Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Renovations => Topic started by: kstine98 on October 02, 2023, 01:03:26 pm

Title: Stainless on lower portion of coach
Post by: kstine98 on October 02, 2023, 01:03:26 pm
Has anyone either looked into adding stainless steel to the lower portion of the coach and baggage doors, or better yet, has anyone ever done it? My wife saw a prevost, and liked the look of it, so I told her I would check it out. Seems to be it could cause issues with the doors closing. 

I searched this forum and found an 18 year old post about this, but it didn't have any pictures. 
Title: Re: Stainless on lower portion of coach
Post by: rbark on October 02, 2023, 04:26:39 pm
I've seen one here in California that was after market and looked good. Was done in the L A area but can't remember the name of the company. Google could be your friend in finding a place also.
Title: Re: Stainless on lower portion of coach
Post by: Olde English on October 02, 2023, 05:54:58 pm
As I understand it the fluted panels on a prevost are glued on and the fail after while, who would ever have thought that glue could replace rivets ? Baffling
Title: Re: Stainless on lower portion of coach
Post by: Michelle on October 02, 2023, 06:09:46 pm
Do you enjoy spending a lot of time polishing off water spots and buffing the finish?  Those stainless panels on Prevosts don't stay nice for long.

Title: Re: Stainless on lower portion of coach
Post by: kstine98 on October 02, 2023, 06:32:10 pm
As I understand it the fluted panels on a prevost are glued on and the fail after while, who would ever have thought that glue could replace rivets ? Baffling

That is what I was worried about.

Title: Re: Stainless on lower portion of coach
Post by: kstine98 on October 02, 2023, 06:33:19 pm
Do you enjoy spending a lot of time polishing off water spots and buffing the finish?  Those stainless panels on Prevosts don't stay nice for long.



Had not thought about that (and I am the one that will be cleaning it). This may be a very short thread!
Title: Re: Stainless on lower portion of coach
Post by: Dub on October 02, 2023, 09:53:05 pm
It would take a person with better than ordinary skills to fit and finish that job and make it look factory and anything less would be a mess. I like stainless but it would have to be flawless to suit me. Im a wiper and if I had a stainless finish I fear it would require drugs for me to keep up with it. Nothing looks much nicer than lights reflecting off mirror finish stainless and some aluminum and nothing shows flaws as bad.
Title: Re: Stainless on lower portion of coach
Post by: kstine98 on October 03, 2023, 11:01:50 am
After discussing cost, reliability and maintenance with the wife, we have decided to stay the way we are.
Title: Re: Stainless on lower portion of coach
Post by: erniee on October 03, 2023, 11:09:20 am
When I had a very nice 43 foot Wanderlodge, I, too, got the eye for the shiny stainless. But, I was a fool to buy one. $40, 000 later, in repairs out of my pocket I dumped the Prevost for a Foretravel with decals and no shiny stainless. No regrets
Title: Re: Stainless on lower portion of coach
Post by: Moby on October 03, 2023, 11:15:40 am
After discussing cost, reliability and maintenance with the wife, we have decided to stay the way we are.

  I love you just the way you are.
  B. Joel
https://youtu.be/GkuJJsApACc?si=JrpY3jKnN-VseE4J
Title: Re: Stainless on lower portion of coach
Post by: Digger337 on December 01, 2023, 09:58:10 pm
I looked into a lower stainless kit and found a place near Houston ( googled it) they'll do any motorcoach. Price was going to be about 5G's to do a 40 ft'r and they need a couple days to make the panels. You have to bring it to them and their all custom bent and fitted. Too rich for my blood, thinking about wrap material instead. I had a few dump trucks with custom graphics done 30 years ago and it looked great. You can buy chrome or brushed stainless decals of custom width and do it yourself ( eBay, Amazon ect).or bring it to a graphics shop or Auto body shop and they could do it for you.
Title: Re: Stainless on lower portion of coach
Post by: just-j on December 01, 2023, 11:06:29 pm
I was thinking about a chrome bottom trim on the Old FTX.
Came across this on the internet.

Rear Window Graphics | Body Side Molding | Truck Graphics | Car Spoilers (http://www.customautotrim.com)  they do custom width 304 stainless steel rocker panel trim.

They might be a good source.

Title: Re: Stainless on lower portion of coach
Post by: Protech Racing on December 02, 2023, 11:01:15 am
Chrome wrap
Title: Re: Stainless on lower portion of coach
Post by: dsd on December 02, 2023, 02:57:10 pm
As I understand it the fluted panels on a prevost are glued on and the fail after while, who would ever have thought that glue could replace rivets ? Baffling
Well, I both disagree and agree. Lochead 1011's main fuselage sections were assembled primarily with adhesive's. There was a rivet placed every 8 feet of every seam as a stress point so you have a failure point in a crash. But the adhesive still was only microns thick and virtually impossible to disassemble. Amazing. But with that being said, it was all performed at or in a controlled environment. This is never  reproduced by most manufacturers, that are not liable for it. Carbon fiber, and epoxy is a primary component in many critical items now in the aerospace community.  Years of UV exposure, heat, cycles, temperatures from the sun, directly, moisture, freeze cycles and occasional damage take its toll on just about everything I can afford. I have a homemade composite boat that as long as I own it will never allow it to freeze, and I keep it out of the sun for storage.
Title: Re: Stainless on lower portion of coach
Post by: Protech Racing on December 02, 2023, 11:09:05 pm
Amazon.com: Dow Automotive-U-418 Beta Seal Glass Adhesive , Black : Automotive (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0182RGDP8?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1)
 I use this stuff .  Amazing .  nothing has come apart without hammers or fire .
Title: Re: Stainless on lower portion of coach
Post by: Journey, Roam, Explore on December 05, 2023, 12:20:21 pm
3M 5200... Never coming off.
I thought about this to protect the lower edge of the bay doors, not necessarily as a looks enhancement. I'm not anal about the look of my coach. Looked at stainless from McMaster Carr. Would need to have it cut and bent to size. Mexico would be a cheaper option for install. Still thinking about it....
I got the inspiration from a Country Coach.
Title: Re: Stainless on lower portion of coach
Post by: Chris m lang on December 05, 2023, 01:47:05 pm
3M 5200... Never coming off.
I thought about this to protect the lower edge of the bay doors, not necessarily as a looks enhancement. I'm not anal about the look of my coach. Looked at stainless from McMaster Carr. Would need to have it cut and bent to size. Mexico would be a cheaper option for install. Still thinking about it....
I got the inspiration from a Country Coach.
Bob you might look at summit products--they have a wide selection from 4 to 6" up to 1/2 or more of bay door being covered  ---- rvstainless.com
Chris
Title: Re: Stainless on lower portion of coach
Post by: MnRBuck on December 11, 2023, 06:29:51 am
We had the dealer apply the Rock Armor on the front to the lower sides.  Probably not as strong as chrome, but extra protection without interfering with the paint graphics at the bottom of the coach
Title: Re: Stainless on lower portion of coach
Post by: Doug W. on December 11, 2023, 11:09:00 am
I think this paint job is supposed to simulate the look.