I need to clean my Exiss trailer. It is white with aluminum nose, roof, and fenders. What is the best way to do this? Take it to a truck wash and get an acid wash? Would the acid harm the paint? Or would it be best to do it at home using a power washer and a product like Streak Master?
Posted 2012-08-05 7:00 PM (#146102 - in reply to #146094) Subject: RE: Cleaning Aluminum Trailer
Veteran
Posts: 109 Location: Florida
No acid!!! (sorry for yelling). To make it shine, use a orbital buffer and Flitz http://www.flitz.com With that combo, if you work at it, it will get you pulled over for blinding drivers with their own lights ;)
Posted 2012-08-05 7:51 PM (#146104 - in reply to #146094) Subject: RE: Cleaning Aluminum Trailer
Regular
Posts: 82 Location: Massachusetts
wash the trailer with a good car soap or simple green with a little elbow grease.then polish the painted areas with Meguiars NXT. for the aluminum part use mothers mag and alumuim polish and lots more elbow grease.when your done you might need sunglasses.
Posted 2012-08-05 7:53 PM (#146105 - in reply to #146102) Subject: RE: Cleaning Aluminum Trailer
Veteran
Posts: 121 Location: MO
So use the aluminum preclean first on the aluminum and then follow with the Flitz paste or liquid? The aluminum on my trailer is brushed -- not smooth and shiny. Wonder if that makes a difference?
Posted 2012-08-05 8:07 PM (#146107 - in reply to #146094) Subject: RE: Cleaning Aluminum Trailer
Veteran
Posts: 109 Location: Florida
Sorry never mind, if its brushed. I assumed because of wanting to use acid you had a mirror finish that went bad. A good cleaning that was stated above by the last poster should be good to go.
Posted 2012-08-06 4:59 PM (#146139 - in reply to #146094) Subject: RE: Cleaning Aluminum Trailer
Regular
Posts: 74
Look up info on Metal Wax products.......Use according to directions and you will get great, long lasting results! The people at the Metal Wax company are very helpful.
Posted 2012-08-06 5:59 PM (#146143 - in reply to #146139) Subject: RE: Cleaning Aluminum Trailer
Veteran
Posts: 259 Location: Topeka Ks
Hands down Metal Wax is the best. Very easy to use and easy on the arms.
Originally written by millironk on 2012-08-06 4:59 PM
Look up info on Metal Wax products.......Use according to directions and you will get great, long lasting results! The people at the Metal Wax company are very helpful.
Posted 2012-08-07 12:17 AM (#146152 - in reply to #146127) Subject: RE: Cleaning Aluminum Trailer
Expert
Posts: 2615
Have used Streakmaster for years.I use their acid wash on the extruded aluminum portions,and the wash and protect on the painted aluminum sections.I have tried Metal Wax also,and have had good results with it.Can't go wrong with either product.
Posted 2013-06-15 5:43 PM (#152771 - in reply to #146094) Subject: RE: Cleaning Aluminum Trailer
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 489
I have used the Streakmaster product on the bare aluminum and it works very well. The next thing I need to get done is to clean the white aluminum, my understanding is that this is a bit of a unique surface in that it is a think layer of baked on paint. My trailer is 10 years old and in some spots the paint seems to be very oxidized, it's dull and rough...just not the smooth shiny surface I would like. My trailer is about 32 feet long including the goose neck with lots of white. Do any of these product work without a lot of elbow grease? I have been trying to find someone local that will clean up the trailer but none of the auto detail places want to work on it.
Posted 2013-06-15 10:07 PM (#152776 - in reply to #146094) Subject: RE: Cleaning Aluminum Trailer
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
Our Exiss has an upper painted white smooth skin, a lower bare, milled, extruded aluminum and a stainless nose. We use Wal Mart's "RV wash" and don't try to polish anything. The wash doesn't harm the paint or our applied decals, and nicely cleans the aluminum. It's no more difficult to wash than a car.
Posted 2013-06-16 8:48 AM (#152787 - in reply to #146094) Subject: RE: Cleaning Aluminum Trailer
Veteran
Posts: 175 Location: Florida
Blue Beacon Truck Wash - bluebeacon.com - Aluminum cleaner. With NO ill affects to brushed or polished aluminum, painted surfaces, plastic windows, or decals. They will make the aluminum shine like new in 5 minutes vs hours of hand polishing. Our 4 horse GN LQ / truck costs about $35 It lasts about a year with the trailer outside year around, with normal pressure washings at home when needed. Highly recommended.
Cleaning Aluminum Trailer
