LARGE FIBERGLASS CRACK!!

Topic: LARGE FIBERGLASS CRACK!! (Read 2100 times) previous topic - next topic

LARGE FIBERGLASS CRACK!!

April 17, 2012, 09:08:51 pm

Hello,

I have a large crack (split?} in the fiberglass. I noted, when we pulled the coach out of storage
to head for the CA chapter rally in Ridgecrest, CA, that there was a small blemish about 5" below the front left drivers window. 500 miles later, at the rally, several folks noted that I had a very long crack that runs from the front curve of the driver's left side window seal straight down to the rim of the opening at the front of the front storage compartment. In addition, directly above this mess, there is a crack forming in the front of the drip rail above the window. I found nothing on the roof. ( I have pictures but I've never figured out hoe to attach to posts.)
The consensus among the more experienced at the rally, was that the had never come across such a condition. I'm attempting to talk to some one at Nac.

ANY ideas about possible cause and potential fixes would be gratly appreciated!!

Thanks

Re: LARGE FIBERGLASS CRACK!!

Reply #1 – April 17, 2012, 09:14:46 pm

Gosh, I clobbered a large deer, left hair & blood on left front below the Xtreme headlight area, thought I had massive damage until I stoped and only found lot of hair & blood, no visable damage yet, that is now over a year ago.
Would hate to guess what happened to your coach.
Dave M

Re: LARGE FIBERGLASS CRACK!!

Reply #2 – April 17, 2012, 09:39:06 pm

Would this be where the front cap was attached? I know in 02 and early 03 Foretravel had several coaches that had a crack in the fiberglass but they started on the roof on each corner. I would call service at Foretravel and see what they have to say. By the sound of it, it must be getting worse so a trip to the shop , but you really need to know where this stress is coming from. Tks DAN

Re: LARGE FIBERGLASS CRACK!!

Reply #3 – April 17, 2012, 10:30:45 pm

Foretravel had problems with some of the early coaches when they did away with the trim pieces and bonded the end caps directly to the body. The factory performed extensive repairs to a large number of 03 coaches by reinforcing the front and rear end caps. This was a fairly expensive repair at a time when they were in bad financial shape.

I would contact Cory Rucker (shop manager) at Foretravel, he's a good guy. If it is the front cap separating the factory may offer some relief. At any rate they are the right people to fix it. If they won't help I would talk with Extreme, they're aware of the problem and have a top notch fiberglass guy.

Good Luck.

Re: LARGE FIBERGLASS CRACK!!

Reply #4 – April 17, 2012, 11:00:45 pm

Quote from: David Bethard – April 17, 2012, 10:30:45 pm

Foretravel had problems with some of the early coaches when they did away with the trim pieces and bonded the end caps directly to the body. The factory performed extensive repairs to a large number of 03 coaches by reinforcing the front and rear end caps. This was a fairly expensive repair at a time when they were in bad financial shape.

I would contact Cory Rucker (shop manager) at Foretravel, he's a good guy. If it is the front cap separating the factory may offer some relief. At any rate they are the right people to fix it. If they won't help I would talk with Extreme, they're aware of the problem and have a top notch fiberglass guy.

Good Luck.

Here are some photos of a recent cap repair that Al Miller 2003 U320 had to do for his.
I met him at the Paint Dept here in Chino CA. having the work done. He is a member here and on his way back to Canada.
Foretravel Cap Repair

Re: LARGE FIBERGLASS CRACK!!

Reply #5 – April 17, 2012, 11:23:15 pm

Barry and everybody,

Thanks for the info. The pictures show exactly the same condition.

Could you give me the contact info for the shop in Chino?

Re: LARGE FIBERGLASS CRACK!!

Reply #6 – April 17, 2012, 11:26:58 pm

Sorry to hear about your crack and hope the factory can offer you some assistance. As for posting pictures, it took me awhile to figure that out. Below the box that the message is typed in, there is a line with "Attachments and other options". You have to click on that. More stuff appears, mainly a line that says "Attach:" with a box labeled "Browse". You have to click on Browse and work through the file tree to the picture you want to post. At that point something should appear in the attach box. After posting one picture, you can do it again for another picture. Sometimes it is easier to just drag and drop pictures on the desktop as desktop is near the beginning of the file tree. Hope this helps.

