Full body paint

If it's painted, will it also be clear coated with quality material ? If not, it's for sure going to need to be waxed often, and if clear coated, IMO, still should be waxed.

My Titan horse trailers are painted but not clear coated, so to be kept looking decent, I've had to wax them.

Which is of course, the same amount of work as waxing a filon trailer.

The filon trailer I'm sitting in right now is coming up on seven years old and still looks good. Sit's outside all the time. Get's waxed two or three times a year. The decals are fading however. They are holding up, but they are fading. I wax right over the graphics with the rotary power buffer.

I would be concerned if all non painted trim was removed first or just masked off. I would hope that at 10k, it would be painted before any trim is attached.
Also, if I was spending that kind of money on a camper, I would spend a bit more for a carport to park it under.

Mortimer Brewster wrote:


Is it me or is the blue font the OP is using is tough to look at? I must be getting old. :(

yes it is tough to look at, but probably done to attract attention,
sort of like spending $10,000 for FBP.
I am curious if there is anybody who sprung for FBP on a Class A and then was too cheap to spend $2,000 for a toad braking system.
bumpy

For as much as these toys cost, it is nice to have them stay looking new. If you have the cash, go for it. Question - would it be more cost efficient to put the extra $ into indoor storage? (If you can find it, that is).

Is it me or is the blue font the OP is using is tough to look at? I must be getting old. :(

Up till now, ALL my rigs were either aluminum side, or fiberglass, or gelcoat.. It never fails, the decals always fade and start looking bad after time. The front and rear caps also fade from the sun even know I wax a few times a year..
My rig now has FBP and I love it.. I am NOT on a power trip.. I am NOT full of myself, not looking to massage my ego.. I just wanted to treat myself to it, was able to do so, and did it.
I am thrilled with the ease of care, and will probably never go back.

Momma always said " there is an a$$ for every seat " !! !

Both our rigs with gel coat showed some fading at 4-5 year mark in the Florida Sun. The Surveyor started losing some graphics at around 5-6 years and you could see the difference in the gel coat where the stickers had protected it.

The current rig is painted and at 4 years looks indistinguishable from new. It's got something like 8 coats of BASF on it. Ask a lot of questions about the painting process and materials. As someone suggested, if it's done post assembly to a completed unit there likely will be some deficits from that method.

ScottG wrote:
The cheap attacks aside,

how about honest answers/opinions, no attack intended.
bumpy

From what I have seen most of the manufacturers build the entire rig then ship it off to a vendor / sub contractor for the paint. They paint over sealants which were done before it left the manufacturer, which is bad practice, but have no choice as you can't mask them easily if at all without it looking like ****. It does not take long for the paint to start peeling off of those sealants and then it looks like he'll. I have recaulked a few full body paint rigs and all had issues at every caulk joint with the paint. When they engage a vendor/sub contractor they're looking for a lowball price, not for who does the best job, and that vendor is going to use the cheapest paint and materials they can find. Ypu may get a proper job with dertain brands like a super high end class A, but don't expect it from the Thor's. Forest Rivers, etc. I would never waste money on it.

The cheap attacks aside, I would want FBP if I were using the rig in those states that sun bleach RV's in short order. Filon and stickers look hideous after just a few years in the Az or NM sun. I'm not impressed by FBP but there are clearly some here who are - or more accurately, they're jealous of it.
I am impressed by older rigs that are well taken care of. Better materials and maint. facilitate that.
Call it pride in ownership or what ever but don't be petty just because some want their stuff looking tip-top. Or that they can afford something nicer.