Delamination Issue

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Delamination Issue

April 30, 2016, 12:30:46 pm

Could someone explain in detail, maybe some pics, on what exactly is the problem and why it happens and where to look/years affected?

Re: Delamination Issue

Reply #1 – April 30, 2016, 12:36:42 pm

I had it on my slides and the issue was that you could push in on it and it flexed in and out. SO either that or bubbles or blisters on the fiberglass.

Re: Delamination Issue

Reply #2 – April 30, 2016, 01:14:07 pm

Here's what I know, the outer skin of any Foretravel is produced at the factory, it is not Filon. The skin is laid on a big "table" and sprayed with glue,steel frame laid down, foam installed, that surface sprayed, inner paneling laid and pressure applied, allowed to cure. The problem is FT used the wrong glue is some cases and failed to properly clean the steel tube by wiping it down to remove the thin coat of oil left on it from manufacture in some cases, that's why it is hit and miss. Delam happened, the fiberglass became unglued from the steel frame. The fix is to remove anything that moves, is screwed on or screwed through the wall, windows, doors, vents. Remove the end cap trim and belly band trim, front and rear fenders. Now take fiberglass and prop out from coach, clean everything with wire brush. Here's where it get tricky, re-glue, what to use, I will admit there are a bunch of options, don't really know what is best. There are some web sites selling various glues and epoxy, going to do ours this summer will let you know what works.

Re: Delamination Issue

Reply #3 – April 30, 2016, 01:21:49 pm

2000 is the worst, since room R & R is 12+ hours, plus repair. Mine was about 3K at Xtreme, plus 12 hours for MOT to come to Xtreme and do the RR.

Re: Delamination Issue

Reply #4 – April 30, 2016, 01:26:45 pm

Mine was twice as bad as I have two slides but that is really the only issue i had.

Re: Delamination Issue

Reply #5 – April 30, 2016, 01:43:11 pm

Since I don't have slides, and have heard (and seen) many SOB horror stories, would you all STILL buy a coach with slides?

Re: Delamination Issue

Reply #6 – April 30, 2016, 01:44:40 pm

I do not have this issue was curious on the cause and what to look for.

Re: Delamination Issue

Reply #7 – April 30, 2016, 01:49:16 pm

2000 and 2001 slide rooms most commonly affected due to adhesive failure (FT used glue that melted the foam leaving voids). Also occasionally seen in area where dryer vent passes through sidewall

Re: Delamination Issue

Reply #8 – April 30, 2016, 01:52:08 pm

Our 95 GV had minor delamination below the drivers side window. Front cap slides over the coach wall there. James thought hat we might have to remove the affected section and reglass it. Couple of coach bucks to do it.
We parked it next to the house, removed the front cap trim, wedged the front cap away from the body a little and gorilla glued it. With pressure between the house and coach. Worked splendidly 3000 miles later it's solid as a rock. With 10 min work time on glue, too busy for pics.

Re: Delamination Issue

Reply #9 – April 30, 2016, 02:11:13 pm

Quote from: mike leary – April 30, 2016, 01:43:11 pm

Since I don't have slides, and have heard (and seen) many SOB horror stories, would you all STILL buy a coach with slides?

Slides are a must if you don't like living in a hallway.

Re: Delamination Issue

Reply #10 – April 30, 2016, 02:12:59 pm

We prefer no slides for now. If we were full timing we'd be interested. Until then I'm have to not have the weight and complications.

Re: Delamination Issue

Reply #11 – April 30, 2016, 02:23:23 pm

I would be willing to bet all these black painted coaches and 5th wheels are going to have a big Delam problem in the future. The expansion and contraction has got to be huge as compared to white.

Re: Delamination Issue

Reply #12 – April 30, 2016, 02:30:11 pm

Quote from: Traveling Man – April 30, 2016, 02:11:13 pm

Slides are a must if you don't like living in a hallway.

My goal would be to be in nice weather and "live outside".

Re: Delamination Issue

Reply #13 – April 30, 2016, 02:33:11 pm

Quote from: NancyS – April 30, 2016, 02:23:23 pm

I would be willing to bet all these black painted coaches and 5th wheels are going to have a big Delam problem in the future. The expansion and contraction has got to be huge as compared to white.

Yup, I did talk to a member who had a very cool (pun intended) black & red paint job. He said, no matter how nice it looked, the heat build-up because of the black would make him not consider it on a future coach.

Re: Delamination Issue

Reply #14 – April 30, 2016, 02:37:05 pm

Mike have you noticed all RV manufactures paint their products the same, it's almost like there is a committee that tells them how to paint with what colors every year.

Re: Delamination Issue

Reply #15 – April 30, 2016, 02:44:07 pm

Quote from: NancyS – April 30, 2016, 02:37:05 pm

Mike have you noticed all RV manufactures paint their products the same, it's almost like there is a committee that tells them how to paint with what colors every year.

Yes. Dark colors look cool and sell, at this moment in time.

