ffi
All over
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Joined: 05/23/2008
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Hello ! New member here. I bought a Country Coach Affinity (model year 2008) last year. It is about 1 year old now. Paid a lot of money for the coach and it is a very nice coach and am overall happy with the purchase.
I have the coach in for warranty work and I am told that the rust on the coach is a "maintenance issue". I do not mind there being rust on the chassis and underneath the coach, but when the rust is exposed where everyone can see it, then I have an issue with it. It needs to be fixed. Either on my dime or under warranty. Specifically, there is rust on the rear of the coach around the bumper area and the front on the metal surfaces that are painted black.
I havent looked under the coach, but I am sure it is all rusted there (because typically I see that they are on previous coaches I have owned). That I dont mind -- because nobody puts there head under your coach. It is just the cosmetic rust that I have an issue with -- you wash and wax the rig and it does not look appealing when there are rust spots on it.
Is this normal for a motorcoach and is this typical maintenance that people need to deal with ? I could understand if it was a 10 year old coach, but at one year of age and with less than 10,000 miles, I just dont see how repainting parts of the coach is considered maintenance. I feel like the metal was not properly prepared -- it is not like the parts have been dinged or nicked, they are just rusting, as if they were not etched and primered properly.
So I am looking for some insight from other owners if this is truly normal maintenance and part of the motorcoach experience. Thanks
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MNtundraRet
Bloomington, MN
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Joined: 12/06/2007
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It is not normal. My Fleetwood Jamboree was manufactured in fall 2002, and I have no rust showing.
Mark
Mark & Jan "Old age & treachery win over youth & enthusiasm"
2003 Fleetwood Jamboree 29
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trop-a-cal
Palm Coast Fl
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Joined: 09/24/2007
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If you have been near the ocean, especially parked on the dunes perhaps you got a lot of salt on it. Also just being near the ocean you will get rust from the ozone. The rust needs to be halted ASAP and that will take a wire brush, some acid (Naval Jelly)and a coat of rust proof primer, then a finish coat. You can do it yourself or have a shop do it. Then washing with Blue Coral wash and wax will keep it rust free as it has bees wax in it that builds up every time you wash. The other help is to spray it with a vegetable oil solution,(about one cup to five gallons) which can be sprayed on the areas that get exposed to the sand, with a plant sprayer,(that attaches to a garden hose). It's not happening to everyone but depending where you drive,you will get rust in exposed areas.
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mikeandlisa
East TN Mountains
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Joined: 10/29/2006
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Our coach is 4 years old and although rust(visable) is not a problem we do repair every year. We have had rust on some of the compartment doors, interior, and also our steps.
We just sand them down, tape off, and paint. Our job seems to last longer tha the factory job.
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Harvard
51.37N 114.42W
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Joined: 12/24/2005
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Driving on salted winter slushy roads will cause havoc, been there, done that!.
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Gary.
Yukon, OK
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Joined: 12/23/2004
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It could be rusty if it sat in one of the hurricane areas for a period of time. (New Orleans). Hope not.
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GSF
full-timing in North America
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Joined: 06/04/2004
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Harvard is absolutely correct. In early March, we saw a brand new MH on a showroom floor that had just been driven to the dealer in Florida from the factory in Indiana. The dealer hadn't done any prep on it and the entire underside was a solid coat of rust. It's frightening to think of what an owner would be dealing with if the dealer failed to take any corrective actions. Unless you've been camping regularly next to the ocean, I would be willing to bet that's what happened to yours.
George
97 Airstream Land Yacht
01 PT Cruiser Dinghy
Cappy - Pekinese Burglar Alarm
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Silver_Knight
Texas Hill Country
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Joined: 04/12/2004
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For the price you pay for them there Affinitys you would think they would come with some undercoating or something.
Lee & Ren
Bryce: 8
Dillon: 7
Bailey: 4
2005 Monaco Knight 40PLQ
1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee Toad
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Redapple
CA
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Joined: 05/15/2003
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Some pictures might help to determine if you are talking about a normal amount of surface rust, or something beyond that.
Bill
2006 Damon Daybreak 32ft
2007 Honda Accord Hybrid
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deandec
El Dorado Hills, CA
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Joined: 09/26/2001
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Post your query on http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Country-Coach-Owners/ and you will get replies from other Affinity owners. Your issue would seem unusual for that of coach.
Dean
95 CC Magna Jeep GC
(Vietnam Vets may be eligible for medical care and disability compensation. Contact the VA if you have prostate cancer or type 2 diabetes.)
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