Country Coach Step by Step Motorcoach Exterior Paint Application Process

Ever watch a Country Coach pull into a resort or campground? Undoubtedly you'll usually see heads turning to watch it. pass. It's those magnificent  sleek exteriors and beautiful paint. Country Coach Exteriors received the World's Finest Original Paint Application Process when they were originally built.

Though Country Coach, LLC is no more, there are thousands of well-loved Country Coach motorcoaches on the road still today. All of those Country Coach Exteriors received the World’s Finest Paint Process. Here is just a brief overview of what that entailed.

I’ve been marketing the company's sales/service/storage business at Premier RV Services in Junction City OR for a few days each week over this past couple years now. Love the people! Two of my favorites are  Julio Patino and Steve Gottschling. They were the Country Coach, LLC paint experts during the manufacturing days of that defunct company. They probably had a hand in the beautiful paint job (either literally or from a supervisor's standpoint) that your Country Coach received. After the Country Coach, LLC company closed its doors in bankruptcy in 2009, these two paint artisans chose to continue their highend motorhome paint application and paint care business at Premier RV Services, 325 East First Avenue in Junction City, Oregon.

At Premier you can get a minor touch up done, or a full coach exterior painted, and the job is handled by these paint experts, utilizing the same Sikkens Paint which was originally applied.

I recently revisited the original paint application each and every Country Coach received, and here are some highpoints of what I was reminded of:

1)       Every coach exterior coming off line and into the paint shop was thoroughly investigated for fiberglass flaws or defects. The team would cover the exterior with a blue dye. The dye was then sanded off, revealing any defects or slight elevation variations in the exterior. Only when the surface was free of these was the graphics layout process begun.

2)       Graphics for a particular motorcoach were laid out to guide the paint specialists. There was an individual template for each model and included specs for the graphics. (In addition there were certain models like the Prevost, Rhapsody, or Affinity which received completely custom paint and graphics which were laid out all by hand).

The team patted down the template with a punce pad filled with blue chalk. There were little pin holes along the design. After this they’d remove the template and reveal the little blue dots.  Magnas and Affinitys received a base coast of gold or silver (or whatever chosen color of a custom application) and then the taping began. A special vinyl tape was applied which was eventually removed, but gave the motorcoach its separation of colors and pin striping.

3)       The coach was then painted with world-recognized premier Sikkens brand paint, section by section, with masking adjusted as the process advanced to cover the already painted sections while other colors were being applied. Every coach received a minimum of three and up to five coats of paint per color. (Each color has a different coverage ability, thus the variation in number of coats applied.) Then the tape was all removed to show the pin striping.

4)       The application of four coats of clear coat followed.  The clear coat is baked at about 140 degrees ambient temperature. Next 1200 grit sandpaper sands the entire clear coated area. This “cutting” step takes off all the orange peel texture and other roughness that may have accumulated during the paint process. When the paint specialists finished the sanding process, the coach was buffed to produce a glossy finish…Something for which a Country Coach is well-known.

5)       The coach went through a series of inspections which included exterior inspection on the paint and finish work. After these quality control checks the coach moved on to the next manufacturing step on its way to its eventual home in some lucky Country Coach owner’s driveway!

When a Country Coach owner needs fiberglass or paint work done these days be sure to give Premier RV Services a call. You'll find that the same exacting care and attention is given to a small fender bender  fiberglass and paint repair as to a full exterior paint job as was given to the original paint application process!

 

I remain convinced the world’s finest motorcoach  on the road today is still the Country Coach motorcoach. And as the Country Coaches age, trusted qualified expert care and routine maintainenance is of utmost importance. There are several reputable highline service centers who are qualified to handle those projects on your Country Coach to (and other brands as well).

Premier RV Services is one of them. You may reach them at 325 East First Avenue (on 26 acres of the former Country Coach, LLC campus) in Junction City, OR, by email premierrvservices@gmail.com or by calling 541-998-2640. Vist them online at www.premierrvservices.com.  (A couple other service centers unrelated to Premier RV but also highly qualified are Oregon Motorcoach Center in Eugene, and Country Coach Corporation which also offers full service in some of the original Country Coach, LLC buildings).

Premier RV Services also has the nation's largest selection of Pre-Owned Country Coaches on display in the largest indoor showroom in the Pacific Northwest. If you'd like a different motorcoach and have your heart set on a Country Coach, Call Louie Courtemanche to learn more, 541-953-6729, or email countrycoachrv@gmail.com.