Hi all,New to the site, relatively new to RV'ing. We have a white 78 Wilderness 19' TT that we picked up a couple years ago. I'm wondering if there is a collective wisdom on the forum for cleaning the outside of older trailers. I ask because ours is starting to become more and more beige or yellow as time goes on, and water alone hasn't really helped. There is a DIY car wash near my house that has a tall bay for RVs. Would you trust the soap/cleaner from one of those outfits? Is there an over-the-counter cleaner I should look for instead?Thanks in advance!James

It probably needs a lot of polishing compound to bring it back to white followed by a good wax job. There is no easy way around it.

If it's just the filon siding turning yellow then there's nothing that will help.That's the reason my next RV will have full body paint.

Try a little Bar Keepers Friend in a out of the way place.

TRy this: Go to one of the big box stores or a paint store and buy a gallon of Jasco prepaint conditioner. You will also need a garden sprayer or large spray bottle. Mix the solution to be used 50-50. Spray down your trailer with this mix and let it sit on the surface for 5 minutes. Scrub in and them rinse. You can then wash and wax the trailer with any good stuff like Marine products.What you want to remove is the oxidization in the surface of the fiberglass or gel coat. Jasco is a good product for that. If it doesn't remove enough you can then go to more intensive treatments like rubbing compounds.

Older RV's/Boats are sometimes renewed with acrylic polishing products - worth a look. Suggest you use the forum search feature for the term Zep - it's an inexpensive acrylic floor polish that many RVers use - not sure it will work in your case but it's not expensive and wont' take much time/money to do a small test.

Older, white trailer is yellowing | Good Sam Community

Sondy132001
Explorer
May 05, 2015
JHFox wrote:
Cool, I might give that a go on a small spot and see what I get. Thanks Steve!

James our trailers are light cream not a white white !
Sondy132001
Explorer
May 05, 2015
Steve B. wrote:
I just finished bringing the yellow paint on my trailer back to life with a product from Turtle Wax called Color Back. I can't believe the difference it made. I thought I was facing a repaint but it looks like new. Easy to use, with great results. It's probably a liquid polishing compound. I have painted aluminum, like you. If the surface of your paint is still glossy, then it may just be an off-white color. If it looks dull or faded, then try using this on an out of the way spot and see how it goes. The white portions of my trailer were still fine, just the yellow had faded. Not sure why, other than white reflects more sunlight.

The sun eats yellow, had a bikini and it had yellow patches on it, they faded the rest of my suit didn't. Also I have a couple tattoos, the yellow is faded more than any of the other colors =)

S
JHFox
Explorer
May 05, 2015
Cool, I might give that a go on a small spot and see what I get. Thanks Steve!
Steve_B_
Explorer
May 04, 2015
I just finished bringing the yellow paint on my trailer back to life with a product from Turtle Wax called Color Back. I can't believe the difference it made. I thought I was facing a repaint but it looks like new. Easy to use, with great results. It's probably a liquid polishing compound. I have painted aluminum, like you. If the surface of your paint is still glossy, then it may just be an off-white color. If it looks dull or faded, then try using this on an out of the way spot and see how it goes. The white portions of my trailer were still fine, just the yellow had faded. Not sure why, other than white reflects more sunlight.
JHFox
Explorer
May 02, 2015
Didn't even think about the fact it could actually be an off white trailer, thank you!

Appreciate everyone's replies. After the points about it being thinly painted and having old caulk, I think I'm just going to lightly spray off the dirt and live with it. Thanks again.

James
colliehauler
Explorer III
May 01, 2015
thirtydaZe wrote:
dadmomh wrote:
No on the carwash as well as pressure washer in general.

why is this? just a potential of forcing leaks? i could see areas of weakness if you were holding the high pressure inches from the area and really letting it have it, but a normal was from 3+ feet away in a sweeping motion?
For two reasons the paint from that era trailer would in all likelihood come off with a pressure washer and it would force water past what is already very dry caulk.
colliehauler
Explorer III
May 01, 2015
Trailers from that era were cream color not white. and all the polishing in the world won't change the color. You could have it painted with automotive paint if you want it to match. As old as it is the paint will be very thin.
beemerphile1
Explorer
May 01, 2015
JHFox wrote:
You're right beem! Sorry, but I'm not sure the material. Here's a pic:

http://imgur.com/PFAl6MI

You can see the white of our truck for comparison.

Here's your picture;

It is painted aluminum.

You can use any automotive polish and wax but be aware that the paint on your trailer is very thin and aggressive buffing could remove too much paint.
thirtydaZe
Nomad
Apr 30, 2015
dadmomh wrote:
No on the carwash as well as pressure washer in general.

why is this? just a potential of forcing leaks? i could see areas of weakness if you were holding the high pressure inches from the area and really letting it have it, but a normal was from 3+ feet away in a sweeping motion?
westend
Explorer
Apr 29, 2015
That appears to be painted aluminum. Use the Jasco.