Re: [A/S] RV Cover

[openrx <openrx@xxxxxxxxx>]

hi charlie and others
i didn't say that everyone elses experience was nonsense. i said most of the 
warnings not to use a cover come from folks who have never used one or HAD any 
first hand experience with one (hearing from a later owner that an earlier owner 
did......still isn't first hand experience) and they are just passing on what some 
one else has said, or saying something they believe....with out any facts. 
 
i like the word nonsense to describe this jibberish, and i like that this rubs 
some enough to respond.....imagine a thread with lots of different folks chiming 
in with spirited comments....much better reading than "do this, don't do this, 
stop talking about trucks, and trim the old posts.....boring!!
 
it's great to know a dealer is on the list who can share their first hand stories 
with us....can't wait for more.
 
as you surely know the original plasticoat was a flexible lacquer and contained no 
u.v. protective element. the original plasticoat was good for 4-5 years tops, and 
less if abused. all older coachs have either pealed, are pealing, have had the 
peeling buffed/sanded or other wise screwed up, or fully stripped, or recoated and 
starting to peel again....
 
 the new finish applied by alcoa to the panels before shipment to airstream is 
very different and more like an automotive clearcoat (actually it's two 
layers...the first sticks to aluminum and the second sticks to the base coat) this 
started in 1999. since you're a dealer maybe you can tell us what this coating is 
called? it has a specific product name. and will likely last 3-5 years tops too. 
since the rounded areas get that way by stretching/moulding the already coated 
panels, i predict they will all show coating issues in 2-4 years on the rounded 
sections....lets watch.
 
anyway should one choose to use a cover they need understand it's limitations and 
the risks of a crappy cover. a well made one with a cotton/flannel inner layer 
bonded to goretex and an outer layer of poly proplylene will brock uv light, keep 
of tree sap, bird dropping and tree leaves/needles. sap, bird shit and pine 
needles ...which are all acidic and will etch the finish (older and newer). pine 
sap, oversprays and other industrial fallout will stick to the surface if exposed. 
a cover prevents this. so prep for waxing with meguires or mothers is easier and 
wax works better.
 
by the way the new units have panel coating but the window frames and trim and 
rivets are bare aluminum so they will oxidize sooner and need a wax coating sooner 
and more often.
 
you say "The clearcote finish on an Airstream is designed to slow down oxidation 
and discoloring of the aluminum, not to protect it from the environment. 
That's what Walbernize and the like are for."
 
if the clear coat offers no protect as you indicate, that would suggest a cover is 
all the more important since it does offer protection.
 
yes walbernize helps a little but these products are really old formulations and 
mostly crap! if it werent for old airstreamers singing it's praise, they'd die a 
rightful death....or make better formulations.
 
as for waxing any good carnanuba wax or poly sealant wax works great on an 
airstream. even the owners manual makes no reference to walbernize.....but does 
say to use a quality wax.
yes they sell walbernize but only because of the small loyal following  the myth 
has fostered.
 
there are products that go on easier, buff off easier, last longer and give a 
better shine. but for the best results the finish must be cleaned first with 
soap/water/clay/cleaner waxes/polishes and so on before the protective layer is 
applied. using a cover reduces the amount of prep time since most of the big crap 
never made it to the surface.
 
sure a trailer could show signs of poor cover contact where the coating is peeling 
unevenly but it would be peeling anyway just with a different pattern. the cover 
didn't cause the peeling.
 
besides a waffle texture pattern on a coach would look pretty cool....so of like 
diamond plate. 
 
my cover was commonly known and used in the auto cover community.....search car 
covers or evolution 3/4 and many makers willl come up....including mine.
 
cheers
openrx