We take the extra time to craft your VanLeigh Fifth Wheel with the greatest attention to detail.
We like to approach our work with a quality-over-quantity attitude.
Article by Greg Rickman, Tiffin Ambassador
Ceramic coating is all the rage among car and truck owners. I know several people who have coated their vehicles and rave about the benefit it provides, from paint protection to an easy wash and no waxing. But what about ceramic coating on recreational vehicles (RV’s), in particular motorhomes? Which product do I choose and what are the warranties? What are the pros and cons?
That’s the questions I asked myself when I first started thinking about coating our motorhome. I had several friends who had their motorhomes ceramic coated from various different companies, utilizing different products and techniques. A couple of them even did it themselves, buying the product at a local store or Amazon. I quickly decided that applying this type of product was too risky for me, after all it’s a very expensive motorhome. And besides that, its HUGE.
I decided to do some research so I could have all the facts I needed to make my decision. After all, this is a very important, and expensive, decision. And boy, there is a lot of information out there. Some of it good, and a whole lot of it bad, which is usually the case with information you read on the internet.
So lets start with why I decided to ceramic coat our motorhome. When we first bought our Tiffin Phaeton in 2021, there were some paint defects. Call it what you will; Covid issues, inexperience, whatever, there were quite a few paint problems. It was decided that the paint corrections would be made by the experts at the paint factory, who did an exceptional job. The results were stunning. And that’s when I first got the idea to have it ceramic coated. To protect and enhance that beautiful paint job.
The research I decided to do turned into quite a lengthy project. I read story after story, advertisements from various companies, testimonials, reviews and hours of videos from YouTube. I also talked with several friends who had it done and not one regretted it. You could say that I suffered from a “paralysis of analysis”. But as stated above, this is important. Very important. No one wants to ruin the paint on a motorhome costing more than most of us make in a lifetime.
But what exactly is ceramic coating and how does it work?
My research yielded this definition: ceramic coating is a clear, liquid polymer that bonds to the surface of your RV, creating a protective layer that can withstand the toughest conditions. It enhances the shine and color of your RV, making it look like new. It shines like it is wet. It also provides long-lasting protection against UV rays, bugs and other common types of weather elements. It also helps protect the paint from fading. And its water repellant.
A quick Google search for ceramic coating returns all kinds of information. A lot of this information I found to be misleading to the uninformed consumer. You can buy bottles of stuff on Amazon that they call ceramic but it is just a spray on, like liquid wax. There is also wax that has ceramic properties, but in the end, its just a wax. These products you apply yourself and most will barely last a few weeks. Few, if any, are guaranteed and then good luck getting that covered. As I stated, I quickly decided this was not for me.
So if I was not going to tackle this myself, who or what company would I trust to ceramic coat my beloved Ms. Daisy (named after the movie ‘Driving Ms. Daisy’)? I began my search looking for, in my opinion, the best company out there that offered the best product, best application procedure and best warranty. And that led me to Bob Moses Ceramic Coating.
The Bob Moses company uses a ceramic coating product called Sensha World Crystal Glow, produced by the Sensha company from Japan. Sensha, a company with a stellar 5 star reputation, has over 800 stores and has been in business since 1997. Their coating product is a single layered liquid with SiO2 (silicon dioxide) particles suspended in a clear resin that forms to the shape of the surface it is bonded to with a thin layer of glass which hardens over time. That’s sounds pretty technical to me, but what makes it so special?
It all comes down to application.
In all of the research I did, the one thing that stood out to me was the importance of the paint correction process. I saw this mentioned frequently but I only found a few companies that used this step in the coating process, probably because it adds at least a day to the overall process. After all, why ceramic coat over scratches, swirls and oxidation? Eliminating these issues enhances the final outcome of the coating. Made sense to me.
I found that Bob Moses uses a three-step paint correction process which, as it turns out, is the most critical stage of the entire process. Here are the steps:
After the three-step paint correction is completed, a decontamination wash is done on the surface that removes all grease, grime, oils and other compounds. This opens the “pores” of the clearcoat to allow the ceramic coating to adhere better.
Once the surface is prepared, the Sensha World Crystal Glow glass coating is applied.. : The ceramic coating is applied by hand, ensuring even coverage and attention to detail. The liquid coating bonds with the vehicle’s surface, forming a hard, protective layer. This product only comes in a glass bottle, never plastic, to retain its quality. Depending on the vehicle’s needs and the desired level of protection, multiple layers of the coating may be applied. Each layer enhances the coating’s durability and performance.
After the application, the coating needs time to cure properly. The coating begins to harden immediately but requires 72 hours to fully cure. During this time, it is crucial not to touch the paint or expose it to any liquids for at least the first 48 hours. You should wait at least seven days before washing the vehicle to achieve maximum hardness.
