Pro & Cons of ceramic coating

[jlandreth]

Just wondering about the pros and cons of ceramic coating. I have never had a ceramic coating on any vehicle because I wax on a regular bases. But, because of the investment I have in this 2023 27FBT I am considering it. The price quotes I am getting are all over the place so I'm not sure what to do. Any info would be appreciated.

[MINICS04]

This is what I used. I have used this on my cars for a couple of years. The vehicles stay much cleaner.

We purchased a 2020 Caravel 16RB in May of 2023. The first thing I did was to ceramic coat it. You say that you wax your vehicles often? Then you can apply the ceramic coat with great results. Get the Avalon King and do it yourself. Much cheaper! Water just beads up and rolls of the Airstream. Just take your time doing the prep work. I washed, clay bar, IP wipe down, and ceramic coated. Took 1 full day, but with the results from my cars I shouldn't have to recoat for 2-4 years.


https://avalonking.com/products/armor-shield-ix-diy-kit

[Acheron2010]

I had mine professionally installed on my 2015 Chev Silverado 2500 by Detailed Automotive in Jacksboro, Tennessee (north of Knoxville). Could not be more pleased. From Arizona to Alberta, hot sun to freezing snow, it still looks brand new after three years. Highly recommended.
Coating for the Airstream? Well, protecting that major investment would be worth it, but I would talk to the professional installers about it.

[Slvr_Lining]

We had our ‘22 27’ FBT GT done right after we took delivery. Our intent was to avoid the corrosion that occurs at the edges of exterior panels (filiform). We took ours to Vinnie’s in northern Ca (he is an Airstream whisperer) where they use a proprietary formula. I understand he does this work in Tallahassee too. They did the prep and sprayed 3 coats over a couple of days. Although the trailer was brand new, it looked even more beautiful when we picked it up!!

Others have mentioned the pros and I’d add avoiding filiform. The only con I can think of is the cost… but you’ll be protecting your significant investment.

[Hans627]

I had my GT coated at Vinnie's in Tallahassee. They did an awesome job and I think it helps with the protection. It still gets dirty but is easier to clean.

I agree the only con is the cost. If I had to do it again I would make the same decision.

[tbrowne]

Cons:
It’s very expensive and needs to be reapplied every few years.
It’s not scratch-proof and can still be damaged by abrasive or sharp objects.
It’s time-consuming and labor intensive to apply requiring professional installation.
It requires frequent maintenance to keep its performance and shine.
It can cause water spotting if not dried properly after washing.
Bang for the Buck may not be there.

[Airstream1817]

Originally Posted by tbrowne

Cons:
It’s very expensive and needs to be reapplied every few years.
It’s not scratch-proof and can still be damaged by abrasive or sharp objects.
It’s time-consuming and labor intensive to apply requiring professional installation.
It requires frequent maintenance to keep its performance and shine.
It can cause water spotting if not dried properly after washing.
Bang for the Buck may not be there.

I don’t wish to be provocative but this is a very one-sided list of “Cons”.

I have not had our new Int’l 27 FB coated but I did have my brand new Ram 2500 done with a 2-coat process and had PPF (clear bra) applied to all front bumper elements and all the front lights. My coating comes with a 5-year warranty against failure of the coating.

To address your points:

What’s expensive? A good and proper wax job by a pro detailer is $300+ for a full size HD pickup. That needs to be done twice a year at a minimum if you expect to enjoy water-shedding like a proper SiO2 coating. Over three years that would more than pay for the coating job.

Define “scratch proof”. A 2-4 layer ceramic or nano coating is significantly more scratch resistant than a body with a coat of Turtle Wax. Is it Keying proof, not likely, but more than plain wax. I won’t even address the abrasive and sharp object point.

Time consuming installation? I dropped it off one morning and picked it up the next afternoon, under 48 hours including all the prep work.

Expensive? By the time we were done negotiating, my 2-coat, 5-year deal was just under $1,200, about 1.25% the cost of my 2023 2500 Limited Ram. That included ceramic in all painted surfaces, all windows and mirrors, the wheels, all black trim and the US Truck Covers retractable cover (frame and slats). The clear bra was another $700.

