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Topic: Get mirrors re chromed or buy new. (Read 918 times) previous topic - next topic

Get mirrors re chromed or buy new.

My mirrors are pitting and looking bad. I do not know if I should just remove and get them re chromed or if I should just buy new ones. That is if I can still find them.

What is the best way to go?
2014 ih45  (4th Foretravel owned)
 1997 36' U295 Sold in 2020, owned for 19 years
  U240 36' Sold to insurance company after melting in garage fire
    33' Foretravel on Dodge Chassis  Sold very long time ago

Re: Get mirrors re chromed or buy new.

Reply #1 –
Mine are in bad shape also. I don't know if I can get the mirrors apart (arms and heads) due to corrosion. Rechrome would be much cheaper if time allows for it. New ones are pricey. Another option is powder coating.
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: Get mirrors re chromed or buy new.

Reply #2 –
My vote would be to have them re chromed if they aren't pitted too bad.  The pitting will determine if the chrome will look good or like a golf ball. Any good hot rod shop will have the name of a chrome shop that they use in your area.

New ones are still made by Ramco just give them a call and tell them what you need as they have always been very helpful to us. ramco-eng.com

Pamela & Mike
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Re: Get mirrors re chromed or buy new.

Reply #3 –
Any idea if Ramco can rebuild? Is this a service they offer? Mine are not only peeling but the ball joint flops around on bumps and such, but as mentioned earlier the corrosion is such that I cant seem to move the setscrew. Id gladly remove the entire assembly if they can redo it, or just replace with black or powder coated fake chrome to save money.
95 U300SE

Re: Get mirrors re chromed or buy new.

Reply #4 –
I just replaced mine...stayed with the chrome as I live just north of Houston and go to the coast occasionally...Other choices were polished aluminum.  Salt air and bare aluminum not so good of pair.  Other choice was pained.  Wirth 2 love bug seasons a year I did not believe that would be the best idea either.  The original chrome ones lasted almost 20 years, so chrome it was.  Thought about rechroming, thought about time and hassle (stripped set screws, how much would get broken on disassembly, etc, etc). So I just got new ones.

John

ramco-eng.com
John and Stacey Smith
Motorcade NO: 11973
1997 U295 CSGI 40'..Build No. 5036     
920 Watts on the roof..CAT Power w/fuel Inj. Programmer
2021 GMC Sierra AT4 1500
EX..2015 Jeep Wrangler Sahara
Ex 1990 U280 RSAI 36'..Build No. 3638

Re: Get mirrors re chromed or buy new.

Reply #5 –
Ramco is in Elkhart Indiana and sells parts, probably have in stock. FT logo mirror bode are no longer available. Give them a call and ask them how much for the parts, they will sell and ship direct.

They are open until 4:30 Eastern

(574) 266-1455
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: Get mirrors re chromed or buy new.

Reply #6 –
Ours are fresh and VERY pretty. They are Ramcos. Seems to me, after dinking around removing them, taking them to the chrome shop, picking them up, putting them back together, you'd be even steven by going fresh. If you got Bs&Ws (bells and whistles) on them : Turn signals, inside adjusting, I'd not change brands if at all possible, since the way things go, the bolt holes will not line up, either. A lot of fellow travelers have commented, "those mirrors sure are shiny!"  ^.^d
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'

Re: Get mirrors re chromed or buy new.

Reply #7 –
RvTrvlr,

Try using Corrosion X on the setscrew.  Soaking some cotton wool and taping it in place for a few days.

If that won't work try heating the area with a small propane torch.

If still no luck buy a "left hand" drill.  It's one that cuts in the opposite direction to a normal one.  Get it at a machine shop supplier.  The action of cutting produces a lot of torque and may unscrew it.  If not drill oversize and tap in a new setscrew.

Keith
Keith, Joyce & Smokey the Australian Cattle Dog
1995 U320 SE Extreme 40' WTBI Build # 4780, with a Honda CR-V hopefully still following behind.
Motorcade # 17030
FMCA # F422159

Re: Get mirrors re chromed or buy new.

Reply #8 –
Quote from: Tim Fiedler –
Ramco is in Elkhart Indiana and sells parts, probably have in stock. FT logo mirror bode are no longer available. Give them a call and ask them how much for the parts, they will sell and ship direct.

They are open until 4:30 Eastern

(574) 266-1455


Wish I would have thought of this 3 days ago when I was short way from Elkhart in Middlebury.
2014 ih45  (4th Foretravel owned)
 1997 36' U295 Sold in 2020, owned for 19 years
  U240 36' Sold to insurance company after melting in garage fire
    33' Foretravel on Dodge Chassis  Sold very long time ago

Re: Get mirrors re chromed or buy new.

Reply #9 –
Ramco has our mirror style and parts.  When we painted 5 years ago, we decided to buy new paintable mirror and now we have taller mirrors with three motorized heated mirrors on each side.  And the middle big mirror has LED turn arrow imbedded.  Our new mirror housing is strong plastic, not metal, no more corrosion.
Contact Ramco directly
ramco-eng.com
 

Re: Get mirrors re chromed or buy new.

Reply #10 –
If they're pot metal it's something that not all chrome shops do.  Your money spent will be determined by the amount of work
needed to get the parts ready for plating.  That's why it's best not to let the mirrors get too bad before re-plating.

Here's a reputable pot metal plater; 

S & H Chrome Plating & Powder Coating, Inc.
817 Madison Industrial Rd, Madison, TN 37115
(615) 865-0100