Waxing

I guess to sum up all of this before it becomes an all out flame war, here is what I discovered.

1. I have waxed many RV's in my life. It is tedious and very labor intensive. But the results are certainly nice once finished.

2. I tried the Zep first on a fiberglass travel trailer that I bought at an auction. It spent 6 years stored outside. No shine, and a chalky
residue on it. It was a mess. That is when I first tired Zep (actually it was Red Max Pro at the time). Same stuff.

I scrubbed and cleaned the trailer with TSP and barkeepers friend on the really nasty parts.

Then I applied the Zep.
1st oat - Looked splotchy Not good
2nd coat - Better but still reason for concern.
3rd coat- Now the shine is coming through
4th coat- WOW!!!!! Better than I expected.

In the 6 months I owned the trailer, I noticed several things about the Zep

1. The trailer did not water spot. I never had to dry it after washing. The water sheeted right off.

2. After retuning from various trips, the bugs while still there, came off easier. Just a sponge wipe an they were gone.

3. I stored the trailer indoors, so I cannot attest to its outside durability. I later sold the trailer for a $1800 profit, in part due to the really shiny exterior.


Using it on my Class A, same results, but the finish was not as distressed as the trailer. I did use it on the roof (fiberglass roof)
and it stopped the chalky runs down the side of the RV. No water spots after washing, bugs came off with little effort. I also noticed it worked well on the black metal trim around the windows. Looks like I "Armoralled" the trim, except that it lasted well over a year. Shiny black gloss.

So, to the wax purests, no harm in doing what you are doing.
To the nay sayer's about Zep, if you have actual experience using the product, please voice your opinions, like I did. If all you have to argue about is the concept / impressions about Zep, you should keep it to yourselves. Why create bad blood with something you have not even used?

Terryallan wrote:

2bzy2c wrote:

Terryallan wrote:
Question. Does this hardwood flooring polish Zep. Bring back the original color, or just make the washed out surface shine? Cause as I am waxing my TT today, and every time I wax a vehicle. I can see that not only am I making it shine. But I am returning it to the original color, almost 2 shades worth, and taking out scratches as well. Does Zep remove the scratches too?

It helps, but does not bring the color back. Nope. It does not take out scratches. It simply fills them in so they are not visible. See the example of a before and after picture in this thread.

Looked at it. but you really can't tell anything. Pictures are from a different angle. One in sun, one in shade. there is no way to compare. Did see what appears to be a poorly done patch job on the corner.

Well, the best advice I can offer is try some on a inconspicuous area
and see for yourself. Yep, you are going to spend about $25 just to try it, but it might be worth it. Do give it at least 4 coats.

I think you will be pleased.

I have seen some of the most arrogant and condescending posts in this thread that I've ever seen in more than 7 years on this forum. I'm surprised on a number of levels.

brirene wrote:
Jeez, rgatijnet1, why the crusade against the Zep process? What's it to you? OP asked ."Can anyone recommend anything?" To deal with his finish problems. Zep is a process some like, as is the process of which you're a proponent. The OP has some options. Just like me, just like you. He'll decide what will work for him. Who cares which he chooses, as long as he's happy? Lighten up.

X2 - its not the end of the world. I was very happy with the results on my old Bounder and so is the new owner. The OP can take or leave this advice, but no need for you to fire up against anyone who does not share your opinion of ZEP. You don't like it - fine, you've made your point.

2bzy2c wrote:

Terryallan wrote:
Question. Does this hardwood flooring polish Zep. Bring back the original color, or just make the washed out surface shine? Cause as I am waxing my TT today, and every time I wax a vehicle. I can see that not only am I making it shine. But I am returning it to the original color, almost 2 shades worth, and taking out scratches as well. Does Zep remove the scratches too?

It helps, but does not bring the color back. Nope. It does not take out scratches. It simply fills them in so they are not visible. See the example of a before and after picture in this thread.

