I'm in the process of picking colors for the exterior of my bus. I have picked the base color and three additional colors that will be used in the graphics. The base color I have picked is an off white and today I began thinking about the white color being hard to keep clean? I have in the past owned a black car and I could never keep it clean. Seems like all I did was wash that car. I live in the Northwest and the rain makes it hard to keep the dark colors clean.
I started thinking that maybe having a light colored bus is not the best either due to the road film it would attract at the rear of the bus? I have to have my color decision to the painter Monday morning and I would appreciate some opinions on what colors you guys feel has worked well for each of you.
Thanks in advance,
Doug
It is well known that light colors don't show dirt as much as dark, plus they don't absorb the sunlight nearly as much.
I have two cream colored minivans that don't show much dirt until they are really filthy. On the other hand, my dark blue pickup shows every speck, even dust.
I've had a succession of silver cars, and also have a dark green Range Rover. Not only do the silver cars not show the dirt as much, they also seem to 'self clean' in rain showers. Or at least they somehow look cleaner afterwards.
BTW, my bus will use an off-white / cream basecoat as well, with a simple and clean two-tone design using a very deep metallic orange colour. None of that multiple-colour big-swirly pattern nonsense for me.
Jeremy
Hi Doug,
Silver does not show the dirt as much, I agree. White also is a good color, but would rate #2 for dirt showing up. We are going to use a Lincoln silver/blue metallic when we redo ours, it's just a personal favorite. Another good color is the Cadillac pearl white champagne. The choice is yours my friend!
Paul
Doug,
Our bus was SUPPOSED to be silver, until Star Jet "messed" it up and did white on it :-X. We couldn't believe it! Dick's response? "Oh sorry, I didn't remember what you had decided." Uhhhhmmm we were just a phone call away....
So anyways, the white does get pretty dirty, and silver would have been a lot better.
God bless,
John
The white will be just fine!
Paul is right...that Pearl White on the caddie looks rreeaall good!
Jack
It is true that silver doesn't show dirt but it sure does soak in the sunshine. Silver is one of the hottest colors I've ever owned.
There is no substitute for white or a near-white if you live in a hot climate. A simple example is to lay your hand on the top surface of a silver vehicle and then do it on a white one, it only takes one time to see the light!
If you live in the northern frozen wasteland it is a different story, dark helps melt off the snow and ice!!
Well, I'll say this; my bus with the gutters is really much easier to keep clean than my white trailer/
I
My thinking is I will paint mine white down to the bottom of the passenger area at least. There is a rubber molding that makes a nice break. Below that I will use white or silver. Silver might be hard to spray so I really don't know. If not for the heat I would do the whole thing in silver.
I like silver cars because they show a little less dirt here in Minnesota where cars are always dirty in the winter.
When they mixed my "SILVER" Emron they mixed in "BLACK" pigment and then added the silver powder to that. I am sure that the black acts just like black anywhere else.
At one time all the RV's were beige of one flavor or another. I surmise that it is that very light tan than is the best compromise for looking clean and being cool. Don't know. I would go with a of white that is "OFF" because you have added a tint that complements the striping. I know my white Jeep was like that....had some yellow in the white and that set off the orange trim. Looked white, though.
Pure white roof though, right? ;D ;D ;D Just for kicks.
John
Doug, it makes no difference what color these big jokers are painted they are a dirt and bug magnet LOL.
Lots of washing time involved in owning a bus.
I have 4 shades of green, with sliver,gold,chrome and a white roof and they all show the road dirt and grime.
Only thing I could recommend is buy quarters by the roll and paint it a color that identifies you, to many Lexus and Cadillac colors on conversions for me do it your way but I like things different.
Mark Renner has a deep red color on his and it is one good looking bus and it is never dirty.
good luck
Take a pie tin of your local dirt to the paint shop and have them mix that color.
My 4104 has mostly the original silver sides with a bit of red trim and the white roof and it is true that it doesn't show dirt much unless it happens to be red clay or something really black.
There is no doubt that the silver absorbs a lot of sun heat but it is clear coated and I'm not about to paint it now.
White for heat, looks clean from 10 feet as long as the wheels are clean :D, not too many buses look clean at 2 feet. Also when you wash white you can see where you miss while it is still wet ;D so it is easier to wash.
White essentially takes radiant heat out of the equation. Dark also gives off heat at night.( if your trying to stay warm)
just my pennies worth
Ditto what Gus said. JIm
Newbee MC9 has a good point.
It is an axiom in the transit industry: A dirty bus, with clean white wheels, will look clean -- while a clean bus, with dark or dirty wheels, will look dirty.
Arthur
Doug,
What colors did you end up getting? Is Pat ready to start laying it on?
Paul