Looking at a 5er that comes with two different gelcoat options. One being your standard white gelcoat with white trim pieces/awning and the other being gray gelcoat with black trim/awning.While I like the looks of both and am leaning towards the gray I'm a bit concerned about how the black trim pieces and especially the awning will hold up to the elements over time. Any input or experience with the black trim on a trailer?

I don't have experience with black, but I can't stand how white trim pieces turn yellow over time. That alone would make me want to give the gray and black combo a try.

I thought the white trim turning yellow was a thing of the past. Newer trailers are still dealing with this?BTW I'm looking at an Attitude (same as your Stellar) that is now offered in a gray gelcoat.

I have personal experience with a gray colored 5th wheel and I would never do that again!Two reasons stand out for me...first, the gel coat faded (not oxidized) after a very short time (12 months) and continued to worsen the entire time I had the RV. UV plays havoc with colored gel coats and unless something has changed (improved) don't expect it to stay color-fast for long. Secondly...this may be my imagination but I swear the darker color made the inside warmer on those hot summer days.They do look nice for awhile though!

SH wrote:I have personal experience with a gray colored 5th wheel and I would never do that again!Two reasons stand out for me...first, the gel coat faded (not oxidized) after a very short time (12 months) and continued to worsen the entire time I had the RV. UV plays havoc with colored gel coats and unless something has changed (improved) don't expect it to stay color-fast for long. Secondly...this may be my imagination but I swear the darker color made the inside warmer on those hot summer days.They do look nice for awhile though!x2. I have a dark brown gel coated front cap and it too is fading after 12 months. I recently did a buff out with some gel coat compound and an elec polisher. It lasted a month and now you can see it coming back. I've read about the grey caps on the other brand forum the same company as mine. Also Just go over to any of the other forums like Forestriver, Jayco, Keystone, etc. They're having issues also. IMO a painted front cap is the only way to go. I'll try and get white next time or if not white at least painted.

I don't like how they put black ac covers on the tan and gray trailers.

Gray gelcoat and black trim | Good Sam Community

18 Replies

spadoctor
Explorer II
Oct 08, 2014
don't like the grey or dark colors....get hotter then white
SH
Explorer
Oct 07, 2014
transamz9 wrote:
I'm not saying you don't maintain it, sorry if it sounded like that. These boats I'm referring to are washed and waxed with Bass Boat Saver every time they come out of the water. I'm not doing an RV like that. Not worth that much to me to have it match the truck. Sorry if you misread my post.;)

Not a problem! I certainly understand the not wanting to wash/wax every use! Many think the fading is oxidation and I just want others to know that is not necessarily the case...it really does fade!

I purchased a gray rig because I liked it too. The colored gel coats look really sharp when they are new. After owning a rig with it, I don't think I would have it again. Perhaps a full body paint would be the way to go.
Dandy_Dan
Explorer
Oct 07, 2014
SH wrote:
N-Trouble wrote:
Yes I can see a dark gray being hotter but the unit I'm looking at is a pretty light shade of gray.

Here is an example of the color: http://www.rvusa.com/rvs/2015/eclipse-attitude-32sag-gray-call-for-the-lowest-price-slideout-s-toy-hauler-new-turlock-california-419398

Mine wasn't exactly dark gray

We have had our Open Range since May 2008 and like the gray. Haven't had any problems with the gray. Tired of looking at the white.
transamz9
Explorer
Oct 07, 2014
SH wrote:
transamz9 wrote:
Something don't make sense to me. Why all the fading on the RVs but boats don't have this problem? Maintenance maybe? Just about everyone I know with dark colored boats are not having fade problems. Do you think it's because they are washed and waxed so much and and RV is hard to keep up the maintenance up on?

Absolutely NOT! My therapy is caring for my toys. I treated my new "gray" gel coat no less than once a month with Rejex...supposedly a great UV protectant.

I'm not saying you don't maintain it, sorry if it sounded like that. I'm just try to figure out why this is occurring. Like I said, the DW and I are looking at these also but I don't want to if they are fading. These boats I'm referring to are washed and waxed with Bass Boat Saver every time they come out of the water. I'm not doing an RV like that. Not worth that much to me to have it match the truck. Sorry if you misread my post.;)
SH
Explorer
Oct 07, 2014
transamz9 wrote:
Something don't make sense to me. Why all the fading on the RVs but boats don't have this problem? Maintenance maybe? Just about everyone I know with dark colored boats are not having fade problems. Do you think it's because they are washed and waxed so much and and RV is hard to keep up the maintenance up on?

Absolutely NOT! My therapy is caring for my toys. I treated my new "gray" gel coat no less than once a month with Rejex...supposedly a great UV protectant.
C-Bears
Explorer
Oct 06, 2014
Our new FW is an off-white color with black trim, including upper wheel trim, air conditioner covers, handles, etc. The whole rig gets waxed twice a year and the cap gets waxed at least 3 times.

Compared to our last FW, which was all white, we haven't noticed it heating up more in the hot weather.
transamz9
Explorer
Oct 06, 2014
Something don't make sense to me. Why all the fading on the RVs but boats don't have this problem? Maintenance maybe? Just about everyone I know with dark colored boats are not having fade problems. Do you think it's because they are washed and waxed so much and and RV is hard to keep up the maintenance up on?

The reason I'm asking this is because the DW and I are looking at black and gray RVs. We are anal about washing are 5er but I'm not going to was and polish it regular like I do my boat.

Six years and no fade on my boat.
SH
Explorer
Oct 06, 2014
N-Trouble wrote:
Well the sides are about the same, but the front cap is noticeably darker. Is that where you primarily saw signs of fading?

Yes, the front and rear caps faded. The sides are made of a different material and not gel coat. I wouldn't expect the sides to fade but perhaps I didn't have the rig long enough.
N-Trouble
Explorer
Oct 06, 2014
Well the sides are about the same, but the front cap is noticeably darker. Is that where you primarily saw signs of fading?
SH
Explorer
Oct 06, 2014
N-Trouble wrote:
Yes I can see a dark gray being hotter but the unit I'm looking at is a pretty light shade of gray.

Here is an example of the color: http://www.rvusa.com/rvs/2015/eclipse-attitude-32sag-gray-call-for-the-lowest-price-slideout-s-toy-hauler-new-turlock-california-419398

Mine wasn't exactly dark gray