Krystal Kote

[dumplin]

I went to Nova Scovia in october for 30 days and drove in very hard rain a couple days and thought that might have caused it ?

[Ed]

Hi again Dumplin
I have driven in hard rain already but I am sure thats not the cause. Do you have this unit from new. Ed.

[dumplin]

Yes title date 9/15/06 got it at Slicers on rt 13 New Castle DE

[JohnB]

A possible cause,

Maybe this. The Sun starts the breakdown. The angled front may be more exposed to the direct sun more then the rest of the camper. I know the sun kills anything plastic on the roof faster if not protected more then the sides. The sun may start some type of breakdown process so the coating does not adhere as well.

Another issue is towing itself. On mine the center of the camper up top is more eroded then sides. As I tow down the road the wind may funnel more right in the center. Naturally the sides get hit too just not as hard as the center area. Now the wind itself only creates the moving force. Dirt in the air as very fine levels create sort of a fine sand blast. I know this is a stretch but not beyond a possibility. It at least helps explain why the center is worse then the sides. That front part of the camper takes the blunt of the wind deflection.

Rain was mentioned, I do not think the water itself is the issue but again it may be more flying dirt while towing in the rain again concentrated right to the area on top from towing. I know I towed 10 hours straight to Buttonwood in the driving rain. It was raining buckets non stop. So much for having the camper spotless clean before heading out.... as soon as we pulled into camp the rain stopped..... And I have ended up towing in the rain at other areas.

It would be interesting to know if this is happening to anyone who has the camper out in the sun but does not tow much with it. Like on a seasonal site. This at least may rule out the towing part. For sure need several of us like this to create any kind of actual data. Since we have no idea what and how this is occurring everything is a guess right now.

Just some wild thoughts right now.

John

[Sunline Fan]

Originally Posted by JohnB

Anyone know what year Sunline started using Krystal Kote siding? (OK SunlineFan this is your que....)

Sorry, just seeing this now. Been spending a lot of time over on FTE lately...

Started in May 1991 as the start of the 1992 model year.

I never had a problem with the '90s Krystal Kote units. Scrubbed them hard on the outside with harsh chemicals after sitting in the sun for many years, and it never had a problem. But it make me glad my '07 doesn't sit in the sun so it doesn't develop this.

[Hematite]

I'm sure that the sun exposure starts the breakdown process. Clear coat anything does not have much UV resistance from what I've heard in the past. I do suspect that roof cleaning and black streak chemicals also take their toll. My Sunline is only exposed to the sun at the very front and is exposed 6-7 months of the year. I haven't noticed this phenomenon yet. I can't check the unit now because I put it into storage this year.

It's possible that although the '90's units don't show the problem that there was a change in the formula or quality of the later Krystal Kote.