Frequent maintenance to maintain shine? Do you wash your current ride? Wax it? How frequently? The maintenance of shine is no more challenging, frequent or expensive on a ceramic coating vs a traditional wax job.

And I have no idea where you get your notions on water spotting, how is that a bigger issue for ceramic vs waxed? Hard water affects every vehicle if you allow the hard water to air dry, especially under direct sun. I wash my own truck, once every week or two, and after the final rinse I use a leaf blower to force 90%+ of the water to bead off. Then a few passes with a super absorbent drying towel to remove the last drops of water. Viola! No water spotting.

Try that with a 3+ month old wax job. Sure, you can avoid spots with wax, but it will require more hand drying versus ceramic.

And then there are the distinct advantages of ceramic over wax when it comes to removing bugs, tree sap, road tar, brake dust, etc., vastly superior for ceramic.

Bang for the buck? Well worth it IMO, but YMMV.

[Tyler2you]

Originally Posted by Newbie Tom

I don’t wish to be provocative but this is a very one-sided list of “Cons”.

Define “scratch proof”. A 2-4 layer ceramic or nano coating is significantly more scratch resistant than a body with a coat of Turtle Wax. Is it Keying proof, not likely, but more than plain wax. I won’t even address the abrasive and sharp object point.

Expensive? By the time we were done negotiating, my 2-coat, 5-year deal was just under $1,200, about 1.25% the cost of my 2023 2500 Limited Ram. That included ceramic in all painted surfaces, all windows and mirrors, the wheels, all black trim and the US Truck Covers retractable cover (frame and slats). The clear bra was another $700.

And I have no idea where you get your notions on water spotting, how is that a bigger issue for ceramic vs waxed? Hard water affects every vehicle if you allow the hard water to air dry, especially under direct sun. I wash my own truck, once every week or two, and after the final rinse I use a leaf blower to force 90%+ of the water to bead off. Then a few passes with a super absorbent drying towel to remove the last drops of water. Viola! No water spotting.

And then there are the distinct advantages of ceramic over wax when it comes to removing bugs, tree sap, road tar, brake dust, etc., vastly superior for ceramic.

Bang for the buck? Well worth it IMO, but YMMV.

Just a few comments on your list.

First, I believe you're speaking mainly to the benefits of ceramic coating a passenger vehicle vs. an Airstream. Need to define whether we're talking about applying an automotive coating to the trailer or the proprietary process Vinnie pioneered with Master Paint Guard.

As far as ceramic of any kind providing scratch protection, I believe you're greatly overestimating the ability of a nanometer thick coating to stop scratches from happening. It's great marketing, but show me anyone that's actually tested it and I think you'll find it's just fluff.

While the cost for coating a vehicle might run between $1K and $2K, I've heard quotes for doing an entire AS hit the $5K mark depending on the amount of prep required.

Ceramic coating makes many more, smaller water beads, so while it spots just as easily as a wax coating, there's many more, smaller spots. I've experienced this personally on my truck.

And finally, in my experience, the claimed ease of cleaning is greatly oversold. My truck gets just as dirty as before I had it coated and I don't find getting the dirt off is that much easier.

In my opinion, the greatest benefit to ceramic coating is the extensive paint prep that gets done before it's applied. But like they say, YMMV.

[kscherzi]

I've never ceramic coated my 2013 trailer, mainly because ceramic coating was in its infancy when I bought it new. After ten years there's a few signs of wear (small hail dents, lots of rock dents down low, and a scratch here and there), nothing that a ceramic coating would prevent. I've waxed it on occasion but not that regularly. The best thing I've done for the trailer is covered storage over its life. Frankly, the clear coat still looks nearly new.

A friend of mine applied a store bought can of ceramic coating to his 2007 and, while it lasted, he said it did make it easier to wash, but still needed to follow up with a dry rag to prevent spotting.

[Tyler2you]

Originally Posted by kscherzi

A friend of mine applied a store bought can of ceramic coating to his 2007 and, while it lasted, he said it did make it easier to wash, but still needed to follow up with a dry rag to prevent spotting.

