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Clearcoat problems on mid-1990s Country Coaches

Yahoo Message Number: 82330
Our 1995 Intrigue is losing its clearcoat in different areas -- in one place in particular, it peels off in sheets. All these areas are overlying white surfaces.
We had a RV paint shop in Elkhart, IN, take look at the coach and were told that the white areas were not painted, that the clearcoat was applied at the factory directly to the gelcoat. Close inspection shows this to be the case, as even in the white stripes between swaths of color, the colored areas on either side are clearly raised above the surface of the white.
Two questions for the group. First, is this a common problem for CCs of the era? If so, I'm personally very disappointed as I always have held them to be a company that didn't cut corners. Searching the forums, however, suggests it is a problem, even for the Magma.
Second, has anyone come up with a solution good enough to avoid a whole body paint job, which will cost $14 - 20K?

Thanks in advance for your input,
CW Davis

CC Intrigue #10096

Re: Clearcoat problems on mid-1990s Country Coaches

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 82333
My '95 INTRIGUE 10070 has the peeling clearcoat. Everytime I wash I remove any that is loose. Seems to be caused by sun breaking the clearcoat to gelcoat bond. Much of the sides of my coach are not peeling. However, the areas above the awnings that receive a reflection off the metal awning cases is almost fully peeled. Of interest is about 18 inches along the edge of the roof near the door that is still well attached. Do not know why.
RUSS WARREN

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Re: Clearcoat problems on mid-1990s Country Coaches

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 82334
CW,

My 98 Allure has no clear coat over the white gel coat areas. Are you the original owner? Did you order full body clear coat from the factory? If this was done in aftermarket, then clear coat may have been applied without proper and thorough surface prep on the gel coat area. Or...it may have been a DIY project by an amateur.
BTW, I remember watching a an independent crew clear coating a coach in a Camping World parking lot several years ago without any surface prep. Their price was about $700.
Daron Hairabedian, 98 Allure, 30226

Re: Clearcoat problems on mid-1990s Country Coaches

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 82335
I have the problem concentrated on the Clear Coat over Gelcoat areas.
I strip the areas and reapply Clear Coat in as big a section as I can get the old clear coat removed.
I use SprayMax 2k rattle cans to apply the new clear coat in my urban driveway. So far I have done the driver side and rear cap.

Is it perfect? No.

Does it shine? Yes. It appears good more than 5 feet from the rig.
Will it last? I do not know, but going on two years in some sections.
I also had the brow painted to match the gelcoat and then new clear coat applied 10 years ago. That is still good looking paint. However, the cost to do the same to the whole rig would start to approach its market value.
That product only has a shelf life of 24 hours once the rattle can is activated, so prior planning for spraying is cost effective.
The ridges where new and old clear coat mate and the inevitable orange peel effect consume hours of sanding and buffing time.

Dean

1995 Magna 5280

Re: Clearcoat problems on mid-1990s Country Coaches

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 82336
CW: I have a 1994 Concept with a full body paint job, no gel coat showing and my clear coat is not peeling. However it is kept inside when not in use which I am sure contributes to the condition. This would seem to back up the fact that it only peels where the gel coat was coated with clear coat. Barrie Boas 94 Concept 5111

Re: Clearcoat problems on mid-1990s Country Coaches

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 82346
I had the same problem on my 96 Intrigue. Had a shop repaint in solid color only the clear coated fiberglass areas. They removed most of the clear by scraping with a razor blade and sanding those areas which proved stubborn. Masked off the existing painted sections and applied a darker sandlewood color which coordinated with the existing color. This meant only the area above the beltline needed work and then added a accent stripe on the bottom of the compartment doors.
I bartered a boat worth about $5000 for the work and let them have the coach for a couple of months so they could tackle it at their leisure.
I'm very pleased with the work. I posted a picture in photos under 1996 intrigue new paint so you can see what it looks like. Made the coach look years newer too. good luck.

Re: Clearcoat problems on mid-1990s Country Coaches

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 82351
CW

I have lost the clear coat off of cars that were less the five years old.
UV will break down anything if it is not protected.

Dan 2006 Allure 31348

Re: Clearcoat problems on mid-1990s Country Coaches

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 82353
CW, My '96 Intrigue has had several areas of peeling over the white gel coat. At first had areas repainted and then clear coat which bonded to the paint -- couldn't keep up with that so now just polish the gel coat. From what I could find out CC was told that the clear coat would adhere if directly applied to the white non painted gel coat portion, not so! The early allures did not have clear coat so no peeling. Jim Veen, '96 Intrigue, #10299.

Low voltage lighting

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 82356
I want to thank you for turning me on to the LED company KaperII. They will be setting up the company I work part time as a dealer distributor. Let's see what kind of pricing they give us and maybe I can save the members of this forum and you some money.
I'll let you know what cost prices are and maybe you can advise me.

Jon
 

Re: Clearcoat problems on mid-1990s Country Coaches

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 82359

My 98 Allure has no clear coat on the white gel coat. These surfaces had become porous and chalked.
I was considering having it clear coated. But, a boat detailer advised me not to clear coat but instead, to rub it out until smooth then apply wax. I started to apply rubbing compound with a professional buffing wheel but found that it was not working well. I went over all the white by hand in four steps. 1. Heavy duty rubbing compound 2. Lighter duty rubbing compound. 3. Liquid polish 4. Wax.
I used up a lot of terry cloth rags; turning, rinsing out the spent compound and oxidation until they got too loaded. This is a very labor intensive process but, the result was satisfying. This was done two years ago. Now I just touch-up with finishing wax.
BTW, On my Coach Armor acrylic shield I applied "Flitz Metal Polish" with the buffing wheel. It looks almost new. I also use this on my aluminum wheels and all chrome.

Daron Hairabedian, 98 Allure 30226