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Old 11-11-2014, 06:50 PM   #1
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How often do you wash and wax the AS?

I don't have a place to wash the trailer so Im going to have to find the closest truck stop that has washes and hopefully does wax jobs. When and how do you care for your trailer's exterior?
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Old 11-11-2014, 07:10 PM   #2
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Try a waterless car wash with microfiber towels. Quick and easy. Check out Griotsgarage.com.


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Old 11-11-2014, 07:13 PM   #3
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I do mine 2x year. I travel about 160 nights, so lots of rad dirt on it.
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Old 11-11-2014, 07:16 PM   #4
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After driving on salted roads, after driving through bugs that stick on, or any other time it gets dirty, I wash my trailer. I remove bird poop or tree sap as it happens. I wax once per year, generally before summer.

Some truck washes use acid products that might damage aluminum. Be careful!
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Old 11-11-2014, 08:53 PM   #5
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Great advice on acid wash. Thanks all.
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Old 11-12-2014, 10:12 AM   #6
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2-3 times per year.
I won't go to the truck wash anymore because the nozzles have too much pressure. The wand damaged the chrome rub rail strip at the bottom of the door. I can probably buy this trim on a roll at an auto parts house to repair it, but I don't want more of it to get damaged.
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Old 11-12-2014, 10:24 AM   #7
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What I do is pull my AS through a carwash on the way home from every trip. The bays are typically high enough, and concerns re high water pressure can be taken care of by standing back a little. You have the brush and drain for all your road dirt right there, and when you get home you're done. I wax mine once a year. Jon
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Old 11-12-2014, 10:31 AM   #8
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I'll use the wand wash places when on the road, brush and hose when at home. I try to work from top to bottom, not up into the seams.

I wax sections at a time, when I have the time and inclination. Kind of like painting the Sydney Bridge. It probably adds up to two complete waxes in a year.
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Old 11-12-2014, 11:23 AM   #9
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Many do it yourself car washes in our area have one outside "bay". Try to find one and use that, then pull off, dry her down and wax her. I do mine once in the Spring and once before she goes to bed for the Winter.

Enjoy
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Old 11-12-2014, 12:26 PM   #10
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I', doing it at home before every trip cuz we're mostly going to vintage trailer events, like the big one near you at Pismo in May. We have a long driveway, & will soon be able to park it in the backyard under one of those tent-like canopy/garages I got.

You may be able to do the same or in the street in front, so long as you have a hose bib up front & long enough hose with a shut-off at the end for our CA drought regs. A ladder, long wand or brush/mop for the roof top center area helps.

Even if you have city laws &/or CC&Rs limiting parking it in the driveway &/or street, they usually allow a limited time there for loading/etc. - & washing would be part of that, & maybe waxing time too if you can get shade over it.

I can't speak to the wax since ours is a 1960 Avion T20 & pre-anodized skin, & I won't try keeping it polished until I can keep it under the canopy cover - both for longevity & to limit the glare off a shiny twinkie!

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Old 11-12-2014, 01:02 PM   #11
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I wax annually. I wash after every trip before it goes back into storage. And, if it's been in storage for a while between trips, I'll wash it when it comes out of storage before leaving. Having a clean Airstream helps maintain the finish over time and greatly increases the number of compliments received. It's also a good opportunity to look the exterior over for any maintenance issues that need to be addressed.
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Old 11-12-2014, 01:28 PM   #12
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washing and waxing

i live five miles up a dirt road in central WA., so I wash at the end of every trip. Water is very hard so spots have to be wiped off. Be sure to use a commercial car wash solution that is safe for clear coat and says so on the label. Walbernize wax is made for the Airstream and works well. Like others I do it in sections when I'm in the mood, ends up being fall and spring.
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Old 11-12-2014, 01:50 PM   #13
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It seems I'm washing it all the time to try and keep the road grime and bugs off it as best I can. That said, I have a real problem after I've washed it with water spots and tying to get them off. Does anyone have a good product they use?
I tried Windex once to get the water spots off till I read it's no good for the aluminum so I rushed out right after using it snd washed it all off again. So now I'm back wondering what to use

Thanks

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Old 11-12-2014, 01:56 PM   #14
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Doug, I use automobile detailer. I have partial bottles of a number of brands in my garage, including Meguires and Mothers. They seem to work all right for touch-ups.
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Old 11-12-2014, 02:06 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Arcticfox View Post
It seems I'm washing it all the time to try and keep the road grime and bugs off it as best I can. That said, I have a real problem after I've washed it with water spots and tying to get them off. Does anyone have a good product they use?
I tried Windex once to get the water spots off till I read it's no good for the aluminum so I rushed out right after using it snd washed it all off again. So now I'm back wondering what to use

Thanks

Doug


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Hi Doug,
I use a waterless cleaner from Canadian Tire. It's called "go clean waterless". A little spray (very little) and a wipe with a micro fibre cloth and you are good to go. I do mine in less than 10 minutes. Unless it's covered in Prairie Bugs. Then it takes 10 minutes on the bow. The stuff is expensive but it works. Nice weather you are having there. Jim


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Old 11-12-2014, 02:53 PM   #16
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To eliminate water spots, I wipe everything down with a soft towel after washing (yes, this means I go over everything twice...wash, then dry). Dry the windows first then the side(s) that are in the sun next. The objective is to get all those water drips off before they have a chance to dry into water spots. ProtectAll is a great way to get rid of water spots on all surfaces. It protects the rubber seals around the windows too.
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Old 11-12-2014, 03:23 PM   #17
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Doug, I use automobile detailer. I have partial bottles of a number of brands in my garage, including Meguires and Mothers. They seem to work all right for touch-ups.
Thanks Bob - I will check at Canada Tire tomorrow to see what they have...
Cheers
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Old 11-12-2014, 03:56 PM   #18
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Macguiars Instant Detailer is da bomb, and is comes in big bottles, too.
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Old 11-12-2014, 10:06 PM   #19
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Thanks I will try snd find some....


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Old 11-12-2014, 10:37 PM   #20
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Wax 2x/year; wash as the weather permits (9/12 months).
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