Is CGI ceramic coating worth it?

[Cameron]

Looking for some feedback from owners who've had the treatment on their trailers. I'm hoping to take my LE2 to the mothership for a service in January and was thinking about going over to Murfreesboro for the CGI. Their website says $3k for an LE2. Seems like a lot. Up until now I've been washing and waxing with marine products every 6 months. I store my trailer outdoors, no covers. They say it's a 2 year Glidecoat ceramic coating. Then I'd need to do it again?

[rideadeuce]

You won’t regret the investment. Makes your life easier for the rest of the year. They also give you about 50% off for annual maintenance coat. I will be a doing the annual in early spring. Can’t recommend enough. They do a terrific job. 

Although I could see it lasting two years if you clean it with the appropriate gel-coat friendly wash. Mine is still shiny and beading up water from the early spring. Bugs and road grime wipes off with ease. 

Edited October 26 by rideadeuce

[topgun2]

I'm certainly glad that I had it done!

The CGI guys are first rate both in the work that they do and the kind of people they are.  I only wish that there were more people of their age with the kind of work ethic and attitude they have.

The cost is basically a "push" for me and most of the people I've talked to.  If you have someone that does a good job of polishing and waxing your Oliver you are fortunate but these people are not cheap.  Sure, if you do the job yourself, you (hopefully) do the job right, but the time and effort are expensive in terms of what you are missing and how hard you are working.  I've never had an "easy" place to wash and wax my Ollie.  Since Twist is located in a storage yard I needed to make several trips back and forth all the while hoping that the weather would cooperate with my schedule.  Now that its been coated it is much easier to wash and shines better than ever.  Also, while on the road, the bugs are easier to get off.

1 hour ago, Cameron said:

They say it's a 2 year Glidecoat ceramic coating. Then I'd need to do it again?

This depends a bit on how you take care of the trailer.  If you do not live in a place like south Florida or Arizona and keep the Ollie clean (i.e. keep the bugs off and keep it washed or covered) the coating will last longer.  But, then again, if you live in a relatively harsh environment you would probably need to wax more often too.  From my experience, it seems that my coating will last well into two years and possibly three before needing to be redone.  But, I just might have the CGI guys do a refresh this coming year because the Ollie has never been so shiny as it is after they get done with it.

Bill 

[Steve Morris]

4 hours ago, Cameron said:

I'm hoping to take my LE2 to the mothership for a service in January and was thinking about going over to Murfreesboro for the CGI.

That was my plan last January, when I went to Florida for a rally. I was going to stop in Murfreesboro on the way back to Ohio. But they were at the same rally I was, and then on to the Tampa RV show. Their plan was to schedule a bunch of jobs in Friday and Alabama to keep them someplace warm during the winter.

We ended up meeting them at the Retro Reno shop in Jacksonville early February, where we stayed at a hotel on the beach while the guys did our trailer. Only you can decide if it is worth it. It certainly looks great, and makes washing so much easier. And as Bill said, these are some of the nicest, hardest working young men I've ever met!

 

 

 

Edited October 26 by Steve Morris

[johnwen]

4 hours ago, rideadeuce said:

You won’t regret the investment. Makes your life easier for the rest of the year. They also give you about 50% off for annual maintenance coat. I will be a doing the annual in early spring. Can’t recommend enough. They do a terrific job. 

Although I could see it lasting two years if you clean it with the appropriate gel-coat friendly wash. Mine is still shiny and beading up water from the early spring. Bugs and road grime wipes off with ease. 

Ditto...I can't keep up with waxing like I did with our Casita.  We just had our 2nd treatment and it looks as good or better than the 1st.  We also had or 2019 Silverado treated.  It is possible to clean both vehicles in less than 2 1/2 hours (by a 71 year old) :)  I do stay up with bug removal on 90% of our stops every travel day.  We do full time so that's a lot of bugs!!!   We probably average 3 "wipe downs" a month.  The CGI guys are TOP SHELF! You won't be disappointed with their work.  They are as hard working and courteous a team as I have  encountered.

"Is CGI ceramic coating worth it?"

