Repair storage compartment door

[bearcat77]

Anybody have any ideas on how to repair the door on the front storage compartment of our Keystone Laredo fifth wheel? Our tailgate came down during a tow and put a nasty gash and hole in the door. The door looks to be made of something slightly stronger than styrofoam. I’m thinking two possibilities: a backer plate, and then some kind of spray foam that could be sanded to a smooth finish. Or find either a plastic or metal diamond plate material that could be cut to size and glued and screwed to the door. Anybody else go down this road? Don’t really want to give the dealer $300 for a new door.
Thanks.

[travelin texans]

Fortunately have not had this problem, but if so the aluminum diamond plate would be my choice all across the front. May have to put a heavy strut to hold the door.
Or fill the void, sand smoothly & then have the entire lower portion under there sprayed with color matched LineX bedliner, probably more money than aluminum, but no more rock chips or dings thrown up from the tv tires with either fix.

[FlyingAroundRV]

If you can find a small length of Filon sheet (Amazon) that matches your trailer, and back it up with some plywood, you might be able to make a repair that looks original.

[hornet28]

Just had to order a new one for my 5er. Wasn't watching one side good enough in a campground and really screwed up a side compartment door and the door frame. I just ordered a new one from this company https://www.recpro.com/

[Sulphur1]

Back with thin ply or aluminium, fill with fiberglass, finish & auto paint.
Most important - add a simple gate latch bolt to stop the tailgate dropping down again!

[Frank G]

If you can get a new door for $300.00 go for it, a paint shop will get that and more for a matched paint job. That is a foam core you are dealing with, I would think it will react to most solvents including the resin used in fiberglass repair kits, Bondo may react too, and without a solid backing it will fall apart.

Both Ford and Ram have had issues with dropping tailgates. I had a recall on my 16 Ram.

[bearcat77]

Decided to go with $70 cosmetic repair vs $300 new door. I think for what I spent, it looks pretty good. Thermoplastic diamondplate roll off of Amazon. $50 plus shipping.

[FlyingAroundRV]

That's slicker than snot on a glass door knob!
Flash as a rat with a gold tooth!

[wiredgeorge]

Originally Posted by FlyingAroundRV

That's slicker than snot on a glass door knob!
Flash as a rat with a gold tooth!

Is that a good thing or bad?

There is a frame that is bent over the edge of whatever that door is. Take door off, bend frame out and remove the damaged part. Use the damaged door as a cutting template and use a piece of thin plywood as a backer and bond a piece of formica (I think that is what it is called) to the plywood using cement or heck, use the plastic diamond plate stuff but the backer will make the repair last. After cutting to shape of old damaged piece, stick the new piece back in and bend the frame back to hold it. You can reuse the locking hardware as well. I did this with a Forest River toy hauler front door (tail gate got it) and used the counter top Formica stuff as the white matches pretty well.

[travelin texans]

Originally Posted by bearcat77

Decided to go with $70 cosmetic repair vs $300 new door. I think for what I spent, it looks pretty good. Thermoplastic diamondplate roll off of Amazon. $50 plus shipping.
Attachment 23224

Looks great!

[edward willis]

Looks great. You did an excellent job. IMHO

[bbb]

HI-Just checking up on your thermoplastic diamond plate repair from 2019 and was wondering how its held up? Thinking of doing the same to mine. Thank you.