Re: cracking/chipping paint Reply #25 – April 09, 2019, 03:26:53 pm Here’s the scoop on the paint issues Rebecca and the rest of us are experiencing. The panels on the rig are sealed from water intrusion and apparently the combination of the coach flexing and the paints inability to adhere to the caulking/sealant results in some of the later model years having paint that cracks as our photos have illustrated.After speaking with Vince, I have decided to address the issue by making the needed repairs myself. I know, some here may feel it is a manufacturing defecf, but our rig is going on four years old at this point. If it had happened within the first year of ownership, I’m certain LD would have said to bring it in immediately.On top of that, I actually feel that our great state of California had thrown LD under the bus and gave them few options. Perhaps LD has already figured out how to address the issue. I didn’t ask. I preferred to be cordial at all times. Todd and Vince have always done right by me and I’m ok with the direction I am taking with this. As the Mothership can not mail the paint (I can just drive up to Montclair and pick it up), they can supply the paint numbers and anyone who needs it can pick it up in their area.Just a thought here, if your rig is less than a year old, it would be advisable to keep an eye on the paint as outlined on this thread.That’s all I’ve got. I suppose you could have LD paint it themselves, but the price and unconvince would, no doubt, be significant.Hope this helps,Kent 3 Likes
Re: cracking/chipping paint Reply #26 – April 09, 2019, 04:34:09 pm Kent, what exactly do you intend to do about those cracks? Are you planning to add some sort of sealant/caulking before painting the cracks? And what do you think would happen if you did nothing?My suspicion is that the cracking of the paint is a cosmetic issue. I think when they started the new paint scheme, they wanted a more uniform look where the swoops crossed the sections of aluminum, therefore they used a sealant and paint. With the "traditional" paint pattern, the colors changed at the seams, so the break in color didn't seem so obvious. I base these opinions on my 2003 having an actual seam between sections that I sometimes clean out with an old toothbrush.Sometimes older and simpler is better. Just my 2 cents.Steve K
Re: cracking/chipping paint Reply #27 – April 09, 2019, 04:48:05 pm Steve K. Our 2009 has the newer paint scheme but there isn’t any caulking between the panels. Apparently that was a Factory change some time after our model year.
Re: cracking/chipping paint Reply #28 – April 09, 2019, 05:49:41 pm Steve,I asked Vince about what was to be done about the flaking of paint in certain areas. As he is always a very busy man, I did not want to keep him too long on the phone figuring that a face-to-face Q&A would be better. With that, however, he did state that no matter how I approached the paint application (I’m thinking of a light wet sanding of the paint in question) it was paramount to clean the affected area with plenty of acetone prior to applying the paint to insure proper adhesion.Using painters tape to mask off the seams, I will take my time and work myself slowly around the coach one small section at a time. Being retired has its advantages.When I swing by the factory, I hope to meet up with Vince to get more advice on how to complete the task. No doubt, others here have some ideas on the matter. Either way, I’m in no great hurry. Steve, Vince said it was all cosmetic so doing nothing would most likely not cause water intrusion, however, it may allow the splitting of the paint to travel beyond the seams and begin affecting the sides of the coach. This is not something I am willing to risk.Best of luck to all of us and thanks, Rebecca, for broaching the topic. It had actually slipped my mind (not too difficult to do). 🤯Kent 1 Likes
Re: cracking/chipping paint Reply #29 – April 09, 2019, 07:34:12 pm In an attempt to find leaks in a friend's rig, we performed a pressure test on her LD.We taped off all the places where we expected leaks, around the doors and windows.Then the dash A/C's fan was set to high speed, as well as the two Fantastic Fans were set to blow inward, on high speed .Next the exterior was painted with soapy water, to form bubbles where ever there was adequate leakage.Several of the seams blew bubbles.Leak detection | FlickrLarry 3 Likes
Re: cracking/chipping paint Reply #30 – April 09, 2019, 08:09:09 pm Kent, thanks for the reply and explanation. I hope your repair attempt goes well.Folks sharing problems and their solutions is what continues to make the group a must read every day. Thanks to all who share their knowledge, project results, and inspire us all!Steve K. 2 Likes
Re: cracking/chipping paint Reply #31 – April 09, 2019, 09:46:37 pm What is the warranty period on paint?
