Zep or Wax on new TT
I don't want to start a war here but really wanting to solicit some feedback on using a wax vs Zep on a brand new TT.
It looks like there has been some great and very successful Zep stories. I've searched a lot of different forums and through them, haven't been able to find anything truly negative.
You have the purists that would never use a house hold floor product or for that fact, any thing not designed specifically for fiberglass or RV use on their TT/MH. Prior to reading the Zep stories, I'd say I definitely was in this bucket and would say it was ludicrous to go through but I'm a firm believer of thinking outside the box and doing things differently; especially if it can better the outcome of a given solution. Many problems/situations are solved this way in which we use unconventional methods to address different solutions. I see this Zep method as possibly falling in this bucket :)
Again, I'm definitely a purist when it comes to wax and my automobiles but I see a TT as different for a couple reasons. First, it's all fiberglass with some sort of gel coat. Car's have paint along with clear coat which require protection and restoration that a good wax and polish will provide. An automobile's paint needs to "breath". UV rays affect an automobiles paint from the time the vehicle comes off the assembly line. Fiberglass and gel coats are very different so I'm not a firm believer they must be treated exactly the same however similar considerations definitely exist (i.e. UV protection).
The Zep process is attractive to me for a number of reasons...
1.) It appears to create a "sealant" over the gel coat protecting it from road abrasions, bugs, and dirt. It also appears to virtually eliminate water spots. Wax has some of these characteristics as well but I wouldn't classify it as the same sealant like one would get from Zep. I see Zep creating almost a hard like polymer seal over the gel coat (perhaps I'm wrong in stating this).
2.) Zep is easy to put on and you don't have to worry about shade or the hot sun impacting application like you would with wax. Any good wax will indicate not applying it in direct sun. I unfortunately don't have a big enough shaded spot to park the TT in all day to spend waxing it. Wax will require some elbow grease in both application and removal. Seeing how my TT is brand new, I won't have to do the BFK process. Mostly it'll be a quick Dawn washing then moving directly to the Zep process after making sure the surface is clean and free of anything (bugs, tar, etc).
3.) I've read, and it appears that through normal maintenance, applying another coat of Zep once a year is all that is required to maintain Zep. A purist on waxing would probably agree with me that a good yearly wax cleaner followed by a thorough waxing is best when using any sort of wax. This doesn't include the other maintenance waxing one may do throughout the year.
4.) Purists will indicate Zep has zero UV protection. A key item which I would certainly side with them on. To combat this, my plan would to apply 303 every couple of months or so on top of Zep to provide the UV protection.
My TT is going to be sitting outside under the intense sun of Denver, CO. I do plan on covering it during the winter months but for the most part it will be subject to the sun.
Any comments would certainly be welcomed. I'm sure there have been many successes of both applications so mostly I'd like to see if my head is in the right place with both and to see what those think about Zep application on a new TT. Most the Zep stories I've found surround restoration vs new.
It looks like there has been some great and very successful Zep stories. I've searched a lot of different forums and through them, haven't been able to find anything truly negative.
You have the purists that would never use a house hold floor product or for that fact, any thing not designed specifically for fiberglass or RV use on their TT/MH. Prior to reading the Zep stories, I'd say I definitely was in this bucket and would say it was ludicrous to go through but I'm a firm believer of thinking outside the box and doing things differently; especially if it can better the outcome of a given solution. Many problems/situations are solved this way in which we use unconventional methods to address different solutions. I see this Zep method as possibly falling in this bucket :)
Again, I'm definitely a purist when it comes to wax and my automobiles but I see a TT as different for a couple reasons. First, it's all fiberglass with some sort of gel coat. Car's have paint along with clear coat which require protection and restoration that a good wax and polish will provide. An automobile's paint needs to "breath". UV rays affect an automobiles paint from the time the vehicle comes off the assembly line. Fiberglass and gel coats are very different so I'm not a firm believer they must be treated exactly the same however similar considerations definitely exist (i.e. UV protection).
The Zep process is attractive to me for a number of reasons...
1.) It appears to create a "sealant" over the gel coat protecting it from road abrasions, bugs, and dirt. It also appears to virtually eliminate water spots. Wax has some of these characteristics as well but I wouldn't classify it as the same sealant like one would get from Zep. I see Zep creating almost a hard like polymer seal over the gel coat (perhaps I'm wrong in stating this).
2.) Zep is easy to put on and you don't have to worry about shade or the hot sun impacting application like you would with wax. Any good wax will indicate not applying it in direct sun. I unfortunately don't have a big enough shaded spot to park the TT in all day to spend waxing it. Wax will require some elbow grease in both application and removal. Seeing how my TT is brand new, I won't have to do the BFK process. Mostly it'll be a quick Dawn washing then moving directly to the Zep process after making sure the surface is clean and free of anything (bugs, tar, etc).
3.) I've read, and it appears that through normal maintenance, applying another coat of Zep once a year is all that is required to maintain Zep. A purist on waxing would probably agree with me that a good yearly wax cleaner followed by a thorough waxing is best when using any sort of wax. This doesn't include the other maintenance waxing one may do throughout the year.
4.) Purists will indicate Zep has zero UV protection. A key item which I would certainly side with them on. To combat this, my plan would to apply 303 every couple of months or so on top of Zep to provide the UV protection.
My TT is going to be sitting outside under the intense sun of Denver, CO. I do plan on covering it during the winter months but for the most part it will be subject to the sun.
Any comments would certainly be welcomed. I'm sure there have been many successes of both applications so mostly I'd like to see if my head is in the right place with both and to see what those think about Zep application on a new TT. Most the Zep stories I've found surround restoration vs new.
