jbthepickle
Member
I have a 2011 Big Country, the top of the cap is fading from bright Gray to a dull light Gray. is this a problem with the gell coat in the fiberglass???
Front Cap Fading
- Thread starter jbthepickle
- Start date
Ray LeTourneau
Senior Member - Past Moderator
Re: Frount Cap Fading
If there is one major factor in the gel coat fading, it would be the excess AZ sunshine/UV. It's harsh out there. One winter in Indio really took the shine from our Bighorn. I even had a guy in the park use an orbital buffer to try to remove the oxidation and restore the finish but it's not as good as it was before. I tried using some Meguires Ultimate Compound before the Rally in Goshen this year and made a good improvement but it think it's in need of a pro. Possibly a 600 to 800 wet sand and a fresh clear coat might help.
If there is one major factor in the gel coat fading, it would be the excess AZ sunshine/UV. It's harsh out there. One winter in Indio really took the shine from our Bighorn. I even had a guy in the park use an orbital buffer to try to remove the oxidation and restore the finish but it's not as good as it was before. I tried using some Meguires Ultimate Compound before the Rally in Goshen this year and made a good improvement but it think it's in need of a pro. Possibly a 600 to 800 wet sand and a fresh clear coat might help.
SJH
Past Washington Chapter Leaders
Re: Frount Cap Fading
Ray, I have no first-hand experience with this product (Poliglow) but many people swear by it for aging gel-coats.
Ray, I have no first-hand experience with this product (Poliglow) but many people swear by it for aging gel-coats.
jbthepickle
Member
Yes I know the Sun is hot, but the unit only a year old, an I would think it would take longe than that to fade it??
HappyKayakers
Well-known member
Re: Frount Cap Fading
I applied Poli-Glow to front and rear caps this past January. Both still look fine. To do it properly, you first have to use their special cleaning method which takes off any remaining finish. Then apply 5-8 coats of Poli-Glow, in small sections. The coats go on quickly with about 60 sec dry time between coats. Afterwards, I believe you can touch up with extra coats when you notice fading, without stripping down finish again.
I applied Poli-Glow to front and rear caps this past January. Both still look fine. To do it properly, you first have to use their special cleaning method which takes off any remaining finish. Then apply 5-8 coats of Poli-Glow, in small sections. The coats go on quickly with about 60 sec dry time between coats. Afterwards, I believe you can touch up with extra coats when you notice fading, without stripping down finish again.
We have had our BC3250 since Feb 2011. Our front cap & rear are both fading. There were 3 new rigs at the rv center that had the same fading on them. Our dealer got the ok from heartland to get the front & back repainted. Apparently, they have a manufacturing problem that needs to be addressed. The paint should never fade that quickly. Ours has spent a good deal of the time under an rv carport when not on the road.
jmgratz
Original Owners Club Member
That is a disadvantage to a painted cap. Eventually it will fade due to sun exposure. There is a product call Coach Guard which is a 3M product that goes over the cap. It will protect it from the UV exposure. Many Motor Homes have it on them. We got it put on the front cap of our Landmark when it was new (in Elkhart on Hwy 19). It has done well to protect the cap.
Wondermutt
Member
Painted caps? Your kidding right? I was told by the dealer it was a gel coat. This was another feature that made the BC a more desired coach to us.
Can someone please validate this?
Thanks
GOTTOYS
Well-known member
Re: Frount Cap Fading
I read about a couple Greystones somewhere with the same problem. If I understood it correctly it's not painted, its a colored gel-coat and there was a problem with the UV inhibitor. Or maybe I just dreamed that....I would check with heartland Customer Service before anyone else...Don
I read about a couple Greystones somewhere with the same problem. If I understood it correctly it's not painted, its a colored gel-coat and there was a problem with the UV inhibitor. Or maybe I just dreamed that....I would check with heartland Customer Service before anyone else...Don
Ray LeTourneau
Senior Member - Past Moderator
Here ya go. POLIGLOW It was in an earlier post in this thread.
