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Bras, Shields, and Protective Coatings
Until my current coach, my previous 2 coaches suffered from chips and dings. Whatever came at the front of the coach hit the paint or stainless. I had no protection against chips and dings.
Both coaches were approaching 250,000 miles when I sold them and both showed the results of that unprotected exposure. Step back 15 or 20 feet and both coaches looked pretty nice. Get close and the beauty marks were evident.
I did nothing to eliminate the damage or repair it. I waxed the front often, mostly to make bug removal easier. I viewed the paint chips or dents in the stainless skin as evidence the coach had been driven. Our cars get the same types of damage and most of us don’t spend a lot of time installing or removing bras or shields on them.
So after 2 years of use of the bra I now see the results. Since I got the coach I have had the bra in place when driving. When I stop I take it off, or if continuing to travel, at least try to dry off behind it and wipe away accumulated dust and dirt. It is a lot of effort and I presume those with shields have a similar effort to protect the front of the coach while trying to keep it from looking like something cheap bolted on the front. Frequent cleaning an polishing for example.
The results for me are a front still relatively free of dings, but showing rub marks around the edges. So today I got out the rubbing compound and restored the smooth surface of the clear coat. While doing that I also rubbed out damage from bug splatters that was apparently a result of the acid from the bug eating into the clear coat. While not perfect the 104,000 mile coach still looks pretty good, and I am willing ot continue to make the effort to use the bra.
As I was on the ladder rubbing out some bug splatter damage up high on the front it was apparent I spend too much time messing with the coach. Maybe when I get to Tampa I will see if Tom wants to clean my coach for me.
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15 Replies
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Jon; I upgraded with a new bra to match the paint scheme and it does a great job given the front was refinished when i took delivery last year. I wanted to assure it stays new for a while. I must be crazy,as i just sold this coach to my neighbor and took delivery of a new to me, 2008 XL II Liberty this weekend…
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Beautiful coach.
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Jon, I could have given you my Plastic Bug Shield. It was easier to fool with than a bra.
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Buddy,
I would pay to see that….
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Jon,
I gave away a perfect super deluxe one owner low mileage clear plastic shield. Just think of what could have been installed on your Liberty ? You would never have to rub, scrub anything with your shinny clear bug shield proudly installed.
Without all the fanfare, lust and self pride you have now come around to the benefits of clear bus shield ownership.
This is a day in the life and times of the Liberty XL from Knoxville.
You should be prepared for some commentary from J. W. in OKC.
Signed,
Friend of PC
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I would rather eat bees than stick a plastic shield on my coach.
In the by-laws that Liberty owners are obligated to honor it states clearly we are not allowed to deface our coaches with cow catchers or plastic shields. Besides, they are as big a pain in the butt as a bra. Maybe even more so because over time they have to be polished.
Just curious………..if they are so good, how come I keep getting offers for them…….FOR FREE.
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Ever watch NASCAR races?
They have “tear off” windshield covers. The cars comes sliding into the pits and one guy pulls off the windshield cover in one quick motion.
If someone sold a tear off system for the entire front of our RVs, we could just arrive at our destination, hop outside, and tear off the day’s bug layer.
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If all we had to deal with were bugs nobody would have bras or (gasp) plastic shields. Unfortunately we get stuff dropping from trucks like the crap that bounces off the dumptruck when it hits a bridge expansion joint, just after the SOB passed and cut in too close.
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Those of us with plastic shields are an exclusive fraternity. It is like a secret handshake. I actually saw another Marathon with the same shield the other day. I am not alone!
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See, there is the problem. You identify coaches by seeing if they have a shield.
We are afraid someone may mistake us for a Country Coach………………
OK Gil, your turn.
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Im with you Jon, I took off the three m film from my last coach(not a job I care to do again) and had a bra made for it. The new coach had some old 3m film that was taken off also. I think the work is worth the effort to protect the coach although it isnt very good looking when its on. Im guessing that Wade industries (at lazy days) will be getting lots of business while the rally is there.
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I agree a bra or some type of protection helps, but to use any form of protection (this sounds like sex ed.) work is required.
Just because the bugs hit a bra or shield or 3M film doesn’t mean they don’t need to be cleaned off, and except for film which has its own issues cleaning behind the bra or shield is required also. Tom and I saw a bra equipped coach at a dealer and when we unsnapped it we could see it hadn’t been removed as needed for cleaning and the paint was destroyed. That likely won’t happen with a shield, but since a shield is so hard to remove and store the bus seems to always look less good.
When I did not use anything to protect the front it did get damaged and I still had a big effort required to clean off bugs, whereas on the bra I can just take it off, roll it up and worry about bugs later. But as I said at the beginning despite my efforts the bra is still rubbing on the finish and I did need to use some rubbing compound even though I try to clean behind the bra. The bra is stretched tight so I doubt if the damage to the finish is because it is waving in the breeze.
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Ok let me put this thing to bed once and for all:
First off Jon, we make the offers of a free bra cause we all love ya man !!!!!!!
Secondly at our age, fooling with anykind of bra makes for an exciting day !!!!!!!!!
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Buddy,
I suppose at Tampa we are going to have to get into a discussion about using protection, and as soon as we add bras into the discussion we are going to be considered a bunch of dirty old men.
This used to ge a “G” rated site.
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Ya, I gues I better clean it up a bit.
See ya in Tampa.
Comming in on the 2nd.
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