Front gel cap

[Ziphead2]

I have a 2011 cougar fifth wheel and the font cap is fading and needs lots of work to bring the shine back. I tried other products without much success. I decide to go to my local boat store and ask their opinion. The recommended a product made by 3M called Marine cleaner and wax, a two part paste, one part wax, the other a light compound. Applied it with a buffer and wiped clean by hand. What a difference!! Cleans and shines like the day I bought it. Time Will tell how long it last but for now I am sold!!

[SH]

larry barnhart wrote:
I don't think our front cap is any different than it was in 2001. chevman

🙂

[larry_barnhart]

I don't think our front cap is any different than it was in 2001.

chevman

[rockintom]

pbar34 wrote:

rockintom wrote:
Not trying to rain on your parade cause the shine does comeback and looks nice. But when gelcoat/fiberglass get oxidized it become very porous and it doesn't stay protected (wax not staying on) very long and in short order the wax is gone and the whole process starts all over. My point is you have to keep the wax on it to retain the shine. Like once a month depending on the elements. Just my experience. rockin'

He's right but it is manageable if you keep up on the cleaning/polishing and waxing. I've taken several oxidized gelcoat finishes and got them back to a shining luster. They will fade back more quickly due to the previous oxidation/porous surface but it's not that bad. If you're ambitious, a 1000 grit wet sandpaper, followed by 1500 (wet) then a compound/polish and wax will keep it looking great for years - if you keep up on the cleaning and waxing.


Good luck,
Phil

Phil,

I did exactly what you did with the wet sanding...only used 1500 and 2000 to finish. Wheeled it out and used good wax. Mine died again in no time....but it sure looked good for a little while!!!

We've owned an '05 model that died in 1 year (capped waxed 6 times in that year), and now have a '12 model and it is holding up very good. I wax the front and back cap 4 times a year. Which is less then the 05 model. Bottom line...I think (guessing) the manufacturers are using a bit better material on the later models . Nothing else has changed for me. My rig is FT and is in the sun all the time. Just FYI. rockin'

[pbar34]

rockintom wrote:
Not trying to rain on your parade cause the shine does comeback and looks nice. But when gelcoat/fiberglass get oxidized it become very porous and it doesn't stay protected (wax not staying on) very long and in short order the wax is gone and the whole process starts all over. My point is you have to keep the wax on it to retain the shine. Like once a month depending on the elements. Just my experience. rockin'

He's right but it is manageable if you keep up on the cleaning/polishing and waxing. I've taken several oxidized gelcoat finishes and got them back to a shining luster. They will fade back more quickly due to the previous oxidation/porous surface but it's not that bad. If you're ambitious, a 1000 grit wet sandpaper, followed by 1500 (wet) then a compound/polish and wax will keep it looking great for years - if you keep up on the cleaning and waxing.


Good luck,
Phil

[MO_Trout_Bum]

Been there, done that, got the T shirt. The only real fix is to re-paint as B.O. Plenty indicates above. Still haven't decided whether/not we will buck up and do the paint job.

[goducks10]

I used Presta Gel Coat compound and a cheapo polisher/buffer. Looks great now but I can tell it's not going to last.

Really disgusting that the RV industry uses such low end components in their builds. They brag about the great looking front caps but don't tell the owners that 1-2 years down the road it will start to look like******and need to get painted to maintain it's new look.

[B_O__Plenty]

Mine did that and I had it painted. Now the rear cap is doing the same thing. Don't know if I want to spend the money to paint it or not..

B.O.

[rockintom]

Not trying to rain on your parade cause the shine does comeback and looks nice. But when gelcoat/fiberglass get oxidized it become very porous and it doesn't stay protected (wax not staying on) very long and in short order the wax is gone and the whole process starts all over. My point is you have to keep the wax on it to retain the shine. Like once a month depending on the elements. Just my experience. rockin'

[newman_fulltime]

it is great stuff