Sidewall Problems/"Gassing"/Checking of Paint

Some, maybe most, of the sidewall problems are the result of the adoption of dark color full body paint. About 8 years ago I encountered a company at the big Tampa RV show that's entire business was replacing sidewalls. They said the increased temperature created by the dark paint in the Florida sun was causing failure of the fiberglass underneath. Also since prefab sandwich walls make the construction process more efficient the other materials and adhesives in the sandwich are also subject to degradation due to the increased temps. Easy to validate the difference. Take your IR thermometer you use to check tire temps (you do use one don't you?) and measure a black, red, or dark brown sidewall temp at 2 PM and then measure a white unpainted one. Don't think you'll find a hi-temp materials engineer at any RV manufacturer. User pays for the learning curve.

A second disadvantage of the dark paint is the added burden on the A/C systems.

But don't they look purty!!!