Hello all! I have been searching through the forums here for over an hour trying to find the answer, but I'm still confused.I now know how to remove bugs, black streaks, and what waxes work best but...Here's the little back story. My very first camping trip after purchasing our used 2003 Class C last spring, my GPS gets us lost for 2 hours on Michigan dirt roads. It was miserable. We were so excited, and then my GPS was telling us to make turns where there was no road. At one point we got within 1 mile to our destination campground but the GPS had us pointed straight at a big rutted out mud pit of a season logging road. So we got the rig turned around and kept trucking. (Yes, I immediately went out and purchased a County map book after that trip).The fine particle dirt found it's way into everything! And the Check Engine Light came on as a result of all the chatter bumps and engine vacuum lines coming loose. Anyways, ever since then my RV has looked like an abandoned dirty 70 year old single wide trailer. It has a brownish hue to the entire coach area and no longer shines at all. I have washed it a few times with automotive soap. I can see dirt washing off of it. But it doesn't get ride of the brown-ness color of the coach at all. What would be my action plan here? If I "polish" with a buffer of some kind, will that remove the discoloration and expose the brighter white underneath again? Thanks. I really appreciate your opinions.

Go to the local Dollar Store.Buy " Awesome".$1.00 a bottle.Spray on.leave set for about a minute.Then use a Mr Clean Magic Eraser".Do a small section about 4 x 4ft starting at the top of the trailer and work your way down rinsing as you go.

I recall the first time I navigated to a place I'd never been before completly by GPS and a bit of memory (I remembered the freeway exit number)The GPS was a Garmin E-Trex, it tells me how far and what direction and that is all.When the thing pointed ahead, I drove straight, when it pointed almost directly right or left I turned, when it very very suddenly swung from Ahead to left, I mea VERY FAST, i stopped, looked to the left, and turned into the RV so as to enter the campground we were going to.

Sounds like the finish on the camper had already been maintained incorrectly before it became yours. The only way the paint would have held the staining from the mineral-rich silt or clay comprising the mud would have been if it was oxidized and chalking before the encounter. Taking advice from the forum members who haven't seen it could get you in trouble because paint that is that oxidized/chalking also strips very easily! My advice to you, as an extreme car guy whose has put many vehicles into car shows, would be for you to search out a highly recommended detailer in your area who advertises paint correction services. They will give you the honest answer if there's any salvaging of the finish. If you go to a body shop, they'll just want to sell you a paint job from go. Hopefully it can be salvaged for you! Happy Camping!

Be careful using the "Awesome" cleaner. That stuff is strong! It will clean anything.I might try a small spot with polish or wax by hand to see if that works before I got too rough with it.But like someone else said, sounds like your paint may have been in need of attention before your adventure.

x2Be very careful using that stuff on an RV.The awesome I found at the Dollar Store was in a 'spray bottle'. BUT it was a concentrate. Who puts a concentrate in a spray bottle?Label also clearly states it will remove finishes.Go to any camping store and pick up a bottle of Black Streak Remover MEANT for RV finishes. Camco and Fulltimers Choice are the brand names.

Cleaning question I haven't found answered elsewhere?

Terryallan
Explorer II
Jan 25, 2015
First thing you need to try is a good cleaner wax. Something like MeQuire's. It will clean oxidation, black streaks and bugs off. IF it does not bring back the shiny finish. Then you will need to take the RV to a body shop, and maybe have them water sand, and buff it before you spring for a paint job
rockhillmanor
Explorer II
Jan 25, 2015
x2
Be very careful using that stuff on an RV.

The awesome I found at the Dollar Store was in a 'spray bottle'. BUT it was a concentrate. Who puts a concentrate in a spray bottle?
Label also clearly states it will remove finishes.

Go to any camping store and pick up a bottle of Black Streak Remover MEANT for RV finishes. Camco and Fulltimers Choice are the brand names.
JayGee
Explorer
Jan 24, 2015
Be careful using the "Awesome" cleaner. That stuff is strong! It will clean anything.

I might try a small spot with polish or wax by hand to see if that works before I got too rough with it.

But like someone else said, sounds like your paint may have been in need of attention before your adventure.
geotex1
Explorer
Jan 24, 2015
Sounds like the finish on the camper had already been maintained incorrectly before it became yours. The only way the paint would have held the staining from the mineral-rich silt or clay comprising the mud would have been if it was oxidized and chalking before the encounter. Taking advice from the forum members who haven't seen it could get you in trouble because paint that is that oxidized/chalking also strips very easily! My advice to you, as an extreme car guy whose has put many vehicles into car shows, would be for you to search out a highly recommended detailer in your area who advertises paint correction services. They will give you the honest answer if there's any salvaging of the finish. If you go to a body shop, they'll just want to sell you a paint job from go. Hopefully it can be salvaged for you! Happy Camping!
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Jan 24, 2015
I recall the first time I navigated to a place I'd never been before completly by GPS and a bit of memory (I remembered the freeway exit number)

The GPS was a Garmin E-Trex, it tells me how far and what direction and that is all.

When the thing pointed ahead, I drove straight, when it pointed almost directly right or left I turned, when it very very suddenly swung from Ahead to left, I mea VERY FAST, i stopped, looked to the left, and turned into the RV so as to enter the campground we were going to.
RGar974417
Explorer
Jan 24, 2015
Go to the local Dollar Store.Buy " Awesome".$1.00 a bottle.Spray on.leave set for about a minute.Then use a Mr Clean Magic Eraser".Do a small section about 4 x 4ft starting at the top of the trailer and work your way down rinsing as you go.

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