Earlier this year I deliberated selling my 2003 designer (Ruby) foretravel. Judy and I have decided to keep "Ruby" seeing as how much we enjoy it. I would, however, upgrade the headlights and do something with the roof, as when I take it out of storage, I continually get streaks of gray film eminating from the roof. Seeking advice as to whether I should entrust this job to James Starlings or the factory. Also, is anyone familiar with approximate prices for these upgrades. Thank you so much.
Gregory & Judy
2003 Designer
I have seen some beautiful paint jobs that come out of the Foretravel shop. However, James Stallings trained the guy who is running that facility. I just don't think that it gets any better than the work from Xtreme. Kent Speers just had his 1993 U300 roof painted because of streaking (why that previous owner never did it in '09 when the full body paint was done at FOT is beyond me) at Xtreme and had some proactive roof repair done. He can give you very timely price info.
I don't have any basis to know who is better, Xtreme or FOT.
But I do know from the beautiful paint job they did on our U295 that you won't regret going to Xtreme.
best, paul
I have no experience with FOT's paint, but have used James on two occacions at Xtreme. From my week memery, front headlights were approx $3,000, roof was $1,300, read LEDs (very sweet conversion were approx. $1,200. Thrilled with them all, consider the headlight upgrade on my 2000 U-320 a mandatory safety upgrade if someone drives at night, not sure on a 2003. James work is incredible, and he starts and finishes on time.
We had our roof repainted at Xtreme Paint & Graphics in June of 2010. The cost at that time was $1350. The work at Xtreme is very professional and thorough. They removed the ladder and roof rail to get complete coverage and were very careful about masking off vents, air conditioners and the like. What I like best about the roof is that you can stand on it when wet and still have a non-skid surface. We also found that the slight texture of the roof breaks apart rain drops and the coach is quieter inside when it rains.
As to streaks. If you let enough dirt build up on ANY roof (including an Xtreme roof) you will get streaks.
OK, next time I use the spell check - "weak memory, and "rear leds", on "two occasions" -
I may have a unique perspective. The previous owner had a full body paint on my 1993, U-300 done at the Foretrafel factory in March of 2009. It is a beautiful paint scheme and finish but I am getting some minor chipping that should not be occurring and some of the prep work was not done as good as it should have been. These are just minor details but a shop like Foretravel should have done better. I also had the roof painted at Xtreme, James Stallings shop, last month. Rather than paint over some surface irregularities, they showed me the flaws and suggested they be repaired before they painted. I agreed and now have a perfect finish on the roof that should stay that way for years.
The bottom line is, based on my limited experience with both shops and a career in polymer resins, I would choose Xtreme over the Foretravel paint shop.
Cost for the full body paint in 2009 at FOT was $23,500 and the cost last month for the roof at Xtreme was roughly $1300.
We WILL have the headlight conversion done in the future since the stock ones on our '03 are nearly useless at night. I keyed in on this little item from Dave M Xtreme Paint Job update on my 01 320 (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=11356.msg58166#msg58166):
Michelle
Or just use the "modify" button to fix 'em after you post. :D
James did my headlight upgrade. I drive at night all the time. I will say without a doubt that his shop is the best paint shop in the country. In fact he is one of three authorized Prevost paint shops and used to be the only none Prevost center in the country. Years of experience and he is the one who designed the upgrade in the first place. The factory does a fine job but James and his crew work to make sure you are happy. I was there in the apartment he as for three weeks. While was there a customer came in and said the cover on the AC does not match. I looked and it looked fine from the ground but they pulled the cover and checked. Yes up close it was slightly off. They pulled the paint code and it was what they were given but it still did not match so they tested it and it was off from the paint code one small number. They painted and reinstalled it andeven fixed and were happy to do so. They gave the customer the correct paint code for his coach. It was not FT btw but SOB who could did not give the right numbers to the customer. James ordered it and painted it then the customer brought the coach over. I say this not to say that everything s always perfect but Xtreme will bend over backwards to makeyou happy.