Likes to tow
Huntington WV
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Joined: 01/13/2006
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I have been looking at an 02 Cougar 5th wheel and it is really clean and nice on the inside but the outside has a major cosmetic flaw. The graphics are peeling badly and ruin the looks of the whole trailer from the outside. I have seen many of these 02 and 03 Cougars with the same problem. Is this caused by the vendor supplying poor quality graphics than cannot withstand UV rays? Can I purchase new graphics somewhere for a trailer this old? My experience with boats is that vinyl graphics will eventually peel and shrivel up due to massive sun exposure but this trailer is only 6 years old but looks 20 from the outside.
Please help
* This post was
edited 10/03/08 06:56pm by Likes to tow *
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USAFBILL
Alabama
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Joined: 09/20/2002
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Seems like about 5 years is about it for Cougars. You can buy new graphics from several vedors or you can do as I have done. Just remove the "Disney" graphics. The stripes seem to hold up a bit longer and you can buy stripes cheaper than the full graphics when it is time to replace them. I like the cleaner look without everything but the stripes. JMO
2003 Cougar 285EFS
2000 Chev 2500 Ex Cab
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Mac1
Ocean Springs, Mississippi
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Joined: 06/26/2002
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I just finished taking the Cat off the nose of my 02 Cougar.
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Gray Fox
Swansea Ma. USA
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Joined: 04/14/2003
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To remove the graphics use a heat gun, or hair dryer.
Gray Fox
2005 F350 4x4 Diesel Lariat
2003 HHII LS RLBG
Always keep moving so you don't seize up.
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Ghig1967
Irwin Pennsylvania
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Joined: 08/16/2006
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03 Cougar here.. My side decals are in great shape.. the decal on the nose is 50% off. Anyone have any luck replacing the nose decal with another?
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campercajun
Central Texas Hill Country
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Joined: 08/09/2007
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We have '05 and '06 Cougars in the family, the '05 garaged, the '06 stored outside. Neither has any graphics or lettering coming off yet. But my cousin just had the front graphics replaced on his '02 Montana. The front graphics were the only ones with a problem, and they were already peeling when he bought the trailer in '04. It sits in a 3-sided shed, open to the west, or afternoon sun, which doesn't help the problem here in Texas.
Around our area, Keystone Cougar and Montana aren't the only RVs which have faded, peeling, or shriveling graphics, and the problem isn't limited to Thor brands. The Texas summer sun takes its toll on anything. However, our 2002 Dutchmen Aerolite TT, which we bought new and sold to our next-door neighbors in 2004, has no graphics damage, and it's been stored outside all it's life. Go figure.
We often camp near older Cougars belonging to people we've met at our favorite COE park, and none of them appear to have graphics or lettering problems. Whether these 3 Cougars have had the graphics replaced at some time since they were new, I don't know and can't say.
We had to have some of the side graphics replaced on our '04 Aerolite, due to the trailer being egged while we were away for a week in Feb. '05, when my Mom passed away (which is one reason we built an RV garage since then). I do know that with the side graphics, the dealer had to order the complete side graphics, which come in a kit. He couldn't order just the graphics that were ruined by the eggs.
2003 GMC Sierra Crew HD; 6.0L; Prodigy
2006 Thor Tundra 30RL-DSL; Reese Strait-Line & Dual-cam HP
2001 Honda Elite Scooter
Jim & Gayle Bryant
Murphy's Law: "Anything that CAN happen, WILL."
Bryant's Law: "31 years of RVing? Probably already HAS."
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countryrose
Redding, Ca
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Joined: 11/14/2005
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We had a 2004 Cougar and the Cat on the nose started pealing in about 2 years.
Gary
2008 Bighorn 3400RL
2008 Chevy 3500HD GRW
DuraMax w/allison
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rjsurfer
North Carolina
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Joined: 10/19/2007
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What are you guys using to clean off the nose of your camper?
Could you be using something too caustic?
rjsurfer
03 Dodge 2500 SRW,SB,EC
2008 Keystone Cougar 245RKS 5th Wheel
DRZ-400SM
DL-650
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USAFBILL
Alabama
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Joined: 09/20/2002
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rjsurfer wrote:What are you guys using to clean off the nose of your camper?
Could you be using something too caustic?
rjsurfer
Maybe the bug removers have some effect. As we Snowbird every winter to any of the top 3 locations we do get to remove bugs on a regular basis. I tried to keep mine well waxed and only used approved bug removal methods, but they still started peeling along the edges.
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Greentreena
British Columbia
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Joined: 01/23/2008
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The nose is not a good place for large graphic. I see so many 5 year or older 5th with damaged front decals. I think part of it could be the bug remover used but also the nature of the location.
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