Front and rear cap (Dark Brown)

Sportsfan949 · 07-02-2013, 06:07 AM

I am really having trouble to keep these caps looking good, now I am no body shop tech so my buffing and waxing could be better. These caps seem to fade and oxidize really quick. When I get them looking good it only lasta1-2 momths and its back to looking faded again. I do store it outside.Crossroads told me its a surface maintenance issue, OK but when I get it polished and waxed and 6 weeks later we are in the same fading condition im at a loss.Cant seem to get a definitive answer as to if this is paint or gelcoat, have been told both.

Any ideas as what needs done to maintain these correctly?

Also have been told crossroads maintains the exterior is only a one year warranty, my trailor has the 2+5 coverage. Can not find anywhere that the exterior condition is only one year.

The Rushmores now have a light cream color cap, not sure if these problems caused them to change that or not. This issue is well known and does not surprise anyone I talk to but no one seems to have a clue as to why the accelerated fading is occuring, The getcoat polish I use has UV protection in it also.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks Sportsfan949

Ramn4ver · 07-03-2013, 10:35 AM

What year is your RV? And brand of wax are you using?

Gary

**mark5w** · 07-03-2013, 10:41 AM

Stop using wax and switch to a polymer protectant. I use Rejex http://www.rejex.com/. I know my Rv is only 1 year old but some others I know use it and they said it's good for a year. Really don't like the floor stuff either. I've seen a few with it on and is was flaking off. Good luck

2slick · 07-03-2013, 01:13 PM

Saw a 2011 Rushmore today.....the front cap looked terrible. All faded out. The owner owns an 18 wheeler paint and body shop, and said it won't buff out. He plans on repainting in the future.

North_Bay 34SB · 07-19-2013, 10:14 PM

I have a 2012 Rushmore 34SB and noticed this spring that the front cap was starting to fade at the top. 4 months later the fading has grown from 3 to 4 inches at the top to about 15 inches. The original brown color is turning into a dirty white color.

I only use RV Camco wax (same I used for 10 years on my previous unit) twice a year and I have stored the unit inside a shelterfor 6 monthslast winter. I purchased the unit in March 2012.

Has anyone been successful in getting this fixed under warranty?

MM

Hunter11 · 07-19-2013, 11:09 PM

I thought I remembered someone on here within the last couple of months that had a class action suit going against Crossroads on the Rushmore line. Anyone know what happened to that thread? It would appear from the number of Rushmore issues posted here that they have issues.

MM, good luck with your problem. Crossroads seems to be hit or miss on what they will or won't cover under warranty. I would get on them ASAP before you run out of warranty and things get worse.

Sportsfan949 · 07-19-2013, 11:28 PM

They say the gel coat is maint issues. They will not even consider taking care of this issue. I am trying to find someone who does mobile detailing. My warranty is up in sept 2013. This has been an issue since the first 6 months.

Hunter11 · 07-20-2013, 02:15 AM

Once the dark color starts to fade and oxidize you will not get the color back. You can make it look better but it won't stay that way. It has to be replaced or repainted and clear coated.

We talked to a couple on a trip back in May that had a Redwood with the standard finish. His front cap looked really faded and he told me he had been waxing it since they got it. His unit was just over two years old and he was not happy about it.

Rob_Fla · 07-20-2013, 06:29 AM

I do not know what the big deal with a lot of manufacturers making trailers today with dark color outsidewalls and front caps.

In the South, this is a bad idea during the summer time, makes it harder to cool, fades faster in the sun, makes no sense to me.

fhenn · 07-20-2013, 12:20 PM

I met a chap this week that has a one year old Cruiser with the two year warranty on it and his has faded, his dealer is ssuppose to be working on it

North_Bay 34SB · 07-20-2013, 12:32 PM

Left a message with my dealer Layzee Acres, so fat they have fixed everything so far soI will keep you posted!

I forgot to mention that the read cap color is fine but has developed 2 cracks between the taillights.

MM

noserviceafterthesal · 07-23-2013, 12:34 PM

We also are having fading problems with the end caps. Husband has tried unsuccessfully to keep it looking new. We have stress cracks forming along the "design" ledge below the windows.

We have a 2012 35' Rushmore. We have issues with Landing gear, Refrigerator freezer,leaking toilet, dump valves not closing valves, leaking windows,skylight leaking,broken recliner, broken dinette chair, day night shades falling off, leak in basement from behind wall, awning not retracting completely, bubbles underside of awning fabric, entertainment slide not closing all the way, Bedroom slide off track and pushed corner of bed storage box out, breaker access door broken will not, stay closed, shower closet broke off (during shower).......etc We are snow birds and live in the unit for 6 mos each year, it was serviced at the Dealership (Dusty's Camping World) Nov. 2012, they had it for 22 days, when it was returned to us.......the answer to fixing the dump valves....they cut 3 holes in the underbelly, to gain access to the cables! 1/2 of these issues are new Nov-April this past winter. We have no recourse, other than the Federal Lemon Law or a class action lawsuit. We paid over 60k for this fifth wheel! It's a shame, because it is a beautiful unit. We chose the Rushmore over a Big Horn, not so sure in the day it was built, it would have been any better! Mfgs, are really lacking in quality control! Anyone that has issues with their new units can reply on here, there is strength in numbers! We have been RVing for 25 years, this is our 5th RV and is by far the worst.

