The scratches will have to be lightly sanded to feather the edges of the paint to meet the metal. The bare metal will be primed and then a spot putty is applied and sanded smooth to fill the scratch areas. Then the whole area, usually to a major seam or wall separation (door, window etc) will be resprayed. Because the final paint was originally applied my a roller process, it may be difficult to match the original sheen. Accordingly, the whole side of the trailer may have to be clear coated to match the repairs to the original paint.

Sorry you have to endure this violation. Better future luck.     Gard

What did your insurance co. say? Got any clue to who might have done this? Like Gard said, may have to "redo" the whole side or maybe the whole trailer to get it to match. Might contact the trailer mfg., they may be able to help being as it's new.

Pretty sure it's a local kid in the neighborhood who was pretty much reigned terror in the neighborhood for a while.  He has admitted to other kids in the neighborhood but parents say NO ONE saw him do it so we can't do anything about it--we'll see.  The scratches are on the living quarters door, escape door, and a manger door.  So was hoping maybe they can get it to match without having to redo the whole thing.  I agree it's only paint, but we saved 5 years for this trailer all for some punk to ruin it.  He fiddled with locks--thank goodness he didn't get in, could have been alot worse.  Thanks for the info.  Just wanted some opinions before we take it for estimates.

you might want to get a police report.  depending on the cost of the damage it could be a felony vandalism.  in the event u did find who it is they would have a felony to deal with OR a misdmeanor for sure....u can also put cameras up in ur trailer area for the future..sounds extreme, but it would be great to catch the SOB's on tape..

people laugh at me because i have insurance on my horse trailer, but i would highly recommend it.  i have foremost and its 120.00 a year.  if u have it call ur insurance.

im sorry that happened to u thats BS...

Woops, posted an empty thread.  Thanks for all of your ideas--have thought about cameras, but fence charger is also interesting idea.  Have contacted manufacturer and they offered to give quote on how they would fix it if I send pics.  At least this will give me assurance if we have a local fix it.  Thanks for all of your concern.  Have purchased 30 acres and will be moving in hopefully near future.  This incident just makes us want to speed up the process.

I would fear the legal repercussions of doing the fence charger.  Even minor "traps" like that are really frowned upon legally. 

If he's been telling people who did it, the police certainly could do something, but depending on your police department, the local police may simply choose to ignore it. I wouldn't be surprised - though always disappointed - when they take that "we won't do anything" position.

New trailer plus damage on doors only means a complete and much simpler repair.

I think this must be really disappointing and hope you enjoy your new 30 acres.

Why,it's not going to kill the kid,you know.What's he going to do,run to the cops to complain that when he tried to touch someone's private property,he got shocked?

When I took some law classes, we discussed some outrageous cases.  One case was a burgler who broke into a house and slipped on the newly waxed floor and broke his leg.  He sued the homeowner for having a 'dangerous' floor and HE WON!!!

www.uniquehorsetrailers.blogspot.com

I'm sorry.  I didn't see this earlier.  But, asbolutely, even if the potential for harm is little, it's just the worst of ideas unless you don't mind upleasant legal entanglements.  The law just does, and always has, have a lot of disdain for traps. 

Personally, I think it'd be great.  But, you just can't risk the liability, potentially under civil and criminal law, to actually do it.

It's fun to think of though, but something to never, ever really do:).  Like the poster said above, there are many, many cases where the trespasser ended up with the property because of non-deadly traps.  There is serious legal precedent to indicate that one shouldn't ever give into the temptation.

The police just don't.  I will never understand why they will not do their jobs on things like this.  I have so many stories personally and from friend - in various states - where you can hand them a video of the person committing the crime and they won't do anything about it. I really don't know why.  I'm sorry you have run into this.  (In my case, the known criminal whom the police would NOT charge with cutting the top off of a convertible - and breaking the steering wheel trying to steel it - while I had it parked for a few minutes at my mother's house killed someone two weeks later and finally went to prison.) I just don't know what the police are thinking when they refuse to act.

I was told by local police that if your property is posted NO TRESPASSING..and this crap happens..they can be charged for criminal damage..I would think if it is a newer trailer you have insurance..vandalism is illegal..plain and simple ..If it were me ..in a sleepy little community..I would make it my personal mission to haunt the local law until something was done.... " its the squeaky wheel that gets the oil"

I am sorry this happened to you..we work and dream and save to have something nice and some punk assed kid pulls  stupid stunt...what a shame

I second the notion of hot wiring the trailer again... LOL..with video too...what a laugh it would be to see him try it again...that in itself might be worth the aggravation..he he he   my bad ??  

I  hear you.  Call every day and sheriff's department just can't seem to find the time to work on it--they just don't want to mess with esp. knowing it involves a minor.