Yahoo Message Number: 113950 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/113950)
Hey-
I'm about to have my coach painted while I'm down here in Mexico - and
I'm pulling off the plastic covers from the aluminum seam covers so that
it can be painted with no visible tape lines or old paint showing.
Everything on the outside of my coach has a significant bead of silicone
on it, these long plastic covers, around windows, etc.
I'm wondering if this was silicone was original from the factory, or
added later, and if it's really necessary for me to re-silicone these?
In case anyone is interested, we are razoring off the clear coat over
the gel coat, it comes off easily in big strips. Leaving the clear coat
over the painted graphics (which is still super stable). After sanding
all, graphics included, will color paint the gel coat areas with a
matched color (graphics taped off), then finish up by clear coating new
color and graphics from the bay doors seam and up. We also are paining
the full roof cap white-white. On the roof, I've removed all the
sealant, shower dome, horns, etc to get as much paint coverage as
possible, and will reseal - but use about 1/4 the amount. I'm also
looking at replacing my shower dome with a 1/4" security flat laminated
glass (with the wire in the middle). Unless someone was 6' 6" or taller
(I'm 6' and its fine at ceiling height), the flat glass should be fine
for clearance. I've removed virtually everything, all awnings but the
big one, mirrors, all lights, etc, etc. Should turn out really nice.
After I'm completed and can have pics to show the quality, I can share
info in case anyone else is interested in doing similar here (5 hours
from Tucson). I did watch him paint an entire 40' rig with a 5 color
scheme before starting on mine.
Wes Owens
2000 CC Allure, 36' # 30443
Currently in Kino Bay, Mexico
Yahoo Message Number: 113952 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/113952)
Sounds cool! I know you want the silicone around the windows. I have had them leak where the silicone had given way. Don't know about the other spots. You are a brave man to do all of that in Mexico, driving a shiny new coach home!
Greg
06 Magna
Yahoo Message Number: 113953 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/113953)
How much are you paying? And is it because of the checking that you are painting over?
Laura Lewis
Winter Park Chateau
405 Lions Gate Drive
Winter Park, CO 80482-0798
WWW.WinterParkChateau.com (http://WWW.WinterParkChateau.com)
970-726-2884
Yahoo Message Number: 113954 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/113954)
I'm not sure what you are calling "checking". I think this describes small cracks in the fiberglass or gel coat, which I don't have any issues with.
The clear coat directly over the fiberglass allows the sun to eventually damage the fiberglass gel coat. It becomes powdery even while still sealed under the clear coat, and still looks fine until any pinhole or chip in the clear, then it becomes very bad quickly, and comes off in big sheets.
The clear over the painted graphics on the coach are in perfect condition, there is no damage to the fiberglass under those sun-blocking areas. As well, in a few places, like under the mirror mounts, where the sun has never reached, the clear was still well bound to the gel coat.
It's become clear to me, that if I simply repainted the gel coat with clear, that it would again peel off in just a few years. I've found MANY websites where this was discussed, and people saying they would get 2-3 years usually on each new clear coat over the fiberglass.
I've also seen a few CC that are older than mine (2000), with their original paint, which looks new still. They were 100% color painted vs.clear over gel coat.
So, it seems like a no brainer to me that I must put a color coat on the gel coat in order to stop this problem.
I'm paying 40k pesos, or about $2,000 USD. He's using Sherwin Williams automotive paint, same as would be used in the USA. But he is not painting from the top of the bay doors down, and over the graphics just new clear coat, sealing the new color coat with the graphics. I believe he charged the guy before me with the 5 color complete paint job 80k pesos, or $4,000 USD.
He also repaired my Honda Insight rear plastic bumper - someone backed into me, then I backed into someone. Looks absolutely new, 2k pesos, or $100 USD.
My expectation here is that the paint job won't be perfect as one done in the USA for $15,000 USD, but it will be substantially the same, and most important to me, protect my RV fiberglass from continued damage, and at a price I can easily afford. It doesn't make sense to me to spend $15k on paint for a $48k market value RV. Of course the market value doesn't represent the real value of these great CC RVs that will last many, many years to come. But then again, from some stories I've read online about RV paint jobs done in the USA, maybe it will be better quality. I have gone to the effort to remove absolutely everything, windshied wiper motors, the pop riveted logos, all lights, awnings, everything. So that will help the quality of the job vs. taping all that stuff off. I'm not sure if many/any of the RV paint places in the US go to that extent to remove everything.
Also, the RV park where I'm at down here is nice, a bit rustic (only 30A), $225 per month for power, water, sewer. And I'm looking at the ocean out my front windshield. So for some people, the $$ saved on their USA winter RV slot might pay for a paint job while here. Don't even think about summertime though, miserable hot here.
Thanks,
Wes Owens
2000 CC Allure 36' #30443
Yahoo Message Number: 113955 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/113955)
Bonjour Wes,
Very interesting. Maybe I missed it, but can you share where you are in Mexico and who will be doing the paint job?
Thanks much,
Dick Bogaard
ex '03 Country Coach Allure, 40' tag, #30905
now SOB
Yahoo Message Number: 113956 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/113956)
Would love to see your coach when completed. Sounds really cheap. I was told painting these coaches was $1000/FT. Wow. $2K is incredible.
Yahoo Message Number: 113979 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/113979)
We're having the same problem. This sounds like exactly what we've needed. Will you please share the information on the business doing your paint job? Also the RV park name where you are staying?
Jaymalea Bray
1998 Country Coach Intrigue, 38', #10636
From Huachuca City, AZ
Yahoo Message Number: 113981 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/113981)
I think you will find that you should not use silicone but either GeoCell 300 or Dicor Pro Flex. It looks the same but is made for those applications.
Rich O.
Yahoo Message Number: 113982 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/113982)
BTW, Have been to Puerto Penasco, how hard to get to Keno bay?
Rich O
Yahoo Message Number: 113988 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/113988)
I'm in Kino Bay, Sonora, MX. South of Puerto Penasco a little bit. Much less Americanized, and LOTS of beach, like 12+ miles long with public access the whole length. I've heard no beach in PP?
The RV park I'm in is called Islandia, and it's in "Old" Kino.
http://www.islandiamx.com (http://www.islandiamx.com)
There are a few RV parks that might be considered nicer in "New" Kino, but they are also 3x the price, and not right on the beach. There is also a great expat community here, they have Club Deportivo, and constantly have yoga, pickle ball, bocce ball, happy hours, dinners, breakfasts, etc. and have a great library and more. I'm 49, so it's not quite my age group, but my Mom and her husband are frequently playing on their golf course and other social stuff.
The painter guy is "Denver" and lives up the street. Although at this point I'm not entirely thrilled as the prep is not as great as I'd like. So, I'm having to check up on the prep more than I'd like, and I've been doing some of it myself. I think the final product will be well worth the effort. I'll update once it's done.
Thanks,
Wes Owens
2000 CC Allure, 36' #30443
Currently in Kino Bay MX
Yahoo Message Number: 113989 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/113989)
Wes, it sounds a little scary. I think most of us would like to see before and after pictures.
Thanks for the info and updates.
Yahoo Message Number: 113990 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/country-coach-owners/conversations/messages/113990)
Wes,
Thanks for the information. Hope the paint job goes the way you want it.
Let us know how happy you are once completed.
Dick
ex '03 Country Coach Allure, 40' tag, #30905