1st Official Waxing of our New 21C

[Telescopist]

[QUOTE=WannaBeEscaped;444467]

Originally Posted by Telescopist

I'd like to weigh in here. You don't really need to use a random orbital machine for waxing. Meguiar's Ultimate Liquid Wax is a wipe on wipe off product. Some people prefer to use Mequiar's marine wax version. I suspect they are made in the same vat.]

Our first time to wax our 5.0 also. How many 16-oz. bottles of either Meguiar’s will I need to buy? Thanks!
Duane

I'm looking at the Amazon link you have... Not much difference in price between a 16oz. & 20oz. A 'little dab will do ya'. I've waxed the 21 3x and still have some left in the bottle. Also consider purchasing these wax applicator pads. Super easy way to apply the liquid wax. Or for that matter polish or compound to specific areas where you don't want to use an orbital polisher.

I'll toss this suggestion into the mix. Get some Prosol Works Bugs N' & Tar Remover. Or a product like it. This is just the one I got. Last fall when we drove east from PA to UT, the front of the 21 got slammed with bugs. I had some time to kill (I think while camping at Kodachrome) and sprayed the front of trailer with this stuff. The bugs came of easily. It helped that I applied a coat of wax to just the front of the trailer before taking off. Then I applied another coat of Mequairs liquid wax to just the front.

I'm not trying to be a shill for Meguairs. There are other just as effective products out there. Some detailers swear by Chemical Guys. If all I could get is Turtle Wax, I'd happily use it.

I've been buying a package of microfiber towels from Harbor Freight. Cheap.

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by JohnK

My other "trailer" is a 1946 all aluminum model. The process for this one is not merely an apply and wipe off operation.

That brings back memories. Spent a lot of time out on the tarmac in my younger years making airplane aluminum all shiny. Looks great but definitely work to keep it that way. Part of the reason that I don't try to treat my aluminum bodied car like that. I gave it a scuff finish, much less maintenance. Also a reason why I'd probably never want an Airstream.

Originally Posted by Donna D.

Laudy, where did you read that wrong information? I have a 1988 16' Scamp that I've owned since 2002 and have always waxed the decals. They look great! So do the ones on my 2014 Escape 5.0TA. No one has time to wax around all those decals. Just wax on wax off!

I don't know why this keeps popping up. I agree, I've had 20 year old decals on a boat that got waxed and were always exposed to UV and they looked good.

Can't even begin to imagine on how not to wax decals. My waxing abilities aren't that percise.

Ron

[Perry Butler]

Originally Posted by Escape_19

I don't know for certain, as I have never used floor wax on my fiberglass trailers but......I have read that they yellow after a few years and need to be stripped. I have also heard that the roof area may peel.

All waxes will yellow over time. Three is the most years I've seen one of my campers with Zep applied. For the first 1 1/2 years the 2003 Bigfoot 25RQ sat outside 24/7/365 and then underneath an awning cover for the next two years. When I sold the camper for the widow the shine was still near perfect. Of course, the key to keeping a camper's shine is to keep the camper clean.

Ironically, when our 2016 Bigfoot 25RQ (that was essentially a barn find and was kept inside a shed it's entire life) sat next to Oldwave's brand new 2023 25RQ it was yellow compared to Oldwave's. Once moved away from their camper it looked virgin white again. It appears to have never been waxed, so the yellow may just be a light coating of "whatever".

I haven't decided yet if I'm going to use Zep or some other product on our new-to-us camper. I may decide to use one of the newer wipe-on products first. I do know that I won't bother with any product that needs rubbing or especially buffing. Those days are long gone.

Enjoy,

Perry

[SageRpod]

Originally Posted by Perry Butler

I may decide to use one of the newer wipe-on products first. I do know that I won't bother with any product that needs rubbing or especially buffing. Those days are long gone.

Enjoy,

Perry

There are plenty of choices for spray on products. I have had good results using Meguires Spray Ceramic Wax on new and restored surfaces. Don't use on oxidized or chalky surfaces, however, it looks awful.

[MrLynn]

Originally Posted by SageRpod

There are plenty of choices for spray on products. I have had good results using Meguires Spray Ceramic Wax on new and restored surfaces. Don't use on oxidized or chalky surfaces, however, it looks awful.

"Spray on"? Hmm. . . Sounds good. No rubbing necessary, right?

Will the car wash let me take my Escape through? Just get 'the works', and I'd be done!

[SageRpod]

That’s right. Wash the vehicle/trailer, rinse, spray the ceramic wax on, rinse again and dry. Easy peasy.

[Ooshkaboo]

Originally Posted by Perry Butler

All waxes will yellow over time. Three is the most years I've seen one of my campers with Zep applied. For the first 1 1/2 years the 2003 Bigfoot 25RQ sat outside 24/7/365 and then underneath an awning cover for the next two years. When I sold the camper for the widow the shine was still near perfect. Of course, the key to keeping a camper's shine is to keep the camper clean.

