Paint "checking" on '02 American Eagle

[captjohn57]

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 😞

[hartb1999]

got same problem 2004 tradition no problems

[mike_brez]

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]

We have checking on our 08 too. No big deal. Parents have it on their 05 Tradition.

[DSDP_Don]

captjohn57....What are of Los Angels are you talking about?

[dons2346]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[johnsonbert]

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

[smlranger]

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.

[John___Angela]

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.

[sailor_lou]

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.

Lou
05 Travel Supreme Envoy