Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
Jayco RV Owners Forum
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 05-26-2017, 06:38 PM   #1
Member
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Morrison
Posts: 43
Fiberglass roof and clear coat

Most of the clear coat has work off of the roof on our 2003 Jayco Designer 12F5. It really gets dirty and I have to scrub it or pressure wash the dirt that gets stuck in the fiberglass. What is the best way to reseal or recoat the roof? Do I need to repaint it to make it white again and then have it clear coated. The lid to the trunk is also not shiny anymore.

Sent from my XT1635-01 using Tapatalk
jbird68 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-20-2018, 11:01 AM   #2
Member
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Morrison
Posts: 43
Nobody has any input in this?
jbird68 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-20-2018, 12:27 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
ALJO's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Sparwood, BC
Posts: 2,800
Send a message via Skype™ to ALJO
You might want to get it redone at a body shop, unless you are a DIYer
If it is cracked etc. it needs a gelcoat and finished with a clear coat.
__________________
2014 Ram 1500 CrewCab 4x4 5.7 Hemi 3.92 Rear and Air Lift 1000
2005 Jayco Jay Feather LGT - 29Y GVWR-7000 lbs.
Dexter Axle Lift 4-9/16" - installed with sub-frame.
Pro Series 1200 lbs. WDH with Double Sway Bar.
Champion 3100/2800 watt Inverter/Generator-Onboard Solar Power
ALJO is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-20-2018, 02:16 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Arizona
Posts: 2,324
It may be pricey to get repaired,maybe check marine/ boat shop! But I would bet your camper is built better than this new stuff on the road today.Worst thing we did sold 06 fiver for 2016. Thanks
bdreinv is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-09-2018, 09:51 AM   #5
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Klein
Posts: 21
Quote:
Originally Posted by jbird68 View Post
Nobody has any input in this?
I've own a 12F3 since new. The roof is gelcoated like a fiberglass boat and oxidizes quickly if not waxed regularly.

The fix is to use a fiberglass boat hull cleaner then, with a dual action or rotary polisher, buff the roof with polishing compound. The final step is to use a high grade wax sealant.

If you are unable to do this yourself someone who details boats would be the right person for the job.
bigdav160 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-09-2018, 12:19 PM   #6
Member
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Morrison
Posts: 43
Well, the gel coat on mine is 90% gone. I've cleaned it with a rotary brush attachment on a drill. I've also pressure washed it. But with the gel coat gone it is now porous. There are also some small spider cracks. Now that it is porous any bit of dirt will stick to it. I have a hard time getting leaf stains out of it. During the winter I cover it with a tarp which helps with leaf and dirt deposits. At this point I think it needs repainted and then gel coated so stuff will not stick. I just don't know where to take it do have it done. Maybe just a body shop?
jbird68 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-09-2018, 12:45 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
oldmanAZ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: FL
Posts: 11,281
Maybe a marina on a big lake with lots of fiberglass boats?
__________________
Sherm & Terry w/rescue Eydie (min Schnauzer) & Charley (std Poodle)
SOLD:2015 Jay Flight 27RLS, GY Endurance (E), Days: 102 '15, 90 '16, 80 '17, 161 '18, 365+ '20
SOLD: 2006 Ford F350 PSD, 4WD, CC, LB, SRW, Camper pkg., 375,000mi
Full timing: Some will think you're crazy, some will be envious, just enjoy the freedom!
oldmanAZ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-09-2018, 12:49 PM   #8
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Klein
Posts: 21
Gelcoat is only about .020" thick so i guess it's possible to be completely worn through. But it still sounds like it is just heavily oxidized. A drilll just isn't the right tool for the job.

A "body shop" could sand the roof and paint it. A proper primer would be required. Corvettes use polyester fiberglass panels and they are painted.

I would think most body shops are not equipped to spray gelcoat. It's just a little too specialized using different spray equipment for the thick materials. Most boat repair shops can easily handle a small gelcoat repair. I think you will have to seek out one that could handle spraying the whole roof.

You remind me, I think I am going to go out and put another coat of wax on my roof
bigdav160 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-09-2018, 01:17 PM   #9
Member
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Morrison
Posts: 43
It just frustrates me because we bought the camper years ago and it was used. I don't want it to start leaking and it's not shiny anymore. I don't think we did anything to neglect it. The gel coat has just peeled off.
jbird68 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-09-2018, 03:04 PM   #10
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Klein
Posts: 21
Gelcoat shouldn't peel. It is polyester resin that is sprayed into the mold for the roof and the fiberglass cloth and more resin is built up upon that.

It sounds like the previous owners coated the roof with some type of clearcoat.
bigdav160 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-18-2018, 11:50 AM   #11
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: midwest
Posts: 1,211
Quote:
Originally Posted by jbird68 View Post
It just frustrates me because we bought the camper years ago and it was used. I don't want it to start leaking and it's not shiny anymore. I don't think we did anything to neglect it. The gel coat has just peeled off.
as others have stated gel coat is thin... the rule of thumb is to use the least abrasive manner to get it cleaned and polished.

I have not heard of anybody clear coating gel coat. they have a thing now but not prior to 2015... if someone "clear coated" it they probably didn't do it right and that is why it is flaking off...

if you are at the state where it is porous and you are down to the fiberglass then you would need to have it re-shot with new gel. It is put on just like paint.. Go see a marine place or someone who specializes in gel coatings.. or hit the web and learn about it.. it isn't that hard if you can run a spray paint system. You can probably do this, you just need the right tools and the right products.. The good thing is you don't have to match colors that will make it much easier!

Good luck...
curver900 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Jayco, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 10:21 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2002-2016 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.