Re: LARGE FIBERGLASS CRACK!!

Reply #7 – April 17, 2012, 11:38:19 pm

Quote from: LBoyd – April 17, 2012, 11:23:15 pm

Barry and everybody,

Thanks for the info. The pictures show exactly the same condition.

Could you give me the contact info for the shop in Chino?

I have used them a few times for fiberglass repairs.
They painted my roof also.
The Paint Department
13565 12th Street. Chino CA, 91710
(800) 544-5033
RV Body & RV Paint | Chino, CA - Southern California

Re: LARGE FIBERGLASS CRACK!!

Reply #8 – April 17, 2012, 11:51:20 pm

Really suggest you speak with Factory first before paying someone else for the repairs. This was a common problem in that year, to the extent that legal action was undertaken by the new owners of FOT against the prior owners. They can best help you understand the nature of the issue. I believe John Christman's coach had this occur shortly after he took delivery.

Re: LARGE FIBERGLASS CRACK!!

Reply #9 – April 18, 2012, 08:44:09 am

Does anyone know exactly what filler was used by FT that was allowing the crack? Back in 2000, I was doing a total and radical modification of my 44' fiberglass boat and kept running into problems with a top shelf filler for epoxy resins, West System 410. It kept shrinking so had to switch to the #407 to finish the boat without delay. A few tiny and minor paint cracks have shown up where I used the 410 but none with the 407.
Photo shown of repairs on FT seem to show several fillers.

Re: LARGE FIBERGLASS CRACK!!

Reply #10 – April 18, 2012, 09:53:12 am

IIRC, this crack was caused by the way the front and end caps were held to the body. These coaches were the first to have the seamless design at the juncture of the end & front caps to the body. I can't be 100% sure about this, but I do remember seeing a coach be repaired at the then Foretravel of Tennessee dealer in Kodak, TN. It was then explained to me that this design needed to be reinforced then re-finished. Foretravel stood behind all these repairs as it should.

Re: LARGE FIBERGLASS CRACK!!

Reply #11 – April 18, 2012, 10:03:39 am

Quote from: MemoryRoads – April 18, 2012, 08:44:09 am

Photo shown of repairs on FT seem to show several fillers.

Some of Barry's photos seem to show some fillers (roof) and some do not (side below window). I have done some repairs/modification on my basement doors and a rear fender panel. I didn't find any fillers there. Basically the first layer is paint (if painted), then white gel coat, then polyester resin impregnated mat. The doors have a foam core. From the photos it just looks like the cap was bonded to the sides using mat and resin and sanded smooth and painted. Fiberglass cloth or roving and mat makes a stronger joint than just mat. Maybe FT did that, impossible to tell from the photo. I'm surprised that the window was not removed for the repair. FT or a qualified shop should be able to fix it without much difficulty, but a lot of this is just my speculation. I'm not an authority on the problem.

Re: LARGE FIBERGLASS CRACK!!

Reply #12 – April 18, 2012, 10:47:13 am

I would absolutely contact Foretravel immediately. At the very least, they will be able to tell you if the coach had the end cap repair done as part of their recall/warranty procedure. Our '02 DID have the issue fixed by the previous owner, and we were able to see that in the records we inherited and it was also confirmed at the Factory.

Re: LARGE FIBERGLASS CRACK!!

Reply #13 – April 18, 2012, 01:34:09 pm

is my eyesight bad or do I see a join line down the rear cap in the last photo of the link that Barry posted? sure looks like it to me and that is after the painting is done!!!
Maybe I need new glasses?
John

Re: LARGE FIBERGLASS CRACK!!

Reply #14 – April 18, 2012, 03:45:34 pm

as a matter of fact a couple of years after the new owners took over there were some press articles about the significant expenses behind covering this repair years out of warranty.

Re: LARGE FIBERGLASS CRACK!!

