We are currently at Puerto Penasco (Rocky Point) having the body work done and coach repainted. I couldn't be happier with the job Antonio Geraldo is doing. The fiberglass repairs and patching he's done so far look beautiful and he's doing a bang of job with painting in the stripes prior to the base color paint and clear coats.
I believe we have a mild case the 2002 endcap issue, which we asked Antonio to repair. The initial plan was to repair it with fiberglass (done) then install and metal strip to cover the area top-to-bottom. Spoke to Antonio today and he asked us if we though it necessary to do the seam cover, as he refilled and reinforced and there is no evidence of any cracking at the top (where from reading, I gather, is where the issue most frequently shows up). In our case it was a zipper-like crack. about 18" long at the bottom.
Antonio's fine doing either way, but said obviously it will be much more visually attractive to just go with the fiberglass repair and leave the cover off for now. He said should cracking reappear, it can repaired in the future, with the covers added and repainting at the seam on both sides at that time. Probably be another $1,200 or so.
I'm torn on which way to go. I'm leaning toward leaving it alone and hope we don't see any issues in the future, but I am an optimist by nature. I haven't seen any coaches with the seam covered top-to-bottom as a repair, so I can't fully visualize what it will look like covered. (it would be a 1/8" thick 1 inch wide strip, painted with base and striping)
I'd be interested on any input, advice other 2002 owner who have had the issue can offer. If you're repair is with the strip, how does it look. If just repair by filling and repainting did you have any subsequent issues?
Attaching pictures of where it was covered before, the crack after removing the cover, the repair and where it stands now. I need to make a decision by Monday as to which way to go.
Thoughts or suggestions welcome.
I don't think the FT fix put a metal strip on it. I think they cut out enough on both sides and reglassed it. Maybe someone with that model year can chime in.
If the repairs are good then I would leave the strip off. It won't do anything for strength and just cover up any issues going forward.
Great point, Roger. Thanks. That's the way I've decided to go.
Joe