Re: cracking/chipping paint Reply #32 – April 09, 2019, 10:48:33 pm Hey everyone, I called Vince yesterday AM and sent him some photos, then I called him this afternoon to see what his thoughts were. Pretty much what Kent said, Vince said to me. He said that when they build the RV they put the panels on, then they caulk the seams, then they paint it. (in basic terms) He said that the paint does not stick to the caulking as well as it sticks to the other surfaces, so when the coach flexes etc, it is more likely to crack in those areas. He said the cracking is just cosmetic. Like Kent said, Vince's suggestion was to clean it with acetone before painting it, if I chose to do so. For now, my first action is to wash my RV. Then I will decide about painting the cracks, and which places truly need it, if any. -Rebecca 1 Likes
Re: cracking/chipping paint Reply #33 – April 09, 2019, 10:51:53 pm Larry,Greg inquired in regards to the warranty of the LD paint. Looking through the LD manual, I located the section which states that the frame of the LD is warrantied for life for the original owner. It further states that this warranty is void if proper maintenance is not observed by the owner.Your photos of the leaking seams begs the question, “Are all Lazy Daze panels sealed and do these seals need periodic maintenance to insure the seal”?What sealant would be used? How often would this need to be done. Roof seals by the factory are given a 7 year life expectancy. Also, as panel seams are painted would simply applying a coat of paint suffice as a sealant. Just curious for those of us who want to maintain our lifetime frame warranty.Kent
Re: cracking/chipping paint Reply #34 – April 10, 2019, 12:47:50 am For me this topic has gone from concerned to disappointment.I am actually going to see Todd next week, I will bring this up. 3 Likes
Re: cracking/chipping paint Reply #35 – April 10, 2019, 08:58:19 am Looking, as a possible new purchaser, this issue concerns me as well so will look forward to hearing your report after talking to the mothership.Thanks, Kent. It’s good to know that Lazy Daze still carries the lifetime frame warranty (to the original owner, right?) but I don’t know if this issue would affect that. I’m wondering if there is a separate warranty for paint related issues? Perhaps it’s not a written thing but just implied that the factory will take care of it’s customers but for how long? In my mind, this is a manufacturing defect. It may be only cosmetic but peeling and cracking paint after only a few years would be unacceptable to me.
Re: cracking/chipping paint Reply #36 – April 10, 2019, 09:32:27 am I am currently at a gathering of several LDs (and SOBs). The ages of the LDs run from 1996 to 2017; none of the LDs, including the 2015 and the 2017, show *any* visible sealant showing along the lap joints of the siding panels, and none, including the 2015 and the 2017 (or the 2010) show any ‘paint cracking’ in those areas. I don’t know how widespread this issue may be, or which model years it may affect, but It seems to me that gathering a *lot* more evidence, i.e., owner reports and photos of rigs which may be within the ‘years of concern’, before making a decision on whether to consider an LD is a good move. As ever, YMMV. 1 Likes
Re: cracking/chipping paint Reply #37 – April 10, 2019, 09:38:25 am Thanks for the info, Joan. Good idea. Hopefully those that have this issue will bring it up to the factory so the issue can be analyzed and hopefully corrected in the future. Perhaps we can start a poll here on the forum?
Re: cracking/chipping paint Reply #38 – April 10, 2019, 09:45:44 am I would be highly surprised to discover that LD commonly does warranty repairs on the framework. They void the warranty if sealing/maintenance is not up to date...and the only way for leaks/damage to really occur is if maintenance/sealing is neglected. If a leak/damage occurred within the first year or two due to improper construction I’d see that being covered...but long term “lifetime” warranty work is not something to count on. Not saying Lazy Daze is scamming anyone, there just wouldn’t be a need for framework repair if the coach is maintained to begin with. Lifetime warranties are good sales tools, obviously my name isn’t stenciled on the side of my rig so I don’t have much to go on....but i don’t exacty see many threads here in the community of people haveing their coaches rebuilt by LD under warranty. As far as sealing the panels its tricky, the sealant is applied by hand obviously so variations mean in rare cases it could work out of the seam and end up painted, and therefore end up chipping. No sure what Lazy Daze can do about this. I would however like to call Vince and get his opinion about panel seams that are obviously “free floating” after a few decades....I’m guessing the sealant/joint has just loosened over time but the lap joint should be doing a good job of keeping water out still.
