new sidewall / re skin

[beaverjim]

after droping our coach at precision paint in bremen and going over our project of a total all over paint redo i'm seeing possible problems with sidewall waves i really didn't think were that bad. we are actually thinking of having the curbside totally reskined. has anybody had something like this done before?
the price we were quoted caused a bit of sticker shock! we love our coach but just don't know if its worth the bucks on a coach the age of ours. any thoughts would be appreciated. jim

[beaverjim]

after droping our coach at precision paint in bremen and going over our project of a total all over paint redo i'm seeing possible problems with sidewall waves i really didn't think were that bad. we are actually thinking of having the curbside totally reskined. has anybody had something like this done before?
the price we were quoted caused a bit of sticker shock! we love our coach but just don't know if its worth the bucks on a coach the age of ours. any thoughts would be appreciated. jim

[doc]

Jim, the folks in Indiana wanted 16k to paint our '00 Itasca Horizon. I cannot imagine what a new skin would cost. Are you talking about pulling off the old fiberglass I presume? $$$$!!!!!
With the dealers out here fighting to see who gets the available sales, it's a buyers market. You might (IMHO) be better off to look at new or gently used coaches if you have some cash to spend.

[JerryForwood]

The best way to re-skin a coach is to raise the Batwing antenna and drive a new coach under it! LOL

[hondo122]

NADA average retail $75,500

[beaverjim]

15k for the paint inc roof. 9k for the curbside skin. it is a buyers mkt but that still leaves you nowhere as a seller. my thoughts are that we bought the coach new and we still love it. in the past yr we have installed new tires,koni shocks, flat panel tv's all new awnings inc. power eclipse patio. by the way jerry we totally removed the batwing last yr. so thats not an option lol. jim

[hondo122]

I agree $24k spent on a coach that is everything you want is the way to go. What's causing the wavy side panel? How much damage can be done in the replacement process? Can the cause be prevented from recurring?

[beaverjim]

hondo122, i guess most of the problem was because of bad bonding of the side walls to the aluminum upright frame structure. didn't know there was a problem in the early stages but as time passed and the warranty also passed, well you can guess the rest. i'm guessing that proper reinstall would cure future problems. thanks for the thoughts. jim

[Diplomat Don]

beaverjim....I know when they bond the sidewalls at the factory they do it as one big unit under pressure on a large bed. I know this process apparently failed on yours, but how would a body shop come anywhere close to doing something similar that would be more successful.

Unless the sidewall is REALLY bad, how about a color scheme that diverts the eyes from looking at the lumps.

[beaverjim]

don, after much deliberation (good nights sleep)
dw and i have decided to do just that. the new graphics will be much better. will be finished 1st wek in dec will post some before and after pics. jim