Buying a used MH
We have been full timing for many years in our 09 NuWa 38 ft Discover America 5th wheel and thought about moving to a diesel pusher motorhome. Why, because OK so I am vain and wanted to travel with like the big boys.
So we start to go looking on the internet for units to buy. Well, we are not made of money but not poor either so we're looking at mid-2000 units. Like 2006 or so. The price range was not too bad and after much research found several issues with older MHs. Like trailing arms that need to be replaced and steering box movement problems. All seems things that should have been fixed by the previous owners. THEN the big issue came up...
A dealer said the unit I was looking at online was underpriced and he said why... Full Body Paint Checking. You ask what is that. I did a search and found...
The thin plywood that is covered with the fiberglass and then paint is off-gassing an acid that is bleeding out to the surface. It is caused by heat and shows up in the dark colors first.
The heat generated by dark colors in full sun causes the surface of the filon to develop short hairline cracks, which then showed through the paint. Lighter colors will not trigger this type of failure. The cracks don't leak or cause sidewall failures. More info... All the major manufacturers bought their fiberglass composites form the same supplier, so most everybody had the heat-related problem. The heat defect is tiny hair cracks, typically about 1/8"-3?16" in length. So this is not a problem for lower cost MHs but even the mega priced MHs. produced until the coachmakers changed who they got their fiberglass panels from. It seems about 2009 or later they changed.
So the bottom line is buyer beware if you are looking buying a full paint older MH. Look at it closely for paint problems. This may not show up for years so buy at your own risk. I am not saying don't buy but be aware of all the issues. Just google "paint checking" for more info. On this forum or even on www.iRVto.com
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So we start to go looking on the internet for units to buy. Well, we are not made of money but not poor either so we're looking at mid-2000 units. Like 2006 or so. The price range was not too bad and after much research found several issues with older MHs. Like trailing arms that need to be replaced and steering box movement problems. All seems things that should have been fixed by the previous owners. THEN the big issue came up...
A dealer said the unit I was looking at online was underpriced and he said why... Full Body Paint Checking. You ask what is that. I did a search and found...
The thin plywood that is covered with the fiberglass and then paint is off-gassing an acid that is bleeding out to the surface. It is caused by heat and shows up in the dark colors first.
The heat generated by dark colors in full sun causes the surface of the filon to develop short hairline cracks, which then showed through the paint. Lighter colors will not trigger this type of failure. The cracks don't leak or cause sidewall failures. More info... All the major manufacturers bought their fiberglass composites form the same supplier, so most everybody had the heat-related problem. The heat defect is tiny hair cracks, typically about 1/8"-3?16" in length. So this is not a problem for lower cost MHs but even the mega priced MHs. produced until the coachmakers changed who they got their fiberglass panels from. It seems about 2009 or later they changed.
So the bottom line is buyer beware if you are looking buying a full paint older MH. Look at it closely for paint problems. This may not show up for years so buy at your own risk. I am not saying don't buy but be aware of all the issues. Just google "paint checking" for more info. On this forum or even on www.iRVto.com
Pic
