Repairing Rust and Body Damage on Vehicles and RVs with glassSTEEL UV Patch

Repairing Rust and Body Damage on Vehicles and RVs with glassSTEEL UV Patch

Rust bubbles under the paint, holes in the floor pan, cracked wheel well liners, damaged RV skirting — vehicle and RV body repairs are a fact of life in Canada's climate. Body shop rates are high, wait times are long, and for work trucks and RVs, every day in the shop is a day you're not using them. glassSTEEL UV Patch is a professional-grade repair solution you can apply yourself, in your driveway or on the road, in under 15 minutes.

What Vehicles and RV Repairs Is It Good For?

  • Rust-through holes in truck beds, cab corners, and rocker panels
  • Floor pan rust and holes (cab and cargo areas)
  • RV underbelly and skirt panel damage
  • Trailer floor and sidewall rust-through
  • Wheel well rust and perforation
  • Holes from removed accessories (hitches, running boards, antennas)
  • Camper and fifth wheel exterior panel cracks

What You'll Need

  • glassSTEEL UV Patch
  • Wire brush
  • Acetone or wax-and-grease remover
  • UV Flashlight (essential for undercarriage and interior repairs)
  • Gloves and safety glasses
  • Sandpaper (for paint prep)

Step 1: Expose the Damage

Remove any trim, mud flaps, or liners covering the damaged area. Use a wire brush to probe the rust and determine its full extent — rust often spreads further than it appears from the surface. Remove all loose rust and scale until you reach metal that is firmly bonded.

Step 2: Clean and Degrease

Wipe the repair area with acetone or isopropyl alcohol. Vehicle surfaces often have road film, undercoating, and wax residue that will prevent adhesion if not removed. Allow to dry completely.

Step 3: Apply the Patch

Cut the glassSTEEL UV Patch to size — at least 2 inches of overlap beyond the damaged area on all sides. Peel the backing and press firmly into place, working from the center outward. For curved body panels, make small relief cuts around the patch perimeter to help it conform to the contour without lifting at the edges.

Step 4: Cure with UV Light

For exterior repairs, direct sunlight will cure the patch in 3–5 minutes. For undercarriage, floor pan, and interior repairs where sunlight can't reach, use a UV Flashlight. Hold it 1–2 inches from the surface and move it slowly and evenly across the entire patch. Cure time with the flashlight is approximately 3–5 minutes per square foot.

Step 5: Finish and Paint (Optional)

Once cured, the patch can be sanded and painted with automotive primer and paint for a finished appearance. For undercarriage repairs, apply rubberized undercoating over the cured patch for additional protection against road debris and moisture.

RV-Specific Tips

RV repairs have some unique considerations:

  • Underbelly panels: Many RV underbellies are made of thin aluminum or fiberglass-reinforced plastic. glassSTEEL UV Patch bonds to these materials as well as steel — clean and degrease thoroughly before applying.
  • Roof repairs: For RV roof cracks and holes
  • On the road: Keep a few patches in your RV emergency kit. If you pick up road damage while travelling, you can make a temporary or permanent repair at any campsite or rest stop — all you need is sunlight.

Work Trucks and Fleet Vehicles

For fleet managers dealing with rust on multiple vehicles, glassSTEEL UV Patch is a cost-effective way to extend vehicle service life and defer body shop visits. A single technician can repair multiple rust spots per day without specialized training or equipment. The Can Patch Starter Pack is a practical way to stock your maintenance shop.

Fix it yourself, fix it fast. Shop glassSTEEL UV Patch and stop rust before it spreads.

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