Paint or strip vinyl clad aluminum walls?

[Chuck]

After recently removing the interior panels, I'm wondering about removing the vinyl altogether; I'll have to do either that, or paint. Trying to decide.
While most of the walls clean up fine, there are some areas that are permanently discolored, and won't ever clean up. I don't mind the original "look" of the textured vinyl, but I really don't like the fact that it eternally leaches glue to the surface, creating the sticky-coating that attracts dirt and mold, and has to be scrubbed regularly to control.

Does painting stop this process, and permanently seal that glue in? Or do they continue to bleed sticky goo?

I've seen stripping threads, and how it can be done, etc. What I wonder is how it is going to look long-term. The modern "ccd" style bare walls from the factory aren't really "bare;" they're clear coated.
I don't know what is to be found under my interior skins, but on the back, the aluminum is painted. Removing the vinyl with stripper would certainly strip any paint, too...but it would also strip clear-coat, if there was any. So the bare aluminum might look nice when first stripped and cleaned of glue, but what is it going to look like in a few years? Like the exterior of an old trailer? does it need to be polished? I certainly don't want to sign up for that.
OTOH...I also don't like the crud that accumulates on the sticky vinyl in areas that are difficult/impossible to access to clean. (sigh).

And what is it with the entry door? That seems to mold-up really fast..must have something to do with the screen door being held close; I'm not understanding why that is, you can see it in the pattern that develops.

[Becky B.]

If you clean the vinyl until it is not sticky & then coat it with future floor wax, it won't get sticky again. I have done it & it works. I plan to strip my door of vinyl because it has been painted & the paint is falling off.

[Chuck]

do they still even make that stuff? I couldn't ever find it in any local grocery stores.

wondering if the primer/paint does the same thing irt encapsulating the sticky.

[64airstream]

We recently painted the vinyl covered walls in our 68 Overlander. We found that even the highest grade latex paint doesn't stop the wall from becoming sticky again. But, we found Cabinet Enamel at Lowes (can be mixed in any color). We repainted with the Cabinet Enamel and no more stickiness. It does take longer to dry between coats and before use than latex.

Good luck,

Roy

[Becky B.]

Originally Posted by Chuck

do they still even make that stuff? I couldn't ever find it in any local grocery stores.

wondering if the primer/paint does the same thing irt encapsulating the sticky.

I think they still make it.....I have to get some for my Avion. The vinyl in those gets sticky too.. if I can't find it, I will use Armstrong linoleum wax. Same kind of stuff. I think primer would encapsulate the sticky, but it's just a th
ought! (No experience to back it up)

[Tampatomgirl]

Check out architectseries.com for brushed aluminum interior. Awesome! I'm doing that to my interior, then applying a champagne glaze. Can't wait to get it done!! I've never seen a prettier interior.

[PaintedWagon]

I painted the interior walls of our 72 Safari. I washed them all down, painted with primer, I used the Benjamin Moore version of something like Kills. I painted with a coat of latex eggshell and then sponged a slightly darker color over it. Looks great. that was 3 years ago an I have had no sticky surfaces or peeling.