Re: cracking/chipping paint Reply #39 – April 10, 2019, 10:09:43 am Quote from: Looking - April 10, 2019, 12:47:50 amFor me this topic has gone from concerned to disappointment.I am actually going to see Todd next week, I will bring this up. Please report to us how Todd addresses this issue.Chris
Re: cracking/chipping paint Reply #40 – April 10, 2019, 12:41:16 pm Quote from: Kent Heckethorn - April 09, 2019, 10:51:53 pm I located the section which states that the frame of the LD is warrantied for life for the original owner. It further states that this warranty is void if proper maintenance is not observed by the owner.Your photos of the leaking seams begs the question, “Are all Lazy Daze panels sealed and do these seals need periodic maintenance to insure the sealâ€?What sealant would be used? How often would this need to be done. R For some reason, LD apparently sealed one or more seams on Rebecca's LD, with more sealant than necessary and what we are seeing is the squeeze-out. Other than the cosmetics, if the cracking is just the paint on the surface of the sealant, there is nothing that needs to be done. You can attempt to repaint the cracking but the underlying cause, flexing of the coach, is an ongoing situation and any added paint will crack again.In over 20 years, have not seen damage caused by leaking panels, I'm thinking it is mostly a non-issue. I see damage around the end seams and end caps.On the rig shown in the photo, there was a leak in the cabover seams. Not knowing they were the source of the leak, I went ahead and caulked the seams with clear sealant, I believe I used clear Big Stretch.Sashco Big Stretch Acrylic Latex High Performance Caulking Sealant, 10.5 oz...Big Stretch is an acrylic sealant that does not have as long a life as polyurethane sealant. Since the seams covered colored area, we didn't want white streaks passing though the colored areas. Unfortunately, polyurethane only comes unblock and white.Larry As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Re: cracking/chipping paint Reply #41 – April 10, 2019, 12:59:03 pm I don’t believe that the intent of this discussion was to throw a disparaging light on the build quality of our Lazy Daze’s. Rather it was a quest for an answer as how to address an issue some of us have experienced with our rigs as is often the case with such inquiries. My conversation with Vince was straight and to the point, “What can be done? What steps do “I” take? I cast no blame on the Mothership. Things happen for whatever reason. The take on this is, for me, clean it up and move on. That’s what I’m going to do. Pretty simple. Kent
Re: cracking/chipping paint Reply #42 – April 10, 2019, 01:12:11 pm Quote from: Kent Heckethorn - April 10, 2019, 12:59:03 pmI don’t believe that the intent of this discussion was to throw a disparaging light on the build quality of our Lazy Daze’s. Rather it was a quest for an answer as how to address an issue some of us have experienced with our rigs as is often the case with such inquiries. Now we know that the 'crack' is a seam overfilled with sealant. It isn't something likely to cause damage, at worse, it's a cosmetic issue. Once again. I have not seen damaged caused by leaking panels, only leaking end seams .Another non-issue solved.Larry
Re: cracking/chipping paint Reply #43 – April 10, 2019, 01:42:55 pm Larry, I have to disagree that this is a non-issue, at least for some of us. Obviously, some folks don't have a problem with cracked and flaking paint, be it in the seams or elsewhere, but it seems (pun intended) some do. As Kent so rightly points out, it is a legitimate concern and not meant to disparage our favorite class C. I guess when it comes to RV's, there certainly are lowered expectations. Could you imagine spending over $100K on a Tesla, Lamborghini, or some some other high-end vehicle and have the paint in the seams cracking after a few years? I don't know if LD can do anything about this issue but I would like to just know how pervasive this (perceived) problem is. This was not an issue on earlier year LD's, as far as I know, so I would like to know what has recently changed? I think someone (Joan perhaps?) mentioned that LD changed their paint some years back when they switched to the swoops and swirls scheme. I'm not sure, but if enough owners bring up the issue, perhaps Steve can analyze it and find a better solution than just accepting that this is the way it is, much like he did for the end cap issue. I hope no one is offended by my concerns as that is not my intent. There are some quirky things that I don't like about Lazy Daze but it's still the best class C out there (IMHO)! 9 Likes
