Cleaning outide of TT

[Coach33]

I got some good ideas from another post about cleaning awning. It was actually the only thing that was somewhat dirty when we picked up our 264 BH. I was wondering, I have heard a lot of people talk about cleaning outside, even waxing after. Can anyone suggest cleaners for this and what type of wax used? Thanks!

[Jmooney]

I use standard auto wash wax liquid soap in a bucket to wash the exterior, basically every time I come back from a trip.

I have used Meguiars compound and wax products ( once or twice a season by hand ) on the nose of the 5er to make it easier to wash the bugs off with the first method

[Iraqvet05]

Meguiar's M5016 RV One Step Cleaner Wax is supposed to be good stuff....when the monsoon season is over, I'll try out the bottle I bought. Some cleansers I have tried didn't remove black streaks (Armor All car wash) and the ones that did (Awesome Orange) removed the existing wax as well.

[Camper_bob]

Originally Posted by Iraqvet05

Meguiar's M5016 RV One Step Cleaner Wax is supposed to be good stuff....when the monsoon season is over, I'll try out the bottle I bought. Some cleansers I have tried didn't remove black streaks (Armor All car wash) and the ones that did (Awesome Orange) removed the existing wax as well.

I have a bottle of Meguires Cleaner Wax waiting to be used up too. Hopefully this season I'll break that seal and get it on the trailer.

[TWP723]

I use Dawn dish soap and Kar Kraft Polish.

[clubhouse]

The key is to find products with no petroleum distillates, if you plan to wash your roof too. Petroleum distilates are problematic for EPDM and TPO roofs. Personally I wash the entire TT, roof and all, after nearly every trip.

I made a couple phone calls to Meguires to get MSDS documentation on several products to search for soaps/cleaners with out petroleum distillates. Essentially all Wash/Wax combos have the distillates so I don't use them. I have settled on Maguires Deep Crystal car wash soap for regular washes, roof and all. Then twice a year I use Meguires NXT 2.0 synthetic wax on the siding.

Many folks use spic-n-span on the roof. I have not, nor have I personally researched it, but it's reported as recommended by the roof membrane mfgs.

Also, many folks use dawn dish soap to wash their RVs. I have stayed away because I was always told dish soap removes any residual wax. Again I have not researched that...but I know how much work it takes me to get that wax on their so I don't want to risk removing it.

[DocBrown]

Clubhouse has some sage advice.

I wash my roof with Oxyclean in a bucket of hot water and a soft scrub brush. You really don't need to do this more than a few times a year. Mostly to prevent or limit black streaks.

The body gets washed with whatever car wash solution I happen to have in the garage. Just so it's car wash, which doesn't strip wax. And these only cost a few dollars for a gallon. A gallon lasts me 2 summers, you only need a little in the bucket. Don't use dish detergents. Any of them. Dish detergents are harsh. They strip off wax and suck the oils out of decals. If they use Dawn to clean waterfowl soaked in crude oil, think what that can do to your RV over time.

I wax a couple of times a year with a quality automotive paste wax, preferably Meguiers or Mothers products.

[KYCAMPER]

I've always used Ivory soap. I heard it is one of few that won't remove wax. I use Nu Finish wax - one of the top rated by consumer reports

[Seann45]

Originally Posted by TWP723

I use Dawn dish soap and Kar Kraft Polish.

Never ever use dish soap on automotive painted surfaces.. it can soften the paint.. remove the clear coat etc..

[TWP723]

I've washed every vehicle I've ever owned with Dawn Original and have never had a problem. But.. I DO NOT use the concentrate.

[Angus]

I haven't given much thought about washing. I have noticed the black streaks already happening. Adding rain spouts should help with that? I like the idea of waxing the nose to combat bug guts. Wax the whole thing? Not sure about that.

[Camper_bob]

Originally Posted by Angus

I haven't given much thought about washing. I have noticed the black streaks already happening. Adding rain spouts should help with that? I like the idea of waxing the nose to combat bug guts. Wax the whole thing? Not sure about that.

I can't say whether the gutters help a lot since this the only TT I've ever owned, but I can say that I have gutters, AND I have some black streaking. I wouldn't call it "bad", but I can see it and I don't care for it much. I wash (and inspect) my roof 2x per year and my trailer is very rarely under trees. It's stored in an open storage lot, and only sees any cover if we're lucky enough to have a tree shaded site for the weekend.

[robkelly]

Originally Posted by Iraqvet05

Meguiar's M5016 RV One Step Cleaner Wax is supposed to be good stuff....when the monsoon season is over, I'll try out the bottle I bought. Some cleansers I have tried didn't remove black streaks (Armor All car wash) and the ones that did (Awesome Orange) removed the existing wax as well.

The Meguiars Cleaner Wax works very well. Not only does is clean the TT, but gives you a good coat of wax at the same time. Thanks again to Tunce for recommending it to me

[Pappy]

We have gel coat on our White Hawk and, although we've used it only one season, I have washed it several times with Camco RV wash, and have waxed it with Meguiar's cleaner wax, using an orbital buffer. I use a small step ladder and can reach everything but the very top of the front. In between 2 wax jobs last season, I touched it up with Meguiar's Quick Detailer spray. And I cleaned the roof with Spic n Span before last winter. Fortunately, I actually enjoy cleaning the TT and TV, so it's not really a chore.
Cheers,
Greg