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captjohn57's avatar
captjohn57
Explorer
Jan 28, 2015

Paint "checking" on '02 American Eagle

I'm flying to SoCal to inspect an '02 American Eagle with full body paint with a check in my pocket. The price seems very fair. The dealer told me there was some "checking" of the darker color paint. Pictures look like very fine cracks in the paint. Some places worse than others. He said the heat on the dark colors caused the glass to "out gas" and cause it. The coach is beautiful inside and out except for that and he says you have to get close to see it.
Anyone see this on older coaches? I'm guessing it didn't spend much time inside but I have a garage for it. I'm leaving Thursday morning.
Thanks!

OH! By the way. The Voltage and the truck are for sale. Hate to see them go :(
Class A
  • johnsonbert's avatar
    johnsonbert
    Explorer
    Jan 28, 2015
    Like has been said, it is a fiberglass problem in the that time period. We had a 2001 Ambassador with some dark blue that checked a little. Turtle makes a liquid wax in colors, I used that on the dark blue and it did not seem to show for up to 6-9 months. It was not a clearcoat paint, that may make a difference. The Eagle will have a very glossy clear on it so this may not work on that. Happy Trails Bert
  • smlranger's avatar
    smlranger
    Explorer
    Jan 28, 2015
    Not an uncommon problem with the Filon siding used by a number of manufacturers during those years. I had a 2002 Winnebago with it. It was primarily a cosmetic issue. I had the coach sanded, primed with high fill primer and painted. Four coats of clear on the base coat. It hid the checking for about 2 years but I could barely see it coming back in some places when we traded it.
  • John___Angela's avatar
    John___Angela
    Explorer
    Jan 28, 2015
    Common on coaches from 2000 to 2009 plus or minus, his description is accurate. NOTHING can be done. Repainting will fix it for a few years but it will come back.. the problem is the fiberglass not the paint. If it was tge right coach for the right price it would not stop me from buying it.
  • sailor_lou's avatar
    sailor_lou
    Explorer
    Jan 28, 2015
    I've read that many different MOHOs where having a similar issue around that time frame and a few years later. Something to do with the quality of the fiberglass that many RV manufacturer's were using. I don't recall the specifics, but hopefully someone with first hand knowledge will speak up.

    Lou
    05 Travel Supreme Envoy
  • deandec's avatar
    deandec
    Explorer
    Jan 28, 2015
    It started on my rig about 5 years ago when it was 15 yrs old.

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