T@B coating peeling

sruese

I have a Silver/Grey 2008 T@B that the outer clear coating is peeling off.  Has any one else had this issue and what can I do to fix it?  Thanks! 

Nomad

Got a pic?

sruese

Pretty ugly!!!  (disregard the "dirtiness"!!!)

sgttiki

From what I can see from the photos, it appears as if the "clear-coat" is pealing. Most of these type failures are from improper surface preparation, or, the painter simply didn't know how to properly* apply the clear-coat. I know a bit about auto painting (same techniques used for T@B painting). If the painter doesn't have the necessary skills, or the "prep" techs didn't do their job correctly, you end up with, what I call, "SUNBURN PEEL." Most of us know about that! YIKES.

*Temperature, Mixture, Timing, etc. All part of the process a real Pro knows about.

To do an adequate repair, it is quite labor intensive. All of the clear-coat must be removed (sanded). The entire T@B must be [properly] prepared, including masking, to receive new clear-coat, assuming the underlying paint (color) is stable enough to be "cleared."

This is a job best left for a auto-body shop, or other paint professional with indepth knowledge of paint preparation, paint materials, and application techniques.

It sounds complicated, but for the Pro's, who already know their stuff, this problem can be fixed. Just find a good Professional.

Note: The factory should be made aware of this problem so they can prevent recurrence.

Verna

Since the peeling paint is from a 2008 Dutchman T@B, the warranty is no longer valid. If you would like to contact the factory for information about what to do, Pleasant Valley's phone number is on the right under contact numbers.

sgttiki

Sandra said:

A local auto body paint shop might be cheaper than traveling to the factory. We have Maaco here in Maryland.

Great advice from Sandra. A good auto body shop may be most practical. Maaco may be the way to go. Get a few quotes!

sgttiki

PS. Maaco, or other auto painting facility offers different price packages. You don't have to have a multistage paint job, which includes clear-coat. You could get a "Single Stage" paint job, which, simply put, is the color without the clear-coat. The shine is built into the paint formula. This is a less expensive fix. It will be absolutely suitable for your T@B. Properly done and cared for, it could last for years. Whatever route you choose, be sure to apply a coat of protectant (Wax) to the paint. You'll need to wait a bit (2 weeks) before this process to give the new paint time to fully cure. Ask your paint Pro about the time frame. Good Luck. 

sgttiki

I like the idea of putting a good coat of quality sealant (WAX) on the surface of cars and trailers. When I "wax" my cars, I do the entire car, then put a second application on the horizontal surfaces, since this is where water/contaminants would fall/linger. Always follow (wax) manufacturers recommendations. 

sruese

Thanks for all the discussion!

johnr

@sruese, Did you fix your clear coat issue? I recently purchased a used 2008 T@B with the same problem. Mine doesn't look quite as bad as yours was, more like popped bubbles all over the top. I really don't want to go to the expense of a repaint job, if I can help it. Thanks

dragonsdofly

@johnr, @sreuse has not been active on the forum since June 2015. This thread has been dormant since 2015. Good luck.