This is where the rubber meets the road. This is an expensive option so the experience you have getting this done is sometimes as important as the process itself. And this is where I felt that the Bob Moses company really stood out.
Bob Moses has several locations across the United States, but I chose the Red Bay location for its proximity to the Tiffin Service Center where I was having some work done. So after scheduling my appointment, the day finally came to get this whole process started.
They start early there so the day begins at 7:00am. When I first arrived, I met with Ricky McGee, the owner, and Stephanie Keeton, shop manager. Very professional, informative and genuinely glad to see you (Alabama folks are some of the nicest people you could ever meet). After pulling into one of the shop bays, they begin with a thorough inspection of the motorhome to assess the condition of the paint and determine the best course of action. The motorhome should have already been washed in preparation for this so a proper evaluation can be made and provide a clean surface for the coating to adhere to.
This would be our home for the next several days as you sleep in the coach inside the bay. The whole process takes at least 3 days to complete.
Once this is done, the staff is briefed on what needs to be done with critical areas pointed out. The staff there is highly trained in their jobs and it shows. They do amazing work! Its then all hands on deck with ladders and scaffolding put into place and everyone gets to work. This process lasts all day. This is when the three step paint correction occurs. You can stay with the coach to observe or leave for the day, your choice. A lounge is provided for your enjoyment.
On day two, the Sensha ceramic coating is applied. The ceramic is applied as a liquid, and then hardens into a crystalline glass. Even with everyone working on it, its another all day affair as it is meticulously applied by hand using a small glass bottle of the product (remember, no plastic) and a sponge. Stephanie let me feel with my hand running over a treated portion vs untreated and it was an amazing difference. Every question I had, and there was a lot, were thoroughly answered.
On the third and last day, its basically touch up any spots and then leave it alone to cure. You CANNOT touch the paint anywhere, period. Their favorite saying in the shop is by yelling “no touchie”! It is imperative not to touch the paint during this time as it will disrupt the curing process. As stated above, no rain or liquid of any kind for at least 48 hours. They provide micro fiber towels so you can get in and out of the coach without touching the door. The staff covers every scenario. Even the steps and the windshield are coated.
The next morning its time for the post-application inspection by Stephanie and the staff to make sure nothing was missed. They seem to have very high standards there, checking and double checking every inch of the motorhome. Then there is a sit down with Stephanie who goes over all of your maintenance, washing instructions and warranty paperwork. The warranty, which is an amazing 8 years, is another reason I chose this company. Throw in a couple of t-shirts, a bottle of Sensha foam soap and glass cleaner, pose for some pics and we’re done!
Now let’s talk about what I learned from all of this. First of all, I had a blast researching and learning about this whole ceramic coating thing. The entire experience with Bob Moses Ceramic Coating was absolutely awesome! I made new friends with other customers in the bays next to me and Ricky and his crew went out of their way to make us feel at home. They even allowed a mobile tech to fix something on the coach that came up during the process. The whole outfit was well organized, professional and accommodating. You can tell that every team member takes pride in their work and the end results showed.
But the number one thing I learned is this: DO YOUR HOMEWORK. I can’t stress how important that is. I heard horror stories about these ‘fly by night’ companies hawking ceramic coating only to discover after its too late that they permanently damaged the paint on your coach with stiff brushes or improper buffing. I chose this brand and method because ultimately it will make my coach more valuable and easier to clean up vs something you do yourself or buy from Amazon. Think about it, if you were looking to buy a coach, would you want a coating that an owner put on or that a professional put on? Its all about protecting your investment. And they guarantee their work.
Well, how did it do you ask? In a word: FANTASTIC! On the return trip home, we encountered a brief but intense rain storm. Since we were close to home, my wife was following in the toad. She described the water coming off of the motorhome as a “waterfall”, as the water just rolled off. I didn’t even have to turn my wipers on! It was awesome! The next day I used just a water hose, rinsing the whole coach down and then used a leaf blower to dry it. The bugs on the front just slid off. The whole coach looked spotless clean. It was quick and super easy. The results were amazing!
The process of ceramic coating does not mean you don’t have to wash your motorhome. When it gets really dirty, you will have to actually wash it, either with a foam cannon or a lamb’s wool mitt. But this significantly reduces the time it takes to keep your motorhome clean and beautiful. And the bugs are super easy to remove using the supplied cleaner and a microfiber towel. And the best part: no waxing!
Overall, a really fun project with a stunning outcome. I enjoyed every minute and protected my investment at the same time. Wish I had done it sooner!
Greg’s dream was to own a motorhome after his retirement from a long career in law enforcement. He and his wife Tina live in Baneberry, TN part of the year and travel this great country in their Tiffin Phaeton 40IH, enjoying the excitement of exploring new places and meeting new people. Their motto is “If you can’t wear shorts, flip flops and a t-shirt, we ain’t going!”
