Washing an Escape Trailer

[Donna D.]

This is for mine, yours may be different

A 5.0TA is not 20 feet long.

You start washing at one end and the other end grows... to about 40+ feet.

You're half-way done and start thinking... maybe I'll only wash half. Who can see both sides at the same time?

A 6' step ladder is not tall enough for someone 5'7" and shrinking. Not on a driveway that slopes.

Remember, there are 5 rungs on the ladder. Don't step off unless you're on the bottom rung... The first time is a lesson, the second time hurts.

You can't see the top of the trailer and hope you hit most of the dirt with the extension brush.

Always wash the trailer on a cloudy day. If not, wash the side that's in the shade first.

If not, wear sunglasses. Otherwise when you go into the house everything you see looks green.... if you can even see.

Now you know there's a reason big RVs are often some shade of tan or brown.

If you also want to wash your tug, hope it's some other color than bright Glacier White. See above.

Take resumes for the position of Cabana Boy when you come back from the next trip.

Otherwise... truly think about painting the trailer flat camo.

[rbryan4]

It IS alot of work.

But you didn't mention falling off the ladder and breaking something Donna, so that was a WIN.

[Marry]

Glad we only have a 19. But yes, even that one is growing...

[thoer]

That's why we bought the new camo painted version:

[Marry]

Originally Posted by thoer

That's why we bought the new camo painted version:

And only the tree is growing

[Steve Clark]

Very Funny, Donna
It IS one of the best workouts I get, and I am 6'4"

[Jimrules]

So far we've spent 3 days washing our 19', and we're still not done.

Day 1 : After work, pulled it out of the garage. Washed it. Put it back in for the night.
Day 2: After work, pulled it out of the garage. Waxed it. Put it back in for the night.
Day 3: After work left it in the garage. 303 on the plastic and vinyl that can be reached without a ladder. Cleaned and Rain-X-ed the windows.
Took the rest of the week off.
Tomorrow I plan to pull it out (again) and 303 all the roof plastic.
Then there's that Jeep to take care of...

[Mike Lewis]

A couple of days ago I washed my trailer and my poor Tacoma, both of which needed it badly. I used one of those commercial do-it-yourself carwashes, which I have never used before. I had a collapsible step ladder with me. Washing the truck and trailer wore me out. I got back onto the interstate then stopped at the first rest stop and took a nap in my nice, clean trailer.

[gbaglo]

You didn't take a nap Mike. Naps are for children. You took a siesta. Much more sophisticated. Worldwide.

[Mike Lewis]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

You didn't take a nap Mike. Naps are for children. You took a siesta. Much more sophisticated. Worldwide.

Oh okay-- siesta it is, then. I need them quite often nowadays.

[Bobbie54]

I think I'll wait for some kids to have a car wash and tow the trailer up there.

[gbaglo]

I supervised a kids' soccer club car wash once.
From what I observed (dropping sponges in the gravel, picking them up and resuming scrubbing the car ), I wouldn't let the little buggers near my car or trailer.

[float5]

Wish we could do that and use kids. The roof would be quite a problem!

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by float5

Wish we could do that and use kids. The roof would be quite a problem!

Cathy some car washes at least out here have a platform so you can take care of the roof . Bring your own bucket and cleaner and some kind of extension and just rinse with their water . Might be easier for you then a ladder . Don't know if you have those . Pat

[Slickheadhunter]

Mines only 17ft and can't stand washing it, what a pain!

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by Slickheadhunter

Mines only 17ft and can't stand washing it, what a pain!

The dirt is natural camouflage Emile. Less chance of scaring off game. [emoji1]

[Slickheadhunter]

That's the angle I take with my truck, I should just forget about cleaning it, other than just rinsing it off, that's easy!

[steve dunham]

Washed and put 2 coats of wax on my trailer this weekend.
The trailer will get one more coat of wax this Fall before going into storage. The worst part is I end up with sore shoulder but the trailer looks a lot better

[ReagentGrade]

Originally Posted by Jimrules

Day 1 : After work, pulled it out of the garage. Washed it. Put it back in for the night.

Day 2: After work, pulled it out of the garage. Waxed it. Put it back in for the night.

Day 3: After work left it in the garage. 303 on the plastic and vinyl that can be reached without a ladder. Cleaned and Rain-X-ed the windows.

Jim and others,

I'm on board with the benefits of washing and waxing, besides the trailer looks so good waxed! And I understand the benefits of 303.

But, from what I read, it seemed that you could 303 or wax, but not both. Or at least, 303 on top of wax won't do much good ) did I get this wrong? And if you wax on top of 303, won't that remove the 303?

Jim, did you actually wax the fiberglass and not the graphics? I can see avoiding the plastic bits, but I also want to maximize the life of the graphics.

What do most people do who use 303: wax the graphics or 303 them?

Rich

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by ReagentGrade

But, from what I read, it seemed that you could 303 or wax, but not both. Or at least, 303 on top of wax won't do much good ) did I get this wrong? And if you wax on top of 303, won't that remove the 303?

Rich, I'm pretty sure they're talking about dressing only the vinyl and plastic parts with the 303, not the gelcoat.