Contemplating Painting

Topic: Contemplating Painting (Read 1954 times) previous topic - next topic

Contemplating Painting

March 06, 2012, 04:04:41 pm

Before proceeding any further guidance from anyone having experience with, or knowledge of, Precision Painting in Bremen Indiana would be most appreciated. Am hoping to have a full paint this summer and have found Precision to be helpful on the phone. This is something that needs to be done right the first time.

Re: Contemplating Painting

Reply #1 – March 06, 2012, 07:15:35 pm

I wouldn't mind finding out as well. It would be nice to have an alternative up north. I've been meaning to talk to Performance Painting up the road from Bremen:

Performance Painting Systems, LLC

Re: Contemplating Painting

Reply #2 – March 07, 2012, 08:24:55 am

I talked to Performance but was not overwhelmed. It took two days of calling, before I could get anyone on the phone and then it was like pulling teeth to obtain information. My take was that if I had this much trouble as a prospective customer, it would be impossible to get anyone to talk to me after they had my coach and I was at their mercy. Of course my experience may suggest they are very busy because they do such a good job. Whatever, I decided to move on.

Re: Contemplating Painting

Reply #3 – March 07, 2012, 08:39:34 am

Personally, I would only use Xtreme Paint & Graphics. Lots of members have had experience with them and years later still very happy with the way the coach looks. FOT's paint department has been getting good reviews, also.

Disclaimer: Carol and I are sitting currently at Xtream for roof painting and step conversion.

For service we would drive from eastern Pa to Nac- MOT &/or FOT for annual service. Usually on our way to south Texas or west.

Re: Contemplating Painting

Reply #4 – March 07, 2012, 10:16:08 am

Performance is less expensive, decent work, do not take out windows, saw one coach they painted, decent, had a few runs, etc. less money, less travel, less quality \

i have used Xtreme.....

Re: Contemplating Painting

Reply #5 – March 07, 2012, 10:46:34 am

Save some dough - 275 rattle cans!

oldMattB

Re: Contemplating Painting

Reply #6 – March 07, 2012, 01:15:24 pm

I have Jeff & Carol's old coach that was painted in 2007 by Extreme as their show coach. It looks like it was just done. I think that it would be worth going to Extreme as their work is well proven.

Keith

Re: Contemplating Painting

Reply #7 – March 07, 2012, 04:11:01 pm

I have to agree about Xtreme Graphics. Eventhough they are 600 miles further than Elkhart, IN, I would chose James Stallings any day, month or year.

Re: Contemplating Painting

Reply #8 – March 07, 2012, 05:34:02 pm

I have seen coaches painted by all three places: precision, Xtreme and FT. If I had to choose it would be Xtreme. They just do it right. I do not think the paint job on my Bornfree is very good verses what I have seen come out of xtreme. The precision people busted a bladder on a friends coach when they painted it too. The good part is they stood behind it and fixed it but you will need to wait about a month to get one. ALso they did not remove the windows and if you move the front window seal to replace it you might have a white strip showing. It is worth the few extra dollars to get James and his crew at Xtreme to do the job. They are the best out there, period.

Re: Contemplating Painting

Reply #9 – March 07, 2012, 07:48:48 pm

well here we are back at FOT after our small job at Xtreme. I was lucky to work with the crew there and because they are so busy James allowed me to do the major work on my coach of removing the centre large basement door and rebuilding it with parts off my old one. This was mainly to save us time as Ruth really wants to get on the road home after 4 months away. I was able to get it all ready for the paint shop (even sanded ) and Rance was very informative as to inherent problems with our coaches but did say they are the best built units for the price!! He is a very knowlegable person and a gentleman to boot.
So, my personal and hands on gut feeling is that our decision to drive over 2500 miles total out of our way to come here was well worth it and would have been a mistake if we had done it any other way for the repair.They know these beasts and how to fix them right. PERIOD.
Sorry we cannot stay around but this has been a great side journey and meeting all the folks made it even better.
John H

Re: Contemplating Painting

Reply #10 – March 08, 2012, 12:52:37 pm

Certainly, there is much more to a paint job than throwing paint at it, you can do that with a bucket and mop. In the Xtreme case, they remove windows (except windshield), door, new gasketing, new covers and a paint job with perfection, any design you could imagine. No doubt you can get a paint job quick and cheaper, if that is what you want, then go for it. For me, I enjoy quality from the mechanical to the cosmetics.
I find it easier to live with and enjoy the quality than suffer from a poor quality.
Cheers
Dave M

Re: Contemplating Painting

Reply #11 – March 08, 2012, 07:26:59 pm

This has been interesting and helpful, thanks to all. Thus far I have learned there is an almost religious devotion to Xtreme among many fellow Foretravel owners. That is fine and there is no doubt that Xtreme does high quality work. Can it be, though, as some have intimated, that no one else does high quality motorhome painting? Hasn't anyone seen high quality work from some other shop even if it is not Precision Painting, the business referenced in my original posting? Just wanting to get this right.

Re: Contemplating Painting

Reply #12 – March 08, 2012, 08:02:27 pm

Raymond,

The devil is in the details. Another provider can state they too remove the windows as does Xtreme. But then most everyone uses the butyl tape to seal the window when re-installed. Xtreme uses "D" seal that gives a stellar seal and does not have the grey putty to attract and hold dirt around your windows.

I have seen pretty paint jobs done at the manufacture's plant but when you get close the caulking is on the outside of the paint not neatly sealed inside the paint as is done at Xtreme.

