Acid Rain Streaks on a horse trailer and some other questions...

[tapp1]

My sister purchased a used horse trailer that is in need of a little TLC. The trailer has an aluminum roof and alum. panels which are white and oxidized. I am not worried so much about correcting the paint, but I do have a question about a pre-wash to remove the black streaks over the white paint. I was planning on dilluting APC 10:1 and letting the trailer soak. The streaks I am pretty sure are caused by acid rain, because we had the same problem with our camper.

What do you reccomend. I was thinking about using Color RX on the paint, it doesnt have to be a show piece, just want to look cleaner than it is.

[Murr1525]

Re: Acid Rain Streaks on a horse trailer and some other questions...

Are you saying the entire trailer is painted white, or the top is bare aluminum, and the sides are white?

[tapp1]

Re: Acid Rain Streaks on a horse trailer and some other questions...

The top is bare aluminum and the sides are white.

[Maserati Mario]

Re: Acid Rain Streaks on a horse trailer and some other questions...

Aluminum polish or use an acid base cleaner. (wheel cleaner)
Since you don't care about it's appearance that much, the acid will etch the aluminum but will clean it off.
Treat the paint like paint, clean it and wax it.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Acid Rain Streaks on a horse trailer and some other questions...

A diluted APC wash is probably your best bet for removing the bulk of the streaking, and a follow up with a paint cleaner such as SwirlX should not only remove any remaining, set in staining from the streaks but also remove the oxidation and just generally brighten the paint. You can do this by hand, with a D/A buffer like our G110, or even with an inexpensive orbital. The orbital isn't going to do the most outstanding job, but at least it won't get tired like your arm will. And since you aren't that concerned about the paint correction anyway, it sounds as though you'd consider even a mild clean up to be a bonus.

As for cleaning the bare aluminum top, you might want to avoid an acid wash. Depending on the age of the trailer and the condition of the paint near the top, there is the possibility of that acid creeping under the edge of the paint (we see this all the time on clear coated aluminum wheels) and that could lead to other issues later on. That and you will be extremely hard pressed to achieve a uniform appearance on the top unless you almost flood it with the acid wash. Overall, probably not the route you want to go.

[Tim Lingor]

Re: Acid Rain Streaks on a horse trailer and some other questions...

My sister purchased a used horse trailer that is in need of a little TLC. The trailer has an aluminum roof and alum. panels which are white and oxidized. I am not worried so much about correcting the paint, but I do have a question about a pre-wash to remove the black streaks over the white paint. I was planning on dilluting APC 10:1 and letting the trailer soak. The streaks I am pretty sure are caused by acid rain, because we had the same problem with our camper.

What do you reccomend. I was thinking about using Color RX on the paint, it doesnt have to be a show piece, just want to look cleaner than it is.

Morning,

It is not acid rain streaks. Black streaks are indicative to all RVs. My travel trailer gets them as well. Some believe it is caused in part from the rubberize caulking used to seal the seams. The rest is environmental fall out build up on the roof.

The easiest and best way to remove them is to use Meguiar's M70 Black Streak Remover. Just lightly mist on to the streaks, allow 15 seconds or so and then wipe off. Be sure to re-wax the area afterwards. Even a product like M20 Polymer Sealant will remove them easily (as long as it is smooth aluminum and not textured). Do not use harsh chemicals or acids as you may damage the seams and caulking leading to very expensive problems!

http://www.meguiarsdirect.com/product_detail.asp?T1=MEG+M7016

Companies like Protect All make roof cleaners but those are for rubber roofs and not aluminum. Either way, there is no way around them though you can minimize the streaking by washing the roof on a regular basis.

Tim

[tapp1]

Re: Acid Rain Streaks on a horse trailer and some other questions...

some pictures of the trailer... I thinking a good clay bar and colorX should give me the desired results. Like I said I am not looking to for show car finish, just to clean and make it shiny. I will say white paint is tough to work on because its hard to see the products... Anyone have any tips?