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Topic: Brass shower wall trim (Read 681 times) previous topic - next topic

Brass shower wall trim

We are hopeful of finding a U320 '03-'05 in the near future. However, all FTs of these years seem to have the bright brass trim on the shower exterior, which my wife hates. She thinks it looks dated. This coach is a good example:

2005 Foretravel U320 4030 Priced at $ 239500

Has anyone here ever seen a different shower trim? Can the trim be replaced?
Royce & Denise, MC #17410
'01 U320 4220 ISM450 Build #5895 SOLD
Toad: '10 Honda CR-V

Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world. - Gustave Flaubert

Re: Brass shower wall trim

Reply #1 –
Some of the '03's had brushed chrome shower hardware and plumbing and electrical fittings. There are chrome bezels on the dash and brushed chrome cabinet hardware. I hate the shiny brass, too.
No RV! Have hung up the keys.
In the past: 2016 Winnebago Era, 1994 Foretravel U240, 1995 Foretravel U240 (wide body), 1999 Foretravel 320, 36 Foot, 2003 Foretravel U320 38 foot,

Re: Brass shower wall trim

Reply #2 –
Yes, that was one of the reasons I chose my '03 when I was looking.  It's got the brushed nickel throughout instead of the brass.  Though I think the brass looks great with the red/yellow toned interiors.

This '05 looks like it may have a mixture of both brass and the brushed nickel.  The bathrooms definitely looks like they have both. And the kitchen faucet may be brushed nickel.

I have seen at least one FT that was remodeled to include replacement of all the brass, so it must be possible.
Jennifer
2003 36' U295 (# 6070)
Thousand Oaks, CA

Re: Brass shower wall trim

Reply #3 –
FWIW,
Seems like someone posted where the brass had been painted not unlike refinishing of a tub.  I can't advise on how, but it seems doable to me with the right technique.  I think it was done in a black or pewter type color? 
Best of Travels

Re: Brass shower wall trim

Reply #4 –
The brass shower stall in our 2001 and probably many other years is made by Alumax in Arkansas.  All of the brass shower enclosure parts on ours can be replaced with brushed nickel parts and reuse the existing glass.  All you have to do (the hard part for us so far) is find a dealer who will work with you and have them do it for you or get the parts for you and DIY.

Shower Doors, Bathroom Enclosures and Shower Bath Enclosures - Alumax

We are in the process of replacing brass with brushed nickel.
These knobs are very nice. Amerock BP53011G10 Knob  @  $1.44 from

GoingKnobs.com

Solid, heavy knob with a big enough base to cover where the brass knobs where.  They come with new screws.

Now to find appropriate light fixtures.  I found brushed chrome puck light bezels for about $9 but I would rather spend a bit more for LED with comparable lumens.  Wall fixtures as well.

There are chemicals out there that darken brass to make it a much darker antique brass look.  I use it on hinges and other parts on furniture when you don't want that shiny brass look. Most of these fixtures have coatings on them so they don't tarnish.  Not sure what happens on those.

Roger

Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Brass shower wall trim

Reply #5 –
It is a good thing we actually like the brass.  This is an awful lot of work and expense for a cosmetic change.

I have been considering swapping out the shower head, and now days, they only make them in every color except bright brass.  Maybe it's a passing fad, and brass will be back in, say in ten years or so.
Tom Lang K6PG (originally  KC6UEC)
and Diane Lang
2003 38 U295 build 6209
2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Ecodiesel
still have tow-ready 2006 Acura MDX 
Temple City, California
Motorcade 16681 California Chapter President
SKP 16663 member of SKP Park of the Sierra, Coarsegold California
FMCA F071251
Retired electrical and electronic engineer

Re: Brass shower wall trim

Reply #6 –
Where with you Tom! We actually like the polished brass, and the fact that the knobs are solid brass don't have plating that appeals appeals to me. The brass look just puts me in mind of a fine yacht... I'm happy with that image! We found a brass shower head at Lowe's about two years ago, was the only one that they had. Don't know if they still carry them or not... But it might be worth a look. The riser bar broke when we were in Nacogdoches and FOT wanted $270 for a new one. I found some kind of surplus place online, but unfortunately, they didn't have brass ones... Just goldplated ones which I bought for about $30. You can see that there's a bit of mismatch in the colors of the showerhead and the riser bar, but I find that I can live with that much better than I can with zip tying the shower head so that it doesn't slide down the pole!
Don & Tys


Quote from: Tom Lang –
It is a good thing we actually like the brass.  This is an awful lot of work and expense for a cosmetic change.

I have been considering swapping out the shower head, and now days, they only make them in every color except bright brass.  Maybe it's a passing fad, and brass will be back in, say in ten years or so.
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Don & Tys
1999 U270 3602 WTFE #5402
Xtreme Stage 1 w/Headlight, Step Conversion, etc.
2009 Honda Fit Sport with Navi
Freedom is NOT "just another word for nothing left to lose"... with apologies to Kris Kristofferson

Re: Brass shower wall trim

Reply #7 –
Quote from: acousticart –
...........................We actually like the polished brass, and the fact that the knobs are solid brass don't have plating, that appeals to me. The brass look just puts me in mind of a fine yacht..........................
Don,
And therein lies a clue...................
Appreciating fine yachts as well as fine Motorhomes, I never quite understood the aversion to tastefully done brass accent elegance.  Wood and brass go well together in yachts and motorcoaches.
Polished brass-look and solid brass (fittings and fixtures) are valued as highly today in the super-yachts and mega-yachts as they have been over the centuries.  Solid, highly polished brass never goes out of style, if one values endurance of appearance and function in unfriendly, corrosive, high use environments.
 
We took an awestruck tour of Broward Yachts, recently, and the LOOK as well as the solid brass fittings and fixtures are as, or even more prevalent now, as ever. Broward customers definitely didn't get the "dated look" memo.  And curiously, browsing other fine yachts, Broward is certainly no outlier.  Not to say that Broward, like others, doesn't yield to the brushed or plated "fad of the day -- avacado refrigerator anyone?", but the most elegant, enduring (our opinion) look was polished brass.

At any rate, getting back to the point of my post Don, if one wants to continue with a high quality, solid brass appearance, as we do, one can find fine brass lighting, sink and assorted hinge/door/drawer fixtures, if one looks for them in the marine suppliers of the world.  Unfortunately, solid brass is not only longer-lived in appearance and endurance, it also requires deeper pockets.  But then, owning FT's, many appreciate that good bones and longer lives often don't come on the cheap, like some of the thinly plated or patinated replacements may.

All a matter of personal taste, I suppose.

Neal
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Neal (& Brenda) Pillsbury
'02 U320 SPEC, 4200, DGFE, Build #5984
'04 Gold Wing
'07 Featherlite 24'
'14 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit
MC #14494
Exeter, NH & LaBelle FL
Quality makes the Heart Soar long after Price is Forgotten
 

Re: Brass shower wall trim

Reply #8 –
We have cherry cabinetry with polished brass fittings and I love them.  The combination is wonderful and the look is timeless.  During my cabinet building days I often opted for polished brass on natural cherry.  We changed out the kitchen faucet a couple of months ago with polished chrome.  They look fine together.  JMHO  :D
Scott & Carol Seibert
2001 42' double slide U320 - Sold
Previous - 2002 36' U320