I have seen dark paint jobs done by the Monaco factory that have delaminated shortly after the warranty period expired. Xtreme uses a paint system that has avoided this pit fall.

Don't forget the apartment available to full paint customers during their stay at Xtreme.

Since you do not yet know James and Jennifer Stallings, I can share they are persons of the highest character. This rules all of their business decisions which bodes very well for all of the clients.

Other motor homes are okay RVs but they are not a Foretravel. Other paint jobs will be okay but it will be very hard to equal the Xtreme effort and no one will exceed it.

All the best as you make your choice.

Re: Contemplating Painting

Reply #13 – March 08, 2012, 08:12:58 pm

Quote

no doubt that Xtreme does high quality work. Can it be, though, as some have intimated, that no one else does high quality motorhome painting? Hasn't anyone seen high quality work from some other shop

As I said, the Factory is doing good work. A lot depends on your budget and how you see your $$ spent. I, for one, want the most bang for the buck. You can get an ok paint job for $5K less. If you keep the coach 5 years that would be $100 a month for a great paint job. AND, your trade in would be worth more due to quality. Depends on how you look at the big picture.
One thing I really like about the forum, people put out what they think knowing the final decision in yours.
Have seen coaches that were painting in Mexico for $7-8 grand. Look ok, but sure can see the difference.

Do what you are comfortable with and go for it...

Re: Contemplating Painting

Reply #14 – March 08, 2012, 08:24:53 pm

No one else set up and ran the Foretravel paint shop originally. I don't believe anyone else uses Sikkens paint. Xtreme designed the headlight upgrade and marketed it for nearly 2 years before FOT offered it. Xtreme redesigned the two different versions of the engine hatch that takes over a hundred pounds off the back of your coach. I'm not sure that FOT offers LED tail light kits yet... Xtreme offers the step upgrade.

Foretravel may have built it, but I will bet James and his crew have painted more coaches than FOT has.

Need more reasons?

Re: Contemplating Painting

Reply #15 – April 06, 2012, 07:03:33 pm

Paint?
many years ago amoungst other things quite different, i made my living/running a big/quality shop, doing top shelf stuff. Radical Corvettes, Maserati conversions, rare collectibles or just a Rolls, Bentley or 2.

Too old to do any of it again but I can still recognize quality ingredients, even though I would need to brush up on formulations for more input to this forum.

Looked at a coach that was as Extremely beautiful and more than i could imagine in such a vehicle............... and it held my attention.
Hope photos do justice.
but after close examination, I offer things to look at for those judging 'paint' The surface of the paint, of course, but the quality of prep work is sometimes evident. on this coach, there appears to have been extensive quality prep work, if judged by the 'straight' surface. Possible problems from issues like resealing windows/windshields if removed for paint process can occur.
Photo #6 shows what appears to be 'clear coat' cracking.

ron

Re: Contemplating Painting

Reply #16 – April 08, 2012, 02:27:18 pm

No doubt, a well painted Foretravel is a thing of beauty. I marvel at them whenever I'm at camp FOT. However, once they're painted, they're painted, no going back and, realistically, no way of correcting major paint mistakes as you can't just throw another coat on and expect it to work. I'd far rather have the original fiberglass exterior than a less than first class paint job.

Re: Contemplating Painting

Reply #17 – April 09, 2012, 09:59:43 pm

chuck, interesting that you and i are seemingly coming at this 'surface' thing from a boaters experience...so we recognize 'gel coat' as a quality material/forgiving/workable. (I have NO doubts that Mr. Fore and his family did too.- but had to adapt to things very pretty and possible.)
Love paint too but do not know of any paint yet that has the several decade endurance possible with a good gel coat job. ron
no matter what, I'm trying to speak apples to apples/no offense to anyones choices..............

Re: Contemplating Painting

Reply #18 – April 10, 2012, 04:13:08 pm

Yep, my 25 year old Privateer Renegade skiff has been baking in the South Texas sun for the last fifteen of those years and a little buffing compound makes it shine like a diamond in a bull"s, ah, ear. Good gelcoat is some durable stuff.

BTW, Memoryroads, check your pm.

Re: Contemplating Painting

Reply #19 – April 10, 2012, 06:32:32 pm

chuck, Pulled into FT campground an hour or so ago, after 3 long days on the road.... popped a cold one and cruised the fence line. Now hooked up to a.c .+ wifi and life is good again

. Will check inventory here in the morning and hope to meet a few owners. ron

Re: Contemplating Painting

Reply #20 – April 11, 2012, 11:15:28 am

Quote from: MemoryRoads – April 10, 2012, 06:32:32 pm

chuck, Pulled into FT campground an hour or so ago, after 3 long days on the road.... popped a cold one and cruised the fence line. Now hooked up to a.c .+ wifi and life is good again . Will check inventory here in the morning and hope to meet a few owners. ron

Ron... you should realize that the last guy who posted that he pulled into Camp FT "just to check things out" in an SOB drove away in a new-to-him FT. This was just a couple of weeks ago.

Craig

Re: Contemplating Painting

Reply #21 – April 11, 2012, 04:02:57 pm

Camp FT is a place to catch a fever. I visited there probably 10 years before I got a FT. Craig was right about the last one (SOB) pulling into Nac, it has been only a short time ago that they left their SOB there as they drove off with a FT. That illness is widespread on this forum.

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