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RE: Friends from the "OOP'S" thread.
NC Hauler: I like the idea of the tarp. We put one of those 'made especially for' covers on our mh in December. Went down to the storage lot to check on it last weekend and the entire passenger side had ripped loose at the bottom and it had shifted to the drivers side almost half way up. Expensive cover ruined and we've only used it 2 winters. It'll be a tarp for us next time.
Welcome to the OOP'S thread barbandwayne. Don't feel alone on that one, I too spent a little over $300 some years back for one of those "custom fit" covers for another 5er I had....it was a bear to put on and, though it fit nicely and did the job, it too got "caught up in a wind" about the second year I owned it and by the time I got it removed and checked out the damage, I found it was useless to even try to repair it. Ended up giving it to a friend who cut it to fit his 30' TT...so much for that....I didn't use one for several years after that, but got tired of cleaning the black streaks off during the winter months that it sit on my property...so this year I purchased the aforementioned tarp, even cut a door area and used extra strength velcro to keep it closed when I didn't want in the 5er and easy to open when I wanted to go inside...for a little over $100, it's much easier to handle, to tie down and it gives me full coverage, front to back, side to side, I was impressed to say the least.
I'm liking it so far.
drop by anytime you want to, have a great weekend and take care...
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NC Hauler
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02/10/12 05:34pm |
Around the Campfire
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RE: Red Max 3 ??
After a year - 6 months of Florida winter sun - and 6 months traveling in the summer mine looks like it was just applied. Decals were past their prime but came back about 80% and held up well. Eliminates most black streaks too. I did refresh the front and rear caps with one additional coat this fall.
The roof on the other hand did not hold up. Lots of white dull spots where all evidence of RMP has disappeared. I'm guessing that the direct rays of the sun destroy it. Not sure if a UV protectant like 303 would save it. Probably just as easy to apply 303 only. Don't want the roof slick anyway, so when I use 303 I do not wipe it off.
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fortytwo
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02/09/12 05:52pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Thinking Of Adding Diamond Plate Front Fascia
I looked at that option and elected to Rhino coat mine. It's seen about 3500 miles and not a blemish. It washes up easy, even black streaks rince right off. Much cheaper than diamond plate and all that goes with that process. Photos at my photo bucket under Komfort Modifications.
Rhino Coat
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Artemus Gordon
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02/09/12 11:03am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: wash and wax your trailer
Been waxing my TT with cleaner wax for 8 years. Guess what. It looks like new. The wax takes off all the black streaks, and helps prevent them as well. I wouldn't use anything else. I might consult another sales rep though. That one knows little about waxing a TT.
As for the carwas. Mine won't fit under the roof.
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Terryallan
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02/08/12 07:31pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: RV Plastic Components That Turn Yellow?
I've had good luck using awesome spray cleaner from the dollar store or reliable 1 from Rv shops. They have both removed the yellow haze off of plastic for me. The trim around the door window is bad for yellowing. Give either a try, you will love either product.
Hi All.
X2. But what we do is remove the Plastic Part from the RV. Straight Awesome is a very stong cleaner. It can damage your RV's Finish if your not careful while using it at full strenght. Its also great for removing "Black Streaks" too. We first clean it with "Bar Keepers Friend", then with straight Awesome. Let the Awesome sit for a while to do its thing, of returnig the item back to white again. It might take a couple of applications to get it all the way back to white again, but sure is worth the trouble. We have saved many of the outside cover on different RV's over the years. Good Luck. Happy Travels. Dan & Jill
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ryanallie1
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02/08/12 08:26am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Applying Red Max
How do you get it off? Not floor stripper, right? Does it just accumulate on the surface or do you need to remove last years wax before applying new coats?
I've found that Awesome diluted 3 or 4 to one will strip it off. Get it at the local Dollar Store. Smells like 409. Will also remove black streaks, bugs and pretty much everything else down to the gel coat. Lint free rag to apply RPM in thin, multiple coats. Works on the black window trim, door latches, head lights, sat dome cover,,,. Doesn't do much for glass. Jury still out concerning rubber roof.
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Dale.Traveling
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02/08/12 04:48am |
Class A Motorhomes
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Refreshing
First post on this forum! I have been reading for a bit now and like the insight. I recently bought a 1998 19' coachmen catalina. Its my first camper, so I have a ton to learn.
As expected the exterior has some wear and tear, but I want to make it look as good as possible. When daylight allows I will be thoroughly washing it. It has lots of road grime black streaks that I hope to remove. I have read some of your threds on cleaning, but after reading some of the instructions on grease lighting, purple power... etc. They all say not for use on aluminum. My camper is almost entirely aluminum. Any suggestions?
