RE: damaged top 97 Coleman Bayport

[StephenJ]

 
Greetings,
 
   I have a 97 Coleman Bayport that we ve had for a few years...  I had a chunk of ice fall off my roof and it cracked the ABS top of the camper (see attached image).  We want to keep the camper, but are wondering about the benefits of using several epoxy kits to do the repair......    As opposed to having a metal plate installed over it....   (I realize that is just inviting further cracks, etc....)....  but we have a trip scheduled for April 12th.  There is no problem with cranking the top up or down....    Advice about the epoxy repair is needed vs. the metal plate option.
 
   Probable course of action is to do the epoxy repair for the short term and then to have the roof replaced with the small bend of the metal base underneath the crack in the roof to be  pushed  back in....  (no damage to the furnace or the galley).
 
   I m just looking for options and ideas.....   Insurance company has totalled the camper.   No frame damage (where the tires are...)  It towed normally, and the lighting worked....
 
   If anyone has had experience with this sort of thing, I d appreciate their thoughts on what worked best for their family.    Please respond directly to me as I m not checking message boards often... and I m only a temporary member here.
 
 Thanks,
 
 Rob Johnson
 <rob.johnson@dartmouth.edu>

[Tim5055]

 StephenJ
Wow, they totaled it for just the top[]
 
 Obviously the best way would be to replace the top.  Figure $2,500 for top, shipping and labor.

[mike4947]

 StephenJ
ABS can be some funny stuff when trying to bond it to something else or even itself as in the case of a repair.
 I ve found epoxies either the polyester resin or actual expoy resin doesn t get much of a bite on ABS.
 There are ABS solvents, resins and glues on the market and your dealer should have a listing for repair products suitable for the ABS roofing material.
 In the mean time keep something over it as the roof core and even the ABS material itself can pick up moisture and untill it s REALLY dried out any repair will fail.

[jackgoesthepopup]

 StephenJ
I would put a piece of metal on the inside if i could get to it. This for strength. And then on the out side i would get some rosin and use fiberglass mesh on it to patch it.
 Then i would think about rubber roofing the whole roof.

[StephenJ]

 StephenJ
Thanks to everyone who replied.  We decided to get it repaired (metal plates underside and topside with waterproofing sealer.....    I appreciate your help!
 Rob