**mark5w** · 07-23-2013, 12:46 PM

Try sanding with 2000 or 4000 grit wet sandpaper. Don't over-sand it. But do not, repeat, do not use a wax on the surface. Use a polymer sealant such as Rejex.
Tried it on my old 5th wheel and it seemed to work better than anything else.

Hunter11 · 07-23-2013, 10:23 PM

I use to paint cars in my very younger days and once a painted or gel coated surface starts to fad about the only thing you can do is repaint it. You can sand it with fine sand paper as Mark said and even compound it but most times it will come back unless you spray it with clear coat after you get it sanded and compounded back to a shine. After seeing so many of these new model RV's with the gel coat tinted with colors that are fading andthe issues with decals fading and cracking on our current unit I have about decided our next unit will have full body paint. Mark, I have two full bottles of Rejex at the house waiting to go on our next new trailer.

**Lloyd** · 09-14-2013, 07:38 AM

I don't know if it's any cancellation to you guys that are having the fading problem, but even the "mighty" Redwood has the same problem. Something you don't hear to much about from them, they like to make believe all is good and wonderful with those rigs.

Here is a little reading for you from their forum.
I just grabbed a little of it.

rglass cap (Read 242 times)

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fading fiberglass cap

Sep 3<sup>rd</sup>, 2013 at 8:06pm</span>
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Has anyone with the standard exterior finish on a Redwood experienced
the severe fading of the gel coat on the fiberglass caps? I have a 2012
36FB and a little over a year ago the front cap was faded badly. The
unit was less than a year old. At first Redwood was only going to allow 2
hours labor for the dealer to polish it, but after some persuasion they
went for a repaint with base/clear paint at a body shop. That solved
the problem but now the rear cap is fading on the top where it joins the
roof, as well as on the area below the rear window. About a week before
my 2 year warranty expired I took it in to the dealer who contacted
Redwood and this time they approved the repaint in a short period of
time. I am now just waiting for the body shop to book it in.

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2012 Redwood 36FB 2012 F350 King Ranch CC 4X4

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Re: fading fiberglass cap

Reply #1 - Sep 3<sup>rd</sup>, 2013 at 9:43pm</span>
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Have had same problem with both caps? Getting rear cap painted at factory in October.

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Re: fading fiberglass cap

Reply #2 - Sep 4<sup>th</sup>, 2013 at 9:38am</span>
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We will be at the factory in two weeks. The end caps are on the list of repairs. We have a 2012 36RE.

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Re: fading fiberglass cap

Reply #3 - Sep 4<sup>th</sup>, 2013 at 9:47am</span>
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While our 36RL was at the Crossroads Service Center, they buffed out
our oxidation and sealed them with a product called Permanon. It's used
on high end yachts fiberglass. Really shines now.

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Re: fading fiberglass cap

Reply #4 - Sep 4<sup>th</sup>, 2013 at 11:17am</span>
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Vic wrote on Sep 4<sup>th</sup>, 2013 at 9:47am:
<div ="quote" style="width: 90%; overflow: auto;">While
our 36RL was at the Crossroads Service Center, they buffed out our
oxidation and sealed them with a product called Permanon. It's used on
high end yachts fiberglass. Really shines now.

Vic - just
checked out their website, which lists products for specific
applications, but not RV's. Which product did the service centre use?

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Andy & Judi, Canine companions Duke & Kona
2013 RW 36FL, 2012 F350 Lariat CC SRW

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Hunter11 · 09-14-2013, 07:58 AM

I am just going to keep my mouth shut and see how this all works out. To me it would appear that the Don and Tom cost cutting has finally shown itself on the Redwood line. It took a while like it did with Crossroads but now there are more issues showing up. I was told Redwood lost over 40 people in less than 60 days so that would also explain some things. As I said in a post earlier this week it is going to be tough to pull themselves out of this mess that the last management group put them in.

socoguy · 09-14-2013, 08:53 AM

Happy to have Gel Coat Glass no paint.

Hunter11 · 09-14-2013, 09:04 AM

Al, these front and rear tinted caps are colored gel coat not paint. They must have an issue with the gel coat they are using on these. The units we are looking at now are full body paint with two coats of clear coat because I want to get away from tinted gel coat and vinyl decals since all of ours have had to be replaced.

socoguy · 09-14-2013, 09:18 AM

Thanks Keith I was under the impression they were painted and I know you have done the research.

Bobbi · 09-24-2013, 02:40 AM

I have been noticing a trend with fading of dark colors (or oxidation of the clear coat - whichever the case may be) on RVs. We will be staying with plain white or very light colors. While it may not look as nice or fancy as the dark colors, I think it will create less problems and less work for us in the long run.

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