keystone fifth wheel exterior finish’s

[jasin1]

i have a 2020 Cougar 315 rls…i’ve been looking at different fifth wheels in the last few weeks …i like the Jayco Pinnacle and Northpoint…i like the Montana ...especially the legacy model…we need extra room for kids visiting …and want more storage …i like the Montana 3791RD with rear storage.

looking at Pinnacle and northpoint i noticed the exterior even though unpainted was much smoother and more like a boat gelcoat then my current cougar is…although i’d love the full body paint i’m thinking i would be too worried about branches at campgrounds scratching the sides.

i think i’d be good with the gelcoat like exterior of the jayco …does the montana,Alpine and Avalanche have a gel coat finish ? i can’t seem to find anything on it and i really like the new montana.
i feel like the gelcoat would look better longer then what i have.

still on the fence about full body paint. the montana in cobalt looks amazing

[bsmith0404]

The Montana and Alpine are a high gloss finish.

I can give you my opinion on FBP, I absolutely love mine and it still looks like new as free 10 years, but it’s a big price tag that gets little to no return. If you’re planning to keep it a long time, worth it. If it’s a short term (5 years or less) I’d say pass on it. I’ve never had an issue with scratches, I have had to buff a couple out, but that’s not that difficult.

Personally, knowing the construction differences, I’d pass on the Jayco. That may ruffle some feathers with a few people, but IMO, the structure of a Keystone is much better than a Jayco. From pinch rolled lamination, to dynaspan floors and double weld framing. Just makes for a much more solid/rigid box.

[jasin1]

Originally Posted by bsmith0404

The Montana and Alpine are a high gloss finish.

I can give you my opinion on FBP, I absolutely love mine and it still looks like new as free 10 years, but it’s a big price tag that gets little to no return. If you’re planning to keep it a long time, worth it. If it’s a short term (5 years or less) I’d say pass on it. I’ve never had an issue with scratches, I have had to buff a couple out, but that’s not that difficult.

Personally, knowing the construction differences, I’d pass on the Jayco. That may ruffle some feathers with a few people, but IMO, the structure of a Keystone is much better than a Jayco. From pinch rolled lamination, to dynaspan floors and double weld framing. Just makes for a much more solid/rigid box.

yeah i was just looking because my closest dealer had them…i was a little shocked that the jayco northpoint only had e rated goodyear endurance but the mid 2023 units will ship with h rated uniroyals..
i think if i went full body paint i’d buy a one or two year old used one that someone changed their mind on…i ve seen some really nice used units, loaded with options for the price of a base new one

[Mikendebbie]

I do not have a full body paint model - but I have read many threads over on sister forum IRV2 from guys with big/older motor homes looking to get a paint job. They have to spend $20k to $35k to get a full body paint job. Most take their unit to Mexico to find more cost effective paint jobs. I’m thinking the $10k up charge that Montana gets for factory FBP seems like a swinging deal!

[bsmith0404]

Big difference between doing an initial paint job on a blank canvas vs having to do a bunch of prep on one with failing clear coat.

[chuckster57]

Originally Posted by bsmith0404

Big difference between doing an initial paint job on a blank canvas vs having to do a bunch of prep on one with failing clear coat.

Or body repair and then repaint colors AND clear.

[jasin1]

gonna try and take a look at a painted one soon

[sourdough]

Brian the painted ones look really good but you pay a "really good" price for them as well. As far as I recall the Montana and the Jayco are going to have similar finishes. It's been a while since I looked at a Pinnacle, or a Jayco, but when I bought this one they looked about the same to me.

[jasin1]

Originally Posted by sourdough

Brian the painted ones look really good but you pay a "really good" price for them as well. As far as I recall the Montana and the Jayco are going to have similar finishes. It's been a while since I looked at a Pinnacle, or a Jayco, but when I bought this one they looked about the same to me.

ok i thanks for the response…i didn’t do my homework when i bought my fifth wheel ( i usually research for a while before a purchase) …i just assumed the finishes were similar on all “fiberglass” fifth wheels …didn’t give it a second thought…didn’t even know what filon was or that it even existed.

i think i’d be fine with a good shiny gelcoat finish..need to get moving and track down a montana to look at

[sourdough]

The finish on my MHC is considerably nicer than my previous Cougar.

