Plastic Shield

Jon, I have a plastic shield left by one of my renters. You are welcome to it in KC..... Free.... You know you really want one !
AL
05 Marathon w/shield

My shield is smoked colored which is different and kind of interesting, but it doesn't allow the clarity to see the front stainless and paint no matter how much you polish it. It got to the point after I had hand waxed the entire coach, I still could only see the shield when I looked at the front of the bus. If it was clear or if the front of the bus was ugly, maybe I would feel differently, but I am liking the cleaner look thus far.

The first time I saw the bus, I told Steve the shield was ugly. He suggested I leave it on for a while to see if I got used to it. After hitting a pigeon near phoenix on the maiden trip home, and having it bounce off the shield I was convinced of the positive attributes. Now after a year, I just got tired of looking at it......

BoaterAl,

While your offer of a shield is very much appreciated, I must decline. However, hang onto that and at the POG rally in October make it available for the charity auction. There will be somebody willing to spend some serious dollars, all of which will go to charity, to have their bus look ugly.

My bus had the Liberty version of a shield, a vinyl bra with the colors and design of the coach sewed into it. I am sure that bra cost some serious money, but it now resides in the top of the bus garage where it will remain as long as I own the coach.

So Jon, what your saying is you feel there is value in protecting the front of our buses as evidenced by your storing of the bra that came off your bus in your attic for the next owner. However in your particular case since you believe something on the front is ugly you prefer to go with vanity over common sense. Is that correct? LOL

they have,nt made a bra for your sagging upper

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Prevost.Rick

they have,nt made a bra for your sagging upper

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I know someone who can...lol

Patrick,

This is going to be hard to explain to a CC guy, but I will try. We have two choices with respect to aesthetics when it comes down to the appearance of the front end of our coaches. We can try to protect the front, or we can go "bareback" to use the condom description perviously offered.

Using protection (continuing on with the theme here) we end up with a bus that looks ugly almost all the time, as opposed to one that begins to develop the small dings and chips which are mostly only noticeable to the owner, even up close. Both the bra and the shield are in your face, and thus draw the viewer's eyes to the part of the coach the owner is attempting to keep pretty.

Without that protection over time a coach gets chips and dings which are just signs of use. We get them on our cars, we get them on the top cap, and our windshields end up getting replaced because we get them there. Both of the common solutions are not only ugly, but if used properly actually increase our workload instead of enjoyment. If a bra is left on the coach after driving and it gets moisture behind it, the paint is at risk. If the back side of the bra is allowed to retain even the smallest amount of grit and dirt the paint it is supposed to protect actually gets damaged.

If a plastic shield is used, it not only has to be cleaned of bugs, but it is going to need frequent polishing to avoid making an strap on device even more noticeable than it really is. I rarely see a clear shield because in a vey short period of time they all get hazy. I do also see owners clean the plastic, fold it down to clean the dust from the rear side, and then clear the dust from the front of the coach and then dry all three surfaces and restore the shield to its installed position. That is a hell of a lot of work to prevent barely noticeable dings and chips so the next owner can enjoy a chip and ding free coach thanks to all your hard work.

So my common sense says I don't want to spend valuable time farting around with either option, in essence driving a coach whose appearance is marred by the devices just to prevent a few dings and chips over my years of ownership. Tell me how you protect the top cap and the lower front bumper.

Jon,
While I can certainly appreciate your opinion I must be honest and state that I kind of like the look of the shield. Of course I'm refering to one that is clear and not hazy. It was something we looked for when we were looking for a bus, we felt it was a plus on the buy side. As for protecting the lower front bumper mine is a two piece and it covers the lower. As for the top cap, well I can't see that far anyway. Although there are times when my wife foolishly makes comments on my driving that I give momentary thought to strapping her across there with goalie gear for protection but not wanting any undue injury myself I always keep those thoughts to myself.

A wise man does keep those thoughts to himself. I actually try to do that but unfortunately stuff like that just falls out of my mouth and I'm in trouble.

Thanks for making my point about the protection by stating the top cap is beyond your ability to see. That is exactly why the small chips and dings don't mean much because the folks in a campground often do not get close enough to see them.

I'm thinking of putting some sort of shield in front of my slack adjusters to keep them polished looking as long as possible.

Patrick: If Jon, and that is a big "if", ever persuades you to remove your plastic shield, I would like to have it. Yours is the most attrative shield I have seen and would like the added protection for the front bumper. and area below the windshield for my CC. I really have no top cap to worry about as the windshield extends way higher up than necessary.

Boater Al :Jon wanted me to ask you How much do you think it would cost to ship the shield to Knoxville, Tn?