Rear cap replacement after a storage lot backing impact
2019 fifth wheel, 38 foot, San Gabriel Valley storage yard
Short answer. Another vehicle backed into the rear of the trailer at a storage facility. The fiberglass rear cap showed three radiating cracks from a single impact point, the ladder was pushed in, and the rear bumper was bent. What the owner could not see was that the impact had pushed the rear wall inward enough to separate the cap flange from the sidewall on the driver side and crack the seam sealant across the top.
What the job involved
- Documented impact vector and photographed all damage with scale references before any disassembly
- Removed the ladder, bumper, taillights and rear cap trim to expose the cap to wall seam
- Measured the rear frame section and confirmed the ladder frame itself was within specification
- Ordered a molded replacement cap, which carried a six week lead time from the manufacturer
- Repaired the separated flange area on the sidewall and replaced two compromised framing members
- Fitted, bonded and mechanically fastened the new cap, then bedded the seam properly rather than surface sealing
- Refinished the cap and blended into the sidewalls, then reinstalled ladder, bumper and lighting
- Water tested the entire rear seam and both taillight penetrations before release
How it went back out
The trailer went back with a correctly bonded cap and a rebuilt seam rather than a filled and painted crack. The six week part lead dominated the schedule, and the owner was told that at authorization rather than discovering it in week three. The carrier approved the supplement covering the flange separation and framing work after receiving teardown photographs, since none of it was visible at first inspection.
Ready to get a written estimate
We write estimates at the shop and bill your carrier direct. 30 to 45 minutes from West Covina on the 57 and the 91.