Community Forums

weird · 02-17-2022, 11:31 AM

It strikes me as odd that the frame and some of the interior compartments on my motorhome are painted black. Why? Seems like white would make it easier to peer into to those dark spaces underneath and in the compartments.

twogypsies · 02-17-2022, 12:40 PM

White shows every mark and dirt. Black looks better. Not a big deal, in my opinion.

77Travco · 02-17-2022, 12:52 PM

Aw dang... I thought this was going to be one of those RV color threads.

My buddy had a Softail with a white engine, tranny and primary. Trust me... it was a bad idea.

weird · 02-17-2022, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twogypsies

White shows every mark and dirt. Black looks better. Not a big deal, in my opinion.

Why would I care about dirt and marks showing on the frame? It's not like I see the frame unless I'm under the chassis. Seems like it would be easier to spot fluid leaks.

I get I'm not going change things but I've made a good living over the years by observing stuff like this and asking questions.

Old-Biscuit · 02-18-2022, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weird

Why would I care about dirt and marks showing on the frame? It's not like I see the frame unless I'm under the chassis. Seems like it would be easier to spot fluid leaks.

I get I'm not going change things but I've made a good living over the years by observing stuff like this and asking questions.

Asking on forum....gets opinions

Ask the Chassis MFGs .... see if they have a real reason?

Fiesta48 · 02-18-2022, 12:36 PM

This is why they spray paint. My Black roof A/Cs are now silver.

Ray,IN · 02-18-2022, 01:38 PM

Tireman9 performed an experiment a few years ago. when the question was asked; "Which color tire cover makes the tire hotter in hot weather, white or black mesh?
His experiment proved black tire covers kept his tires cooler in hot weather. That is on his website.

PKI · 02-20-2022, 10:04 PM

Many years ago, I ask a mechanic why he was painting the inside of a race car engine compartment white. He said it helped find leaks.

Suspect that the black used on RV frames is a rust preventative formulation. That's worth having for sure.

Dutch Star Don · 02-20-2022, 11:44 PM

If I recall, in 2004, when we toured the Western Wilderness factory where they made Alpine Coaches (DP's), they blasted the frames and then powder coated them white.

TXiceman · 02-21-2022, 08:19 AM

Maybe black paint is cheaper?????

Ken

egwilly · 02-21-2022, 08:23 AM

Now you got me going.....everytime I see a motorhome I'm gonna wonder if the frame is black or white.

astrnmrtom · 02-21-2022, 10:18 AM

There's a saying someone said when they saw I had painted something satin black - "Flat black paint covers a multitude of sins."

The amateur astronomy community often asks the same questions with regards to tripod and mount legs and piers. They are frequently painted black, a perfect color to make them invisible when stargazing, and easier to trip over in the dark. Many a long exposure had been ruined by a bumped black tripod.

If there's a reason compartments are intentionally painted black, I'd guess it's because it gives an impression that there's more volume when a prospective buyer looks inside. A white or light colored compartment might seems smaller, albeit brighter than a dark one. When the eye/brain cannot use parallax to judge size and distance it estimates using its experience with the size of known objects. When there's nothing to use as a reference, it guesses. That's how the Full Moon affect works. When near reference objects like the horizon, the rising Moon looks large, when high in the expanse of open sky, it looks smaller. A black painted compartment reduces visual queues so the brain may say "That darkness looks like it goes on forever."

Dunno. I may be giving way more credit to the manufacturers than they deserve. It could simply be: "Flat black paint hides a multitude of sins," or even simpler: "That's the color we've always painted them."

Argosy · 02-21-2022, 01:37 PM

I've painted chassis white before, it not only makes finding leaks easier but makes it easier to work under the vehicle. When I work I'm always looking around, even if it's just lube or oil change. It's a lot easier to see small things that you'd never notice otherwise.

Manufacturers paint chassis black because leaks could be killer costs under warranty, and chassis black is cheap paint that sticks well for a short time to dirt, dust, crud that are on a frame from assembly.