Teak
New Mexico
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Our 2001 Newmar Mountainaire has developed a horizontal crack on the anterior cap. Does anyone have any knowledge of this? We have weighed the pin weight and we are not overweight.
Newmar Mountain Aire All Seasons - 35'fives
Mor-Ryde Pin Box/Kelderman AirRide suspension
07 1 ton Dodge Ram Big Horn 3500 Dually/diesel
2 Polaries 800
"Pressed down, shaken together, running over!"
"My Alaskan Adventure" (Blog)
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imgoin4it
Alamogordo, NM USA
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Joined: 10/25/2004
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Givbe Newmar customer service a call what they have to say.
Retired and loving it 
Living in the Land of Enchantment
Traveling in 2007 Newmar KSDP
towing a Jeep Liberty
with a Blue Ox tow bar
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Teak
New Mexico
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I emailed them and got a response from them to have it checked out and also have the pin weight checked when it's loaded. We have done that in the past and are not overweight. They didn't give anymore information.
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Gjac
Milford, CT
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Where is the crack located? Is it along the top radius? Is it only in the gel coat or does it extend into the fibers?
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Teak
New Mexico
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Gjac wrote:Where is the crack located? Is it along the top radius? Is it only in the gel coat or does it extend into the fibers?
The crack is horizontal along the front of the cap about 1/3 of the way up. I don't have the fifth wheel here to measure or take a picture. It "appears" to be just in the gel coat. We first noticed it on one side and now it's showing up on the other side and getting bigger. It will become a horizontal crack clear across the front of the cap if it continues.
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Almot
Vancouver BC
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I think - age plus stress on the bent surface plus vibration. Go to the nearest boating/kayaking shop and get a gel coat of close color (probably white or off-white). $15 or so, don't remember. Apply it, sand it, and see if it re-appears next year. Boat repair shops can do this as well.
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Gjac
Milford, CT
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What I have noticed over the years is that cracks in the gel coat are caused by putting the gel coat on too thick. This happens usually in curved or radiused areas. Sometimes if the gel coat is allowed to dry the actual laminate does not adhere well to the gel coat. When a small load is applied it cracks. If the gel coat is applied too thick .020 or greater the change in temperature can cause it to crack. Resin expands much more that the fiberglass substrate. You can sand the gelcoat down to the fiberglass and reapply the gel coat, as someone suggested. What I would do knowing the work that is involved is to put an applique like a decal tape across the front covering the crack. Hope this helps.
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Teak
New Mexico
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Gjac wrote:What I have noticed over the years is that cracks in the gel coat are caused by putting the gel coat on too thick. This happens usually in curved or radiused areas. Sometimes if the gel coat is allowed to dry the actual laminate does not adhere well to the gel coat. When a small load is applied it cracks. If the gel coat is applied too thick .020 or greater the change in temperature can cause it to crack. Resin expands much more that the fiberglass substrate. You can sand the gelcoat down to the fiberglass and reapply the gel coat, as someone suggested. What I would do knowing the work that is involved is to put an applique like a decal tape across the front covering the crack. Hope this helps.
Thanks you all. If it is a matter of having the gel coat repaired and fixed to look nice, we can cope with that. And I appreciate this input. We wanted to make sure no one thought it might be a structural problem that is causing it. Thanks again!!
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