Gel-coated walls

[motodad224]

I just ordered a Grey Wolf 27bhks and I ordered the Gel-coated wall option. Has anyone got this option? How durable are they? Is it worth the extra $1400? Also any feedback on this camper model good or bad would be great. Thanks in advance for any info

[Dave_Monica]

The gel-coating is nice looking...high gloss. I'm not sure that it would have any impact on the durabilty. Lots of older fiberglass RV's still around from before gel-coating became the norm.

[crocus]

The gel coat definitely helps the camper look good for much longer. And if you wax it once a year, it will stay new-looking for a long, long time.
Without the gelcoat, the fibreglass tends to weather very rapidly. I have seen campers only a few years old that looked very rough.
And it just looks better!
Well worth it.
On our Flagstaff, it was part of a package that had a lot of nice options, so we didn't even think twice.

[edman87k5]

It looks better and stays cooler in Louisiana summers, but the wall replacement if you have a problem idea pushed me away. The metal sides are very low maintenance and have less problems.
All in personal preference I guess. I went with a budget trailer this time, next time, who knows?

[M109Rrider]

Never realized you could even get fiberglass without gelcoat.

[crocus]

edman, we were discussing the difference between bare fibreglass walls and gelcoat, not fibreglass vs tin.

M109, there are still campers without gelcoat. Next time you are camping, look for the ones that don't seem quite as shiny. If you look up close, you can see the glass fibres on the surface. It creates a rather rough-looking surface. The gelcoats are like glass, as I imagine yours is.
Just like tin trailers are cheaper than fibreglass, plain fibreglass is cheaper than gelcoat.
One of my friends has a rather large Jayco, and they couldn't believe how nice the finish on our camper was. Obviously, they did not have the gelcoat.

[PapaSmurf]

Hey Crocus, looks like we are running similar set-ups. I too have a brown 96 f250 deisel, pulling a 2011 5er. Great trucks!

Now on to the question at hand - I thought it a worthwhile investment in our new coach. Our other unit had the smooth sides, but not the gelcoat like the new unit. I love the gloss of the gelcoat. I don't believe you will be disappointed with the option.

[crocus]

Hi Papasmurf!
That's too funny, as we have the 4.10 gears as well! The truck pulls like a bear, but get going too fast, and the fuel mileage starts to decline, in a hurry!
And yes, we really like our fifth.
Do you have any pictures of your outfit?

[edman87k5]

ok, well that one is a no brainer- gelcoat all the way. Isnt the gelcoat a LOT easier to clean and keep looking nice? I have seen a lot of fiberglass ones not taken optimum care of and in a few years, the fiber stains and you can see the grain from a distance. Actually went with brother in law to look at one the other day, it looked horrible and seemed very brittle.

[motodad224]

Thanks for all of the quick responses, it definatly makes me feel better about dropping the extra coin, which was almost a no-brainer in the first place because for the $1400 you also get the upgraded aluminum wheels. I'm also interested if anyone has the 27bhks floorplan and and any good or bad comments they have on it. More or less I have to wait two more weeks until they are done building it and I am getting anxious.