Wash, wax and treat II

[SilverGate]

For the past 8 years, I have kept our trailer clean and protected by using quality products seen below and detailed in my updated History Safari Express post, "Wash, wax and treat II."

[dkottum]

One of the best and most immediate procedures for new Airstream owners. Without it your Airstream's first exposure to winter road or ocean salt is likely to start filiform corrosion appearing.

With winter approaching, new Airstreams will probably be delivered on salted winter roads. These simple corrosion prevention procedures can make a significant difference whether or not your new Airstream will develop filiform.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Excellant!!!

Have a plan and be consistent .. what your doing is important, that your doing it is paramount.

“Education is what people do to you,
Learning is what you do to yourself…..”

Sweet Streams

Bob

[KJRitchie]

I have yet been able to wax my Airstream. Where it sits on the front driveway at home is in full sun and summers are too hot, winters too cold. I guess I could wash it at home tow it back to my covered storage and work on it there. It would probably be a full weekend activity. I don't have a ladder tall enough to do the roof. Not sure I could reach far enough to get to the center.

Kelvin

[Landrum]

Get some Griott's waterless car wash and some high quality micro fiber towels. That's how I wash my AS. It only takes about 30 minutes. You can also use a spray wax (mcguiars quick wax) again with high quality micro fiber. It doesn't last as long as a paste or liquid wax, but I can wax my AS in about 20 minutes.


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[SilverGate]

Originally Posted by KJRitchie

I have yet been able to wax my Airstream. Where it sits on the front driveway at home is in full sun and summers are too hot, winters too cold.

Kelvin

As you can see by the photos in my article, washing and waxing in the full sun doesn't stop me... here in sunny San Diego, I can't wait for the perfect weather conditions for waxing.

Thanks to all for your comments... I invite everyone to comment here what works well for you in keeping your Airstream protected and looking good!

[KJRitchie]

Maybe I can wax the side that is in the shade in the morning and then do the other side in the afternoon. Do you wax the roof also? That way I could keep the Airstream at home and pop in every 1/2 hour to check on my 93 year mom who lives with us.

Kelvin

[JBBeaubeaux]

Any one have any feedback on the book The (Nearly) Complete Guide To Airstream Maintenance? It is now available on iBooks (not Kindle yet)

[m.hony]

Originally Posted by SilverGate

For the past 8 years, I have kept our trailer clean and protected by using quality products seen below and detailed in my updated History Safari Express post, "Wash, wax and treat II."

I am washing/waxing my trailer now with those same products and same techniques.

[m.hony]

You should really get an 8 foot ladder. It is dangerous to stand where you are standing on the ladder. The ladder even has a label that says not to stand above this step. You could lose your balance, fall, and break a leg.

[Landrum]

Originally Posted by m.hony

You should really get an 8 foot ladder. It is dangerous to stand where you are standing on the ladder. The ladder even has a label that says not to stand above this step. You could lose your balance, fall, and break a leg.

Or an arm. This is exactly how I broke my arm last spring.


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[TRizzuti]

I bought and read The (nearly) Complete Guide to Airstream Maintenance about a month ago and was disappointed. You can read my comments on Amazon. Basically I expected a great deal more detail. And I expected real pictures, not drawings. But, the Guide is better than the owner's manual.

[SilverGate]

Originally Posted by KJRitchie

Do you wax the roof also?

Kelvin

Yes... please read my posted article: "Wash, wax and treat II".

In this article, I list in detail my tools and supplies, strategy, and step by step procedure, including how and why I wax the roof and AC shroud!

[Ron A]

Originally Posted by JBBeaubeaux

Any one have any feedback on the book The (Nearly) Complete Guide To Airstream Maintenance? It is now available on iBooks (not Kindle yet)

I found it to be a good purchase.


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[SilverGate]

Originally Posted by KJRitchie

Do you wax the roof also?

Kelvin

Yes... I stand on my trusty 6 foot ladder and apply wax with my crutch...

[SilverGate]

and then I buff it while standing on the ladder properly placed sideways next to trailer to prevent over reaching. (Note m.hony is right... the ladder's safety label states: "Caution: Do not stand above 2nd step from the top... You can lose your balance!"

[SilverGate]

Originally Posted by m.hony

You should really get an 8 foot ladder. It is dangerous to stand where you are standing on the ladder. The ladder even has a label that says not to stand above this step. You could lose your balance, fall, and break a leg.

Thank you, m.hony for expressing your safety concerns regarding standing on a ladder. You're right, there is a warning label on the ladder, which states: "CAUTION: DO NOT STAND ABOVE 2ND STEP FROM TOP... YOU CAN LOSE YOUR BALANCE" and "DO NOT OVER-REACH."

Yesterday, I added an "Important safety note" regarding this on my original story, "Wash, wax and treat II."

Also, thanks for the suggestion to get an 8-foot ladder. I did consider doing so when my first ladder became too rickety. But when I felt the weight of the 8-foot ladder and remembered how often I have to pick up and reposition the ladder, I decided to get another 6-foot ladder that wasn't so rickety!

I think that when I am no longer able to properly balance myself on a ladder, it may be time to do something other than Airstreaming!

[SilverGate]

My wash, wax and treat photos of the years: 2009, 2010, and the year I got a new ladder: 2012!

[SilverGate]

I have also used Corrosion X to successfully stop the growth of filiform corrosion, but it feels a bit more oily, and I like how Boeshield T-9 dries more quickly and leaves a protective residue just before I wax.

[m.hony]

I use an old Werner 8' ladder that looks just like your Werner 6' ladder, only 2' taller.
It is not heavy or rickety.
2' more of ladder really only gives 1' higher up the side of the trailer due to increased reach over the curved sides.
This afternoon, I plan to wash more of the roof from the 8' ladder with a telescoping brush. I have the center section of the roof- sky lights, air conditioners- left. In 20-20 hindsight I should have done that first, but with limited time I wanted to get the parts most seen first.
To wax the center section, I will try fastening a microfiber or terry cloth towel to my brush.


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