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Nose Piece Waxing/Cleaning Bugs Off

RobWNY
Explorer
Explorer
I can't reach the top of the nose piece of my 5th wheel to clean the bugs off sufficiently or wax it with my 8 foot step ladder. If I could get closer it wouldn't be a problem but because I'm not going to lean the ladder against the nose where I could damage it I'm having a difficult time reaching. Using a long brush to wash it works fine but not for the finer detailing of it. If I was younger, I would just climb up on the roof, lay down and reach over the front to do the part I can't reach. We don't have an RV detailer in my area and I wouldn't trust some kid to do a decent job either. I'm stumped! Do any of you have any suggestions?
2020 Silverado 2500HD LT, CC, 4X4 6.6 Duramax
2021 Grand Design Reflection 311BHS

I asked him to do one thing and he didn't do any of them.
16 REPLIES 16

Road_Dog
Explorer
Explorer
Try using 2 oven mitts over the end of the ladder. It works great on extension ladders. Use them all the time to wax the coach!

LarryJM
Explorer II
Explorer II
BillyBob Jim wrote:
RobWNY wrote:
I can't reach the top of the nose piece of my 5th wheel to clean the bugs off sufficiently or wax it with my 8 foot step ladder. If I could get closer it wouldn't be a problem but because I'm not going to lean the ladder against the nose where I could damage it I'm having a difficult time reaching. Using a long brush to wash it works fine but not for the finer detailing of it. If I was younger, I would just climb up on the roof, lay down and reach over the front to do the part I can't reach. We don't have an RV detailer in my area and I wouldn't trust some kid to do a decent job either. I'm stumped! Do any of you have any suggestions?


Go to the linen closet and get two of the nicest and largest bath towels you can find, fold them and duct tape them to the ladder, then lean it against the cap.

Do not tell your wife you're taking them.


I do something similiar, but use an old blanket folded and then drapped over the top of a 8' step ladder and lay it against the front with most of the blanket between the ladder and the trailer to protect it from the ladder. Works great for reaching the top 1/3 of the trailer front especially for waxing and using an electric buffer after waxing. I tried using a 6' ladder, but the 8' works 10x better.



Larry
2001 standard box 7.3L E-350 PSD Van with 4.10 rear and 2007 Holiday Rambler Aluma-Lite 8306S Been RV'ing since 1974.
RAINKAP INSTALL////ETERNABOND INSTALL

et2
Explorer
Explorer
RobWNY wrote:
et2 wrote:
The brush in the kit reaches the top without any problem. No ladders required

https://www.amazon.com/Aero-Cosmetics-Waterless-Aircraft-Restrictions/dp/B006AG7ZM4/ref=sr_1_13?keyw...

Thanks but I'm not spending $239 for a wash brush and some wax



Yeah I choked on it too. Took two years before I gave in. Wished I'd done it much sooner. It's not just -some -wax. I really needed to do a waterless wash. We had the paint protection put on our MH when we bought it. It was a joke. I applied this waterless wash n wax and the coach looks awesome. What took me 4 hours the old way takes less than 2 with this.

Do some research on it and you'll hear what I'm telling you. The money I've spendt over a year or two the old way evens out or less with this system.

Charlie_D_
Explorer
Explorer
RobWNY wrote:
et2 wrote:
The brush in the kit reaches the top without any problem. No ladders required

https://www.amazon.com/Aero-Cosmetics-Waterless-Aircraft-Restrictions/dp/B006AG7ZM4/ref=sr_1_13?keyw...

Thanks but I'm not spending $239 for a wash brush and some wax


You can buy that same telescoping brush at Walmart. Some have a hose attachment for the handle. Mine broke after a few uses/
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Dave_H_M
Explorer II
Explorer II
The Dutchman did not invent that procedure. I figured that out also. :W

Dennis_M_M
Explorer
Explorer
No comment on reaching the top, but if you apply Rejex regularly the bugs will come off with a hose.
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RobWNY
Explorer
Explorer
Etstorm wrote:
Wet a dryer sheet, takes the bugs off and no harm to the finish

I've tried the dryer sheets. Lots of scrubbing still. It works but it doesn't help me reach the area I can't get to now.
2020 Silverado 2500HD LT, CC, 4X4 6.6 Duramax
2021 Grand Design Reflection 311BHS

I asked him to do one thing and he didn't do any of them.

