Sidewall Problems/"Gassing"/Checking of Paint

[hanknjoyce]

I am having a dialogue with my coach maker (Thor) about the paint degradation on my 2005 Mandalay caused by deficient sidewalls. I am looking for some financial accomodation for the "disappearing" suface paint (clearcoat). This problem has been discussed in various threads here and elsewhere. One of the tech reps is asking me who made the defective sidewalls (I would have thought they knew that..). I have always been told/read online it was Owens Corning. But I recall another company name being mentioned.

Can anyone confirm what company actually supplied the sidewalls in the time frame 2005-?2008? that causes this problem..especially to the darker paint areas?

Thanks,

Hank

2005 Mandalay 40B Diesel Pusher
Currently in Apache Junction AZ

[rgatijnet1]

Yep, replace tires at 7 years and replace the entire coach at 10 years, or as soon as the sidewall problems start to show. Hand off the problem rather than take big hit on sale value.

[Pogoil]

The head lights on my 20 year old Beaver are starting to craze so I think I will contact them to cover my repair or replacement.:B

Just have to locate them and I am sure they will cover it.:R

Pogoil.

[billsenick]

DSDP Don, you are spot on with your analogy, it seems like certain individuals always have there hands out to acquire what they consider just compensation, and they will continue to spew there particular hated of one company, all I know personally is that Newmar took care of my problems within the three year warranty period, it really seems odd that his problems as he claims were ignored by the company. There are numerous forums regarding sidewall problems throughout the industry and Newmar came to the rescue on many of them if you were in the warranty period. The old adage rings true "Their always two sides to any story"

Sorry about your problem but I could care less, so you can continue your same rant about Newmar to the cows come home, but to be perfectly honest you will continue to beat a dead horse, move on and buy another make.

[sb2bb]

Coaches that are used little, stored under cover or parked under trees won't show much. Those that are parked in sun it will show much sooner. Again mine didn't show up for years, then little by little.

[J-Rooster]

Keep us posted to what happens Hank!

[barmcd]

I spent most of this weekend looking at coaches in the 2003-2007 range, mostly with full paint and dark colors. I didn't see signs of checking on any of the coaches. We looked at a 2007 Holiday Rambler Ambassador, a 2004 Kountry Coach, a 2006 Holiday Rambler Scepter, a 2005 Monaco Diplomat, 2006 Camelot, and 2005 Windsor. Most of these looked like they were at least stored under a roof because there was little paint fading or water marks. I was wondering if maybe the dealers did something to polish the paint and temporarily hide the checking?

[sb2bb]

I have studied this problem for a while as I have the issue with my 2007 Travel Supreme, which is out of business. The company was Fabwel Composite Solutions from Goshen, In. They supplied most of the RV manufactures there fiberglass siding. I have heard that a few of the manufactures got together and sued Owens Corning which owned Fabwel a while back like maybe 2006??. Don't know what the settlement was but I did at one time find a link to where Country Coach was awarded 750,000 bucks because of this but spent the money else where as they were in big financial trouble at the time and this was brought up at a bankruptcy hearing. There is a stated manufactures warranty of maximum 10 years which I would fall under but can't seem to find anyone to take the case. We live in our M/H fulltime. Owens sold Fabwell and another couple companies it owned in 2007 www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/owens-corning-sells-fabwel-unit-58066917.html to Crane Composite for 60 million. I guess once they discovered the problem and money to fix it they ran for the door leaving us once again, middle America, holding the bag. If anyone wants to pursue I'm all in. Owens Corning is located in Toledo, Ohio Senior VP and general counsel is John Christy. They have about 60 lawyers to handle there world wide empire.

[ncrowley]

I think the years were 2000 to 2008, but I am not sure. It affected many coaches of those years, including Country Coach, Newmar, Monaco and Winnebago.

[imgoin4it]

I had a 2001 winnebago with the "sidewall checking" and my 2007 KSDP and a friend's 2008 DSDP had the problem. Both mine and his were early into the condition when we both had the sidewalls replaced in 2012. Not sure when it all started but believe 2008 was the last year with the problem. Sure won't guarantee it though.

[hanknjoyce]

I am the original "post-er" on this topic. My 2005 Mandalay was built in Sep 2004 so the problem goes back at least that far. So it might be worth checking the "birthdate" on your coach as well as looking very carefully at the paint. If it was kept out of the sun and/or has mostly lighter paint colors you might dodge this bullet.

FWIW I too had a 3-year bumper-to-bumper warranty from Mandalay and never heard anything from the company..ever. Only from other owners.

Hank
2005 Mandalay DP

[barmcd]

So what years are affected? We're going to look at a 2004 Kountry Star tomorrow.

[Pirate1]

imgoin4it wrote:
Newmar uses hung wall construction and like ncrowley said they can remove only the fiber glass panels from the exterior of the RV and replace with new ones . Most other manufacturers use laminated structural panels and I do not think they can be replaced without removing and replacing the entire wall structure.

Got it, thanks.

[imgoin4it]

Newmar uses hung wall construction and like ncrowley said they can remove only the fiber glass panels from the exterior of the RV and replace with new ones . Most other manufacturers use laminated structural panels and I do not think they can be replaced without removing and replacing the entire wall structure.

[ncrowley]

They are replacing the panels with the fiberglass on it. They are not removing the structure underneath. There is an aluminum structure that holds all the walls.