Clear coat on Class A

Clear coat sixteen years old in AZ uncovered just now peeling? Wow, quality original! Redo and pray for same duration.

Clear coat over gel coat...the only to really fix the problem is to remove all the gel coat, paint the coach and then reapply the clear. I have an estimate for $29K for a 40ft coach. That estimate was for removing everything from lights, door handles, trim, etc.

You can treat the areas but the clear will continue to peel

Some people are using ZEP to coat the coach, might read some old threads about it

I used Nyalic. Here's the thread about it.

Chances of happening again? Slim to none to for sure....open ended question.
How long the rig been in CasaGrande? 15 years is good life for any coating in that environment.
How to prevent it from happening again? Park it out of the sun.
Cost, $20k easy.

dons2346 wrote:
Clear coat over gel coat...the only to really fix the problem is to remove all the gel coat, paint the coach and then reapply the clear. I have an estimate for $29K for a 40ft coach. That estimate was for removing everything from lights, door handles, trim, etc.

You can treat the areas but the clear will continue to peel

Some people are using ZEP to coat the coach, might read some old threads about it

i don't think you want to remove the gel coat. thats part of the fiberglass material, if removed you'll expose the glass in the fiberglass then you'll have a real problem. now the degrading clear needs to be removed.
Jay D.

I can’t see your pic very well but I think you have full body paint over Fiberglas.

The paint is probably fine, minus any bubbles here and there.

A decent body shop should be able to lightly sand or buff (cut) the failing clear coat off and blend in some new. Worst case reshoot all the clear.

Depends some if you plan on keeping it or will be selling.

As previously mentioned, a full repaint can be pricey.

I’d get some quotes.

Any good body shop will be able to re-clear coat your rv.

badsix wrote:

dons2346 wrote:
Clear coat over gel coat...the only to really fix the problem is to remove all the gel coat, paint the coach and then reapply the clear. I have an estimate for $29K for a 40ft coach. That estimate was for removing everything from lights, door handles, trim, etc.

You can treat the areas but the clear will continue to peel

Some people are using ZEP to coat the coach, might read some old threads about it

i don't think you want to remove the gel coat. thats part of the fiberglass material, if removed you'll expose the glass in the fiberglass then you'll have a real problem. now the degrading clear needs to be removed.
Jay D.

This is what I get from late night posting. You are correct, you cannot remove the gel coat. What Ii meant to say is you have to remove all the clear coat.

I have tried the "patch" method where you only re-clear the affected area, What happens is that the clear will begin to peel at the edge of the repaired area. It just keeps going. The only way to repair clear is to remove it all, paint the coach and then apply clear over the fresh paint.

bingo, I've been in the auto painting and restoration business for almost 50 years, you gota remove all the clear. if you want to take a real chance, you could maybe leave some on the lower sides were the uv rays weren't so bad. BUT you'll never get a shop worth anything to do. it its just to chancy for them to put there name on it.
Jay D.

I had moderate success repairing areas on my van where the clear coat failed. The hood and upper rear quarters. I did minor prep work, cleaning, wet sanding, then sprayed with some 2k clearcoat in an aerosol can. Hood was the best, cause I could do the whole panel. Quarters were tougher, I used a natural body line for the cut in, and did a tape edge instead of trying to feather and blend. it looks decent, but obviously not pro level.

All in all I'm happy with it. But it's a 20 year old van that I am not going to be spending $$ on repainting. And it was only a year ago, so I cannot comment on it's longevity, other than it will last at least a year lol.