I’ve been working on an escape plan for several years now. Up until late I was looking at a travel trailer but now I’m thinking about class A motorhomes. Because of finances and partially because I’m frugal and an excellent mechanic, the older non-slideout class A’s have caught my attention. I looked at a 34’ 1988 Fleetwood today and was dismayed that the vinyl skin, which constituted the outer body shell, had huge cracks in numerous areas. I’m thinking it’s the result of UV sun damage. My question is how much UV radiation can those vinyl skins withstand before major cracking problems occur. What I’m trying to avoid is purchasing something that’s still sound but on the verge of going bad (like within a year or two). BTW I live in Austin TX so most of what I look at would be in the Austin area.
Should I just look for class A's with aluminum body shells.
Thanks in advance for any guidance all y’all can give me.
My '94's vinyl stripping...I assume that's what you're talking about...looked really bad when I bought her 8 years ago. Finally had them removed and repainted here in Mexico this year.
Thanks btilfan, you're a big help...
Jim@HiTek, Thank you for your serious response. I'm talking about cracks through the fiberglass shell to the wood framing underneath (though it looked more like thick vinyl than fiberglass).
Steve
I have a 1990 model built in 1989 and I do have a crack that I got to stop spreading, but my feeling is if you have several cracks and can tell there is wood framing, I'd run the other way. I have steel framing and I was under the impression that the use of steel framing started then they went to Filon (fiberglass) siding instead of metal siding, which was supposed to be with the 1990 models. Either way I'd pass on the one with cracks.
"I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to go". R. L. Stevenson
Geocritter wrote: Thanks btilfan, you're a big help...
Jim@HiTek, Thank you for your serious response. I'm talking about cracks through the fiberglass shell to the wood framing underneath (though it looked more like thick vinyl than fiberglass).
Steve
Oh, that's different. But there are some seriously good fiberglass repair folks here in Mexico too. Many folks just head for say...McAllen, TX and have it done over the border. There is also an excellent frame shop right in McAllen. I didn't use them but a couple people I know did and they raved about the work they did to their suspensions. Have your suspension checked before fixing the cracks.
If your cracks are serious, I'd put tape across them and mark the edges. Then drive and see if they shift. Or park on a lumpy surface to see if they enlarge. Most of the time, those cracks were caused by parking in an awkward way causing too much stress. Patching them after the stresses have been removed seems to work for many.
I've read many posts where stress cracks, once the unit ages, don't grow much.
Hi sbishop and Jim@HiTek,
The cracks in the fiberglass shell on this coach were very extensive and really bad with a lot of warping in the shell panels too. No way would I buy it! My main interest is learning whether this is a common problem in older coaches. If it is a common problem, I'll modify my escape plan even further, maybe just look for a class A with an aluminum shell. I'm not sure what to do yet.
Thanks for your feedback.
Steve
I wonder if he ever bought an RV? It's been over a week. My 1989 fleetwood has cracks and bulges too. I didn't know squat about rv's and donkey sales person in Bullhead city,AZ took me over the river pretty good. I just live with it until the sides fall off.
Geocritter wrote: Hi sbishop and Jim@HiTek,
The cracks in the fiberglass shell on this coach were very extensive and really bad with a lot of warping in the shell panels too. No way would I buy it! My main interest is learning whether this is a common problem in older coaches. If it is a common problem, I'll modify my escape plan even further, maybe just look for a class A with an aluminum shell. I'm not sure what to do yet.
Thanks for your feedback.
Steve
I do NOT think it's a common problem for there to be huge cracks. Small cracks seem to be the norm in older RVs. As the driver gets use to driving these big things they seem to tend to take more chances with where they will park. Once they wouldn't go near a beach to park the rig, but after a few years they'll walk it over a tree trunk to get out there. Not true of everyone of course.
On my 18yo rig, there are several 'bulges' in the fiberglass...but they aren't growing, and they are hard so I can't push them in. The four I have average around 6" long, horizontal, all on the lower area near compartments. Not a bother at all.
The only cracks I have are above two windows. Maybe 12" long, head down to the window frame. Perhaps they've opened 1/8". They are filled with silicon and never leak.
Then there is a section of spider cracks but they're all on the very back of the RV so I seldom even notice them.
Then I have been a full timer for 8 years and I can say that it is RARE to notice a RV with a noticeable crack...the kind that makes you say, "Yikes, glad I don't have that problem".
So I would say, no need to mark fiberglass sided RVs off your list just yet.
Thanks Jim@HiTeK,
for your knowledgeable insight into this issue. Today I was looking at a 1979 vintage fixer upper. Fortunately, I've been involved in enough projects involving vintage boats (a 1956 21" Loan Star cuddy cabin, a 1959 28" Chris Craft Roamer, and a 1967 19" Starcraft cuddy cabin) that I know what kind of a cluster@#$% these kinds of projects can turn into. Just because you can do it doesn't always mean that you should do it! It's a shame, I was tempted but managed to walk away. My late wife would have been proud of me (I can almost hear her say while looking down on me "He actually does learn!").
Thanks again for your knowleadgeable insight.
Steve
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