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Topic: Aluminum Corrosion (Rust), Paint Bubbling, exterior cabover (Read 496 times) previous topic - next topic
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Aluminum Corrosion (Rust), Paint Bubbling, exterior cabover
Please see attached photo.

Any experiences with what appears to be rust under the paint ?
2013 FD
Re: Rust, exterior cabover
Reply #1 –
Quote from: colvin_george  - 
Please see attached photo.

Any experiences with what appears to be rust under the paint ?

It’s corrosion and common on older rigs.
About all you can do is to scrape it and then paint it.
Make sure all the seams around it are well sealed .

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Rust, exterior cabover
Reply #2 –
Thanks for the quick response.

When you say older rigs ---- mine is a 2013 front dinette 24 foot.
2013 FD
Re: Rust, exterior cabover
Reply #4 –
Front passenger side cabover.
2013 FD
Re: Rust, exterior cabover
Reply #5 –
Quote from: colvin_george  - 
Front passenger side cabover.

I've not heard of a similar issue in this area during our 4 years on this Forum.  If this was our paint problem, I'd have to check for any source of leaks from the cab-over window and the roof.  Then I tape off that area and as Larry mentioned and scrape the damage area.  Hopefully the paint bluster is just on the surface.  As you know, the Factory has small bottles of exact matching paint.  However, they no longer mail touch-up paint which isn't helpful for many us.

Another option we'd consider is to use a top notch shop to repair that area given the Rig is fairly new.  (We'd even travel to the Factory if we lived closer.)

At the least, you may have caught this paint blustering in the early stages and prevented a more serious issue.  Please consider posting your results.    Hope this is helpful.
Re: Rust, exterior cabover
Reply #6 –
We have the same issue with our 2015 Twin King, which was the floor model. The spot is actually a little bit larger than the one shown in the original post and I thought it was increasing in size.   We took delivery in January of 2016. The rig was produced in April of 2015 according to the paperwork.  About a year ago I noticed the place on the passenger side overhead cab.  I sent Todd and Vince a picture and they suggested I bring it out to them.  I was initially worried about a leak, but I thought that would be unlikely because it's fairly new and we keep it in covered storage.


So last November I drove it out to the mothership and left it with them.   I told them I was in no hurry to get it back because I had some medical issues to take care of for a few months. 

I talked to Todd a few weeks ago.  He said it was repainted.  I have no idea how much was repainted.  Later Vince called me and said it was not leak damage.  I asked him what it was and he said "something under the paint" or a paint defect, but was not rust.  I am actually flying out to get it this Wednesday, the 20th of March.  I will of course get more information about it when I visit with them in person and post it here.  They were very kind and helpful as always. 



Joe
Joe
2015 TK
Re: Rust, exterior cabover
Reply #7 –
'Bubbling' under the paint in the side of the overhead cab would not be rust; aluminum doesn't rust. It does develop 'corrosion', and the cause for bubbles in that location could well be inadequate surface preparation, i.e., some 'contaminant' on the aluminum in that specific area, before painting. 
2003 TK has a new home
Re: Rust, exterior cabover
Reply #8 –
Is it worthwhile to undergo the costs to remove the contamination ?  Rust can be cancerous ---- and easily spread.  Contamination ?

Thoughts ?
2013 FD
Re: Rust, exterior cabover
Reply #9 –
Update offered.  The bubbles are hard as steel.

2013 FD
Re: Rust, exterior cabover
Reply #10 –
George,

As the rest of your coach, apparently, has no other corrosion, it would appear, after watching this YouTube video [ https://youtu.be/SHePtG9LtIU ], that the area of concern may have been overlooked, somehow, during the prepainting prep (if LD follows the outlined steps in the video).

Correction of the corrosion (if that is what is occurring) is prudent. I think we would all agree that any aluminum corrosion is best removed ASAP.

Kent
2015 27' RB "MissB.Haven"
Re: Rust, exterior cabover
Reply #11 –
Thanks.

Will do.

Plans are in place to go to the factory.

Judging by new LD coach prices, I will keep my fingers crossed for repair prices.

Irksome though.  One of the main reasons for buying an aluminum bodied coach is to avoid this scenario.  I  hope rust/corrosion repairs are not repetitive for LD coaches.
2013 FD
Re: Rust, exterior cabover
Reply #12 –
Btw:  From my experiences with automobile rust repair, sheet metal cut out and replacement is the norm.  I hope aluminum skin corrosion repair is not as intrusive --- at least for the size of my affected area.

I will keep all posted on the outcome.

2013 FD
Re: Rust, exterior cabover
Reply #13 –
After watching the video on painting aluminum provided by Kent, and reading Joan's comments, I'm convinced that what happened with my coach is an area just didn't get the "Alumiprep" or "Alodine" (shown in the prep video) properly applied or it had some contaminants on the surface during the initial painting process.  I think that's what Vince was telling me over the phone after they had repaired it.  It's interesting that the areas of concern on both my LD and the original poster's coach are in the same place.  I will be curious to find out how much they repainted .. just the overhead, the entire side or just a few square inches.

Thanks for the quick education on painting, Kent.

I'll find out more in a few days when I pick it up.

Joe

I
Joe
2015 TK
Re: Rust, exterior cabover
Reply #14 –
Standing by for your closure information.  Also, any repair prices ---- you are willing to share.

Ammunition I may, or may not, be able to use for my repair.  Interesting though the repair for your coach and mine are in the same locale, and for the same size coach. LD factory manufacturing process issue ?

Fyi:  I have an extensive QA background.



2013 FD
Re: Aluminum Corrosion (Rust), Paint Bubbling, exterior cabover
Reply #15 –
Just a quick update.  I picked up our motorhome from the mothership last week and drove it home.  The paint bubbling was definitely not caused by any leakage or moisture issues.  It was precisely what Joan surmised.  Just inadequate surface preparation or surface contamination during the original painting process.  I can't even tell where it was repaired.

If I had it to do all over and knew what I know now I would not have gone to the trouble of getting the LD out to California and back from Oklahoma for them to work on.  I would simply have a local body shop "scrape and paint" the small area, as Larry suggests.

Having said all of that, we still had fun at the mothership, Todd and Vince treated us great and there was no charge for the repair.  Even won a bit of money at the blackjack tables in Vegas on the way home --

Joe
Joe
2015 TK