Touch-up, Partial, or Full Body Paint Options

[sumdalus13]

Finally, after seven years of full timing in a plain white coach with vinyl decals, my wife and I had full body paint applied to our 35 foot, 2003, Class A Gas motorhome. BOY, WHAT A DIFFERENCE!!! If you've been thinking about paint touch-up, partial paint, or even full body paint, now is the time to "get'r done". We found a wonderful family owned paint company with 25 years experience painting for the RV manufacturers in northern Indiana. They're called the Phoenix Paint Company out of Elkhart.

We turned our coach over to them on the 27th of February and went to visit the grandkids for three weeks. (They actually needed less time to do the coach, but we needed more time with the little ones...) When we returned to pick up the coach, we were absolutely flabbergasted when we saw how great it looked. The Phoenix people had been totally meticulous in their performance of work. Initially, they removed all of the lights, awning, slide-toppers, basement door locks, handles, and anything else that needed to be removed. (I think the only items they masked off were the windows.) Then they removed all of the decals. They also removed any and all silicone that the coach manufacturer had used when the coach was first built and replaced it with a correct (and paintable) lap sealant. Then they prepared all of the surfaces - a little filling here and there, as well as repairing a couple of cracks in the fiberglass - anything and everything that was needed to be done to prepare the surfaces for the new paint. I would honestly say that, before the paint was applied, the surface of our coach was in far better condition when they were done, than when the OEM first built it!!

We had preselected our new design and colors before we turned the coach over. When we arrived in Feb, Phoenix Paint had already made up a 3 foot by 4 foot sample panel with our colors on it. They wanted to be sure that we really knew what the colors were going to look like in large scale. All we had to go by before were the small paint chips we had seen at a local body shop near our winter home. They had even had a local company make up a two dimensional 8 1/2" by 11" printout of what our coach would exactly look like with the new design. When we left to see the grandkids, we really felt like we knew what to expect when we returned.

Oh boy, were we surprised!! The finished product was far beyond what we expected. Phoenix Paint's attention to detail is certainly praiseworthy. Everything is perfect - even down to the final three layers of clear-coat finish. But the best part was the price. We had gotten quotes from other coach painting companies over the past two years. Typically, the quotes had run between $285 and $350 per linear foot. Phoenix Paint painted our coach at a wholesale price of less than $150 a linear foot.

Our finished coach can be viewed at their website: www.phoenixpaintinc.com . There is an automatically revolving three picture slide show of our coach on their home page. If you click on the "Private Owners" tab, you can see a three panel slide show of the 'before and after' views of our coach. Check it out! You'll see why we're so excited about our "new" coach.

[George Stoltz]

Read further on in this topic for my full apology.

I am having a full serving of humble pie for lunch.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

So, while you got a new paint job -- you also made your first post here a free ad for the place that did the work. Frankly, I am unimpressed.

This post has been edited by George Stoltz: Apr 27 2009, 11:28 AM

[Jim Corey]

Samdulas13, by his membership number, has been an Escapee for quite a while. While the post could be considered an ad by some, the info he provided, including the pricing, I found to be of interest. Not like someone who joins, makes a business post, then disappears.

[Rae]

So, while you got a new paint job -- you also made your first post here a free ad for the place that did the work. Frankly, I am unimpressed.

Wow.

I want to get my rig repainted as some point and have been collecting information on the subject. I really enjoyed this post and filed away a lot of the information. This is exactly the sort of post I go to the Escapees forum to read; it's a testimonial, not an advert!

I can just imagine that these were lurkers who weren't sure until the paint job that they had anything to contribute, had a great story to share, did so, and then were firmly slapped down by an established member. Way to go, George, to make them feel welcome. *shakes head*

[SIBERNUT]

Couple of points here-
anyplace that does a first rate job on anything needs to be shared in this age of rip offs, caveat emptor.
Anyplace like this, a small business, often hears complaints by the truckload but never any "attaboys". They go a long way.

Even Jesus only had one out of 10 say "thanks".

[George Stoltz]

One of the things i have noticed about these kind of posts is that they usually occur over a weekend so that they get some exposure before they are taken down.

If Samdulus 13 has been a member for such a long time it is somewhat suspicious that he does not have any information in his profile.

If Kellie confirms that Samdulus is indeed a SKP member, then I will offer a heartfelt and sincere apology. But for now I think I smell something and it isn't fresh paint.

[oRV]

GEORGE: I see in your profile that you too have a "cool paint job" on your Foretravel: we'd love to see some pics of it. Where did you get your's painted? Tell us about the quality of the job they did. Maybe we should have "the great paint off" here on the Forums, everybody with great paint comparing their work. You know, a kind of, I'll show you mine if you show me yours. What do you say, George? As always, oRV

[Dobie Lover]

Personally, I appreciate the information. We would like to have our 5thwheel redone with full body paint and have been investigating different companies. We will definitely look at this one! So, thank you for posting.

Dobie Lover

[Dave O]

Personally, I appreciate the information. We would like to have our 5thwheel redone with full body paint and have been investigating different companies. We will definitely look at this one! So, thank you for posting.

Dobie Lover

I agree. I am getting kinda tired of the "self appointed police" folks here on the board that seem to feel that it is their DUTY to question things. We have excellent administrators and moderators for that and if you feel somethin is amiss then PM the admin folks to take a look at it. This questioning and challanging is getting kinda out of hand in my view.

Dave O

[AC7880]

Thank you for the info. At some point in the future, I need to get my coach touched up. I have full body paint that looks pretty good, but I have several sections that need touchup, versus a full body paint. For example the lower front cap, rear bumper, and fridge cover all need a repaint with original color.