Looked at it. but you really can't tell anything. Pictures are from a different angle. One in sun, one in shade. there is no way to compare. Did see what appears to be a poorly done patch job on the corner.

Terryallan wrote:
Question. Does this hardwood flooring polish Zep. Bring back the original color, or just make the washed out surface shine? Cause as I am waxing my TT today, and every time I wax a vehicle. I can see that not only am I making it shine. But I am returning it to the original color, almost 2 shades worth, and taking out scratches as well. Does Zep remove the scratches too?

It helps, but does not bring the color back. Nope. It does not take out scratches. It simply fills them in so they are not visible. See the example of a before and after picture in this thread.

J-Rooster wrote:
I have a 10 year old fiberglass coach and I use Aerospace #303 on the fiberglass! If you have decals on your fiberglass Do Not Use rubbing compound on them! Aerospace #303 is a water based protectant (Boeing Airplane Company uses it to shine up all there aircraft) 10 times easier to use on fiberglass than any paste wax! It will bring back the luster in your paint and it works best if you apply every 3 to 4 months. I do short sections at different times instead of doing everything at once. There is no way I'm putting a paste wax on my fiberglass! A salesperson for the dealer where I bought my coach told me he uses pledge furniture wax on his fiberglass! I tried it once and it didn't work for me! Good Luck in whatever you choose to use!

We used Pledge furniture polish when we took boats to a show. Made them really shine. But does NOT last but a few days, and does NOT protect the finish in any way.

ferndaleflyer wrote:
There is an old saying--"you take care of the pennies and the dollars take care of themselves". What I save doing it my way is enough to fill the fuel tank. Thats around $400 and trust me if I didn't tell you you wouldn't know the difference in how I made it shine......On this forum it seems we have plenty of "experts" and if you listened to all of their advice you would never do anything or get anything done.....You need to find out how to get it done not try to find every reason on earth why it can't be done.

The wax I use. Mequire's cleaner wax. Cost me $6.5. One can, will wax my TT, My TV, DWs car, and a friends F250. So my wax job cost me $1.62, plus 6 hours of my 4 days off. Think that will fill your tank? I'm goin with NO! Seems my way is less expensive.
I'd like to see two of the same year, & color, one done with Mop & Glow sitting beside one waxed properly. Wonder if there would be a difference.

ferndaleflyer wrote:
There is an old saying--"you take care of the pennies and the dollars take care of themselves". What I save doing it my way is enough to fill the fuel tank. Thats around $400 and trust me if I didn't tell you you wouldn't know the difference in how I made it shine......On this forum it seems we have plenty of "experts" and if you listened to all of their advice you would never do anything or get anything done.....You need to find out how to get it done not try to find every reason on earth why it can't be done.

One thing about those that are too lazy to take care of the finish on their coach, on a regular basis, is that they always have some lame reason to justify it. You can bet that they do the same thing with the mechanical aspects of their coach as well. Preventive maintenance to them is just too much work. Saving pennies and all that stuff.
I have seen the coaches coated with floor wax and they stick out like a sore thumb. The shine is laughable. It is like the old patent leather shoes vrs a properly polished shoe.
As to your last sentence.....you needed to take care of your finish when it was new, like the EXPERTS advised you in the owner's manual, instead of trying to convince yourself and others that they should ignore preventive maintenance and use some floor finish to apply a circus shine.
Your fist sentence is the one that should make everyone laugh.....You saved PENNIES each and every year you neglected the finish on your coach and I am sure that now it will cost you DOLLARS in the value of your coach.

There is an old saying--"you take care of the pennies and the dollars take care of themselves". What I save doing it my way is enough to fill the fuel tank. Thats around $400 and trust me if I didn't tell you you wouldn't know the difference in how I made it shine......On this forum it seems we have plenty of "experts" and if you listened to all of their advice you would never do anything or get anything done.....You need to find out how to get it done not try to find every reason on earth why it can't be done.