Community Forums

DRBARBER001 · 05-05-2011, 06:41 PM

WE HAVE A 2004 NEWMAR, JUST A FEW WKS AGO SIDE WALL CHECKING STARTED IN THE DARK PAINT, NEWMAR WANTS $19K TO FIX IT, AS ANYONE ELSE GOT A BETTER PRICE. THE REASON I ASK IS BECAUSE 3 OTHER UNITS IN THIS PARK WERE GIVIN THE PRICE OF $8,500, WE R FULL TIME AND THIS MAKES ME ILL !

Norm4015 · 05-05-2011, 06:48 PM

This is a known problem with defective fiberglass from the fiberglass manufacturer. The only fix is to replace the fiberglass and repaint the motorhome. I know of no one who does this type of repair except Newmar.

I don't know Newmar's pricing scheme, but the older the motorhome the more it cost.

DRBARBER001 · 05-05-2011, 06:52 PM

One of the $8,500 was a 2002 dutch star the 2nd was a 2004 mountain aire & the 3rd is a 2007 essex

dukenrock · 05-05-2011, 07:17 PM

Just saw a 2004 Tradition come out of the shop with the same problem. They had to replace both sides. Cost to the owner was about 16K. (Mfg paid 1/2)

Lault · 05-06-2011, 05:02 AM

The ones with the low prices are getting paint cover up not panel replacement. It will only last a year or two in the sun. There are several places in Fl that do this work. It is one heck of a big job!!

Techie · 05-06-2011, 06:59 AM

Since your rig is now 7 years old and I believe that paint checking is cosmetic only -- can you just live with it the way it is and not spend the $$$ ?

Gary RVRoamer · 05-06-2011, 07:06 AM

As Lault says, you cannot replace both sidewalls for $8500 - that is a grind, sand & refinish price. A pal of mine had that done on his 2000 American Dream 6 years ago and it is still holding up fine, but the American Coach factory stopped doing that type of repair when too many complained that the problem came back in a couple years.

My 2004 American Tradition has a mild case (so far). It just started last fall and I'm hoping it does not get much worse, cause I can live with what we have so far. Have to be within a couple feet to notice it.

Norm4015 · 05-06-2011, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lault

The ones with the low prices are getting paint cover up not panel replacement. It will only last a year or two in the sun. There are several places in Fl that do this work. It is one heck of a big job!!

Newmar has done many for $8500 if they are slightly out of warranty. That includes replacing the sidewall fiberglass, the fiberglass in the slideouts, installing new slideout seals, repainting the entire motorhome, and recaulking. It takes about three weeks to complete.

Gary RVRoamer · 05-06-2011, 07:53 AM

I don't think a 2002 Dutch Star would be considered "slightly out of warranty".

Norm4015 · 05-06-2011, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer

I don't think a 2002 Dutch Star would be considered "slightly out of warranty".

It depends on when the problem was reported and documented. A 2002 motorhome may have been bought in 2003 and the warranty expired in 2006. If the problem was documented in 2007-2008 (slightly out of warranty) Newmar would give the owner a year or two to get the work done. So a 2002 Newmar motorhome could get the $8,500 price as late as 2010. I saw it happening while I was at Newmar.

DRBARBER001 · 05-06-2011, 03:35 PM

the 2002 is having the walls replaced for the 2nd time, the other 2 are getting the walls replaced also, It seems like using a defective product & charging the cust. anything smells of proudct liability, no ?

GaryKD · 05-06-2011, 04:34 PM

Hi DRBARBER001,
Who, at Newmar, gave you the $19K price?

Lakeman1 · 05-06-2011, 06:14 PM

What is wall checking?

desikk · 05-07-2011, 06:00 AM

Have you ever thought about vinyl wraping? We have done this to cars & trucks before, and race cars & trailers. It is a 7 year vinyl & laminate to protect from the uv. Look around to any vinyl sign company in your area that has a wide format printer. Just a thought...