front cap oxidation

[clotus]

Hey all,

I have had my 2017 Minnie Winnie for about one year and the front cap has some pretty bad oxidation. I bought it used and noticed it had some, but it was not terrible. I thought I could buff it out myself. I worked on it for a couple hours and it looked okay, but came back pretty fast. Had a professional come out who deals with oxidation, looked good, two months later, back.

Although I bought it used and it went "into service" in 2016, I am surprised at how bad the oxidation is for how new it is. Is this something I should contact Winnebago over? Take it to a shop and have it painted to be done with it? Or realize it is simply cosmetic and not worry about it?

Thoughts?

[houstonstroker]

Some Youtube videos for using Zep floor wax. I used Zep on a fiberglass truck lid. Took several coats but it worked great.

[TxGearhead]

Try 3m Marine Restorer and Wax with a random orbit buffer with a cutting pad of wool or foam.

[Gjac]

clotus wrote:
Gel-coat. I might bite the bullet once it cools down and wet sand it. But I would hate to spend that time only for it to come back.

If it is just gel coat and not paint I have brought back an old boat that was highly oxidized by using 600 grit sand paper and wet sanding then using a polishing paste with an electric buffer. Once the oxidation is removed a good FG polish will seal the surface. Just be careful not to burn through the gel coat with the electric polisher. A properly applied gel coat is only about .020 ins thick. The other option is a acrylic coating like Poliglow or the Zeps floor wax. I have used both with success but would try the buffer first if you have good shoulders.

[clotus]

Gel-coat. I might bite the bullet once it cools down and wet sand it. But I would hate to spend that time only for it to come back.

[Gjac]

Is the front cap painted and the paint is oxidized or is it gel coat and oxidized?

[clotus]

I know this was an issue on 5ers and trailers. Think Winnebago might front the cost, especially if it’s a common problem?

[Expyinflight]

Ours is a 2017. Our neighbors is a 2018. Both have totally faded front caps. (brown)
I have had ours professionally buffed out and polished 3 times, and have also done it myself twice in between those attempts. It only lasts a matter of weeks each time, before it looks bad again. The detail pros tell me they see it often from Winnebago. An inferior paint process.
The only remedy is to have it repainted.

[bobndot]

Take it to a body shop that specializes in corvettes or a marine shop.
It might need to be sanded down then they will decide to polish or paint it.

[Sandia_Man]

This issue was prevalent a few years ago when RV manufacturers started using front caps with deep color infused fiberglass, sure looked nice at first but the vast majority started exhibiting the same issues you have noticed on your Winnebago. The only real answer was to start painting the front caps which most of the major RV manufacturers started doing about 5 years ago.

I thought for certain Winnebago was already onboard, sadly my friend is experiencing the very same issue on his 2018 Winnebago, entire rig is blue and was built in 2017. I have noticed many of the other colored Winnebagos doing the same thing as well, he is working with the factory and hoping for a positive resolution although they seem to be dragging their feet thus far.

[IB853347201]

Only one way to fix oxidization permanently, 3 words,,,
"Full Body Paint"