Dent in TT skirt on unit we are considering buying, help please

[Zad16]

Hello,
We are considering buying a trailer that is 7 hours from our home. I've spoken to the seller and he describes it as used half a dozen times (not at all in the last two years) with one small dent from being bumped while moved at the storage location. I've attached a picture to show the dent. It looks to me like it is just the skirting that has been damaged but hard to tell for sure. The seller swears the dent has not affected the structure at all. What say you Jayco TT guru's? Any idea on how much it would cost to replace the dented skirting? The trailer is a 2017 White Hawk 24 MBH and firm selling price is $21,000.

[RAurand]

Did you have him take pictures from underneath on the other side of the dent?

[Midnightmoon]

You really need to look in that compartment to see if there is any floor damage there. I will have to look at mine tomorrow to confirm. but I think that the floor extends to or below that white exterior molding on the belt line. It doesn't look to be pushed in very deep and may very well be OK, but I wouldn't feel right about it without looking for sure.

[Zad16]

Thank you both, I'll have him look and take a photo and if I decide to take the trip I'll look at it very closely.

[Midnightmoon]

The damage is actually in a very good spot for inspection below that compartment door. You should be able to have him shoot a picture directly down at the floor with the compartment door open and get a good idea of what is going on in there.

[travelingjw]

I own a Whitehawk and conquer with the above. Have him take two specific photos. The bottom edge of the cargo door with it open with the camera on the inside looking out and another one underneath the TT where the dent is. On the first photo you want to see if the frame of the cargo door is bent and if there is a separation where the cargo floor meets the side of the trailer. From the one below you want to examine the edge of the floor gap to assure that it has not affected the floor seal against the side. I looked at mine and I am fairly confident that this is only a cosmetic issue is it didn't alter the shape of the door frame. On Monday, you could call a dealer or Jayco and get the price of a replacement.

[Zad16]

He’s going to take the photos you’ve suggested today, I’ll report back. The TT is stored at an RV business so I’m going to see if they can do an inspection of the unit as well. Thank you for the advice.

[Midnightmoon]

Excellent. Let us know how it works out.

[freetime58]

The dent....to me anyway, looks like nothing more than superficial, nothing gouged, nothing torn open.....seems pretty cosmetic actually, doubt very much there is any structural damage.

[Flyrotor]

Agree with freetime58, I couldn't imagine this being anything more than cosmetic. The exterior of these trailers are too soft to hide a bunch of damage with a small scrape as seen in the picture

[norty1]

I had to have one section of my lower panel replaced due to me backing into it.
It was cosmetic only. My dealer ordered the metal from Jayco and a local rv repair shop replaced it in a couple of hours. I think the whole repair cost less than $600.

[Zad16]

Here are a few more photos. Seems like those of you who thought it was cosmetic only were right. It doesn't, to my eye anyway, look like there is any structural damage although with the insulation on the underside and how the underside photo was taken it's impossible to know for sure until I drive up there and have a look myself. From the outside and from the photo of the storage area I'd say it's cosmetic only. Thoughts?

[Midnightmoon]

I think that it looks cosmetic also. While you are looking in those front compartments, feel around the floor directly below the door area. Sometimes the floor will get soft in that area due to water leaks around the compartment door seal.

[mohok1]

A few years ago I had my dealer order 3 sections of skirting for my TT. I replaced them myself. The deal was it came in 8 foot sections and the cost of shipping was the kicker. If I recall shipping was around $250.00. Mine was easy to replace by backing out the screws and cutting the sections to fit.

[Sundancer330]

You also state it hasn't been used the past two years. I would be worried nobody has been up and inspected the roof, sealant need to be maintained. A roof leak could be a bigger problem than some dented trim.

[travelingjw]

I wanted to update my post. I recently had to repair my Jskirt and it was simple. I removed the screws, pulled it off, hammered out the dent and then repainted it. It looks almost as good as new; you would only notice if you knew where to look.