Paint, Fiberglass And Sidewall Care; Corrosion Protection; Awning Care; Reporting Safety Defects - Gulf Stream Travel Trailer Owner's Manual

PAINT, FIBERGLASS, AND SIDEWALL CARE
The sidewalls of your RV have a combination of fiberglass, paint and vinyl decals. The proper care and maintenance
of each one of these elements is crucial in the longevity of your vehicle's proper appearance. If you plan on using wax
on your side walls you should use a marine type wax on the unpainted portions of the coach. Marine type wax is best
suited for fiberglass surfaces. Regular automotive wax is suitable for painted surfaces of the RV.
Avoid storing your RV in the same spot facing the same direction for extended periods of time! The sun can literally
bake the finish off of your RV if it is not properly rotated during prolonged use and/or storage.

CORROSION PROTECTION

Your Gulf Stream recreational vehicle has been designed to withstand normal environmental conditions. But, the
sand and salt used on the highways and the salt spray in the air near oceans can cause the metal components on your
recreational vehicle to corrode.
To protect your recreational vehicle from this corrosion, it must be thoroughly cleaned as soon as possible after
exposure to these elements. Washing the undercarriage with a high-pressure washer will remove the majority of the
salt. But, this will not replace the paint that is literally sand-blasted off the undercarriage by the road salt and sand.
Sand-blasted and corroded frame components must be refinished. This can be done with readily available rust
preventative paint and undercoating. This is necessary to properly maintain your recreational vehicle.
We have also found generators to be affected by salt spray. Since the generator requires air for operation and
cooling, the generator compartment cannot be completely sealed from the elements.
recreational vehicle is exposed to salt spray, the generator should also be cleaned.
Aftermarket undercoating processes are also beneficial in rust prevention.
treatments must be inspected and renewed annually as most undercoating agents can dry and peel with age.
Therefore, regularly scheduled inspections and maintenance is necessary to protect your recreational vehicle and
its various components and fixtures from the elements and keep it corrosion-free.
In addition to maintenance, you should keep from storing your vehicle in grassy areas for long periods of time. The
stagnant, moist air developed under the coach will speed up the corrosion process. Always store your vehicle on
pebble, concrete or asphalt.
Some components used by Gulf Stream and the chassis manufacturer, by nature, will appear to be "rusty" or
corroded on the surface. These components are not required to be rust free for normal operation. These components
may include axle housings, brake caliper housings, LP black pipe fittings, etc.

AWNING CARE

Be sure to clean off all debris as you roll up your awnings. Periodically wash off the awning fabric with a soapy water
solution. Long term exposure to the sun may cause some fading over time, which is normal. Harsh exposure can
cause the awning fabric to delaminate.

REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS

If you believe that your vehicle has a defect which could cause a crash or could cause injury or death, you should
immediately inform the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in addition to notifying Gulf Stream
Coach, Inc.
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open an investigation, and if it finds that a safety defect exists in a
group of vehicles, it may order a recall and remedy campaign. However, NHTSA cannot become involved in individual
problems between you, your dealer, or GULF STREAM COACH, INC.
To contact NHTSA, you may either call the Auto Safety Hotline toll-free at 1.800.424.9393 or write to : NHTSA, U.S.
Department of Transportation, Washington, D.C. 20590 or at www.NHTSA.gov. You can also obtain other information
about motor vehicle safety from the hotline.
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