How to refinish window rock guard?

[vanmil58]

So my '91 Wilderness travel trailer has a front window rock guard that is a thin fiberglass panel and is getting "fuzzy" with fiberglass strands appearing on the flat surface and it sometimes will get a little mossy from moss attaching to the strands. Other than that, it's in very good condition.

I'm thinking to coat it with either spray-on polyurethane or with 2-part fiberglass resin.

Does anyone have any experience fixing their rock guard and if so, what did you use and how well did it work.

Thanks in advance!!!

[Fireballsocal]

Why not a sand job and some gel coat? You might want to take it in to a boat or RV repair shop with the necessary materials so you don't have to buy a spray gun but that would be the correct repair.

[mike-s]

If it's translucent, and you want the bit of light which gets through, you may want to avoid pigmented paint, which is going to make it darker. If the existing color is good and not stained/yellowed, I'd go with a quality clearcoat. Three coats, wet sanding between (to get the fiberglass fuzzies off).

If you don't care about the translucency, a good boat paint will last a long time. I like Interlux stuff, but there are lots to choose from.

[Gonzo42]

What about a piece of plywood or sheet metal? Can't be too expensive.

[Gdetrailer]

donn0128 wrote:
Most of them come apart, so I would buy a piece of plexiglas and simply replace the old fiberglas with it.

Nope, "most" do not "come apart".

"Most" have a aluminum frame that goes around the fiberglass insert and it IS RIVETED or WELDED together.

One MUST cut, grind or drill the rivets or if welded cut the frame then come up with a away to piece it back together.

They are not designed to come apart easily.

I would also SKIP the "plexy" as it does not give ANY impact resistance and your cheapness may end up spending a bunch of money on new window glass that the cover was supposed to protect.

The OP just needs to simply resurface the existing fiberglass by sanding then priming then a splash of paint.

Easy to do and a quick weekend project for the price of a few sheets of sandpaper and a couple of rattle cans.

IF the material was beyond refurbishing, I would suggest using FRP (Fiberglass Reinforced Panels) material, you can find it at most home centers in a 4x8 foot sheet for under $30.. But you will need to give it a coat of paint or the fibers will eventually show.

[LarryJM]

Below is the only pic of have of the front of my 1981 Prowler taken in 2007 after I had painted the rock shield probably 3 times over that 26 year period using regular outdoor Rustoleum enamel and sometimes I spray coated a light coat of marine varnish over the enamel to make it last a little longer. IIRC I had to repaint about every 6 or 7 years with the first painting after around 15 years. I simply used a brush and went over the existing design and first sort of lightly sanded the surface. I also had fiberglass strands showing before painting and all that wear I attritubed to wind wear over the years. Note the right side of pic is just from the sun glare when the photo was taken and not from fading/wear.



Larry

[Lwiddis]

"I want to keep it looking stock.."

Otherwise you will be required to race it in the modified class.

[donn0128]

Look at the frame, they are usually either screwed or pop riveted at two corners. Take it apart. Then you can buy a piece of plastic or a sheet of fiberglas to replace the worn out piece. It aint rocket science and replacing it with a new piece is probably going to be cheaper, easier in the long run. A nice smoked piece of plexiglas would look good. Add a graphic of some sort and it could look better. Heck, Airstreams have used plexiglas on their front rock guard for years.

[vanmil58]

It's 26 years old and still in great shape other than the strands.

[vanmil58]

I want to keep it looking stock.....I wonder if spray acrylic laquer would do the trick.

[vanmil58]

Most of them come what???

[donn0128]

Most of them come apart, so I would buy a piece of plexiglas and simply replace the old fiberglas with it.