If they didn't offer the reduced rate on subsequent visits, I would probably wait for 3 to 4 years, instead of 2, for retreatment.  The work is not cheap but it's our home and I just can't keep up with the waxing anymore.  Our Casita was difficult to keep shiny and void of oxidation with my waxing attempts.  For us...yes it's worth it.  If you are happy with your results with the marine products then maybe no for you.  You could always go to them at a later time if you find out it's becoming too hard to keep up.  I would offer this suggestion...find a trailer that has been done by CGI and compare it to your trailer right after you finish your clean and wax job.

Best of luck with your decision,

John

[topgun2]

1 hour ago, johnwen said:

I would offer this suggestion...find a trailer that has been done by CGI and compare it to your trailer right after you finish your clean and wax job.

That's not fair!

No wax job I ever did (cars, trucks, campers) ever was as slick or shiny as the Oliver after CGI had their way with it.

[johnwen]

I so agree, Bill....just trying to offer an alternative.  I've seen the comparison...many have not.  I agree with slick and shiny!

[Mike and Carol]

We’re big fans of the work the CGI team does.  It’s an investment, and for us with an older trailer it was well worth the cost.  We had ours done in April 2023 in our driveway when they came through Texas.  Our finish had begun to dull and we lost the new trailer shine.  When they were done it looked better than the day we picked up.  It’s made after-trip cleaning easier and still has a nice shine.

 

They work hard with expected results.

New trailer shine for an old Oliver.

More shine.

[Zodd]

9 hours ago, Cameron said:

. I store my trailer outdoors, no covers.

It seems like if $3k for a ceramic coating is worth it $1,300 for a Calmark cover (assuming you don’t go with a cheaper one) would be worth it. We store outside and have a ceramic coating. Figured keeping it covered over the winter would stretch how often we have to get it coated again, therefore paying for the cover pretty quickly. 

The coating has made washing it and get bugs off pretty easy.  We wash after each trip. I also use WashWaxAll to help protect. 

[Jason Foster]

I ceramic coated my truck at home.  It is a chore but it looks nice.  I believe it cost me less than $100 for the product and about 3 hours of time.  I already had the equipment, so no extra cost on that. If I did the Oliver, I figure 3 to 4X that at $400 and about 12 hours.  If I paid myself $100 an hour for my time, it would only come to about $1600 total. That is being generous.  It would likely take less time and less money.  My truck was FILTHY.

My Oliver had some swirl marks from the factory, so they paid to get mine polished.  I took it to a local boat detailer and he put a nice ceramic coat on it for $1300.  $3000 is too much in my opinion, unless they come to your house and your trailer is horribly oxidized.  If I can't do it myself, I will take it to my boat guy.

[ScottyGS]

Can't recommend CGI and ceramic coating your Oliver enough.  I store indoors and they did mine 2 years ago and it looks like new.  I am thinking if you cover or store inside you will see at least 5 years before a re-coat is needed.    I just washed my trailer yesterday.  It had been out doors and was filthy. The dirt just wiped away.  Much easier washing (especially those damn bugs) when you have a ceramic coating.

So...... while washing the trailer I was thinking.   Everyone thinks waxing their trailer is going to be this great Zen-Like experience.   Like... you're going to be the next Karate Kid... Wax on.. wax off Daniel-san.   Or, at least satisfying when you see the results.  Bulls*&$.   It's a pain in the A$$.   After ten trips up that damn ladder you'll think 3k for ceramic coating is a bargain.  

Speaking of washing.  CGI will recommend special soap to use that will help  your coating last.... And there is a spray that can be used after washing that helps as well. 

Good Luck! 

Scotty  

[GraniteStaters]

We had The Swallow, #509, done in June at the Maine rally. I was a bit appalled at the price but we could see some oxydation beginning on the top and the nose even though we waxed twice a year. Our Ollie does sit uncovered in our driveway in NH so it takes a hit from the weather. I didn't mine the washing, but the waxing was hard on the arms!  Anyway, after watching the CGI guys work for an entire day and a half it was clear that they earned their money. What a nice and hard-working crew! The shine is amazing but the ease of washing off the bugs and road grime, then giving it a quick "spritz" and wipe with the the ceramic spray is worth every penny. Paula

[jd1923]

13 hours ago, Jason Foster said:

My Oliver had some swirl marks from the factory, so they paid to get mine polished.  I took it to a local boat detailer and he put a nice ceramic coat on it for $1300.  $3000 is too much in my opinion, unless they come to your house and your trailer is horribly oxidized.  If I can't do it myself, I will take it to my boat guy.

