My rig is 11 years old. Over the years I have cleaned and waxed it twice a year with various products of the types commonly sold at Camping World and other RV supply stores.
Despite this regular care the finish was deteriorating, no matter how hard I scrubbed and rubbed. The end caps especially were showing their age.
All the fancy fiberglass boats at the marina, many of them 20-30 years old, always seem to gleam. So I asked the guy what process they used to keep them looking so good.
He recommended a three-product system from Meguiar.
The first step is "Oxidation Remover #49". Be prepared to WORK, but the result is stunning. I used a good Porter Cable random orbit polisher with lots of power, and wore out 4 polishing pads and a half-dozen high quality bonnets. Swap out the bonnets often with fresh clean ones. They'll last several washings. Stock up on pads and bonnets before you start the job. Do a small section at a time, and don't let it dry --- wipe immediately.
Second step, about every hour or so, apply their "High Gloss Polish #45" to the area you have stripped. Easy wipe on/wipe off application. Again, DO NOT LET IT DRY.
Third step, after you get a large area de-oxidized and polished, apply their "Pure Wax #56" product. Dry to haze, wipes off easily.
My rig is a 36-footer, and I used most of two bottles of each of the three products. The entire job took me the better part of 3 days. The guy at the marina said if I do it about every three-four months, I will only need to do steps 2 and 3. Both those steps are easy, and the entire job will easily finish in a single long afternoon.
The results are beyond my expectation. The last time I polished and waxed (in December) the finish was "cloudy" and lifeless, and quite honestly was just looking OLD. Today the entire camper finish, including the end caps, looks showroom new.
(Notice the reflection my my step ladder on the side of the camper.)
Despite this regular care the finish was deteriorating, no matter how hard I scrubbed and rubbed. The end caps especially were showing their age.
All the fancy fiberglass boats at the marina, many of them 20-30 years old, always seem to gleam. So I asked the guy what process they used to keep them looking so good.
He recommended a three-product system from Meguiar.
The first step is "Oxidation Remover #49". Be prepared to WORK, but the result is stunning. I used a good Porter Cable random orbit polisher with lots of power, and wore out 4 polishing pads and a half-dozen high quality bonnets. Swap out the bonnets often with fresh clean ones. They'll last several washings. Stock up on pads and bonnets before you start the job. Do a small section at a time, and don't let it dry --- wipe immediately.
Second step, about every hour or so, apply their "High Gloss Polish #45" to the area you have stripped. Easy wipe on/wipe off application. Again, DO NOT LET IT DRY.
Third step, after you get a large area de-oxidized and polished, apply their "Pure Wax #56" product. Dry to haze, wipes off easily.
My rig is a 36-footer, and I used most of two bottles of each of the three products. The entire job took me the better part of 3 days. The guy at the marina said if I do it about every three-four months, I will only need to do steps 2 and 3. Both those steps are easy, and the entire job will easily finish in a single long afternoon.
The results are beyond my expectation. The last time I polished and waxed (in December) the finish was "cloudy" and lifeless, and quite honestly was just looking OLD. Today the entire camper finish, including the end caps, looks showroom new.
(Notice the reflection my my step ladder on the side of the camper.)
larry barnhart wrote:blofgren wrote:larry barnhart wrote:oldbeek wrote:larry barnhart wrote:
this is what I do for a nice look, poli glow.
chevman
How is the poli-glo holding up. How long has it been on?
this will be the 2nd winter for the poli glow. I did 2 applications this summer as the instructions from the company advise. The front cap is still the red max pro #3 and it is 5 years old. I do not recommend Red max pro #3 as I once have done.
chevman
That looks really good. Do you think the Poli Glow would make the front cap look as good as the sidewalls on your unit? It seems like the front caps are the highest maintenance on these units.
Yes I know it will. the red max pro #3 on the front cap has lasted because the alpenlite faces north 12 months except for on the road.
chevman
Thanks very much for that; it is great to hear from someone with first hand knowledge of the product. I may give it a try.
BTW we were in Wenatchee for a week in late August; we stayed at Wenatchee River County Park and then Lincoln Rock State Park. We really liked Lincoln Rock, although we were dealing with a sick dog at the time and our relatives motorhome was in the shop for a lot of our stay! We will definitely go back there.
blofgren wrote:larry barnhart wrote:oldbeek wrote:larry barnhart wrote:
this is what I do for a nice look, poli glow.
chevman
How is the poli-glo holding up. How long has it been on?
this will be the 2nd winter for the poli glow. I did 2 applications this summer as the instructions from the company advise. The front cap is still the red max pro #3 and it is 5 years old. I do not recommend Red max pro #3 as I once have done.
chevman
That looks really good. Do you think the Poli Glow would make the front cap look as good as the sidewalls on your unit? It seems like the front caps are the highest maintenance on these units.
Yes I know it will. the red max pro #3 on the front cap has lasted because the alpenlite faces north 12 months except for on the road.
chevman
larry barnhart wrote:oldbeek wrote:larry barnhart wrote:
this is what I do for a nice look, poli glow.
chevman
How is the poli-glo holding up. How long has it been on?
this will be the 2nd winter for the poli glow. I did 2 applications this summer as the instructions from the company advise. The front cap is still the red max pro #3 and it is 5 years old. I do not recommend Red max pro #3 as I once have done.
chevman
That looks really good. Do you think the Poli Glow would make the front cap look as good as the sidewalls on your unit? It seems like the front caps are the highest maintenance on these units.
oldbeek wrote:larry barnhart wrote:
this is what I do for a nice look, poli glow.
chevman
How is the poli-glo holding up. How long has it been on?
this will be the 2nd winter for the poli glow. I did 2 applications this summer as the instructions from the company advise. The front cap is still the red max pro #3 and it is 5 years old. I do not recommend Red max pro #3 as I once have done.
chevman
larry barnhart wrote:
this is what I do for a nice look, poli glow.
chevman
How is the poli-glo holding up. How long has it been on?
