Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Winnebago Owners Online Community > WINNEBAGO TECH & TOW > General Maintenance and Repair
Click Here to Login
Register FilesRegistry Blogs FAQ Community Calendar Today's Posts Log in

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 07-11-2019, 06:15 PM   #1
Winnebago Camper
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 8
2 year old gelcoat damaged by sun.

hello,
I was excited to get my 2017 winnie drop in gorgeous blue. figured if I kept it clean, applied whatever protective stuff, it would last forever. not. the fenders are a shiny silver, so the sun damaged a semi circle above them. noticed the fade a bit, but too inexperienced to jump all over it, so I cleaned the awning with an rv awning cleaner. this cleaner ran into where the coating burned off and streaked/oxidized it horribly. no soap would take it off. tried clay bar. nothing. polishing compound worked on a tiny test area to an extent...I guess I need to buy an orbital, buff the @#$% out of it and find some clear coat?

so whats the deal with this space age gel coat? seems pretty delicate to me. guess Ill buy a cover or get covered storage. 20+ years with aluminum coaches never a problem 1.5 with the expensive gel coat? disaster. any secrets of the trade out there? im considering a boat shop, just let them do their magic. anyway, any tips would be appreciated. and yeah. the picture is upside down. perfect. lol

thanks...
nrg~~~~
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	faded.jpg
Views:	135
Size:	158.6 KB
ID:	171913  
nrg2brn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-19-2019, 11:27 AM   #2
Winnie-Wise
 
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 302
Quote:
Originally Posted by nrg2brn View Post
hello,
I was excited to get my 2017 winnie drop in gorgeous blue. figured if I kept it clean, applied whatever protective stuff, it would last forever. not. the fenders are a shiny silver, so the sun damaged a semi circle above them. noticed the fade a bit, but too inexperienced to jump all over it, so I cleaned the awning with an rv awning cleaner. this cleaner ran into where the coating burned off and streaked/oxidized it horribly. no soap would take it off. tried clay bar. nothing. polishing compound worked on a tiny test area to an extent...I guess I need to buy an orbital, buff the @#$% out of it and find some clear coat?

so whats the deal with this space age gel coat? seems pretty delicate to me. guess Ill buy a cover or get covered storage. 20+ years with aluminum coaches never a problem 1.5 with the expensive gel coat? disaster. any secrets of the trade out there? im considering a boat shop, just let them do their magic. anyway, any tips would be appreciated. and yeah. the picture is upside down. perfect. lol

thanks...
nrg~~~~
There is probably nothing you can do, to (even if you repair the gel coat, that it will not happen again.) unless you modify your the surface of your wheel fenders (black enamel paint, for instance.

There is another option though...that we who also own motorcycles have used as a solution to faded or paint damage by our clothing upon the tanks and saddle bags. The word----> good looking camouflage. Instead of spending time, money, and effort to bring back (which most likely you won't ) to factory glaze condition...I suggest that you think of taking it to a local motorcycle paint artist, and have him do a semi-circular painted scene of nature, like a forested lake, or river scene with mountains in the back ground. That would hide the gel coat damage, and he could use a good UV handling paint that we use for that purpose on our bikes. That's one option. The other option, would be to to attach a circular shield surface (polar white acrylic) that would not only look nice, customize your Drop...but would protect that vulnerable area from any further need of preventative or repariative nature. Also, a very nice oval scenery could be placed into the center of the polar white oval and looks simply great, and custom. That is what I most likely would do to effect not only a 'repair' but to avoid any further deterioration of that specific x/y coordinate of your side wall, and gel coat application.

Good luck, with anything you end up doing. Drops are nice trailers!
Sun_Seeker is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
2015 Vista 27N - One year old report powercat_ras Winnebago Class A Motorhomes 23 09-09-2018 10:01 AM
Dealer selling an rv with 14 year old tires zr1sparky Running Gear, Axles, Brakes, Wheels and Tires 43 07-18-2012 09:04 AM
Gelcoat cracking under decals INSPECTORBOB General Maintenance and Repair 6 04-26-2011 01:34 AM
Gelcoat has peeled off roof.......... Beabop General Maintenance and Repair 12 10-11-2007 05:38 AM
11 year old tires Dougmyers Running Gear, Axles, Brakes, Wheels and Tires 12 02-22-2006 09:57 PM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Winnebago Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 06:21 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.