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Old 02-07-2017, 09:59 AM   #1
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Front Cap gel coat peeling

Again another question for all you TT owners. I have a 2014 Keystone Laredo 330BH TT. We had an issue this summer where along the top of the front Fiberglass cap was turning white.

A little history on the travel trailer, it was bought as a Bank repo. It was originally bought by the previous owner, then towed to the campground where it sat for a year closed up and never used. the previous owner was sent to Prison 2 weeks after he took ownership of it and never returned to used it after dropping it off. Never stayed a night in it. All tags and decals on all interior where still attached to the unit when we took ownership.

Since owning it and using it, it appears that the previous owner covered it with a Trailer cover for the time it was at the camp ground, as the roof has black stripes across it where the straps would have been.

No my issue is seeing that all the cupboard doors where closed above the bed, the heat generated seams to have made the gel coat on the cap cook off and fail.

I called the company and asked what the gel was. It is water based. Had the cap sanded down and re-gelled. Did not remove the decal on the front. I called the manufacture and they sent new decals for the front as this was covered by the original warranty. So I have them as spares.

Has anyone else seen this in this make of trailers? IS this common? Should I add vents to the cupboards so the heat does not build up and have a reoccurring issue?

Here is what it looked like before the repair.

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Any help would be appreciated.
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Old 02-07-2017, 10:04 AM   #2
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Common for that year and color front cap regardless of what brand. Paint is the only long term maintenance free solution. Of course waxing a painted cap is good idea. But a painted cap won't fade in a couple years.
With the gel coat peeling I would think you're beyond the 3 step buffing process.
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Old 02-07-2017, 10:10 AM   #3
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Not familiar with the Laredo, but since the front cap is not white I am curious if the surface is truly the fiberglass gel coat OR paint with clear coat over the fiberglass gel coat? Most RVs I am familiar with ...motorhomes and towables ...with paint and clear coat experience some peeling clear coat, especially on darker surfaces.
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Old 02-07-2017, 10:19 AM   #4
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With talking to the rep at Keystone it is a painted Base coat, clear coat process. All water based paint.

What has me wondering is a couple of things, This at first glance looks like the old car hoods from the 90's that had the same issue with heat build up.

Second I talked to an older guy I know that has always had trailers in Florida. He stated that it is common and that they add vents tot he cupboards to help with the issue. Anyone know anything about the vents?

He also said that keeping the doors open when in storage also helps.
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Old 02-08-2017, 09:11 AM   #5
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Just posting to bring to the top.

Hoping for information on vent inserts for cupboards in trailers. If there are aftermarket vents that can be added to my area of concern to allow air to flow and reduce isolated heat build up.

Any help would be appreciated.
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Old 02-08-2017, 11:25 AM   #6
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I don't think venting the cabinets would make any real wold difference.
The problem is a low quality clear coat (not gel coat) being applied.
The only real fix is going to be getting the front cap repainted, clear coated, and then keeping it waxed.
The clear coat is already gone in this area and the base coat (the color) already appears damaged.
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