By the way, my 2003 has no delamination at this time. I'm hopeful the problem was solved by 2003. I also feel they stopped experimenting on how to do slides andirons 2003 is slides done right.

I'm very happy with one slide, with Windows in each end of the slide, and a slide less bedroom having two big windows.

Re: Delamination Issue

Reply #16 – April 30, 2016, 03:23:37 pm

Quote from: NancyS – April 30, 2016, 02:23:23 pm

I would be willing to bet all these black painted coaches and 5th wheels are going to have a big Delam problem in the future. The expansion and contraction has got to be huge as compared to white.

I brought up that future issue with prospective coach buyers starting in 1984.

And use to walk them over to the next lot to touch a painted coaches sides both in and out of the sun

Re: Delamination Issue

Reply #17 – April 30, 2016, 03:31:07 pm

Quote from: Darrell LeBeau – April 30, 2016, 12:30:46 pm

Could someone explain in detail, maybe some pics, on what exactly is the problem and why it happens and where to look/years affected?

Since many who post here will refer to coached built during the last century, I will tell you that on the 2007 Nimbus series, there were major problems with the fiberglass used. Today, these coaches have been plagued with crazing. Additionally, on the same year and model, there were failures of where either the front or rear cap met the side body. A small strip was glued to seal these seams but the glue was used sparingly, and not enough to fill in a half inch gap between fiberglass parts. FOT did recognize the problem and began in 2008 fiberglassing those seams together. Therefore, my recommendation is stay away from the 2007 Nimbus year and certainly watch for crazing with dark paint.

Re: Delamination Issue

Reply #18 – April 30, 2016, 03:34:25 pm

Quote from: Tom Lang – April 30, 2016, 02:44:07 pm

Yes. Dark colors look cool and sell, at this moment in time.

By the way, my 2003 has no delamination at this time. I'm hopeful the problem was solved by 2003. I also feel they stopped experimenting on how to do slides andirons 2003 is slides done right.

I'm very happy with one slide, with Windows in each end of the slide, and a slide less bedroom having two big windows.

Nope, just found out it happened on a 08. It seems when Foretravel cut the opening in the side wall for the slide out they did not re fiberglass the area around where they made the cutout. The just painted the exposed wood. Over time the paint chips away and exposes that wood to moisture and the delam happens, I am talking in these areas around the slide outs only.

It will cost over 30K to fix-3 slides.

Re: Delamination Issue

Reply #19 – April 30, 2016, 04:55:02 pm

If you spend some time at Xtreme you will get quite an education on fiberglass resins, gel coats and adhesives. The 2002 and 2003 adhesive and resins were different and there is just as much delamination (not in the fiberglass layups which is what most composite engineers worry about) but in the adhesives used between the fiberglass and whatever is bonded to it. There was a 2003 FT there when we were there, all five sides of the one slide had adhesive failure. In a great many coaches including FT, the crazing and micro-blisters you see are in the gell coat layer and are made much worse and much more visible when the dark paint is used and especially where there is a high level of color change (black to white). Rance can see this with his experienced eye and point it out. Once you know what to look for you can see it on many coaches. This is not something that can just get painted over because it is in the gel coat. Lighter colors and less of a change from one color area to the next reduces this. I hope I remembered my month of daily lessons correctly.

Re: Delamination Issue

Reply #20 – April 30, 2016, 05:50:43 pm

My cutouts where my slides are still have paint on them (no delamination) no exposed wood. I will call Xtreme on Monday to see if there is a product I can apply (to seal the inside of cutout) to prevent moisture from getting inside the sidewall.

Re: Delamination Issue

Reply #21 – April 30, 2016, 06:25:47 pm

Darrell, Xtreme is the place to go for advice on fiberglass and adhesive issues for your FT coach. Most of them worked there and know them well. Rance is the fiberglass wizard.

Re: Delamination Issue

Reply #22 – April 30, 2016, 06:33:51 pm

Quote from: Roger & Susan in Home2 – April 30, 2016, 06:25:47 pm

Darrell, Xtreme is the place to go for advice on fiberglass and adhesive issues for your FT coach. Most of them worked there and know them well. Rance is the fiberglass wizard.

Thanks Roger, yeah looks like I am okay so far but want so sort of preventative thing I can do to prevent an expensive repair.

Re: Delamination Issue

Reply #23 – April 30, 2016, 06:34:32 pm

BTW, delamination on older Foretravels (pre 2000) is almost non-existent.

Sure, if one allows a water leak to persist for long enough, that area can delaminate (fiberglass separate from framing).

Re: Delamination Issue

Reply #24 – April 30, 2016, 06:45:13 pm

Brett have seen 3 or 4 GV 's late 80's models with same delam issues as ours in Arizona the past 5 years. These are West Coast coaches not exposed to that much weather. From what I gather the glue used was just old yellow contact cement the kind used to cement Formica to plywood for counter tops.

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