Updates as of 4-29-14.......Fiberine Top Yellowing?

[Viva]

Originally Posted by haywoodphotomaccom

Quick 5 second video of both windows leaking on my first trip out. Starting snowing hard around 2:00am and water started dripping into the cabin.

What a bummer - especially since it was BOTH windows. What did they use for sealant, do you know? (Just wondering if it was silicone, or?)

[86Scotty]

Brent, any news on this?

[haywoodphotomaccom]

Originally Posted by 86Scotty

Brent, any news on this?

Going to have it painted on my dime in the next month or so.

[haywoodphotomaccom]

Accidental reply to wrong thread....

[haywoodphotomaccom]

Today is the day!! Van is going in to have the top painted white to match the van. No more ugly yellow top when this is over.

Heading out to Aluminess in Santee to have the roof rack lifted off the van and then drop off down the street to have it painted. Should be back mid next week.

Couple hours of work to get to all the bolts to remove the top and disconnect the solar and accessory wiring.

Looking forward to it's return….photos to follow.

[haywoodphotomaccom]

Got the van back from the paint shop last night and snapped a pic with the phone in the driveway. Paint looks great and matches the van body very close. I'll post a before and after image once the rack is back on.

Ran out of time to have the roof rack installed last night but being done this am. Drove it to my last job of the day after I got it back and forgot how quite it was without the roof rack on the freeway. As to be expected the roof rack makes a huge amount of noise especially the way I had mine built and where I placed the solar panels. Worth it for how I use it. Updates coming...

[86Scotty]

What? A photographer posting a cell phone pic? Blasphemy!!!
And it's STILL a great pic!

Looks nice Brent, just stinks what you had to do to get it that way.

[Taylor3633]

This thread is relatively old news by now but incredibly helpful to me. I got a quote from Fiberine this week for the 20" bubble top with windows (same top as in this thread I believe). Needless to say I will be looking elsewhere for a top.

[JWA]

Originally Posted by 86Scotty

What? A photographer posting a cell phone pic? Blasphemy!!!
And it's STILL a great pic!

I'd be in that same boat although not even one-in-a-million as much talented as Brent photo-skill wise. I even have a sophisticated Nikon that is apparently smarter than me---might help if I read the manual?

Originally Posted by 86Scotty

Looks nice Brent, just stinks what you had to do to get it that way.

Looks great---love the back end of the top---unique at least from what I've seen available elsewhere.

[haywoodphotomaccom]

It's been awhile since I have updated this post based on my attorneys suggestion. After not being able to resolve this issue directly with Fiberine I decided to file a small claims suit. Certified letters went out to the court and Fiberine. A couple weeks later I received a change of venue letter up to the court close to their location. Not much you can do about that and a new court date was set.

I went about compiling the volumes of correspondence I have had with them about the issue and I receive a certified letter from them and the court requesting a statement of Why I thought top was defective so they could be prepared to defend themselves. They have 6 months or so of emails and phone calls with the exact reason why it's defective but I replied by certified mail anyway.

In speaking with my attorney he stated this is a common stall tactic to waste my time showing up to court and it be rescheduled several times. He stated it is highly unlikely given their action that the case would be reviewed on our initial court date and I would be up there many times with continued stalls.

I have thought long and hard about this one as it's a principal thing but given the fact I may end up wasting 2-3 full days on it will just put me behind even more in many ways.

The best part is I just received at letter in the mail asking if I want to be on Peoples Court with Judge Marilyn Milian with this case. Had good laugh at this one. I will try post it up here shortly.

In short here are the issues with the top I have had, experiences and key points.

1. Installation of the top was done poorly with exposed screws and areas where the screws were actually separating the top from the van.

2. The windows they installed at the factory both leaked.

3. Windows on one side of the shell are two different colors. They stated they don't have anything to do with the windows they install.

4. Top leaked.

5. I picked it up at night. The next day I see the entire top had swirl marks all over it. They suggested I have it buffed out. I did on my dime.

6. Top started turning yellow around the 5-6 month mark. To the point where I had to have it painted to match the van. People started asking why I bought a used yellow top.

7. They suggested I call the manufacture of gel coat they use to see what they say. They tell me they sell Fiberine a non yellowing type gel coat for outdoor use and another for their indoor furniture.

8. Could be just coincidence but this is where neither Fiberine or the gel coat company would converse via email anymore.

I am sure there is more but that is these are the core issues/points...