Washing the trailer - Escape Trailer Owners Community
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×

Go Back   Escape Trailer Owners Community > Escape Tech > Problem Solving | Owners helping each other
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 04-19-2017, 01:14 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
garysd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2017 Escape 21
Posts: 185
Washing the trailer

I have to wash our trailer so I figured I'd check the forum to see what other people use. Lots of mentions about washing a trailer, but not what to use. I'm figuring you don't use just a bucket of soapy water and a sponge, nor would I want to use a pressure washer.

Is there a best wand or device to use? And a particular type of detergent?

Thanks, Gary
__________________
Gary & Linda
2017 Escape 21 (April 04, 2017 )
2015 Nissan Pathfinder
garysd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2017, 01:19 PM   #2
Site Team
 
Donna D.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 11,023
I pamper Ten Forward Turtle Wax brand Zip Wax Car Wash. A 6' step ladder, a couple of wash mitts, a soft toothbrush for the window frames and a extendable motor home wash brush. And at the end a very large beer.
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward
2014 Escape 5.0TA
Donna D. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2017, 01:23 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
cpaharley2008's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
Any good automotive finish car wash and if needed fiberglass polish. Step ladder is needed and use a brush on a pole to reach the roof middle.
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
cpaharley2008 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2017, 01:27 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: North of Danbury, Wisconsin
Trailer: 2018 Escape 21C
Posts: 3,033
Quote:
Originally Posted by garysd View Post
I have to wash our trailer so I figured I'd check the forum to see what other people use. Lots of mentions about washing a trailer, but not what to use. I'm figuring you don't use just a bucket of soapy water and a sponge, nor would I want to use a pressure washer.

Is there a best wand or device to use? And a particular type of detergent?

Thanks, Gary
I use car wash soap which is designed not to damage the finish nor remove wax . I have a car wash brush with an extendable handle and soft bristles to reach all the areas of the roof and sides without having to continually climb up and down a ladder.
After washing rinsing and drying the trailer , I apply 2 coats of wax designed for fiberglass gelcoat.
My trailer sits outside 365 days a year and is only covered in the winter , so I wax my trailer in the Spring , Summer and Fall before covering.
I am typing this while I wait for the Spring coat of wax I just applied to dry so I can buff it out . The previous owner of our past 1999 Scamp thought that waxing the gel coat was a waste of time and his lack of maintenance really showed.
steve dunham is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2017, 01:47 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: ,, Oklahoma
Trailer: 17
Posts: 840
Coin car wash. Then the wife and do the fast and easy spray and wax with micro fiber towels and turtle wax ice premium car care spray wax. Spray n wipe immediate. If not , the sun will dry it on as spots. Good protector so bug guts come off easier too. Donna , you use wax? If so what kind? Thanks in advance.

Anyone know of a wax with a UV protector built in? Reace says protect gelcoat from uv. I know about the 303 Bruce wray uses , so can you use 303 on top or below wax? Or not even compatible at all?
gocamp is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2017, 01:48 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
escape artist's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: St. Thomas not BVI., Ontario
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0TA / 2016 Ram Eco Diesel 4X4
Posts: 8,035
Quote:
Originally Posted by garysd View Post
I have to wash our trailer so I figured I'd check the forum to see what other people use. Lots of mentions about washing a trailer, but not what to use. I'm figuring you don't use just a bucket of soapy water and a sponge, nor would I want to use a pressure washer.

Is there a best wand or device to use? And a particular type of detergent?

Thanks, Gary
Hi: garysd... The only thing I find Wall-o-mart good for is Blue Coral Wax Wash 1/2 gal. jug $3.88 and cheap extendable shaggy wash mops $7.49. Did I mention I was cheap? I never come home from Florida with out some. 2 sometimes 3 Vehicles and the trailer. Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie
__________________
Quote Bugs Bunny..."Don't take life too seriously, none of us get out of it ALIVE"!!!
'16 Ram Eco D. 4X4 Laramie Longhorn CC & '14 Escape 5.0TA
St.Thomas (Not the Virgin Islands) Ontario
escape artist is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2017, 01:49 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Southwick, Massachusetts
Trailer: None, sold my 2014 5.0TA
Posts: 7,124
I use a quality car wash, happens to be Mequiar's at the moment. A mit for anything I can reach and a soft multi sided brush on a telescoping handle, a Carrand 93072 to be exact.



With the height of the 5.0TA I need a ladder to get to the roof, I can use a 6' but an 8' would be nicer. One of these days the 6' is going to kick out on me.

A shammy to finish.

__________________
Happy Motoring
Bob
padlin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2017, 02:02 PM   #8
Site Team
 
Donna D.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 11,023
Quote:
Originally Posted by gocamp View Post
Donna , you use wax? If so what kind? Thanks in advance.

Anyone know of a wax with a UV protector built in? Reace says protect gelcoat from uv.
Meguiar's Flagship Premium Cleaner/Wax
http://www.meguiars.com/en/marine/pr...um-cleanerwax/
Click image for larger version

Name:	Mequires.png
Views:	26
Size:	15.5 KB
ID:	23564

And I'm going to start carrying this in the trailer to clean the nose
Mequiar's Cleaner Wax
http://www.meguiars.com/en/automotiv...er-wax-liquid/
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward
2014 Escape 5.0TA
Donna D. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2017, 02:07 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
cpaharley2008's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
I try to use Glenn's son in law to wash and wax mine......
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
cpaharley2008 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2017, 02:24 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: no fixed address, California
Trailer: 2017-21' Escape (sold) Casita 17' (sold)
Posts: 1,348
Quote:
Originally Posted by padlin View Post
I use a quality car wash, happens to be Mequiar's at the moment. A mit for anything I can reach and a soft multi sided brush on a telescoping handle, a Carrand 93072 to be exact.