Also, the coachmen decals are pealing off. I am debating on whether to peal them rest of the way off. Anyone know where I can get new ones?
Last question. Promise. I don't think its going to look as good as I want just cleaned up. Just curious how hard it would be to repaint it? I figure cleaning, priming... is this something I could tackle with a consumer grade paint sprayer?
Thanks so much for any input!
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squirellman
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02/06/12 07:32pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: Would you Wax your RV?
If your Coach has a clear coat, you don't need wax to protect the paint. That's old technology. Waxing a coach, with clear coat, is a make work and feel good job.
Jim E
I respectfully disagree. Clearcoat is paint without pigment. It still needs to be protected from the elements. UV rays, salt, grim, etc will wear on the clearcoat same as it will on paint. You can put a sealer on clearcoat but eventually the elements will wear the sealer away.
I also disagree..waxing IS beneficial....Here's my routine:
DAY ONE
1. Start by liberally spraying the engine and tranny with Simple Green. Let sit for 15 minutes.
2. Power wash engine, transmission, rear end and undercarriage. Use lowest setting.
3. Clean radiator with Dawn liquid, flush and rinse throughly.
DAY TWO
I use Mcguires Ultimate. Start with the roof and both caps. Doing the roof eliminates white and/or black streaks. :B
DAY THREE
Is the Driver's side.
DAY FOUR
Is the Passenger's side.
DAY FIVE
Then the interior with Old English. Next come the tires with 303 Aerospace. Lastly, I do the Alcoa rims with Alcoa PDQ.
Each stage is completed with a cold Margarita on the rocks.....:B:B.....Dennis
Like Parajays, I thought that having a clear coat completely protected the paint, and since the body was aluminum it wouldn't rust. I thought I had it made. However, within a few years oxidation had really taken it's toll on the blue part of the back of our RV. It was also beginning to play havoc on the rest of the RV.
I ended up spending 3 weeks, in sections, completely stripping off the old wax, using Mother's polish, then Mother's wax. This included doing the roof. Although nobody sees your roof, I personally think that the quality of the roof as far as missing paint, fading, etc, can be used to determine how well someone's taken overall care of the RV. I mean, if they're willing to take good care of a part of the RV that nobody even sees, then there's a reasonable chance that they've taken pretty good care of the rest. No guarantee by any means, but a good litmus test.
Anyway, after doing all of the stripping, polishing, and waxing, I swore I'd make sure to not depend on the clear coat alone. I wish you were right though, Parajays, it sure would save a lot of work.
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bluebarry1964b
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02/05/12 02:19pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Would you Wax your RV?
If your Coach has a clear coat, you don't need wax to protect the paint. That's old technology. Waxing a coach, with clear coat, is a make work and feel good job.
Jim E
I respectfully disagree. Clearcoat is paint without pigment. It still needs to be protected from the elements. UV rays, salt, grim, etc will wear on the clearcoat same as it will on paint. You can put a sealer on clearcoat but eventually the elements will wear the sealer away.
I also disagree..waxing IS beneficial....Here's my routine:
DAY ONE
1. Start by liberally spraying the engine and tranny with Simple Green. Let sit for 15 minutes.
2. Power wash engine, transmission, rear end and undercarriage. Use lowest setting.
3. Clean radiator with Dawn liquid, flush and rinse throughly.
DAY TWO
I use Mcguires Ultimate. Start with the roof and both caps. Doing the roof eliminates white and/or black streaks. :B
DAY THREE
Is the Driver's side.
DAY FOUR
Is the Passenger's side.
DAY FIVE
Then the interior with Old English. Next come the tires with 303 Aerospace. Lastly, I do the Alcoa rims with Alcoa PDQ.
Each stage is completed with a cold Margarita on the rocks.....:B:B.....Dennis
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Executive
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02/05/12 02:03pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Painting roof What to use?
John,
The finish looks almost identical to when the trailer was new, maybe a bit smoother. It does not feel like it should be particularly slippery but, of course, I have not been up on it yet.
Have no idea if it will be less prone to black streaks but would sure be nice if it did. :B
Barney
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BarneyS
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02/01/12 06:27am |
General RVing Issues
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sore shoulders
Spent 4 hours today scrubing the 5th wheel, removed all black streaks, then scrubed with car wash. Looks like new and all ready for trip to Fla.
Sundowner
10 chevy2500HD, Duramax, crew, std bed, 4x4
08 Fleetwood Quantum 325rkts
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Sundowner1
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01/31/12 06:35pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Painting roof What to use?
