repainting fiberglass motorhome steps to take before starting.

[vixentd]

I have 2 Vixen rv's
www.vixenrv.org

The were built in 1986 and are all fiberglass. However there are two problem areas.
1. The motorhome was built in two halfs with a mould line done the middle. Some of the joint in the middle has cracked.

My plan - Bare the crack about 3 inches on each side and re fiberglass. Block sand and fill with Corvette fiberglass panel filler?

2. Peeling paint and small pinhole blisters. I believe the primer was a lacquer based primer that has contamination on it. On one place I put some electrical tape below a rubber window seal to reseal the window without getting any sealer on the paint and when the electrical tape came off so did all the paint.

RV is in a heated shop up in Vancouver BC Canada.

My plan. - Sand done all the paint and primer. Similar to the advice on the Vettes.
1. Start with 80 grit on a da sander. Remove all paint and primer.
2. Sand with 100 grit and seal with an epoxy primer.
3. Build up suface primer ?
4. When ready to paint would use recommend a single stage plastic paint for durability or base clear.

Any step by step would be appreciated.

I see many recommend certain types of primers on fiberglass. Would like to do the job right once without having any blistering.

Kind of a cool vehicle even though I have a street rod I love driving the Vixen that gets me 30 mpg!

 

[shine]

3 rounds of dawn soap and water would be my first step. people put all kinds of stuff on rv's .

 

[crashtech]

Welcome to the forum!

You might get a lot of paint off with a razor blade if it is on as poorly as you say. That would save a lot of time, energy, and sandpaper.

 

[Phoenix]

I believe its best to use epoxy primers on FG , in Dream car garage on Speed TV , they said its seals the fibers and prevents cracks.

 

[Senile Old Fart]

I have 2 Vixen rv's
www.vixenrv.org

The were built in 1986 and are all fiberglass. However there are two problem areas.
1. The motorhome was built in two halfs with a mould line done the middle. Some of the joint in the middle has cracked.

My plan - Bare the crack about 3 inches on each side and re fiberglass. Block sand and fill with Corvette fiberglass panel filler?

2. Peeling paint and small pinhole blisters. I believe the primer was a lacquer based primer that has contamination on it. On one place I put some electrical tape below a rubber window seal to reseal the window without getting any sealer on the paint and when the electrical tape came off so did all the paint.

RV is in a heated shop up in Vancouver BC Canada.

My plan. - Sand done all the paint and primer. Similar to the advice on the Vettes.
1. Start with 80 grit on a da sander. Remove all paint and primer.
2. Sand with 100 grit and seal with an epoxy primer.
3. Build up suface primer ?
4. When ready to paint would use recommend a single stage plastic paint for durability or base clear.

Any step by step would be appreciated.

I see many recommend certain types of primers on fiberglass. Would like to do the job right once without having any blistering.

Kind of a cool vehicle even though I have a street rod I love driving the Vixen that gets me 30 mpg!

Shine, Jeremy and flynams are 3 of the resident experts on all things fiberglass on this website.
Their knowledge combined with Barry's you have one of if not the best resources for painting fiberglass on the internet.

 

[flynams]

I love Vixen's...I have only seen one, and the glass was very nice and straight on that one. I would stay away from the heavy grits on that because you will wave the glass with a da on that large of a flat surface....I would razor blade or chemically strip only, then wash with dawn 3 times like shine said...then clean, 2 coats of epoxy and start your filler work...the procedure on repairing the crack sounds good and I would get as much weave in there that you can bury for strength. It is very easy to end up with a wavy mess on something like that, but you can do it with some care. We need pics!!!!