Ironically, when our 2016 Bigfoot 25RQ (that was essentially a barn find and was kept inside a shed it's entire life) sat next to Oldwave's brand new 2023 25RQ it was yellow compared to Oldwave's. Once moved away from their camper it looked virgin white again. It appears to have never been waxed, so the yellow may just be a light coating of "whatever".

I haven't decided yet if I'm going to use Zep or some other product on our new-to-us camper. I may decide to use one of the newer wipe-on products first. I do know that I won't bother with any product that needs rubbing or especially buffing. Those days are long gone.

Enjoy,

Perry

I have a gallon leftover so I thought I’d test it out a spot on the roof, see how many coats it might need. I’ve used it on a few floors and and usually the 3rd coat makes all the difference.

I toyed with the idea of breaking out the wax on wax off days, but haven’t been able to get into it. I mainly rely on the rain to clean of my cars so your idea makes sense.

[Snappy]

Like Iowa Dave, I used Rejex last week on our 21NE. First time using it - Very easy on/off and looks great

[Iowa Dave]

Originally Posted by Snappy

Like Iowa Dave, I used Rejex last week on our 21NE. First time using it - Very easy on/off and looks great

Just to make it clear and to maintain peace in the valley let me illucidate.

I take the wheels off and put them back on. On occasion I move the big model of the Little Giant ladder around if requested but my bride of 53 years is discoverer of ReJex and the wax on wax off applicator. I am the driver and mechanic. She’s the navigator, detailer and itinerary specialist. And she’s the interior decorator.
The stickie article content about bed decorator pillows stung a little bit. I could only dream about the fate of the author if any number of savvy Escape lady decorators I know got ahold of his opinionated butt.
Have a great day, I gotta mow for the first time this year.
Iowa Dave

[Perry Butler]

Dave & SageRpod,

After looking and not finding my Zep Floor Wax I remember it was given to our condo last summer to wax our hallways, because Hillyard was out of wax.

I’m going to buy a 16 oz bottle of RejeX and give it a try on the sidewalls. I do have enough Zep Wet Look for the roof.

How many coats do you apply?

Enjoy,

Perry

[Iowa Dave]

Rita says one coat all over and some Times two on the front to release the bugs. We use Meguiars gold car soap when we wash the camper as it will not take the ReJex off.
Iowa Dave

[hshakeel]

I had a 1982 Burro and Zep is still the product to use in the Burro forums…

Doing first waxing of our new to us 17B with Meguiars. Do I wax on or around the decals?

[occer]

Glossy decals can be waxed.

[Selkirk]

Tomorrow's weather forecast is very favorable...so I've decided to play hookey from work and head out to the trailer. The plan is to spend the afternoon to give her a wash and wax before she is placed into winter storage at the end of the month.

Based on the recommendations from this thread, I decided to use Meguiar's Flagship Premium Marine Wax.

I dug out an old Chamberlain Waxmaster 9" Random Orbital Buffer/Polisher that's been sitting unused in the garage for the last 20 years....and ordered a new assortment of microfiber bonnets.

Hopefully this turns out to be a relatively painless process....

[splitting_lanes]

Start early, it’s time consuming. Fairly painless, but time consuming.

Get someone to help if you can.

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by Selkirk

I dug out an old Chamberlain Waxmaster 9" Random Orbital Buffer/Polisher that's been sitting unused in the garage for the last 20 years....and ordered a new assortment of microfiber bonnets.

Hopefully this turns out to be a relatively painless process....

You won't need it, honest. A new trailer is easy to wax on wax off. The wax literally glides off easily when it's hazed. You may wear yourself out with the polisher...

[MrLynn]

Originally Posted by splitting_lanes

Start early, it’s time consuming. Fairly painless, but time consuming.

Get someone to help if you can.

Makes me tired just to think of it. Never waxed any vehicle I've owned yet.

[Selkirk]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

You won't need it, honest. A new trailer is easy to wax on wax off. The wax literally glides off easily when it's hazed. You may wear yourself out with the polisher...

You were right! I never broke out the Waxmaster. The whole wash and wax process took about 3.5 hrs....including the roof. She certainly deserved a bath after spending over 4 months on site.

As others have noted, it wasn't a difficult job...just time consuming. The process of going over every square inch of the exterior in detail (especially the roof), helped to reinforce to me why I decided to spend the $$$ and invest in a molded FG trailer.

I am impressed with the results. The photos don't really don't do it justice.

[oldwave]

Given a brand new trailer, I thought I’d try the PolyGlow Poly slick product made for virgin fiberglass. Applied it early June then spent 75 days on the road . When we got home a few weeks ago I washed the trailer the dirt came off easily as well as most of the bugs without a lot of effort. I’ll apply another coat before winter. But I was happy with the results and the very easy application. They also make a restoration product for heavily chalked fiber glass. So far so good.

[Telescopist]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

You won't need it, honest. A new trailer is easy to wax on wax off. The wax literally glides off easily when it's hazed. You may wear yourself out with the polisher...

Yep.

Or the *polisher* in untrained hands will wear out the trailer. I'm only using my polisher in those rare instances where I need to apply a compound. Otherwise this new generation of polishes and waxes are wipe on and off