Yep, if you're working in the sun, that's usually the biggest challenge with washing something the size of a travel trailer. It's almost impossible to get all the water off before it spots. Best to wash in the early evening or a cloudy day.

[Airstream1817]

Originally Posted by Tyler2you

Just a few comments on your list.

First, I believe you're speaking mainly to the benefits of ceramic coating a passenger vehicle vs. an Airstream. Need to define whether we're talking about applying an automotive coating to the trailer or the proprietary process Vinnie pioneered with Master Paint Guard.

As far as ceramic of any kind providing scratch protection, I believe you're greatly overestimating the ability of a nanometer thick coating to stop scratches from happening. It's great marketing, but show me anyone that's actually tested it and I think you'll find it's just fluff.

While the cost for coating a vehicle might run between $1K and $2K, I've heard quotes for doing an entire AS hit the $5K mark depending on the amount of prep required.

Ceramic coating makes many more, smaller water beads, so while it spots just as easily as a wax coating, there's many more, smaller spots. I've experienced this personally on my truck.

And finally, in my experience, the claimed ease of cleaning is greatly oversold. My truck gets just as dirty as before I had it coated and I don't find getting the dirt off is that much easier.

In my opinion, the greatest benefit to ceramic coating is the extensive paint prep that gets done before it's applied. But like they say, YMMV.

Yes, talking about ceramic generally and not trailer. I chose to NOT have the trailer coated because the cost was $4,000+ and it was a brand new trailer with whatever coating AS is applying at this point.

Yes, paint correction in vehicles removes oxidation and swirls and can make a big difference on older vehicles.

Scratch resistance is minimal, but still better than just wax. If you want scratch resistance for keys and stiff branches, then you need a PPF (paint protection film) to be applied. I have seen demo videos where PPF resists being keyed.

I did have PPF (clear bra material) applied to the rock guards, the exposed panel area just above the rock guards, and the area above the front windows around the Airstream logo. The lower areas are to help with small rocks but won’t help with Alaska sized stones, not designed for that. The upper area is for easier splattered bug removal and to protect the “clear coat”. Florida love bugs are known to have nasty juiced in them which can actually etch clear coat and the like if you don’t remove them in a timely manner. I also hand-applied a cheaper ceramic “coating” to those areas as well as the front windows.

I DO find cleaning the truck to be significantly easier with the ceramic coating. I use a foam cannon (pressure washer powered) and the 2-bucket method and the results are outstanding. I have also been lazy and used the contact-free approach of applying foam with the cannon and then just rinsing with the pressure washer and then blow dry with leaf blower. While the results are not as thorough as with the 2-bucket, they take less than half the time to complete.

I am too new to Airstreams to be able to judge the value of ceramic coating a trailer. Time will tell.

[Airstream1817]

If spots are a big concern, you can buy a water deionizer for under $200 IIRC. The catalyst in those captures most of the dissolved mineral solids which is what causes spotting. The harder your hose water, the worse the spotting and the deionizer units are very good at what they do.

Which gets to “recovered” water as used in many car and truck washes, the are loaded with dissolved solids and other stuff which will create spots so consider how you dry or detail after a place like Blue Beacon.

Last thought, car detailers will use a finishing spray on a freshly washed vehicle which does two things. I use one that allegedly contains some silicon dioxide. First, it removes any lingering water and any spots that might have already formed. Second, depending on the formulation, the spray may apply a top coating of some hydrophobic compound to aid water beading, etc. Sure, it is an extra step, but if spots are the concern being raised, then could be well worth the small effort and minor additional cost.

[tbrowne]

The OP asked about cons of ceramic coating and I posted a list that are legitimate downsides to the process. My 2018 Flying Cloud shows no signs of filiform corrosion to the edges of the aluminum panels and I don't see it elsewhere except where something has scratched the surface. I wash my trailer twice a year, once mid-season and once before I winterize it. I find that most modern car waxes last a long time on the trailer because it doesn't see the harsh detergents used in car washes. Rain and hand washing don't phase polymers much. Having a ceramic coating applied is a personal choice. I'd rather spend $20.00 on a good wax and put the other four or five thousand bucks away for a rainy day.