RobWNY
Explorer
Explorer
et2 wrote:
The brush in the kit reaches the top without any problem. No ladders required

https://www.amazon.com/Aero-Cosmetics-Waterless-Aircraft-Restrictions/dp/B006AG7ZM4/ref=sr_1_13?keyw...

Thanks but I'm not spending $239 for a wash brush and some wax
2020 Silverado 2500HD LT, CC, 4X4 6.6 Duramax
2021 Grand Design Reflection 311BHS

I asked him to do one thing and he didn't do any of them.

Etstorm
Explorer
Explorer
Wet a dryer sheet, takes the bugs off and no harm to the finish

et2
Explorer
Explorer
The brush in the kit reaches the top without any problem. No ladders required

https://www.amazon.com/Aero-Cosmetics-Waterless-Aircraft-Restrictions/dp/B006AG7ZM4/ref=sr_1_13?keyw...

ReneeG
Explorer
Explorer
. . . and . . . bring that nose down using your front hydraulic jacks. That's what we do and we can reach the top with a long brush.
2011 Bighorn 3055RL, 2011 F350 DRW 6.7L 4x4 Diesel Lariat and Hensley TrailerSaver BD3, 1992 Jeep ZJ and 1978 Coleman Concord Pop-Up for remote camping
Dave & Renee plus (Champ, Molly, Paris, Missy, and Maggie in spirit), Mica, Mabel, and Melton

RobWNY
Explorer
Explorer
SidecarFlip: Does the Hydrogen Peroxide damage the stickers at all?

BillyBob Jim: I won't use the really nice towels but I have plenty in the garage that used to be nice that are now used as Car Detailing Towels. I may try your idea!

Dutchman Sport/RAS43: I may combine your truck ideas with BillyBob's towels on the ladder idea. That just might be the ticket!
2020 Silverado 2500HD LT, CC, 4X4 6.6 Duramax
2021 Grand Design Reflection 311BHS

I asked him to do one thing and he didn't do any of them.

RAS43
Explorer III
Explorer III
Similar to DutchmenSport I use a 7' ladder in the bed of my pickup to wax the nose. I use a 10" buffer which makes short work of the job so I am not hanging off the ladder for a long time. I still can get on the roof so I do the top 2-3 feet of the nose from there.
For cleaning, I have a long handle brush and use a Love Bug Eraser with RV soap which removes bugs well. With this I can stand in the pickup bed and reach all of the nose. Age may not be a factor but I am 76.

DutchmenSport
Explorer
Explorer
My 5er is quite tall and has a front window (Montana High Country 375FL). Bugs are always splattered on the window. I found an easy way to reach them.

Drop the tail gate of your truck and back the truck under the 5er like you are going to hitch up, but don't pull all the way under. Leave the tailgate end just at the edge of the camper.

Now, get a 6 foot step ladder and you can actually get the feet under the nose of the camper which moves the top of the ladder much, much closer to the front of the camper without even touching it. Do the area you can reach and then move the ladder some in the back of the truck for new areas you could not reach. If necessary, you can reposition the truck.

I do this all the time, after first landing on our next campsite, usually right after getting everything set up. A bottle of Windex and some paper shop towels and bugs gone! It's really pretty easy. On the fiberglass front cap that is not window, I'll use a soft RV brush on a short painters wand. The important thing is, I can reach (actually touch) every inch of the front cap if needed standing on the ladder in the bed of the truck.

And yes ... I'm 64 years old with an artificial knee, no problem climbing the ladder and being a bit of a dare devil. After the first time I tried this, the unknown fear went away. Now, I don't even think about how scary this may look ... old man on the top of a step ladder in the bed of a pick-up truck, hanging from one arm!

Truly "Red-neck engineering" at it's finest, wouldn't you say?