Damage from blown tire

[khmiller]

We blew a tire on our 19 ft Springdale and it tore up the black cloth under the trailer in front of the tire. Some insulation was ripped away exposing the wood sheeting underneath. The hole is about 10 inches by 18 inches and is outside the main beam. I would like to re insulate it and seal it back up. Has anyone had this happen to their rig and if so, how did you fix it?


Thanks!

[sourdough]

I filed mine with Geico. Replaced the darco fabric (underbelly), insulation, sheathing, LP lines etc. to the tune of $7k.

[chuckster57]

The fabric is called Darco. Since the hole isn’t that big, you can stuff new insulation in the hole and use a product called scrim tape to seal it up. Scrim tape is like the same material as the fabric with adhesive.

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by sourdough

I filed mine with Geico. Replaced the darco fabric (underbelly), insulation, sheathing, LP lines etc. to the tune of $7k.

I apologize for not going further. As Chuckster stated you can fill the hole - looked like the dealership used spray foam to fill the void, trimmed it out then covered with new fabric (wheel well) which was outside the Darco underbelly. At 10x18 you would want to fill the void and make it as flat as possible with the rest of the underbelly then apply the tape, maybe in multiple rows (the only tape I have is maybe 5" wide). Another option might be these items;

https://www.amazon.com/Mobile-Flex-B...s%2C158&sr=8-1

https://www.amazon.com/Mobile-Belly-...s%2C160&sr=8-1


The top item would have to have adhesive so it would adhere and I think they make the bottom item in a wider option.

[khmiller]

Thanks for the advice! Everyone had been very helpful. I'm going to try the darco fabric with spray foam filler and some exterior spray adhesive. I'm also going to tack some aluminum mesh (that you use behind stucco) to the wood to help hold the spray foam in place. I'll try to get summer pictures to post.

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by khmiller

Thanks for the advice! Everyone had been very helpful. I'm going to try the darco fabric with spray foam filler and some exterior spray adhesive. I'm also going to tack some aluminum mesh (that you use behind stucco) to the wood to help hold the spray foam in place. I'll try to get summer pictures to post.

While I'm not sure what you'll be using for foam and adhesive, some spray adhesives are not compatible with spray foam and will "dissolve it" or "melt it"... Be sure what you're using is compatible or you may wind up with a "dripping mess" under your trailer......

[khmiller]

I never thought of that. I'm just using the spray foam they sell at Lowe's for gaps larger than one inch. I'll have to test it first. Thanks for the heads-up!

[khmiller]

I finally got the bottom of my trailer repaired. I purchased some darco fabric from Amazon, a piece of corner mesh for stucco work, a couple cans of spray foam and some exterior spray adhesive from Lowes.






I started by cleaning the damaged edges of the cloth and removing any debris from the gaping wound. I then cut pieces of the corner mesh and stapled them through the fold to the exposed flooring so the sides could be pulled down a little (like an inverted "V"). I did that so the foam spray would have something to grip besides just the flooring.










I began spraying the foam into the mesh but gravity was too strong and it wouldn't hold.






I remembered a YouTube video I saw of a trick to reduce the amount of spray foam insulation that needed to be trimmed when insulating a house. They covered a piece of 1/4" plywood with plastic then tacked it to the exposed studs, sprayed the foam behind the plywood then removed it once the foam began to cure. For my needs, I used a piece of scrap masonite, wrapped it in plastic and tacked it to the bottom of the trailer over the hole.

[khmiller]

I used a combination of 2x4 braces and grabber screws to hold it in place. I drilled several holes in the masonite just big enough for the tube on the spray foam can and began filling up the wound with foam.






I let the foam cure a few hours then pulled the masonite off. Due to the lack of airflow, the foam wasn't quite cured so I left it alone until it was fully cured. I trimmed it with a cheap hacksaw blade, filled any remaining holes then trimmed it smooth again.

[khmiller]

To cover the foam filler, I cut some of the darco fabric to size, taped it to the frame so it hung vertically. Following the directions on the can, I sprayed both surfaces, let it dry to slightly tacky, then pressed it into place. I added a couple more pieces over places I felt it needed, even over the brace you'll see in the pictures below. I wrapped a little into the wheel well because I didn't have enough surface area on one edge to stick the fabric to. I'll keep an eye on it to see if it holds.













Let this be a lesson to us all about the dangers of "China Bombs"! I should have checked the dates on the tires the day I bought the trailer and had them replaced. They were 2010s! If I would have done that simple step, I could have avoided a tire change on the side of the freeway south of Mona Utah. Luckily it was the curb-side tire so I was somewhat protected from traffic. The trailer would sway every time a big rig would pass. Not fun.


Lessons learned:
1. Check age of tires if you don't know
2. Have a tire changing ramp onboard so I don't have to use a bottle jack (my rig is tandem axle)

3. Have safety reflectors to deploy and take time to deploy them ( I now have a set for each vehicle and one in the trailer)
4. A set of ear plugs for my wife so she can't hear me "blessing" the trailer, tire and every rig that blasted pass us on the freeway...


Here is our "China Bomb"