Exterior refurb

[Kreimer]

I am looking at getting the exterior of the 345 stripped and clear coat reapplied. Then the stripes repainted. I called one place (apparently the only place in KC that does RV painting) and she said the only option is to polish it. She also argued that there is not a clear coat. I guess I don't know what the sunburnt crap on the roof and down the sides is then... We already have a polished trailer and it is more Maintanence than I like. I can't imagine I would like maintaining the polish on a motorhome... Has anyone else run into anything like this?

[Waipio Rim]

The sunburnt crap is the original clear coat. We paid a kid who worked at a restoration shop to mask the paint and strip the remaining clear coat off of ours several years ago. That helped quite a bit, it isn't shiny now but it is a more uniform appearance. Still pondering the polishing issue, like you I don't want to have to maintain a finish.

[PeterH-350LE]

Originally Posted by Kreimer

I am looking at getting the exterior of the 345 stripped and clear coat reapplied. Then the stripes repainted. I called one place (apparently the only place in KC that does RV painting) and she said the only option is to polish it. She also argued that there is not a clear coat. I guess I don't know what the sunburnt crap on the roof and down the sides is then... We already have a polished trailer and it is more Maintanence than I like. I can't imagine I would like maintaining the polish on a motorhome... Has anyone else run into anything like this?

Of course there "was" a clearcoat and probably still is on the lower end.
The problem with just re clearcoating is that the areas around the top started to oxidize to various degrees. Just clear coating will not hide that, even if you strip the lower remaining clear coat.
Polishing and then clear coating appears to be a problem as well, since your alu does not have a good surface any more for the clearcoat to stick to.
So , she is right to say the only real option is to polish it, if you want to keep the alu. The other would be to paint it silver, like quite a few have.
Dark around the windows, heavy pinstriping at the lower beltline and mid beltline, white roof, that only leaves a few panels to paint or polish.
Look at this 89 345 at Freds site, very little alu left, maybe none
http://www.viewrvs.com/motorhome/air...home-345-l.php

[PeterH-350LE]

a lot of good info here:
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f441...ml#post1594721

[ALANSD]

I removed the peeling & faded clearcoat from my 82 280. The look of the aluminum when washed and waxed was perfect for my taste. No polishing was done other than the automotive wax applied.
Easy to maintain as well.
I restriped it as you can see, too.

[bobmiller1]

Just so you know Peter, that picture of the 345 was taken 20 years ago, I almost bought it . That was the one for sale in Mississippi a few months ago, but when the owners daughter sent me the current pictures I passed on it.