Painting under the slideouts - is this a problem

[Birbeck]

We just purchased a 2002 Coleman Niagara.  Its in excellent shape and we want to keep it that way.  We were thinking of painting the bed pull-outs (underneath) with Kilz or another water and mildew resistant paint.

Any thoughts?  Is there any reason that's a bad idea?

We might also use a reflective product under the mattress to reduce the cold we hear about.  So the wood that is the pull-out will be sandwiched between paint and mylar.  Is that an issue?

Thanks!!!!

Karen & Bruce
in North Carolina

[austinado16]

Welcome and congrats on your purchase.

I wouldn't recommend painting them.  The theory being that they were left unpainted, like the underside of your floors, so the wood could breath.  Look at this way, in 7 years since your camper was built, it's not been a problem.

My camper was built in '87, the bunk plywood is unpainted, and looks like the day it was installed.  And that's with the whole front section of my roof rotting out (prior to my purchase) and leaking into the camper for who knows how many years.

If you're camping in "normal" weather, you won't need anything reflective between your matresses and the wood.  If you step up and buy 2"+ thick memory foam mattress toppers (target, overstock.com, costco) you'll sleep better than at home, and stay warmer.

There are 2 refective products to consider.
1) "Sportsmans Blankets" sold at //www.cabelas.com, //www.rei.com, //www.campmor.com etc.  These are a layer of reflective mylar, a layer of embedded ripstop, and a layer of colored (red, green or blue) plastic, with a sewn banded cloth edge.  Some of us also make bunk roof covers out of them, by sewing them together and clamping them to the top seams of the bunk with office type black binder clips.

2) Reflectix insulation.  About 1/4" thick, 2 layers of bubble pack, with silver mylar on both sides.  Some people also zip this into the side windows for cold camping, or to refect the sun/heat on the exposed sides during summer.

What I'd recommend spending your money on, is a BAL Leveler so that you can level your camper in about a minute, and park it where ever you want without having to back up onto boards, blocks, linx levelers, etc.

[wavery]

WELCOME TO PUT!!!!
austinado16 is spot on. Leave 'em alone....camp naked..... :-()  (the bunkends that is) :p

[Birbeck]

Welcome and congrats on your purchase.

I wouldn't recommend painting them.  The theory being that they were left unpainted, like the underside of your floors, so the wood could breath.  Look at this way, in 7 years since your camper was built, it's not been a problem.

Austinado,
Thanks for the welcome!

That was what I was thinking (leave the breathability)!  That's what I thought.  They are in such good shape and I know it was stored outdoors.  We plan to store it on concrete so it'll be as dry as possible.

Good tip in the BAL leveler.

While we're talking - any online stores for popups you would recommend?

Cheers,
Karen

[Birbeck]

WELCOME TO PUT!!!!
austinado16 is spot on. Leave 'em alone....camp naked..... :-()  (the bunkends that is) :p

Thanks for the welcome Carolyn and Wayne!

I've camped for years and RV'd with friends and family, but this is the first one I have of my(our) own.

Cheers,
Karen

[austinado16]

Karen,
I've had good luck with these guys, and it's where I purchased my BAL leveler and a couple of other things:  http://www.rvpartscenter.com/prodselect.asp?SID=15&DID=45&CID=167

I also buy from:
//www.cabelas.com
//www.campmor.com
//www.sierratradingpost.com

//www.popupgizmos.com makes the reflective bunk roof covers, custom fit to your exact model

If you guys plan on dry camping (not plugged in to power at the campground) then a set of LED lights for your existing ceiling lights is a great way to really make your battery last a long, long time.  Take a look at our stickied thread about LED lights in the "Mr. Fix It" forum.  
//www.superbriteleds.com  is where we get them from

All kinds of shopping fun to be had....and on top of that, you get to go camping!!

[Birbeck]

Thanks again!  Lots of good ideas.  I have a friend that is a full timer.  She uses LED lights...she is gradually converting all her lights.  She uses solar when dry camping.  We will dry camp at least twice a year at a music festival we attend.  So its a good idea!

- K

[drkminwa]

Karen,
I've had good luck with these guys, and it's where I purchased my BAL leveler and a couple of other things:  http://www.rvpartscenter.com/prodselect.asp?SID=15&DID=45&CID=167

I wouldn't recommend the above company. They never shipped my BAL leveler nor refunded my money. They have never returned my calls. The one time a human answered the phone I indicated that I had not received the merchandise ordered nor a refund, they asked me to hold. Never came back on line.

I also buy from:
//www.cabelas.com
//www.campmor.com
//www.sierratradingpost.com

//www.popupgizmos.com makes the reflective bunk roof covers, custom fit to your exact model

If you guys plan on dry camping (not plugged in to power at the campground) then a set of LED lights for your existing ceiling lights is a great way to really make your battery last a long, long time.  Take a look at our stickied thread about LED lights in the "Mr. Fix It" forum.  
//www.superbriteleds.com  is where we get them from

All kinds of shopping fun to be had....and on top of that, you get to go camping!!

[COLOR=]I wouldn't recommend the first company listed here. They never shipped my BAL leveler nor refunded my money. They have never returned my calls. The one time a human answered the phone I indicated that I had not received the merchandise ordered nor a refund, they asked me to hold. Never came back on line.

[austinado16]

[COLOR=]I wouldn't recommend the first company listed here. They never shipped my BAL leveler nor refunded my money. They have never returned my calls. The one time a human answered the phone I indicated that I had not received the merchandise ordered nor a refund, they asked me to hold. Never came back on line.

Man, that's too bad.  I hope you called your credit card company, disputed the charges and got a refund.