New Paint Job

[israndy]

Hard to believe that at only 10 years old or so our RVs already need new paint, but this one from https://www.facebook.com/AverysGarage/ did:









Wonder what it cost, just found it with a facebook search

-Randy

[SteveH]

Our '05's are twelve year models old, but the paint I'd bet is at least 13 years old, and maybe even 14 depending.

It seems the fiberglass that was used during those years was deficient of some sort of chemical hardener thanks to our EPA, and it hot weather it "out gasses" causing "checking" of the paint, especially the dark colors.

I've recently gotten "ball park" estimate to repaint anywhere from $25,000 to $45,000. Yes, FOURTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS!

A possible alternative is here: http://www.airforums.com/forums/f313...ng-167488.html

[masseyfarm]

And I thought decals were expensive?

I just had some done for the trailer for $220.

Dave

[israndy]

I have been tracking the pics of the Skydecks on the web and trying to organize them as there are only 27 ever built. Oddly this one takes two of the slots as I have it before and after paint. It is a rental in the UK, probably long since sold, but on the photos of it with he red paint it had red strips on the patio furniture, and with the black paint, blue. Now that I have the photos showing it's the same vehicle I am so curious where my photo collection went wrong...

If you do take your RV to Mexico let me know who you found, I was quoted $2000 just to paint the slide on my Skydeck...

-Randy

[SteveH]

If you do take your RV to Mexico let me know who you found, I was quoted $2000 just to paint the slide on my Skydeck...

Yes, it's hard to believe, but just a month ago while I had mine in the shop for a new windshield and some other work, I was quoted $12,000 just to touchup some areas (the darker color), and the front. I wanted all the clear coat removed and redone, and that would have been another $12,000.

I'm thinking now about how it would look if I stripped all the paint off, left it white, and put some graphics on it.

[PSchw]

How about a wrap? Should be easier as a car.

[SteveH]

Originally Posted by PSchw

How about a wrap? Should be easier as a car.

A friend of mine checked on that and it doesn't last as long and costs just as much.

[israndy]

The Skydeck I bought HAD a wrap on it, so in theory it has protected the full body paint for years. Sadly it is deteriorated and it extremely difficult to get off. I am pulling flakes of wrap off, it's gonna be there for a LONG time. And it's in every nook and cranny. And the guys to took most of it off used heat guns and warped the paint in areas. Also the image transferred into the silver paint from the wrap so I am going to have to repaint at least that.

But the paint despite being full body automotive has started to come up in the areas that have been exposed. I think there is a word for paint on fiberglass that sits up. Going to have to polish it to try and get it flat again, but I am not sure what it will look like. But hey, I only paid $65K for this RV and it's only got 8K on the Odo. Of course Pete paid $75K for his and it was indoors all these years...

-Randy

[PSchw]

I am not sure about inside and lot of water leak because of frozen lines tank and water pump.
I am not too worried about the outside as I will have scratches special on the top the roof is just high and limbs in the campground will hit it. I am using it and put 25k on it. Just get a new exhaust brake installed as mine never worked. 4 times I had it at Freightliner for service this last one I went pulled the log from the onboard computer and over 1500 hours with the same error code for the exhaust brake nobody else before even looked at this. 25k and 4 trips over the Rockies with out the exhaust brake.
Peter

[israndy]

Yikes! I cannot imagine! My exhaust break is fine, unless you are behind me, it gets pretty black coming out the tailpipe.

For me it was just the breaks themselves. It may be that they guy that adjusted them to tow me didn't put them back completely. I would put on the breaks coming down the Sierras and it would never entirely stop. And unlike a car I cannot use my muscles to clamp down more. All I am doing is sending a signal to the breaks to let the springs clamp down. I finally found a flat space to let my heart return to normal. Turns out it was just before the mountains flattened out. Since then I only take major highways, less dangerous.

It did let me get those awesome dramatic high and low pics of the new RV





-Randy

[PSchw]

Holy smoke you are brave to concur this streets.
I drove from Kernville CA back toward Bastrow on a similar street. No way I go there again and for sure I am not stopping.
Peter

[baldwinh]

Wow, guess I am fortunate. We have an 02 365 XC with full body paint and it looks excellent, I hate the thought of $20k or more for a paint job