Automotive Detailing: 800sf at a time

shawn

shawn

running dog lackey of the oppressor class
Administrator
Joined
Mar 13, 2005
Location
Raleigh, NC
We have a big enclosed camper. Like most of them, it is clad in a prefinished white aluminum skin. Over time, the trailer has gotten dingy and stained. I washed it, but most of the crap is impregnated in the paint and doesn't come off.

I've tried a few different things, and so far, the most productive seems to be the "black streak remover" stuff that they sell for RVs. The only problem is it still takes a lot of scrubbing (literally, with a brillo pad). But after a minute, all my hard work left me with one bright bright white 12x12" square. Only 799 more to go.

This wouldn't be a huge issue, except that our trailer is not a "screwless" design, so there's a torx head every 16" oc, spaced 6" apart, and you have to scrub very carefully around the screws to get the panel clean.

What can I do to speed this shit up? Porter Cable DA? If so, what kind of pad?
 
I'm sure one answer would be a hot water power washer with heavy chemicals. Or take it to a truck stop with a "truck wash" and this is what they use. Have no idea where one would be around here though? There's one in Wytheville I stop by regular to get gas on my way through and I see the trucks coming in and out. Talking salt coated black trucks coming out white. Noticed them just again last weekend. Kinda mesmerizing and amazes me...
 
I'm thinking search for a truck wash type place. A friend of mine that I used to ride dirt bikes with many years ago worked at one here in GSO and they did that kind of stuff.
 
Hand GOJO does wonders as well. I imagine a sheep wool pad would be a good starting point and go up in coarseness from there.
 
catfishblues said:
Have you tried a magic eraser? Don't laugh. It did incredible things on a dingy, mildew ed awning I had.
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My wife swears by a magic eraser for her cleaning business. She uses it to take the stain off our cabinet edge where the cat rubs up against like every other week.
 
There is a deck cleaner that is only available at home depot that works well.. just spray on and then wash.. it took the spots off my boat it did a great job.
 
This spray called green stuff from majestic solutions. I use it all the time. Spray on and power wash off. Comes in a five gallon bucket. I'm sure you can get it in a smaller bucket if needed. Don't dilute if its really bad. Works awesome.
 
Park trailer in sun. Spray cleaner on hot, DRY panel. Scrub the whole panel with brush on a stick. Keep it wet with cleaner only, don't spray it with water. When you think you have that panel clean hose it off and see what you missed. Now go to opposite end of trailer and do a different hot, dry panel. You can go back and get what you missed on the first panel once it's hot an dry again.

Source: Owns bigger ass trailer...
 
@Will Carter

Do you have any idea what the "stiffness" of your brush is?

I have this one:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000I1DZ1C

It's a "soft" -- thinking I should have bought one of the stiffer ones, especially since it takes a brillo pad to make a dent in the stained parts.

I've been using Simple Green and this stuff:
http://www.amazon.com/Camco-41008-Pro-Strength-Streak-Remover/dp/B00T9IR9N0/

Thinking about buying one of these:
http://www.amazon.com/PORTER-CABLE-7424XP-6-Inch-Variable-Speed-Polisher/dp/B002654I46

But your point about a hot, dry panel makes me wonder if there isn't some truth to the pressure washer with hot water working better.

Did you ever use the truck wash in Haw River? Says they'll clean a van trailer for $35.
 
On my trailer, I sprayed the awesome orange (full strength) on it dry and used a regular car washing brush to scrub it. No harder than washing a car. I waited til evening to do it to help keep it from drying before I wanted it to. Try it. I found the stuff at dollar general, I think it was. I couldn't believe how well it worked. One side of the trailer was really dark and streaked. Nothing else I tried really worked but that stuff worked like magic
 
Hot water pressure washer didn't do it for me.

Cleaner I have is full strength rv cleaner branded by my local trailer place. It comes in a big 55 gallon drum so I'm sure you can get it at any trailer place. He has two versions: cleaner for colored trailers and cleaner for white trailers. He strongly cautioned me not to use the white cleaner on a colored trailer...guess it's stronger.

Anyway. Same idea as the dude in the video. Work it while it's dry with no water. My brush on a stick is pretty worn out and soft at this point.
 
In Burlington right of 85@exit 150 is a truck wash, I can't recall the name but maybe look them up and give them a call. I would think they would be able to tell you on the phone if it's something they think they could clean.
 
shawn said:
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I used this stuff (LA Awesome Cleaner) last year to clean our 28 footer after my camping nut neighbor told me about it ....amazed how easy it took the crap off of it. Took a few evenings to get it all done but cost less than $20 in cleaner and scrub pads.
 
there is a truck wash in Selma on Buffalo Rd near the fuel terminals they do a lot of aluminum tankers all the time. $15 for my van last time I stopped (year ago) , and a Truck-O-Mat power wash in Kenly across form Petro Kenly truck stop on 95 exit 106, about 25 min from my place.
 
Bushwhacker said:
I used this stuff (LA Awesome Cleaner) last year to clean our 28 footer after my camping nut neighbor told me about it ....amazed how easy it took the crap off of it. Took a few evenings to get it all done but cost less than $20 in cleaner and scrub pads.
Click to expand...

WOW, just WOW. After seeing the video I am truly amazed. I tried cleaning a trailer for work one time and nothing came close to that. I will have to try it.
 
OnlyOneDR said:
WOW, just WOW. After seeing the video I am truly amazed. I tried cleaning a trailer for work one time and nothing came close to that. I will have to try it.
Click to expand...

There is a fresh gallon jug around here somewhere, based on the receipt on the kitchen counter. If I can find it tomorrow, I'll let you know how it goes.
 
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