Looking for any recommended products for polishing the CampLite trailer, since it has a slightly matte finish (particularly the decals and the black edges on the slide out). My 2016 TBS is heavily oxidized and black-streaked, which I am in the process of trying to remove, but want to apply a good polish or sealant after cleaning the black oxidation off. Thanks.
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Use what you use on your car.
What @tco2612 (https://aluminumcamperforum.com/index.php?action=profile;u=55) said!
I recommend the soft paste version of NuFinish. Comes in an orange round can. Apply it liberally with a microfiber cloth in the shade to a few square feet at a time, let it dry, and polish it off with a very large microfiber cloth. Your TBS will look like new.
Turtle Wax ICE is the best I have ever found, and it can be used on plastic as well as metal. ICE doesn't require heavy buffing. I put it on with an applicator sponge and wipe it off with a microfiber cloth. I normally get 6 to 8 months of good water beading between applications.
I have used Zymol automotive wax and cleaner wax with orbital buffer and it holds up nice, usually do a good wax before winter storage. Also used Mequars quick spray wax in between using Zymol wax. Meguars products are really good too, check out the marine and RV wax info here.
https://www.meguiars.com/sites/default/files/pdf/marine-rv-catalog.pdf
I see Meguiars has an oxidation remover - I will check that out. The decals are caked with the black streaks and I don't want to seal that in. At some point I may just remove the decals if need be.
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For those really stubborn black streaks, I have had good luck with Thetford's Black Streak remover.
Has anyone tried using a clay bar on the decals and black streaks? I would think that has potential.
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I used polishing compound for the minor black streaks on my camper. Tried black streak remover but it didn't do anything.
Bought Meguiars flagship wax, read good things about it online.
Going to start washing the roof also, was up there wiping 303 on the plastic and my clothes were filthy that has to contribute to the black streaks.
Quote from: Apollo on September 12, 2018, 05:29:24 PM
I used polishing compound for the minor black streaks on my camper. Tried black streak remover but it didn't do anything.
Bought Meguiars flagship wax, read good things about it online.
Going to start washing the roof also, was up there wiping 303 on the plastic and my clothes were filthy that has to contribute to the black streaks.
I painted the aluminum on my roof with white non-skid boat paint (Interlux YJB000/QT). It's MUCH cooler, MUCH safer non-skid), and pretty much eliminates the black streaking. For $50 in paint and an afternoon prep/painting it was well worth it.
Quote from: Merlin on September 12, 2018, 05:52:26 PM
I painted the aluminum on my roof with white non-skid boat paint (Interlux YJB000/QT). It's MUCH cooler, MUCH safer non-skid), and pretty much eliminates the black streaking. For $50 in paint and an afternoon prep/painting it was well worth it.
I've been considering painting the roof with something white purely to help with cooling. I spent a bunch of time on my tin roof while mucking with my a/c and it was hot as heck up there... White paint or coating of some sort will surely help to some degree (pun intended) ;)
I don't still have the data, but when I painted mine I used my infrared handheld meter to see if made a difference. Boy, did it ever! The bare aluminum is VERY hot in the sun. The white painted surface was much, much cooler. We have been very happy with our AC since then too; our 9200 btu unit has had no problem keeping us cool, including on days out west where the asphalt pavement was literally melting in the sun/heat.
I agree. I live in central Texas and after I painted my roof it seemed cooler. In the mornings we could wait longer to start using the A/C.
I am a future owner, so this is kind of theoretical at this point... but I was considering that in the future I might use something like white plastidip "removable" spray paint on the roof, as I am in the midst of purchasing a darker color Camplite. Has anyone used anything like that? Sorry, for getting off on a little bit of a tangent.
Merlin - could you share pics? Interested in seeing how it turned out. Did you roll it on? One coat or two? Any concerns about walking on the roof? I am 240 lbs so am concerned about that.
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I can do a photo in a couple days, but it's not much to see——just a white roof!
I used a small roller and didn't go quite to the edges to avoid dripping and to make it easier to re-caulk the edge joints if it ever becomes necessary. One coat, but I plan to redo it next spring (after 3 years).
The aluminum roof on my camper easily holds me. It's very soild. Before I used the anti-skid paint, the aluminum was slippery when wet, so be careful.