[jasin1]

Originally Posted by sourdough

The finish on my MHC is considerably nicer than my previous Cougar.

unfortunately i dont have a dealer close to me that has a good selection of keystone fifth wheels…i was looking online at Holiday World of texas and they have a bunch of fifth wheels. ( alpines and montana’s) wish i had something like that around me..
place i bought mine has maybe two or 3 alpines and avalanche but not the floor plans i’m interested in…i was on vacation during the Hershey show…kicking myself for missing that

[hawghauler]

Jasin1
Not exactly sure where in the upper Chesapeake you are but Beckleys has alot they're in MD MAY be worth a drive they have alot of revs every time I pass by

[gearhead]

I couldn’t handle the finish on our previous Montana HC. I could get it look decent if I spent 3-4 days rubbing on it Spring and Fall but the Texas sun just oxidized the heck out of it. Decided for our “one more” RV I would try to find a lightly used something with full body paint. I tried to buy a 37? ft Redwood from PPL but that turned into a fiasco. Then saw the Landmark for sale at a Houston dealer. It was longer than I wanted and definitely more expensive. But it was a lot cheaper than a new one.
So far it has been good. I wash and wax the front cap spring and fall. I don’t remember if I have waxed the whole thing more than once. It still looks good to me. I don’t know anything about the Landmark construction details compared to Keystone. I believe they went to Azdel backing a couple years ago though.
For me full body paint is worth it.

[jasin1]

Originally Posted by hawghauler

Jasin1
Not exactly sure where in the upper Chesapeake you are but Beckleys has alot they're in MD MAY be worth a drive they have alot of revs every time I pass by

thanks. yeah i drove a hour and a half yesterday to Pennsylvania to look at grand design solitude’ was planning on beckleys also

[jasin1]

Originally Posted by gearhead

I couldn’t handle the finish on our previous Montana HC. I could get it look decent if I spent 3-4 days rubbing on it Spring and Fall but the Texas sun just oxidized the heck out of it. Decided for our “one more” RV I would try to find a lightly used something with full body paint. I tried to buy a 37? ft Redwood from PPL but that turned into a fiasco. Then saw the Landmark for sale at a Houston dealer. It was longer than I wanted and definitely more expensive. But it was a lot cheaper than a new one.
So far it has been good. I wash and wax the front cap spring and fall. I don’t remember if I have waxed the whole thing more than once. It still looks good to me. I don’t know anything about the Landmark construction details compared to Keystone. I believe they went to Azdel backing a couple years ago though.
For me full body paint is worth it.

i had the same idea…i typed in full body paint into rv trader and still might go that route ..there was a few really clean units….i’m still looking but my cougar has been good to me so far

[jasin1]

if anyone wonders why the factory paint costs so much more …just watch the last few minutes of this video…25 minute mark….really detailed how much goes into a montana full body paint..it’s like three extra days of work ..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0W2PeLlUBY

[sourdough]

Brian that sure looks like a lot of work. 3 days? Heck, I rattle canned a 1961
Ford F100 in 1976 and I think it only took me 4-5 hours! Thought it looked pretty good back then. I guess it's the clear coat....that one sure looks GOOD...and a LOT more work. Now, quit looking and go order it!!

[jasin1]

believe me i’m tempted

[chuckster57]

Originally Posted by sourdough

Brian that sure looks like a lot of work. 3 days? Heck, I rattle canned a 1961
Ford F100 in 1976 and I think it only took me 4-5 hours! Thought it looked pretty good back then. I guess it's the clear coat....that one sure looks GOOD...and a LOT more work. Now, quit looking and go order it!!

We do collision work at my present employer. Just finished up a Forester class C with full body paint. It had rear wall and P/S rear corner damage. It was in the paint booth for 4 days matching colors and patterns.

[JRTJH]

4 Days in a paint booth....

Shop rate $150/hour x 4 days (32 hours) x 2 painters

150 x 32 = 4800 x 2 = 9600

That's just the man hours, add facilities maintenance/utilities and materials used and it's pretty easy to see why a "full automotive paint option" is north of $10K ...