Need advice on full body paint option

[HowardBJr]

Dodge appears to have their heavy duty truck line back up and running so that trucks will arrive in dealerships by January or so. The truck has been the long pole in the tent as far as us getting our Augusta.

We’re planning on ordering an Augusta in about a month so that the truck and Augusta arrive about the same time. Everyone on the forum has been EXTREMELY helpful in your advice to us about options.

I would like to get some input on the full body paint. I have seen a Cameo with full body paint and it was beautiful. I have only seen pictures of the Landmark in full body paint and they sure look good in the pictures. It’s an expensive option and I would like to hear your take on it.

I assume it is a base coat - clear coat so it should stand up to the weather. If scratched by trees how hard would it be to touch up? Does it require waxing? How would the full body paint impact the resale value of the rig? Will full body paint tend to date the rig and make it appear older than it is down the road (i.e., is it a fade or is it the way the industry is going)?

The downside of the gel coat is that the decals tend to fad after a few years and should be replaced. Is there a good reason to go with the gel coat other than cost?

Would you do what you did if you had it to do over?

Thanks for your input!

 

[Arkansas1]

Hello Howard and Kathy,
We have the 2009 Augusta, and it has the gel coat finish, we have a dealer here that has two full body paint rigs,we looked hard and looked at how nice the coach looks and yes it does have a smooth clear coat finish, and our take on it is that it would be the talk of the camp because it looks stunning, you should be talking with others and some body specialists about the paint/finish, all have said that if you were to get body damage the cost would be a little tough, where if we got damage on our rig if on the bottom we could take it to a local body shop and a color match would be done and clear coat finish applied to the damage area, and on the way you go. Don't get me wrong if I had not bought our rig and did not know the pro's and con's I would probably jump on it, because it is a great looking rig, but when asked is there a differance when your on the inside of the rig it's still an augusta on the inside! But once again if I was a first time buyer and I was given a deal like our dealer here does I would probably take the bait and run with it, because of the motorcoach paint finish it has, and the way it stands out. Either way with the floor plan that you are looking at I think that you will be very pleased !
Good Luck with your choice I'm sure you will be happy with which ever choice you make, if you would like to look at more inventory you might look ot our dealer at Great Escapes RV Center or there web at RVSTOBUY.COM for more information.
Good Luck
Mike

 

[DMitch]

Howard, not log ago I faced this same dilema. I love the looks of the Landmark with full body paint, it is absolutely beautiful. I decided against it for a couple reasons. 1 - was the price it is very expensive. 2 - I spoke to a couple well respected auto body guys and they both told me that in my area there was only one spray booth that could handle a 40' rig. The cost to slide the rig in that booth was $1200 per day plus paint and labor. They also said the insurance comapnies were hollering like the dickens over the cost of painting or re-painting these rigs.

As far as up keep they didn't think it would be any different than taking care of your car or truck. In fact thought it wpould hold up better than gelcoat.

That all said it's a super nice option and I guess just boils down to a personal decision. Not trying to influence you one way or the other, just passing on my own experience.

Good luck with your new unit, hope you have many good years of enjoyment.

 

[leftyf]

Try Mexico...I got a quote of about $3500 for the entire trailer to be done in Monterrey, last year. They came pretty highly recommended from a couple of different Escapees. I can't find the email or I'd put up the contact info.

 

[Two Hands]

I saw a Cardinal with the full body paint. It is still sitting on a sales lot just north of us. I stare at it every time we drive by. It is a real beauty.

 

[rckc228]

We love our Augusta. The paint is holding up very good. It is only a year old.

 

[HowardBJr]

We went ahead and ordered ours with the full body paint. I believe the paint scheme will change a bit for the 2011 models. I hope it looks as good as the 2010 paint scheme. Our rig should be coming off the line just before the Christmas shutdown or early in January.

Thanks for all the input.

 

[boatto5er]

Woo-Hoo, way to go Howard! Hope to see that baby next spring!

 

[HowardBJr]

Woo-Hoo, way to go Howard! Hope to see that baby next spring!

We’re planning on attending the rally however I still have not been able to order my truck so we have not made our reservations yet. Dodge opened up ordering for 2010 heavy duty trucks however I didn’t find out until after I ordered my Augusta that a dually cannot be ordered. Dodge is only building SRW trucks at this time. It looks like I’ll end up with our Augusta with no way to pull it home. I knew there was a chance that this would happen when we ordered it so one of key considerations when making our final selection of a Heartland dealer was their willingness to work with us in case this occurred.