How to remove oxidation before waxing?

Thank you for posting this specific question.
I make this reply so that I will be tagged on subsequent replies.

wash your trailer with awesome(this will make it easier to deoxidation)
meguiars power cut compound #M91(for deoxidation)(orange pad)
nu-finsh(white pad)after the first app I put a second one on 2-3 week after
I use a portal cable DA polisher with lake country pads
my trailer will shine for about a year

I've used Presta Gel Coat compound with a wool pad and a DA sander/polisher. Followed that with 3M Finesse-It 2 Finishing Material using a foam pad and DA.
Last step was Collinite No.845 with a foam pad and DA.

Came out beautiful. Problem is my front caps gel coat is defective as is a lot of darker caps built in the last couple years and all that work quickly disappeared weeks latter. Hey, it was fun while it lasted.

Being that yours is older the gel coat should be fine as far as bringing the shine back and lasting.

Have you ever heard of the Zep/Red Max Pro Application Process?
It works great on older fiberglass.
If you don't want to use the floor polish, just use the wax of your choice after cleaning the fiberglass.

Zep/Red Max Pro Application Process

Don't forget the before and after pictures. :)

Try spraying a small spot with WD40. Wait a minute and wipe with a soft cloth. See if that works.

It works wonderful for road tar, tree sap, and black streaks!

DutchmenSport wrote:
Try spraying a small spot with WD40. Wait a minute and wipe with a soft cloth. See if that works.

It works wonderful for road tar, tree sap, and black streaks!

That's an interesting idea and I have used it on normal hard, glossy automotive finishes because you can then remove the residue of the WD with a good washing.

I'd be a little concerned that the WD would soak into the pores of the fiberglass and make it next to impossible to get it all OFF and then difficult to impossible to get any wax product to stick good.

Protect All Fiberglass Oxidation Remover, and Color Restorer.
Protect All

Has always worked well for me.
Walmart has it in store, or Amazon.

Any treatment with phosphoric acid based products or TriSodiumPhosphate will remove oxidation. I've been using Jasco TSP substitute for years. I mainly use it on painted surfaces before painting as it removes all oxidation.

If you want a gloss shine, you will then have to buff on a sealer like marine wax or you can straight buff it with cutting compounds but that isn't for the faint of heart (many hours).

I really like Zep products (was using one today for work) but I don't think I'd use the floor wax on my RV. I just think there's risk for yellowing or cracking/chipping and a marine wax is easier to apply and maintain.

I recently got some Parfe liquid wax but have only used it on lawn equipment. From those experiments, I'd say it's a pretty good wax, very durable and the application can't get any easier. After I get done with some other projects, the Parfe is going on the Hilton.

Good luck with your rig. A good coat of wax always says a lot for the owner, IMO.

With our old fiberglass trailer, the problem wasn't oxidation, but it was that the gelcoat layer had lost it's gloss. That was one of the reasons we got rid of it. The decals were peeling and the gelcoat was almost crumbly.

Protect All will remove the oxidation, and leave it shinny. You do need to do some rubbing depending on the amount of oxidation.

"Now, you can bring back the once lustrous shine to your RV, car, truck, boat and more with Protect All FIBERGLASS Oxidation Remover & Color Restorer. One-step application removes oxidation, wax build-up, stains, surface scratches and hard water spots to restore color and luster to dull, oxidized fiberglass, gel-coat, enamel and polyurethane painted aluminum. Cleans, polishes and seals all in one easy step."