Hello Guys,
I often get a lot of questions about the proper maintenance for car trailers, if you are like some of us keeping our car trailers is a Must! However is much easier to said it that to actually do it, car trailers are a big pain especially if they are neglected for a very long time, those black streaks are a nightmare and with that said I’d like to take the opportunity to mention a few ways to keep your enclosed car trailers looking sharp.
The main problem seems to be around 4 to 6 inches from the top and between the rivets, we have seen up to 6 solid months of streak free when you maintain it regularly. I've been told that I should spray a coat of clear coat via spray can but I have concerns about the panels flexing and eventually the clear coat will get damage and it will look even worst.
To accomplish your "New" look will require a little bit of work;
AS always Patience and Time, and believe me you will need it with car trailers since they are so big, it’s very easy to get discouraged,for that just think of one panel at the time, nothing else.
1. First you will have to wash the trailer (pressure washer will speed the process up) but extreme care should be taken because you can easily damage the surface.
2. After the "Pre Wash" with the pressure washer or water hose, you want to wash the trailer with a good car shampoo; as long as it’s PH7 you will be safe, usually I use a 5 gallon bucket and a soft brush with an EXTENDED retractable handle! You will be glad you have that!
3. Depending on the surface condition you will need some sort of Cleanser; (also referred to as a Pre Wax) or (Pre Cleaner) a product like such is just as the name implies, to get the surface ready for wax to be applied. Tar spots, some tree saps, and various other surface contaminates are usually not taken off by a product that is termed wax only. Your better pre-cleaners have a small amount of abrasive in them, and a lot of the wax/cleaners on the market have a very high content of solvents in them. The wax/cleaners with high solvent content in them need to be avoided.
4. If you have some imperfections like swirl marks or light scratches then a swirl remover will do the trick and you can skip the pre wax, "IF" the swirl remover has similar qualities as your pre wax cleanser. If you have small scratches you can also use a scratch remover product. The porter cable with an orange foam pad will do the trick most of the times.
5. You can certainly apply the wax by hand and remove with a Porter Cable and a foam pad. Special care must be taken when operating the Porter Cable, if your trailer is like ours, that the panels are riveted together, you want to avoid going over the rivets with the foam pad, they will destroy the foam pad immediately.
Plan on spending around 16-20 man hours, it is a very long process to get them back into top shape.
Tools and products of your choice that you will need:
1. Water hose/pressure washer
2. Shampoo
3. Drying microfiber towels or a shammy
4. Porter Cable XP or similar
5. Foam pads-Orange-Yellow and Black with the backing plate
6. Pre Wax Cleanser or Pre Cleaner
7. Swirl Remover (or a Scratch remover)
8. Wax of your choice (I prefer liquid over paste)
9. Microfiber towels (LOTS of them!)
*If" you want to go all out
1. Spray Wax or Detailer for the interior panels
2. Wheel and tire cleaner
3. Tire dressing
4. Chrome polishing
As found
Done- It took 20 man hours to get it to this level
Now if you have a Black trailer (I feel sorry for you)
This is a sample of a "Black Surface”, fully contaminated with tons of over spray, the process was similar to the one I'm suggesting
As found
Sample area done
and the rest of the car that I skipped
I hope those tips are useful for all of you that have car trailers, if you have any tips PLEASE share them!
I often get a lot of questions about the proper maintenance for car trailers, if you are like some of us keeping our car trailers is a Must! However is much easier to said it that to actually do it, car trailers are a big pain especially if they are neglected for a very long time, those black streaks are a nightmare and with that said I’d like to take the opportunity to mention a few ways to keep your enclosed car trailers looking sharp.
The main problem seems to be around 4 to 6 inches from the top and between the rivets, we have seen up to 6 solid months of streak free when you maintain it regularly. I've been told that I should spray a coat of clear coat via spray can but I have concerns about the panels flexing and eventually the clear coat will get damage and it will look even worst.
To accomplish your "New" look will require a little bit of work;
AS always Patience and Time, and believe me you will need it with car trailers since they are so big, it’s very easy to get discouraged,for that just think of one panel at the time, nothing else.
1. First you will have to wash the trailer (pressure washer will speed the process up) but extreme care should be taken because you can easily damage the surface.
2. After the "Pre Wash" with the pressure washer or water hose, you want to wash the trailer with a good car shampoo; as long as it’s PH7 you will be safe, usually I use a 5 gallon bucket and a soft brush with an EXTENDED retractable handle! You will be glad you have that!
3. Depending on the surface condition you will need some sort of Cleanser; (also referred to as a Pre Wax) or (Pre Cleaner) a product like such is just as the name implies, to get the surface ready for wax to be applied. Tar spots, some tree saps, and various other surface contaminates are usually not taken off by a product that is termed wax only. Your better pre-cleaners have a small amount of abrasive in them, and a lot of the wax/cleaners on the market have a very high content of solvents in them. The wax/cleaners with high solvent content in them need to be avoided.
4. If you have some imperfections like swirl marks or light scratches then a swirl remover will do the trick and you can skip the pre wax, "IF" the swirl remover has similar qualities as your pre wax cleanser. If you have small scratches you can also use a scratch remover product. The porter cable with an orange foam pad will do the trick most of the times.
5. You can certainly apply the wax by hand and remove with a Porter Cable and a foam pad. Special care must be taken when operating the Porter Cable, if your trailer is like ours, that the panels are riveted together, you want to avoid going over the rivets with the foam pad, they will destroy the foam pad immediately.
Plan on spending around 16-20 man hours, it is a very long process to get them back into top shape.
Tools and products of your choice that you will need:
1. Water hose/pressure washer
2. Shampoo
3. Drying microfiber towels or a shammy
4. Porter Cable XP or similar
5. Foam pads-Orange-Yellow and Black with the backing plate
6. Pre Wax Cleanser or Pre Cleaner
7. Swirl Remover (or a Scratch remover)
8. Wax of your choice (I prefer liquid over paste)
9. Microfiber towels (LOTS of them!)
*If" you want to go all out
1. Spray Wax or Detailer for the interior panels
2. Wheel and tire cleaner
3. Tire dressing
4. Chrome polishing
As found
You must be registered for see images attach
Done- It took 20 man hours to get it to this level
You must be registered for see images attach
Now if you have a Black trailer (I feel sorry for you)
This is a sample of a "Black Surface”, fully contaminated with tons of over spray, the process was similar to the one I'm suggesting
As found
You must be registered for see images attach
Sample area done
You must be registered for see images attach
and the rest of the car that I skipped
You must be registered for see images attach
I hope those tips are useful for all of you that have car trailers, if you have any tips PLEASE share them!