[richarus]

I used to Walbernize my Airstream twice a year. It was quite a bit of labor and usually lasted less than 6 months. I considered the Ceramic coat but with the expense and mixed reviews, I decided it was not worth it. I started using Rain X Waterless Car Wash and Rain Repellent a couple years ago. It is very easy to apply and produces a very good result. Note that if your rig is very dirty you will still need to wash it before using the product but the spray eliminates any water spots you may have.
https://www.amazon.com/Rain-X-620100...94&sr=8-1&th=1

[Bgarhammer]

Do it!

Yes, it is expensive.

Ceramic provides an amazing barrier and shine, not to mention the hydrophobic properties to keep your Airstream clean. Less bugs, less dirt and easier to clean.

It should resist the filiform corrosion as it serves to create a barrier at the lap joints.

Ceramic will protect the taillight castings which like to corrode.

If you have it done by a real professional, you should be able to restore the coating yourself on a regular basis.

If you want to double up, after you coat your trailer, use ACF-50 to coat your steel frame(s) and components.

My trailer is coming up on 4 years old and it looks better than new.

I also ground my Airstream to reduce any electrolysis while stored.

[Dick tracy]

My first AS - 2017 FC23fb - didn't do it
second AS - 2021 International 27fbt - paid the dealer $1500 inside and out coating and fabric protection
I note much easier to wash, shine up better with less effort, bugs and road film wash off easier IMHO and I wash it after each trip.


My local service team was supposed to wash after last service, forgot and reapplied the coating at no charge just prior to this season.
I'm happy with the performance and the cost $1500.

it only takes me and my wife about 75 minutes to wash and dry the aluminum and pressure wash the frame and undercarriage.
I plan to reapply in 3 years.
we do store indoors, so it is literally in the elements for less than 60 nights a year. This may be a factor as well.

[mikeinca]

I agree with the other "pro" sentiments in this thread. We had our 2020 Globetrotter ceramic coated by the dealer almost 4 years ago (it has a 7 year guarantee against staining from contaminates) and water still beads on the surface like it did when brand new. I wash fairly regularly but have never had to wax. For spot cleaning I use Meguiars Qwik Detailer which removes bird droppings and the like effortlessly.

With regard to spotting, I have a water deionizer which allows me to rinse and let the trailer air dry, even in the sun, without fear of spotting. It's a huge time saver.

The only "con" of a ceramic coating that I can think of is price, although as with most after sale add-ons significant discounts can be had if you're willing to bargain. I think it's a good investment.

[tgsmith02]

I went on a 62 day RV caravan to Alaska this past summer. Had a $3000 ceramic applied to my 2020 Globetrotter two weeks prior. Also bought rock tamers. The Alaskan highway, Klondike highway and Top of the world highway combined for about 200 miles of gravel. The pitting on the trailer front and A-frame was extensive. Going back to the guy who put it on this week. Lets we see if he stands by his work.

[BHChieftain]

I believe the longevity of the coating highly depends on the prep and application process, so the pricier quotes should reflect the time for that. In my case I paid 4K for a 25’, with my break even at 4 years since I do not wax my airstream myself (I do wash it). I used to pay about $500 2x per year to get her waxed. With the coating it only takes me 60-90min to get her sparkling clean, very low effort. If I had the time and energy to wax her myself I would skip the ceramic.

[ForteePlus]

Originally Posted by Hans627

I had my GT coated at Vinnie's in Tallahassee. They did an awesome job and I think it helps with the protection. It still gets dirty but is easier to clean.
I agree the only con is the cost. If I had to do it again I would make the same decision.

Same here. Had it done in Tallahassee back in May of this year after taking delivery in late February. Would have gone sooner but the May timing was right, plus a promo that month. Pleased thus far. Also had the lift installed and equally pleased we did that after some recent travels (still on the road now).

The biggest selling point for me was the oxidation/corrosion issue is lessened , if not negated completely, for the areas the ceramic is applied.