I can’t afford $3K on an older hull which has set and will sit in the AZ sun year after year. I’m getting less work annually on my job and inflation adding to 30% over the last 4 years makes it worse.

Given two young men at 1 1/2 days that’s 24 hours. Say $120 for buffing compounds, this comes to $120/hr. I’m not getting near that with a MSIE degree teaching professionals for PMP certification. It’s a crazy number for manual labor! I can see $75 max. This comes to $1,920. Another example: OTT wants “on special” $1000 labor only to wire the Oliver, not the TV too, for a DC-DC charger, equally crazy. Call it 6 hours and it comes to $167/hr. Glad I do my own electrical and mechanical work, though buffing/waxing is not worth taxing my body!

The CGI young men are so nice, witnessed by them serving us dinner at Inks Lake! If I was in my 20s making over $100/hr I’d be grinning ear-to-ear too!

Love when my wife Chris says, “Why does a trailer have to be so shiny?”

Edited October 27 by jd1923

[ScubaRx]

I have almost always been adamantly opposed to hiring someone to do a job that I can do myself, which is virtually everything. I remember years ago I had a stopped up washing machine drain. I called a friend to ask if he had a drain snake and he brought one over to help. After monking with it for about an hour and not doing any good I suggested to him that I should just go out to a rental center and rent a powered snake. He asked what it would cost. I remember it being in the $100 dollar range for a few hours. He stated, "...or you could just call a plumber for about the same price and not have to fool with driving out to get the machine, coming home and messing around with it for another few hours and maybe still not get it open and then driving out to return the machine and still ending up having to call a plumber." I called a plumber. I always consider how long it would have taken me at work to earn enough money to pay for the job at hand. The older I've gotten the more willing I am to pay someone rather than doing it myself. I plan to die with a balance of only 5¢ in the bank.

I did pay the CGI boys their fee to do my trailer when they first went into business. I've never met a finer bunch of young men. Our trailer is looking like it needs it again but aside from Hull #045, ours is the oldest Elite II still on the road. I've never waxed it even once and have usually paid to have it washed. Here again, number of hours worked vs amount paid to have the job done. I would take me several hours to wash the truck and the trailer, I pay $125 to get both done at a detail shop.  No brainer for me!

[ScottyGS]

1 hour ago, ScubaRx said:

I did pay the CGI boys their fee to do my trailer when they first went into business. I've never met a finer bunch of young men. 

You were one of the first... probably THE first... to have your trailer ceramic coated.  I remember talking to Colin and he said you watched him and the crew the whole time they did the job.  I told him that if you were willing to refer them... there was no better endorsement they could have.   

Well worth it...   Now I have to find a detail shop to wash my trailer after each trip.   

Scotty

[Jason Foster]

8 hours ago, jd1923 said:

I can’t afford $3K on an older hull which has set and will sit in the AZ sun year after year. I’m getting less work annually on my job and inflation adding to 30% over the last 4 years makes it worse.

I feel the pinch too.  Everything has gone up except my pay and I am still paying for two houses waiting for the bigger one to sell.  Hopefully, the economy will get better after the election.

[Jason Foster]

2 hours ago, ScubaRx said:

I have almost always been adamantly opposed to hiring someone to do a job that I can do myself, which is virtually everything. I remember years ago I had a stopped up washing machine drain. I called a friend to ask if he had a drain snake and he brought one over to help. After monking with it for about an hour and not doing any good I suggested to him that I should just go out to a rental center and rent a powered snake. He asked what it would cost. I remember it being in the $100 dollar range for a few hours. He stated, "...or you could just call a plumber for about the same price and not have to fool with driving out to get the machine, coming home and messing around with it for another few hours and maybe still not get it open and then driving out to return the machine and still ending up having to call a plumber." I called a plumber. I always consider how long it would have taken me at work to earn enough money to pay for the job at hand. The older I've gotten the more willing I am to pay someone rather than doing it myself. I plan to die with a balance of only 5¢ in the bank.

