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My take on the cladding

W

whvt01

Charter Member
Full Member
Joined
Jan 19, 2002
Messages
68
Location
Washington County TEXAS
Still think the material should have lasted longer than two years.

I've tried some of the products and having to apply a greasy
solution that collects dirt and discolors when gets wet doesn't
seem like good product developement. GM should make some
of this protection available to owners at cost or remedy the
problem. Again should last longer than two years.



Posted above on another topic. The idea is great, has saved some
good dings but its starting to look dirty and the products mention
don't seem to clean it up anymore. Its the texture that dirt
gets in doesn't come out. What are they going to look like
in another two years. GM for customer satisifaction should
look into extended warranty on the cladding.
 
I need to check the other thread, but, I'll ask anyway; what problems are being experienced with the cladding? The only difference I'm aware of between the '02 and '03 models are the color, with the '03 being darker.

BTW Skidd, my wife and I really enjoyed reading about your experiences getting your AV delivered! Keep up the great work.
 
AvDaddy said:
BTW Skidd, my wife and I really enjoyed reading about your experiences getting your AV delivered! Keep up the great work.
Click to expand...

Thanks mate... you wouldn't believe, the engineer who converted it has borrowed it for the weekend so that he can exhibit it at an exhibition (big boys toys & sexpo). I've had a call from him and he says that the av is getting all of the attention compared to the other 4 vehicles he has there;

2002 Taho,
2001 HD 2500 Silverado,
2003 Denali, &
2002 Suburban 2500

LOL... The wife and I have got some free tickets to get in and I'm looking forward to touring the porn industry stalls... :eek:
 
03 owners will have to chime in. But according to
comments they did change the cladding in 03.

Mine is starting to look dull. Just last night I
applied some vinltex, by the makers of Lexol,
I think. Helped some but still doesn't look
good. The stuff used last just collected dust
and when washed it didn't clean out of the
texture. So trying this new stuff but seems to
need something that clean out the texture.

Its like vinyl flooing that had small indentures
and over time dirt got in and the floor just looked
crappy.

Also wonder how Cadillac is holding up with the
smooth painted cladding. As far as nicks & paint.
Or if they used a smooth grey cladding.

On zaino ---- that is all have used on the paint,
not on the cladding. but if get to close zaino
does leave a white residue. Some have said no
but on mine Zaino has left a mark.
 
Skidd said:
Thanks mate... you wouldn't believe, the engineer who converted it has borrowed it for the weekend so that he can exhibit it at an exhibition (big boys toys & sexpo). I've had a call from him and he says that the av is getting all of the attention compared to the other 4 vehicles he has there;

2002 Taho,
2001 HD 2500 Silverado,
2003 Denali, &
2002 Suburban 2500

LOL... The wife and I have got some free tickets to get in and I'm looking forward to touring the porn industry stalls... :eek:
Click to expand...

We always knew the AV was sexy and all, but a porn expo? >:D ;D >:D
 
docopharm said:
We always knew the AV was sexy and all, but a porn expo? >:D ;D >:D
Click to expand...

LOL... I'm not sure but the expo is called a "Health, sexuality and lifestyle exposition" so I guess the av fits into a 'lifestyle' category. I'll post the pics that I can (within the ToS) otherwise you'll just have to imagine how it went...
 
(y) I am thinking of taking some emery cloth and rubbing out the areas that are staarting to fray.

Where is the site about the AV getting delivered to Austratilia?

I also heard that at one time a veteran was welcomed to Austrailia with a red carpet treatment?
 
Skidd said:
LOL... I'm not sure but the expo is called a "Health, sexuality and lifestyle exposition" so I guess the av fits into a 'lifestyle' category. I'll post the pics that I can (within the ToS) otherwise you'll just have to imagine how it went...
Click to expand...

hehe - my e-mail has no ToS >:D hint hint
 
Seems like this thead is having difficulty staying on topic ;D

Regarding the cladding....
I've seen the threads that suggest different products that will clean or treat or cover (paint) the cladding. There has to be a reasonable solution.... it's vinyl... not something new or unusual...

Lots of different ideas.... the search under painted cladding or cladding treatment is HUGE.