Re: cracking/chipping paint Reply #44 – April 10, 2019, 03:38:59 pm Given the panel configuration where fluid naturally falls out, if you want to properly fill those gaps, then the thing to do is to turn the rig over and let the sealer ooze 'down' into the space. Let it set before turning it right-side up again. Be sure to empty all the tanks before doing this. I don't know if Larry has done it just this way before. joel
Re: cracking/chipping paint Reply #45 – April 10, 2019, 05:45:14 pm Quote from: HiLola - April 10, 2019, 01:42:55 pmLarry, I have to disagree that this is a non-issue, at least for some of us. Obviously, some folks don't have a problem with cracked and flaking paint, be it in the seams or elsewhere, but it seems (pun intended) some do. As Kent so rightly points out, it is a legitimate concern and not meant to disparage our favorite class C. My point is that while is unsightly, it's a cosmetic issue and LD isn't to likely to do much, since it shouldn't effect the longevity of the coach. I wouldn't be pleased either but LD may not consider this to be a serious fault or flaw.Was this a fluke or does the Factory now overfill the seams, where the panels meet? That's the question and I will be looking at all the newer models we run across. Fully filling the seams was not done in the past and there doesn't seem be reason to do so now...only the Mothership knows why.Once Steve hears about this or another problem more than few times, he will do something about it.Rebecca and Kent should be on the phone questioning Steve about this issue, it's where we will find the facts.The rest of us are just speculating and spreading rumors about the causes of the problem.Larry 4 Likes
Re: cracking/chipping paint Reply #46 – April 10, 2019, 06:08:13 pm Quote from: joel wiley - April 10, 2019, 03:38:59 pmGiven the panel configuration where fluid naturally falls out, if you want to properly fill those gaps, then the thing to do is to turn the rig over and let the sealer ooze 'down' into the space. Let it set before turning it right-side up again. Be sure to empty all the tanks before doing this. I don't know if Larry has done it just this way before. JoelOh sure, I have a super-size RV rotisserie in the backyard. With it, washing the roof is a snap and a it's surprisingly easy way to drain the engine and transmission fluids.https://carotator.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Carotator_white.jpg auto body rotisseries at DuckDuckGoFor a car restorer a rotisserie is very handy for body-off, full restorations.I would rather have a RV-capable lift in the driveway.Larry
Re: cracking/chipping paint Reply #47 – September 22, 2019, 02:38:38 pm Quote from: Kent Heckethorn - April 09, 2019, 05:49:41 pmI asked Vince about what was to be done about the flaking of paint in certain areas...he did state that no matter how I approached the paint application (I’m thinking of a light wet sanding of the paint in question) it was paramount to clean the affected area with plenty of acetone prior to applying the paint to insure proper adhesion.Using painters tape to mask off the seams, I will take my time and work myself slowly around the coach one small section at a time...Vince said it was all cosmetic so doing nothing would most likely not cause water intrusion, however, it may allow the splitting of the paint to travel beyond the seams and begin affecting the sides of the coach.KentWondering if this is something to be done just once or if this would become a maintenance task (needing to be done whenever cracks reappear). Any ideas?
Re: cracking/chipping paint Reply #48 – September 22, 2019, 03:50:06 pm Kit,I’ll be taking a wait and see approach. Paint will be applied to a small section, possibly several inches at first, then I’ll leave it alone and see how well it holds up. It may take several months before I finish this project.I’ll post pics as I go. Kent 2 Likes
Re: cracking/chipping paint Reply #49 – November 09, 2020, 06:03:41 pm Was wondering if anyone has followed up with the Mothership on this issue? How about current owners that have this problem, any updates?
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