Faded front nose

[jlybarg1]

We have a 2013 39ft Redwood 36RL and the front nose (over the hitch) is faded and dull. I've seen this on many other Redwoods about that age. The rest of the RV is in great shape inside and out and we love it but the front end really makes it look old and bad. I believe the problem is that it is Gel-Coat and not paint. Has anyone had this same problem? Has anyone had this part painted? If so, how has it worked out? Does anyone have a suggestion on where is a good place to have it done? We summer in the St. Louis, MO area and winter in Punta Gorda, FL.
Thanks in advance!!

[rob_fla]

You are right, it is the Color Infused Gel Coat fading.
Yes many Redwoods with the Gel Coat Front and Rear Caps are fading but this is not limited to Redwood, all RVs with the Color Infused Gel Coat Front and Rear Caps are having the same issues.
Some manufacturers have started painting the Front and Rear Caps of new units to resolve the issue and some manufacturers including Redwood covered the painting of Front and Rear Caps of some units that showed fading during the warranty period.
A number of Redwood owners with the fading caps have had them painted with very good results.
Maybe somebody will chime is with shops in your areas that they have used for painting.

[Campers]

This has been a problem from day one. Call your dealer and advise them of the problem. Redwood has painted over this problem before.

[Ford truck guy]

As long as ANY RV manufacturers continue to produce color infused Gelcoat, this issue will be around...

When Looking for new, the first question I asked was if the cap was infused, of automotive painted and clear coated...

[spindrift]

So...did RW use both infused and non-infused gelcoat? Ours is a 2013 model year but manufactured in 2012. We've had no problem, thankfully.

[piper guy]

Tom ~ if your coach is gelcoat and not full paint, I'm amazed if there's no fading. This is a big problem in the boat world also. Colored gel coat just does not hold up to UV

[Ford truck guy]

Tom, as far as I know, ALL colored gelcoat is done the same.. I would consider myself lucky.. I had an older Holiday TT that had a colored front cap, I had the body shop paint it, and clear coat it...

[spindrift]

I guess I'm very lucky. We have full paint. Maybe I should start running commercials for Aerospace 303; which I use on the front cap after every washing. However, I've been using that product solely to be able to remove bugs easier.

[atom ant]

The full paint did not have that issue, although some of the dark colors in paint had some issues with spider cracking over gelcoat.

[RCAircraft]

Our 2013 RL was manufactured in December 2012. There is no sign of fading on the nose cap. Looks as good as when we visited the factory in Syracuse, Indiana on a very cold day in December 2012 except for a few dings from road debris.

Full disclosure - Our RW is stored in a covered storage facility 9-10 months per year and has about 3,500 total miles after four years. Most of that mileage is from attending two RW rallies in Shipshewana, the initial trip from the factory to the Kansas City area and one trip to Bremen, Indiana to repair the damage from one of the 16" Marathon E tires blowing out (all tires upgraded to Firestone 550 17.5" H rated tires).

The slide seals, caps and side joint sealant and roof joints, for our Redwood require similar repair/maintenance as our previous travel trailer did which was stored outside without any protection.

The travel trailer stick on graphics nearly disappeared or curled over a four year period while remaining surfaces turned to a dull chalk like surface. The travel trailer had a total of 800 miles over the four years we owned it. Most of those miles was for the delivery from the factory to the Kansas City area.

[atom ant]

This is a Redwood with infused gelcoat, and how it can fade as shown on this Outback.

[spindrift]

HOLY CRAP!!! Not pretty.

[Tom's38GK]

I have used a product called Poly-Glow with very good results on my SOB. After going through the whole process it looked just like the day it came off the showroom floor minus the graphics.... Worth a try just make sure you use the acid wash step 1st to bring back the color it takes all the oxidation off with ease taking it out of the pitted fiberglass.

[atom ant]

I don't think it is oxidization that occurs, I think the color actually bleeds out.

[r time soon]

Actually it is caused by oxidation. Many contributing causes. Lack of maintenance is a major one. Not enough waxing, but who can reach that high to wash and wax regularly? I am attaching a sheet from Crane composites, who supplies a lot of the Gelcoat and filon materials used in the side wall themselves. The cap manufacturers use colored gelcoat just like in the walls. Same problems. Normally a lot of buffing and removing the oxidation before using a good high quality marine or automotive wax can help, but painting and then clear coating lasts longer. Mequiar's Fiberglass Restoration System and Poliglow are the highly recommended products for gelcoat oxidation.

Chris
2012 36RL

[atom ant]

Originally Posted by r time soon

Lack of maintenance is a major one.

Chris
2012 36RL

I would have to strongly disagree - and actually getting kind of tire of the manufacturers use "lack of maintenance" as there excuse for a poor quality or defective product. We get that enough from Lippert without having to add the gel coat manufacturer.

I've seen Dealer lot fulls of faded fiberglass caps on brand new trailers with the darker colors and the Dealers bringing them in to the paint shop one by one to try to salvage what they were given to sell. This is a defective product, not a poorly cared for product.

And yes, it is caused by oxidation when you consider everything is oxidizing as we speak as a part of nature, but this is not the type of oxidation that cleaners and buffers can remove, this is bleach out of the color from the gel coat and it's permanently lost.

[Ford truck guy]

Originally Posted by atom ant

I would have to strongly disagree - and actually getting kind of tire of the manufacturers use "lack of maintenance" as there excuse for a poor quality or defective product. We get that enough from Lippert without having to add the gel coat manufacturer.

I've seen Dealer lot fulls of faded fiberglass caps on brand new trailers with the darker colors and the Dealers bringing them in to the paint shop one by one to try to salvage what they were given to sell. This is a defective product, not a poorly cared for product.

And yes, it is caused by oxidation when you consider everything is oxidizing as we speak as a part of nature, but this is not the type of oxidation that cleaners and buffers can remove, this is bleach out of the color from the gel coat and it's permanently lost.

^^^. I agree with Brad,,, My other SOB had the gelcoat and I am pretty on top of waxing, and cleaning... It still faded, and looked like crap, I said never again

[travelin' texans]

The white gel coat does it also, just not as noticeable.
I totally agree it's faulty products, if lack of maintenance there would be the odd few fade, but it's every make/model/tans/browns/grays are fading.
There's only 1 cure, paint & clear coat. All the buffing, polishing, magic potions & elixirs will/might prolong the inevitable.

[Coco]

I live in Texas and mine was faded front and back. You can get new decals from Tiara in Elkhart Ind. and also from Ebay. Good luck It cost me $3.000. + to have the front and back redone and the new decals put on, but worth it . It looks beautiful. Redwood will not help you at all.
coco

[BradPAjax]

Mine faded in the first year and Redwood repainted the entire front cap and 3 inches on the top of the back cap... cause thats all that was faded at the time.
Front looks great as I come at you down the road... follow me, it looks like CRAP!
I have a 1978 Tanzer sailboat thats faded less than this unit!