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 :(

It started on my rig about 5 years ago when it was 15 yrs old.

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.Lou05 Travel Supreme Envoy

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.

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.

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

Paint "checking" on '02 American Eagle | Good Sam Community

hartb1999
Explorer
Feb 06, 2015
got same problem 2004 tradition no problems
mike_brez
Explorer
Jan 29, 2015
I looked at a 2005 Country Coach Inspire that had checking in all the dark colors. It was a killer deal but couldent get over it. For me it was a deal breaker.
univmd
Explorer
Jan 29, 2015
We have checking on our 08 too. No big deal. Parents have it on their 05 Tradition.
DSDP_Don
Explorer
Jan 29, 2015
captjohn57....What are of Los Angels are you talking about?
dons2346
Explorer
Jan 29, 2015
My gel coat is in great shape except where there are dark colors. They are beginning to show signs of checking but not throughout the entire length of the color stripe Coach was built in Aug '01
Gjac
Explorer III
Jan 29, 2015
crasster wrote:
Common on all paint. I'd love to see some company (such as airstream) come out with a nice new fully stainless class A. :)
Or at least a white gel coat sidewall and roof and earth tone baggage door area. It would be a lot cooler in summer when most people that work use their MH's and no paint to worry about cracking, peeling or fading. Colors and UV inhibitors can be easily added to gel coats.
captjohn57
Explorer
Jan 28, 2015
Thanks guys. If I didn't buy this one, sounds like others I would look at may have a similar problem.I have about 75 pictures of the coach. Beautiful coach and loaded with options like heated tile floors, heated captains chairs,etc. with a 400 hp Cummins with 44,000 miles on it.
It's $1000 below low retail and $17,000 below avg. retail. Most others I've looked at want more than avg. retail for them and won't come down! :S
crasster
Explorer II
Jan 28, 2015
Common on all paint. I'd love to see some company (such as airstream) come out with a nice new fully stainless class A. :)
s_N_s
Explorer
Jan 28, 2015
Started on ours in 08. An on going problem with a lot of coaches of that era. Ours is nowhere near as bad as some I've seen. It's basically just a cosmetic issue.
Mr_Mark1
Explorer
Jan 28, 2015
Just before we decided to consign our previous 2008 coach, I noticed that on the passenger side that there was the beginning of 'checking' in the black stripe on the side.

You couldn't feel anything by rubbing the paint, it was on the inside but you could see it (not too bad). I pointed it out to the consignment shop as I didn't want the new owner to be surprised of any flaws which were few on our coach.

I think this problem was more evident on the black or very dark colors. I have to say it would drive me nuts to have it on my coach and not have it fixed.

Safe travels,
MM.