkles or dimples all along the surface on the outside where they try to weld or rivet it. Again the factory knows how to make it look like a brand new trailer.

 

[ultrarunner]

I bought a trailer with damage... bought it right.

Went to the local dealer who was a car guy and we got to talking.

He ordered the panels and it took a few weeks because he said if the panels came with a regular delivery there would be no special creating or shipping...

I carefully unassembled my trailer to remove the damage panels and trimmed, drilled and riveted the new pieces in place...

It was less than $200 for material and most of a Saturday... the panels were already the right color.

 

[ultrarunner]

I bought a trailer with damage... bought it right.

Went to the local dealer who was a car guy and we got to talking.

He ordered the panels and it took a few weeks because he said if the panels came with a regular delivery there would be no special creating or shipping...

I carefully unassembled my trailer to remove the damage panels and trimmed, drilled and riveted the new pieces in place...

It was less than $200 for material and most of a Saturday... the panels were already the right color.

I was lucky as the ribs were not damaged or could easily be bent back into position.

 

[r porter]

yep, the home owners covered my buds trailer.

that brand is certainly worth doing a GOOD job on.

 

[tallyho8]

Homeowners insurance in southern Louisiana is a joke. After Katrina most insurance companies cancelled tens of thousands of peoples insurance policies. I went without insurance for 7 years before I found a company willing to insure me but only at 6 times the rate I was paying before and with a $10,000 deductible. Even if the repair cost $11,000 the insurance would only pay $1000 and then they would cancel my insurance and I would have to go many years before I could ever find a company to insure me again, maybe never.

It seems like the best option is to bring it to the manufacturer for repairs. This is where my second problem starts. My truck with the gooseneck hitch is not in good enough shape to risk making that trip there and back two times safely even though I can still use it locally for short trips. I would like to rent a truck to haul it but can not find any place locally that rents one with a gooseneck hitch. I know it will be quite expensive to hire someone to tow it there and then tow it back once repaired. I wonder what my cheapest mode of transportation would be?