Finally, after seven years of full timing in a plain white coach with vinyl decals, my wife and I had full body paint applied to our 35 foot, 2003, Class A Gas motorhome. BOY, WHAT A DIFFERENCE!!! If you've been thinking about paint touch-up, partial paint, or even full body paint, now is the time to "get'r done". We found a wonderful family owned paint company with 25 years experience painting for the RV manufacturers in northern Indiana. They're called the Phoenix Paint Company out of Elkhart.

We turned our coach over to them on the 27th of February and went to visit the grandkids for three weeks. (They actually needed less time to do the coach, but we needed more time with the little ones...) When we returned to pick up the coach, we were absolutely flabbergasted when we saw how great it looked. The Phoenix people had been totally meticulous in their performance of work. Initially, they removed all of the lights, awning, slide-toppers, basement door locks, handles, and anything else that needed to be removed. (I think the only items they masked off were the windows.) Then they removed all of the decals. They also removed any and all silicone that the coach manufacturer had used when the coach was first built and replaced it with a correct (and paintable) lap sealant. Then they prepared all of the surfaces - a little filling here and there, as well as repairing a couple of cracks in the fiberglass - anything and everything that was needed to be done to prepare the surfaces for the new paint. I would honestly say that, before the paint was applied, the surface of our coach was in far better condition when they were done, than when the OEM first built it!!

We had preselected our new design and colors before we turned the coach over. When we arrived in Feb, Phoenix Paint had already made up a 3 foot by 4 foot sample panel with our colors on it. They wanted to be sure that we really knew what the colors were going to look like in large scale. All we had to go by before were the small paint chips we had seen at a local body shop near our winter home. They had even had a local company make up a two dimensional 8 1/2" by 11" printout of what our coach would exactly look like with the new design. When we left to see the grandkids, we really felt like we knew what to expect when we returned.

Oh boy, were we surprised!! The finished product was far beyond what we expected. Phoenix Paint's attention to detail is certainly praiseworthy. Everything is perfect - even down to the final three layers of clear-coat finish. But the best part was the price. We had gotten quotes from other coach painting companies over the past two years. Typically, the quotes had run between $285 and $350 per linear foot. Phoenix Paint painted our coach at a wholesale price of less than $150 a linear foot.

Our finished coach can be viewed at their website: www.phoenixpaintinc.com . There is an automatically revolving three picture slide show of our coach on their home page. If you click on the "Private Owners" tab, you can see a three panel slide show of the 'before and after' views of our coach. Check it out! You'll see why we're so excited about our "new" coach.

[Rae]

I agree. I am getting kinda tired of the "self appointed police" folks here on the board that seem to feel that it is their DUTY to question things. We have excellent administrators and moderators for that and if you feel somethin is amiss then PM the admin folks to take a look at it. This questioning and challanging is getting kinda out of hand in my view.

Amen to that.

Anyway, I found the post very useful for future reference.

[sumdalus13]

George -

Just as a point of clarification - Yes, I have been an escapee for over seven years (and full-timing all of it). No, this is not my first post - although it seems like it. I couldn't get on with my old login (sumdalus) because I couldn't remember the old password - hence had to establish a new login. If you look under members for sumdalus, you will see that I've been on the forum for awhile.

NO - I do not own, or own shares in, the Phoenix Paint Company. I am very happy with the work they did for us and wanted to say so to the forum. There have been quite a few posts about paint jobs (even having it done in Mexico) and I wanted interested parties to know that there is reliable paint service available here in the US.

We're very happy with our new paint and proud to say so!!

My own business is an RV repair service in Dade City, FL during the winter months and I have never promoted it on this forum.

NUff said. Serious SKP hugs to everyone.

[daywalker & ...]

George -

Just as a point of clarification - Yes, I have been an escapee for over seven years (and full-timing all of it). No, this is not my first post - although it seems like it. I couldn't get on with my old login (sumdalus) because I couldn't remember the old password - hence had to establish a new login. If you look under members for sumdalus, you will see that I've been on the forum for awhile.

NO - I do not own, or own shares in, the Phoenix Paint Company. I am very happy with the work they did for us and wanted to say so to the forum. There have been quite a few posts about paint jobs (even having it done in Mexico) and I wanted interested parties to know that there is reliable paint service available here in the US.

We're very happy with our new paint and proud to say so!!

My own business is an RV repair service in Dade City, FL during the winter months and I have never promoted it on this forum.

NUff said. Serious SKP hugs to everyone.

I think the new paint looks great, I will add that web site to my favorites,in case I want to repaint my coach someday. Thanks

[George Stoltz]

Dear Sumdalus,

I was wrong and I am sorry I jumped to the wrong conclusion regarding your helpful topic. I apologize. Also Dave is correct about policing the site. Since I did not have a career in law enforcement I will leave that to the powers that be.

That is a remarkable transformation in the appearance of your coach. Looks brand new!!!

Enjoy your travels.

[Kellie Rossow]

Sumdalus13,

You have been a club member for a number of years and forum member, too. Therefore, please let me apologize for the misinterpretation of the first post of this thread.

Over the years, we have had so many people try to advertise with first posts, which is why some do not always trust first-timers. However, your post is not an advertisement but very informational.

Thank you!
Kellie Rossow
Forum Admin

[Dobie Lover]

Hey Kellie,
I like your new avatar! Cute!

Dobie Lover

This post has been edited by Dobie Lover: Apr 27 2009, 03:39 PM