Reply #15 – April 18, 2012, 06:19:20 pm

Spoke with Mark Harvey at Ft last week while there about the crack issue. He is the warrantee mgr. Said the issue was mostly in 2002 with a few in 03 and the cracking was not a structural bonding thing with skin to framing but an issue with 'filler'. They had to grind it out and resurface with different material.
The photo of front cap shows 2 color brown areas(fillers?)/one forward/darker- another aft/ligher and more orangish, in area being worked.. confusing!

Re: LARGE FIBERGLASS CRACK!!

Reply #16 – April 18, 2012, 09:34:29 pm

I have talked with Mark Harvey and emailed him some pictures. His inital reaction was negative as to any warrantee coverage due to the age of the coach. He promised me a final answer after he talked to the fiberglass shop. I hope he modifies his position beause I love FT
but I'm prepared to vote with my feet. My next coach may be born in Alabama. I'm attempting to get some feedback from other repair shops. Does MOT do fiberglass?

Barry, if your there. Did you see the finished job on the repaired coach. If so, how did it turn out?
Thanks, again, for all the feedback.

Re: LARGE FIBERGLASS CRACK!!

Reply #17 – April 18, 2012, 09:45:16 pm

MOT will send the coach to Xtreme Paint & Graphics ... and they do Xtremely fine fiberglass work. Ask anybody.

Re: LARGE FIBERGLASS CRACK!!

Reply #18 – April 18, 2012, 10:32:19 pm

Quote from: LBoyd – April 18, 2012, 09:34:29 pm

Barry, if your there. Did you see the finished job on the repaired coach. If so, how did it turn out?
Thanks, again, for all the feedback.

I did see the coach and the owner Al Miller and he was well pleased. He did not want to travel to Nac. He has sent several RV owners there for other work.

Re: LARGE FIBERGLASS CRACK!!

Reply #19 – April 18, 2012, 11:19:22 pm

Larry-

I have a friend with a two year old Tiffin Allegro Bus he bought new - four slides, 40 feet nice coach. He might be very interested in a swap for a good Foretravel.

Re: LARGE FIBERGLASS CRACK!!

Reply #20 – April 18, 2012, 11:29:04 pm

first year was back to factory three times - tough since he lives in AZ, all warranty issues - was back last year as well. He has it scheduled in this year again for regular maintenance and warranty - (wet bay??)

Nice coach, not quite the cabinets of a FT. Seems like more trouble. But Tiffin has stood behind the coach and all issues well, not sure how they would behave if it was a 9 year old coach with a warranty issue such as these cracks. Love the MCD shades everywhere in the coach, on my upgrade list for sure!

Was his first MH, said a few times he wished he had bought a used FT since he got it as a retirment present for himself. I did the last two PHX races in it, and we certainly had a bunch of fun!

Re: LARGE FIBERGLASS CRACK!!

Reply #21 – April 19, 2012, 08:28:48 am

Quote from: LBoyd – April 18, 2012, 09:34:29 pm

I love FT but I'm prepared to vote with my feet. My next coach may be born in Alabama....

Those Alabama RV's are having a few fiberglass issues as well.

Re: LARGE FIBERGLASS CRACK!!

Reply #22 – April 19, 2012, 11:15:31 am

Quote from: Steve & Kathy B – April 19, 2012, 08:28:48 am

Those Alabama RV's are having a few fiberglass issues as well.

I came out of one of those Alabama coaches into the same model year Foretravel, both 1994s. The Foretravel is light years ahead of what I cam out of. And having done some RV shows this year, I'd dare match the fit and finish of my old Foretravel U225 to any new Alabama coach! Now I will say that I have not been in a new Foretravel, but have a hard time believing they have gone down hill that much.

Re: LARGE FIBERGLASS CRACK!!

Reply #23 – April 19, 2012, 01:47:28 pm

Quote from: PatC – April 19, 2012, 11:15:31 am

I came out of one of those Alabama coaches...

Me too.

Re: LARGE FIBERGLASS CRACK!!

Reply #24 – April 19, 2012, 04:53:57 pm

I'm very sorry I mentioned Alabama. I take it back!

Check out the picture on my profile. That's our cat Fritz who has seen all the Penguin movies.

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