I'm praying for a miracle solution! :rolleyes:

 
Hmmm... My cladding doesn't seem like vinyl (I won't contest it). I thought that chemical was U/V resistant with new formulations. But UV doesn't appear to be the only problem. If it isn't vinyl, does anybody know the plastic type used for it? If it's ABS, that chemical never liked UV even after treatment. If it's polyethelene I'd be stumped as to why there are problems like what's described.
When I bought a bedliner for my '82 S-10 when it was new, I had a choice between the two plastics. The ABS was tougher and the poly was more resistant to chemicals and UV. I chose the poly and never regretted it. It shines up nicely and it never faded or cracked in 21? years!
With newer technologies today, I would have hoped the cladding would have exceeded it's expectations. So far mine's ok but my Av isn't in the elements as much as the "average" one is.
 
sperry said:
Hmmm... My cladding doesn't seem like vinyl (I won't contest it). I thought that chemical was U/V resistant with new formulations. But UV doesn't appear to be the only problem. If it isn't vinyl, does anybody know the plastic type used for it? If it's ABS, that chemical never liked UV even after treatment. If it's polyethelene I'd be stumped as to why there are problems like what's described.
When I bought a bedliner for my '82 S-10 when it was new, I had a choice between the two plastics. The ABS was tougher and the poly was more resistant to chemicals and UV. I chose the poly and never regretted it. It shines up nicely and it never faded or cracked in 21? years!
With newer technologies today, I would have hoped the cladding would have exceeded it's expectations. So far mine's ok but my Av isn't in the elements as much as the "average" one is.
Click to expand...

Somewhere in this forum is a thread with a link to the bed panel mnanufacturer...and the list the material.......Very interesting read...
 
Heyaaa ... never experienced the problem and maybe this is why.

The first time I washed my Avalanche, I cleaned the cladding with liquid dishwashing (not dishwasher) soap and a soft brush. Two caps or so to a bucket of water. There is a grease cutting enzyme in the soap that attacks the dirt and lifts it right out of the crevices (I think). Rinse and dry.

Using exterior grade Armor-All or 303, I spray the cladding down until it is wet and runny everywhere. Dry off the overspray on the paint and then leave it to soak on the cladding for a couple of days. It looks like crap! But, while it's sitting there it is making a chemical bond with the plastic that protects it against UV. After about a week, the truck gets washed and it's good to go for about a year.

It's embarrassing to drive a truck that looks like this for a week, so I wear a ski mask. :D :D :D

One of my buddies, who is a serious off roader sprays the underside of his truck with ArmorAll and leaves it on, before he goes off road. I stretched that idea to come to the hypothesis that if the same was done to the cladding, it would at least be easier to keep clean. The result has been that it's been easy to clean and looks fresh all the time. The cladding showed no deterioration during the 2 years that I owned my first Avalanche.

Hope this helps ... your neighbor, ron :)
 
True! The cladding on the 2003 is different and there is a thread on a cladding restoration kit from GM with some good reviews, although expensive.

I have used Mother's Back to Black on my cladding from day one and it does a super job!

Shines like new all the time! ;D

RLT

PS: Mother's Tire Wet Foam also does a great job on the tires and wheel wells. After a couple of applications any accumulated dirt washes right off. Makes the AV looks like it just came out of the show room all the time as far as the wheel-wells are concerned. Ygmn also recommends Armour All for that as well with good results.
 
Midlife,

Wash with Dawn dish detergent in water and use a soft brush. Let Dry!

Use Mother's Back to Black on them. Several applications over a few days and they will look like new!

You will love the look!! ;D

RLT
 
Another thing starting to notice are the panels
covering the bed are starting to bow a little.

When you look at the strip on the tailgate
than the panel can see the dip.
 
whvt01 said:
Another thing starting to notice are the panels
covering the bed are starting to bow a little.

When you look at the strip on the tailgate
than the panel can see the dip.
Click to expand...

This has been discussed. While there are indeed some bowing issues, keep in mind that the strip on the tailgate is higher in the middle than at the edges which makes the bowing, if there is any, look worse than it really is.
 
Please everyone listen to me Black Magic Tire Shine on the cladding. My 03 had major discoloration when I got it 8/05. Keep in mind there is no perminent fix besides sanding and paint. The treatment will last about 3-4 weeks it all depends where you live. I live in Mass snow,rain and cold about 3 weeks during summer with no rain about 5-6 weeks. Hope this helps. Tried just about everything else. If someone has something better let me know.  Thanks
 
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