Hi Barney,
Is the surface finish any smoother/slicker as opposed to the matt type finish of non slick on the original?
Wonder if dirt stick and black streaks will be less? If it would that would be a nice bonus.
Keep us posted.
John
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JBarca
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01/31/12 06:09pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Question on gutter extensions
Just a quick side note on gutters and black streaks. Don't forget when washing the trailer to brush and hose out the gutters good. There's a lot of dust and dirt that gets caked in the bottom of the gutter and hinders flow to the spouts. It feeds on itself, too, so the worse it gets, the worse it gets.
Would a 1500 psi pressure washer work well for this application?
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ExRocketScientist
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01/26/12 04:49am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Question on gutter extensions
Just a quick side note on gutters and black streaks. Don't forget when washing the trailer to brush and hose out the gutters good. There's a lot of dust and dirt that gets caked in the bottom of the gutter and hinders flow to the spouts. It feeds on itself, too, so the worse it gets, the worse it gets.
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mosseater
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01/25/12 08:57pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Question on gutter extensions
Those gutter extentions are the neatest things. They sure keep the streaks off the RV that we always had in the past.
Yup, sure do! Now I have only 44 black streaks instead of 48.
LOL. I know what you mean. I have the extended gutters and still have streaks. Where it sits at home it is not level side to side so I get them on the uphill side. And then there are all of the places where the gutters overflow. On a 32' trailer, that little gutter is not enough to handle all of the water you can get in a torrential downpour.
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ExRocketScientist
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01/25/12 04:59am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Question on gutter extensions
Those gutter extentions are the neatest things. They sure keep the streaks off the RV that we always had in the past.
Yup, sure do! Now I have only 44 black streaks instead of 48.
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Beaker
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01/24/12 06:38pm |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Cleaning an Awniing??
I buy Greased Lightening in a 5 gallon container from Lowes ( cheap too 27.00 for the 5 gallons and you have a great container after). I use it in a 1 gallong pump sprayer to clean awning and camper as it removes everything from the awning and black streaks as well of course with a scrub with a car wash brush. I follow with a light wash with car wash soap and rinse well. Then apply Armor All to both sides of fabric.
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spadoctor
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01/22/12 06:54am |
General RVing Issues
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RE: Keeping it clean on the road?
I also have found that right after it rains if you take a damp cloth you can clean the black streaks right off with no problem. Takes less than 10 min. to walk around the rig cleaning them off. No elbow grease needed.
Cherry
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cherrykiss3
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01/20/12 07:37pm |
Beginning RVing
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Brilliant RVer invents a totally leak proof RV roof system!
This was caught on security camera in a WalMart parking lot somewhere in New Mexico.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/71/184270683_0d29eafd68.jpg height=300 width=300
The inventor also says it eliminates hail damage, protection from falling Soviet Space debris, stops the dreaded "black streaks", improves mileage, increases TV reception, elimiates "sway" from passing big rigs, and keeps the Government spys from reading your thoughts...!
He also claims that Wind tunnel testing confirms that at speeds greater than 70 mph, the RV weighs almost half it's normal weight due to the "air-foil" lift the roof creates!
He reluctantly admits, however, that he has seen Mini-Coopers following behind him at freeway speeds blown completely off the road by the hurricane strength "vortec" the roof creates.
It's available at Select Camping Land Stores, or by Mail order at...
http://formerfatdudes.com/media/2010/03/Shhh.jpg height=100 width=100
http://eldonbeard.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/your-name-dot.com_.jpg?9707a5 height=100 width=100
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fordsooperdooty
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01/17/12 08:53pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Safe Towing Speeds
Hi amxpress (and handye9)....it DID do some damage to the TT, nothing major, but it damaged the 'fender' and there were black streaks down the side (where the rubber blew off)
I'm amazed we did not feel this, but to be honest, the trailer was 'porpoising' a lot at the higher speed and the ride felt extremely rough (duh) and I raised the issue before we pulled off for gas and saw the damage...I believe the tires were inflated properly, but we were driving from san diego to st. george utah, doing a lot of 'steady climb'.....can you tell me what are "ST" tires? i am assuming we have TT tires and wasn't aware of any special designation....We did also have the TT aligned as we felt it never truly handled well at any speed above 55.....This seems to have improved performance, but based upon what i've been reading no amount of 'tweaking' will allow you to drive at speeds over 65 mph without greatly increasing your risk of a blowout
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mdrive
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01/08/12 05:59pm |
Travel Trailers
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