exterior paint cracking

woodlodge · 12-04-2011, 08:45 PM

I have a 2003 Winnebago Brave that has the exterior paint/fibreglass (?) cracking. It is only happening on an area of about 5 sq. ft. on the passenger side front wall in front of the entrance door. The underside feels solid but the cracks keep expanding. So far I have done my best to cover the cracks with sealant to keep as much water out as possible but feel I need to do something more. Has anyone experienced this phenomenon and is there a reasonable economical solution? I have talked to a local body repair shop that said they could fix it but may not be able to match the paint and/or the graphics. A local dealer informed me that Winnebago pressure glues the fiberglass to the exterior and it is a major fix to correct my problem. Any information would be appreciated

AFChap · 12-05-2011, 06:12 PM

Hard to say w/o seeing it.
- Some have had some "crazing" of the paint that isn't a big deal. I have a few spots on mine that have not spread over the years.
- Some in that time frame had some more extensive fiberglass problems that required replacement of the side wall.
-Some models (Journey as I recall?) in a few yeas have had genuine cracks in the sidewall, normally starting from the corner of a slideout frame.

If you could categorize yours more specifically, perhaps that might get better answers...

FIRE UP · 12-05-2011, 08:39 PM

Woodlodge,
Do your cracks look like this? If so, I've seen many with them, in various places on various coaches.
Scott

Mr_D · 12-05-2011, 08:48 PM

The upper picture looks exactly like what we have on our Newmar. On ours it's actually the gel coat breaking. The only real cure is replacing the sidewall and on a 9½ year old rig it really wouldn't pay to spend $20,000 to fix it.

The bottom one looks like stress cracks and would be easier to fix.

woodlodge · 12-22-2011, 07:02 PM

this doesn't look like the cracks i'm experiencing. the cracks on my mh are anywhere from 2" to 6 or 7" long and they aren't necessarily straight. one is in a "Y" shape and one is in a reverse "C" shape. they only appear to be paint deep and the area behind them feels solid to the touch. it looks like i could pry the paint off but am reluctant to do this without some kind of action to correct it. so far i have been sealing them with silicon sealant to keep water from getting behind the paint. since the mh is an 03 model would winnebago do anything about this??

GG1 · 12-22-2011, 08:32 PM

Not sure what your cracks look like but in 02 + possibly 03 they had a problem with the white deteriorating in some cases they repainted the coaches. I doubt that they would do anything now on an 03, but give it a try.

FDchief · 12-24-2011, 10:30 AM

I have had some clear coat flaking off on the front of my coach and have sanded and re-cleared with Duplicolor automotive clear. Good stuff, but the flaking continues. Contacted Winnebago several years ago and they pretty much told me "tough luck". I also have the stress cracking of the exterior layer of the fiberglass and paint. No real structural issues. I have thought for a split second of repainting the whole coach......nah, think I will just trade her in on a slightly used diesel pusher. I just keep polishing her and she looks good from a far, but far from good