Rust

[et2]

So our MH is almost a year old and a few thousand miles. Already some of the painted structural steel is showing signs of some rust in places. I hate rust!! We are new to MH's . Is this normal so fast? Now the framing for the bays is not super thick and it would probably not take long to rust through over time. What have you done? Brush with a wire brush and hand paint?

Is this a maintenance item? Or is this something Fleetwood needs to stand behind? Some paint I saw was bubbled leaving me to think it wasn't prepared properly. I just think seeing this in areas it shouldn't be so soon is worrying me. Did I say I hate rust?

[Belgique]

two travelers wrote:
We have a 2008 Sightseer. The sheet metal around the basement storage bins has been a constant rust issue. Every few years, I need to sand/scrape off the rust, prime and repaint. I've tried POR-15 and it did not work well. Have recently tried a product called Rust Converter. It seems to go on easier and requires less prep than POR-15. Only on a few months, so have no idea how it will last.

Me too in our '08 Sightseer. Since I live on the coast, waterfront, and we often go to coastal CG's, I've given up. But a heads up: my power steering fluid reservoir rusted real bad and had to be fixed.

[Raymon]

What do you do to the areas that you know have rust but cannot be seen or are not in reach to paint? Every RV I have had over the past 10 years the frames have rusted. Not one of them ever traveled on roadways that had been treated for snow/ice.

The travel trailers I had back in the sixties and seventies did not rust as badly as my latest RV's. I kept those trailers much longer than I have kept any of the RV's I have had in the past 10 year.

Unless it is an area or a structural member, like the hitch, which would be compromised by the rust, I just don't worry about the rust. That does not mean I like the rust; I just feel that certain things under the RV are going to rust no matter what I do.

Seems like rust on RV's is just another lack of quality that RV buyers have to accept. Remember the cars back in the 60's, 70,s and the 80's especially in the snow belt states? They were rust buckets within 3 to 5 years.

Ray

[whporwil]

two travelers wrote:
We have a 2008 Sightseer. The sheet metal around the basement storage bins has been a constant rust issue. Every few years, I need to sand/scrape off the rust, prime and repaint. I've tried POR-15 and it did not work well. Have recently tried a product called Rust Converter. It seems to go on easier and requires less prep than POR-15. Only on a few months, so have no idea how it will last.

X2 06 Tour I have to replace this panel. It's a shame the manufactures can't use a different metal, but that would cost another 5 dollars. Our problem is spending to much time on the coast and the salt air.

[J-Rooster]

The only rust I get on my coach is when any States your traveling in there DOT puts down that chemical to prevent ice. Before I retired OTR you should of seen my converter dolly (hooks up dual trailers) paint surface corroded off, and it ate thru the wiring!

[two_travelers]

We have a 2008 Sightseer. The sheet metal around the basement storage bins has been a constant rust issue. Every few years, I need to sand/scrape off the rust, prime and repaint. I've tried POR-15 and it did not work well. Have recently tried a product called Rust Converter. It seems to go on easier and requires less prep than POR-15. Only on a few months, so have no idea how it will last.

[userfl5026]

you could check out Krown They may be able to help you and save your back 🙂

[PatStab]

I have an old 1992 American Eagle, it is all undercoated. The only rust I have is where the water bay is, the white panel inside has rust under it, hubby is going to take it out, paint it and fix it. I suppose it has leaked around it, and the same underneath that area in the back corner.

The other is the propane tank needs wire brushed and repainted. I had it pressure checked and new type valve put on because folks weren't familiar with the old type and had trouble getting it filled.

I had a newer 2006 and that motorhome had a lot of rust, it had no undercoating which apparently makes a big difference.

[cybrfalcon]

My experience is that if you stay on top of it, painting it gets a little easier each year (I do it in the fall) as there is less to do. I also use Rustoleum.

[et2]

Ok everyone. Thanks for the replies. I guess it's normal :M
I'm just not as flexible as I used to be, 😞 . I dread getting down on my knees and getting under the bays to paint it. Did I say I hate rust! So begrudgingly I'll do it.

[J-Rooster]

I seem to get rust after my coach has traveled over that road surface deicer solution that most State DOT use! Especially driving back from Arizona in the Spring!

[dougrainer]

Rust is common of Motorhome and trailer chassis's. It is surface rust and it has been there for the 35 years I have been a RV tech. Occasionally we get a customer that goes crazy over this surface rust. If it bothers you, just spray paint with Rustoleum. In 35 years, I have never see a chassis break or fall apart from any "rust". When the Motorhomes chassis are sent to the manufacturer, they are NOT covered in shipment and they are stored in a field/parking lot before they are staged inside the OEM assbly plant. There is also the issue of the NEW motorhome transported to dealers in the rust belt of the USA during winter conditions. Most OEM's send out bulletins in the fall to remind those dealers to wash out the undercarriages after taking delivery from the OEM during the winter months. MOST do not. Doug

[Effy]

It bothers me too that a 1yr old MH shows signs of rust.. My under carriage shows signs of rust. That said I have an entry level Thor. Not that it makes it more acceptable, but I am a little surprised to see the same sort of thing on a 2013 FW DP. So basically no matter what you buy, since the chassis’ are all made the same, you end up with rust despite what you spend. The naive me always wanted to believe you get rust proofing and those sorts of things if you spend more money. Guess not.

[DougE]

Note that POR 15 is not UV resistant and must be top coated if exposed.

[dcbrewer]

I second the POR-15, does a good job.