With the height of the 5.0TA I need a ladder to get to the roof, I can use a 6' but an 8' would be nicer. One of these days the 6' is going to kick out on me.

A shammy to finish.

thanks Bob for the info about the Carrand 93072

looks great. I'll splurge the $30 on one, to make life easier.



do you have a favorite wash mitt?
Losangeles is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2017, 02:30 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Ventura County, California
Trailer: 2015 Escape 17A
Posts: 2,344
Quote:
Originally Posted by gocamp View Post
........... I know about the 303 Bruce wray uses , so can you use 303 on top or below wax? Or not even compatible at all?
Aero 303 is Not compatible with wax.
We live in coastal Calif. near an airport. As used by local pilots and boaters, we use West Marine Boat Soap. Then we apply Aero 303 to all surfaces for UV protection. Before each trip, we apply some on all leading edges of the trailer: front, maxxfan cover, A/C cover, awning arms, and the wheel wells. This helps in getting the bugs and stuff off easily.
We especially hit the plastic vent covers and other misc. plastic, that, otherwise, deteriorates rapidly in the presence of UV radiation.
dfandrews is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2017, 03:02 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
float5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Denison, Texas
Trailer: 2015 21'; 2011 19' sold; 4Runner; ph ninezero3 327-27ninefour
Posts: 5,136
We use 303 also and there has never been wax on our Escape because of that. We also put it across the top of the awning.
__________________
Cathy. Floating Cloud
"Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.... "
Emerson
float5 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2017, 03:02 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
garysd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2017 Escape 21
Posts: 185
Thanks everybody!! Just what I needed. Now I need a dry day when I'm not working and before the Spring NOG!

Gary
__________________
Gary & Linda
2017 Escape 21 (April 04, 2017 )
2015 Nissan Pathfinder
garysd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2017, 03:06 PM   #14
Site Team
 
Donna D.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 11,023
Quote:
Originally Posted by garysd View Post
Thanks everybody!! Just what I needed. Now I need a dry day when I'm not working and before the Spring NOG!
Gary
Good luck with that. Ten Forward hasn't been washed since October and is a mess. I expect to be out in the rain washing. Should save some water on rising.
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward
2014 Escape 5.0TA
Donna D. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2017, 04:28 PM   #15
LJY
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Nor, California
Trailer: 2017 Escape
Posts: 234
Quote:
Originally Posted by cpaharley2008 View Post
Any good automotive finish car wash and if needed fiberglass polish. Step ladder is needed and use a brush on a pole to reach the roof middle.
Is it possible to climb on the roof of our trailer and will it support the weight?
LJY is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2017, 04:35 PM   #16
Senior Member
 
Jim Bennett's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,532
Quote:
Originally Posted by LJY View Post
Is it possible to climb on the roof of our trailer and will it support the weight?
No, you should not climb on it. It is fine to lean on it to support you, but not to walk on. The shell is 3/16" fibreglass.

That said, there are a couple spots that would be fine with a bit of weight, the ones supported to the ceiling inside, but none of this is on the middle portion of the roof.

Lightweight (relatively) comes at a cost.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
Jim Bennett is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2017, 04:43 PM   #17
Site Team
 
Donna D.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 11,023
Even if you could get on the roof it would be a bad idea. These things are slippery and once you'd start sliding, your fingernails would never be long enough to stop the fall. Gives me the willies thinking about being up on top of Ten Forward and falling off.
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward
2014 Escape 5.0TA
Donna D. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2017, 04:51 PM   #18
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: ,, Oklahoma
Trailer: 17
Posts: 840
How would a tech go about servicing or troubleshooting the A/C on the roof then? Anybody know what Escape recommends? Thanks
gocamp is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2017, 05:09 PM   #19
Senior Member
 
Zardoz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Marana, Arizona
Trailer: 2018 Airstream Flying Cloud (Escape 19 & 5.0 previously)
Posts: 1,078
Quote:
Originally Posted by Losangeles View Post
thanks Bob for the info about the Carrand 93072

looks great. I'll splurge the $30 on one, to make life easier.
Trust me, it's well worth the money. I had the cheaper knock-offs and got one of these; at least twice as good.
__________________
Rich & Mary
"Everything in moderation, including moderation."
- Oscar Wilde
Zardoz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2017, 05:10 PM   #20
Senior Member
 
escape artist's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: St. Thomas not BVI., Ontario
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0TA / 2016 Ram Eco Diesel 4X4
Posts: 8,035
Quote:
Originally Posted by gocamp View Post
How would a tech go about servicing or troubleshooting the A/C on the roof then? Anybody know what Escape recommends? Thanks
Hi: gocamp... A sky hook!!! Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie
__________________
Quote Bugs Bunny..."Don't take life too seriously, none of us get out of it ALIVE"!!!
'16 Ram Eco D. 4X4 Laramie Longhorn CC & '14 Escape 5.0TA
St.Thomas (Not the Virgin Islands) Ontario
escape artist is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Escape Trailer Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:53 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2023 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.