I have always been self sufficient.  Ever since I was a young man, a kid even, I would refuse to pay anyone for something I could do myself.  The first job I ever tackled on my own was fixing the crank on my bicycle.  I was 12.  From that point on, the toys got bigger and the repairs did as well.  Instead of hiring someone, I bought tools and learned how to do it.  That progressed to the point that I now have a shop, $20k (probably more) worth of tools and have enough trade knowledge in my head that I can do just about anything.  Is it worth it?  To me it is.  I have literally built houses, cabinets, plumbing, electrical work, I have rebuilt a few engines that actually worked afterwards and I have never paid anyone a penny for it.  On top of that, it has built wealth for me.  I will die with more money left in the bank than I can spend unless the country falls apart and the dollar tanks.  But even then, I will have the knowledge and the tools to keep going.  Do it all again.  

Until I get old and spend $3000 to get my Oliver detailed.  :) 

[Mike and Carol]

20 minutes ago, Jason Foster said:

Until I get old and spend $3000 to get my Oliver detailed.  🙂

I always wash/wax my vehicles and also my trailer.  Then, I GOT OLD.  Since hitting the 70’s my stamina isn’t what it used to be.  I can still wash/wax my trailer, but what the CGI team did is a different level.  4 guys, multiple buffers, scaffolding, ladders,  thorough wash, buff and then buff some more, ceramic coat, buff, ceramic coat again, buff, measure shine with some kind of shine measuring thing.  It would have taken me a week to do that, then two weeks to recover!  Mike

Edited October 28 by Mike and Carol

[Jason Foster]

9 minutes ago, Mike and Carol said:

I always wash/wax my vehicles and also my trailer.  Then, I GOT OLD.  Since hitting the 70’s my stamina isn’t what it used to be.  I can still wash/wax my trailer, but what the CGI team did is a different level.  4 guys, multiple buffers, scaffolding, ladders,  thorough wash, buff and then buff some more, ceramic coat, buff, ceramic coat again, buff, measure shine with some kind of shine measuring thing.  It would have taken me a week to do that, then two weeks to recover!  Mike

If it is worth it, then it is worth it.  

[Mountainman198]

I cannot deny that the Ceramic Coat work performed by CGI is top shelf. I have seen a couple Ollies with this treatment and they are spectacular. That said, my E2 lives outdoors, uncovered 24/7x365 and lasted three years with 2x/yr hand washing and waxing before it started to show signs of light oxidation. I took the dive and bought a Makita rotary buffer and a forced-rotation DA polisher and did the top half this Fall. Looks good enough for who it is for and I enjoyed the physical activity and the chance to get intimate with my trailer. This direction is subject to change as I age of course, but for now the $3k sits in my bank account. 

[John and Debbie]

We had CGI do ours after owning it for a year.  I assumed that since it was only a year old that they would have an easier job.  No.  The price was the same.  Colin said that even on a new trailer, they have to buff out the swirls and imperfections on the gel coat.  They did a great job and we have no regrets.  We did buy the cleaner and the spray that they sell to extend the ceramic coat.  I cleaned it and used the spray a couple months ago.  It's been a year since they did it and it looks fantastic.  I am nearly 73 so waxing every 6 months as recommended wasn't going to happen.  When it needs it again, we will have them do it.

John

[Jps190]

 

It really depends on how particular you are about how your ollie looks and also how you store it.  I have ceramic on both my truck and my wife's car.  Her car lives in the garage and still looks and washes like the day the ceramic was applied.  My truck lives outdoors and the ceramic started to fail after the 2.5 year mark.  If I stored my trailer indoors then the ceramic would be a no brainer but since my Oliver lives outside at a storage facility I just wash it occasionally and but and wax every 6 months.  Does it look perfect, no, but the great part about gelcoat is that it can always (within reason) be brought back to life with a little effort.

 

John

[mountainoliver]

I’ll say yes. My trailer is outside 24/7/365 and has been since being purchased in 2017. I have washed/waxed it at least twice a year over the years and gradually the shine had disappeared. When I’d do a thorough job, it would take me four days. No telling how many times I’d move the ladder or how many times I would climb up and down it. One of the last times I washed/waxed it I fell off of the ladder, hit the rear bumper and ladder on the way down to my asphalt driveway. I was lucky enough not to break anything. Since having the trailer coated it is much easier to wash and a quick spritz of the CGI magic elixir and it shines better than new. More important than the shine is the long term protection of the gelcoat. Additionally, as everyone else has said, is the fact that the CGI guys are the finest group of guys that you’ll ever meet. 

Edited November 2 by mountainoliver
Clarification