No Shine on Endcaps

MakinSmoke · 03-24-2008, 10:08 AM

So we had the guys who wash and wax the Prevost Moho's over in Bluewater come over and wash and wax the Excel. This is an '05 and is probably the first time it has been waxed.
The sides came out beautifully. They shine like a new coach with a deep gloss but the front and rear are not nearly as "glossy" and have no depth. They do have some sheen to them but it is not nearly as deep as the sides......how come?

MakinSmoke · 03-24-2008, 10:08 AM

So we had the guys who wash and wax the Prevost Moho's over in Bluewater come over and wash and wax the Excel. This is an '05 and is probably the first time it has been waxed.
The sides came out beautifully. They shine like a new coach with a deep gloss but the front and rear are not nearly as "glossy" and have no depth. They do have some sheen to them but it is not nearly as deep as the sides......how come?

clspds · 03-24-2008, 11:18 AM

Virgil,

Welcome to the club. Rockin and I have discussed this a couple of times. Don't know why but mine is the same. I wax mine 3 times per year. I wax the nose probably 6 times per year.

Paul

wrongway · 03-24-2008, 12:28 PM

I think one of the reason that you see a difference the appearance of the fiberglass is due the manufactures of each. The sidewall glass is made at wall plant in Indiana, and the caps are produced in Kansas near the plant.

I don't know if either/or need to get together and have the same type of finish into the glass. I do know that Excel does have the thickest caps in the industry.

We have seen several older fiberglass units of Excel, some as bright as they were brand new and some as dull as the knife in my pocket. It comes to the care that each and everyone gets, and the conditions that it is in. Exposed 24/7 to the weather, or stored in a building in the colder temps. Just a matter of opinion.

Dutch_man39 · 03-24-2008, 12:56 PM

I had the same problem with our last RV, a 2000 Monaco Knight Class A motorhome. The rear cap would not shine no matter how much I worked on it.

Still hoping to sell our condo in Naples, FL and go fulltime with a new 5th wheel.

Bill

rockintom · 03-24-2008, 04:36 PM

Virg,

We have talked this one to death with no results or change in previous posts. This has happened to mine. I can tell you the end caps and roof, just die from the UV damage. I can use a light polishing compound and a "wheel" and bring it back to a decent luster for a very short period of time and then it dies once again. I've taken 2000 grit paper and finessed/wet sanded it with the same results. I've come to the conclusion, the fiberglass simply can't take the UV. The Gelcoat sides are sweet, no problems. Water bead all the way to the next wax interval.

Tom: this is one time I have to take exception. I have had my unit since new (took delivery 2 weeks after built), and have waxed it every 4 months (roof too). I'm one of these idiots that take 4 days to wax it. Of course, ours is a FTing unit and we follow the weather so it sees a lot of sun. After about a year the caps and roof would not hold wax or luster for more than a week after waxing! It wouldn't even water bead after a couple of days after waxing. It just started looking like a boat that hadn't been waxed for 2 years. Dead and oxidized. I've seen way too many of these (and SOB) to believe ALL are abuse. In the areas on the caps that aren't direct sun affected the finish still looks good. There's my opinion! The only units that have I've seen (with any age), that don't show signs of degradation are those that have been under cover and been waxed regularly.

Discussing this issue with several fiberglass SMEs and PI., no one has any definite answers, just that "they all do it". In other words, get use to it! I quit worrying about it and just let the affected panels continue to die. Taking care of them sure didn't work. Thanks for listening!

I'm not sure but this issue may have caused me to be "overserved" at the park's happy hours!

Tom

MakinSmoke · 03-24-2008, 05:00 PM

[quote]I'm not sure but this issue may have caused me to be "overserved" at the park's happy hours[/quote

LindaH · 03-24-2008, 05:01 PM

We've had friends who have had very good luck using Poli Glow. It's a two-part treatment: Poli Prep that cleans the fiberglass of dirt, wax, oil, etc., and then apply 3 to 5 coats of the Poli Glow.

Workshop · 03-25-2008, 04:11 AM

When they waxed your unit, did they compound the unit before waxing or use a polish/wax. As I'm always interested in what others use, did you get a chance to see what products were used. Have my favorites that seem to change every couple of years as new products are learned. Did they hand wax or use a polisher.

Sorry for all the questions, Thanks.
Chris

MakinSmoke · 03-25-2008, 05:02 AM

Chris,

No apology necessary. You get as many answers as you want from me. I appreciate all of your contributions to this forum.

I did not see the brand name on the polish/wax but I know he buys it in bulk, like big drums. They transfer it to 10-12 ounce bottles and dispense it directly onto a Craftsman electric orbital buffer pad. They removed the polish by hand with towels. I watched him wax (buff) the front cap 3 times and it still had streaks and you could see where our old decal was before it was replaced.

As I have said before, the quality of my problems went waaaaay up when we traded for this Excel. I'd much rather have these little nitpickers than have my axles and frame bent as was the case with my SOB.