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Member
Posts: 30
| Hi all- searched on acid wash and read forum posts in last year. My question is do you do this for looks or to prevent dangerous damage to trailer? I haul maybe 4 times per year and short distances 1-2 hours each way. Can I bed with shavings and just shovel out trailer without getting into trouble? Seems horses rarely if ever pee. what would be the implications of no acid washing and waxing over 1, 5, 10 years? Dangerous? Dirty? Terribly ugly? Thanks, [thinking of buying aluminum] |
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 Expert
Posts: 2453
 
Location: Northern Utah | I don't acid wash. But I do give the inside horse are of the trailer a good hosing down twice a year. Pull the mats and hose it all down. In fact it's on my agenda for this week before the city shut off the secondary water for the fall on the 15th. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 824
Location: Kansas | I'm about to do my first ever acid wash; trailer is 14 years old. It's appearance is not horrible and I hope I don't regret this. My reason for doing it is so that I can get the grit off and polish it, hoping to sell it soon. |
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Expert
Posts: 3853
Location: Vermont | I don't worry that much about the exterior...my horses have never compalined to me about the exterior looks...now the interior is what needs the routine attention... |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 333
| Terri: I wonder if the Streakmaster might be a better way to go? It might be a bit of work, but getting ready to sell something may be easier if you can control the wash/wax part. I am probably going to use the Streakmaster products when I clean my trailer .. I have a painted white on alum but the accents are bare alum. To be honest, I may just wash/wax it at this point.. but I like more control over the process than what seems to be after an acid wash. My friend has a bare alum trailer and had it done and it got all streaky and just plain looked bad. I thought it looked better before she took it to get done. Jbsny |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 368
Location: Georgia | I had an all aluminum trailer with mill finish that I used the Streakmaster "Bare Aluminum" cleaner on and it worked wonderfully. Do not put it on painted aluminum!! I do not have that trailer anymore, but I will use the "Bare Aluminum" cleaner on the trailer I have now on the unpainted aluminum. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 824
Location: Kansas | There are several of us scheduled in that day. If I don't like the looks of the others, I can always change my mind. Certainly getting cold feet over this! |
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Veteran
Posts: 201
| Why not take to a truck wash. Paid $30 last time, not worth hassle of DIY. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 824
Location: Kansas | This IS a truck wash(er), only he's coming with a portable unit to a friend's arena and doing a bunch of us. |
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Expert
Posts: 2615
| Originally written by terri s on 2010-10-12 9:49 AM
I'm about to do my first ever acid wash; trailer is 14 years old. It's appearance is not horrible and I hope I don't regret this. My reason for doing it is so that I can get the grit off and polish it, hoping to sell it soon. It's not going to hurt it but if it's not completely rinsed off of the fittings and the top of the trailer,or,if it's not done properly (bottom to top and keeping the surface well rinsed ) it will streak,and,it can etch your window glass.I prefer to do my own,that way,if it's screwed up I can only blame myself.I use Streakmaster products,also Metalwax makes great products and it takes time and a little effort but like I said,I want to do my own acid wash.I don't acid wash my interiors. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 824
Location: Kansas | I didn't have them do the interior either, but they did an absolutely amazing job on the outside. The fittings positively gleam. Not something I would do often, but after 14 years of sitting outside it looks brand new. |
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Location: Central Arkansas | I prefer the citrus shine over the acid wash. Had one trailer get too much acid in the mix and the painted white part would come off on your hands! We had to wax and buff the paint to get it back to almost normal but not quite right. |
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Expert
Posts: 2615
| That is why I do my own using Str eakmaster,it's not harsh and directions are correct to the mix if followed.It's still acid wash,though,so,I rinse immediately and I am selective about where I apply it.I know this: something took the red color out of our sidelamp markers and the ones over the back doors,nothing else,and it may have been acid wash,not sure. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 824
Location: Kansas | CRG-do you then put any kind of clear coating or wax once you get your trailer cleaned? |
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Expert
Posts: 1351
Location: Decatur, Texas | Originally written by crowleysridgegirl on 2010-10-19 3:21 PM
something took the red color out of our sidelamp markers and the ones over the back doors,nothing else,and it may have been acid wash,not sure. Sun fading causes this. The last 2 trailer we had before the carport did this. Only the upper red lights. |
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Expert
Posts: 2615
| Streakmaster makes a product that you wash on,used to go by the name "Wash and Protect" but I think he's calling it something different now.It's really easy and works well.Naw,I'm not about to hand wax that rig,tantamount to waxing a Greyhound bus,and,I"m just not that energetic anymore.The product works fine and the trailer holds it shine afterwards. |
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Expert
Posts: 2615
| Originally written by hogtownboss on 2010-10-20 12:03 PM Originally written by crowleysridgegirl on 2010-10-19 3:21 PM
something took the red color out of our sidelamp markers and the ones over the back doors,nothing else,and it may have been acid wash,not sure. Sun fading causes this. The last 2 trailer we had before the carport did this. Only the upper red lights. |
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Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA | You should not acid wash a painted surface, or the clear coatings found on trailers such as Bison. The inside floor should be inspected annually and acid washed if corrosion is found. Other wise a high pressure water wash will suffice. The bottom exterior chassis should be inspected, and depending on your environment, may need no attention for several years or as frequently as the interior. Frequent exterior acid washing will actually lessen the aluminum's natural resistance to corrosion. An RV wash will keep things clean, if living with the duller greyish finish is acceptable. There are many sources for RV and marine finishes, that will protect the metal and increase the time before oxidation will be seen again.
Edited by gard 2010-10-21 4:13 AM
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Member
Posts: 22
Location: Santa Rosa, CA | I bought an 86 featherlite that looked pretty dingy after 24 years on this earth, and had it acidwashed by a guy who's educated me about 'good' and 'bad' acid washing and the damage it can cause by improper rinsing, streaks from drips, etc. (he showed me a client's trailer where the inside of the tail lights reccesses had been eaten away by acid done wrong). The trailer looks simply amazing, like it's brand new. He acid washed it inside and out. |
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Member
Posts: 24
| I have had my aluminum trailer for 1 1/2 years - had the mats pulled and interior acid washed when I first got it. Trailer dealer said all was well...no corrosion. I need to do it againa nd the dealership has closed. I think I can wrangle the mats out but don't know what I'm looking for or what to do if I see corrosion. Help! |
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acid wash- appearance or prevention?
