
The Process
--Chemical Guys Maxi Suds II
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--Microfiber Chenille Washmitt
Wheels and Tires:
--P21S Gel Wheel Cleaner
--Boars Hair Brush
---Clay Magic's Red Claybar and Meguire's Final Inspection for lubrication.
--Citrus based adhesive remover & lacquer thinner on lower panels to remove road tar & road paint.
Gel Coat:
--Protect-All RV Oxidation Remover
--Leverage Fiberglass Polish (wax)
Paint:
Meguairs Diamond Cut Compound
Menzerna Nano Polish
Meguairs #26 Yellow wax
Pads:
--Lake Country foamed wool 6.5" + 4" LC black
Plastic
-- Chemical Guy's Fade 2 Black spray
--Ultra Plush Detailing Microfiber Towels
--Meguiars Detail Towels
--Milwauke HD Polisher 5440 0-2800 RPM
Glass:
--Winsol Crystal Clear 550 (pro use only)
--RainX
--Stoner Invisible Glass
Other products were used during this process.

Start.
Top/bottom washing.
Chemical Guys Wash/Wax works very well on coated roof.


Hood issues. Heavy iron ore deposits. Claybar for comparison (and zoomed)


Iron ore is completely removed and this piece of Claybar is now trashed.
Paint is silky smooth, but still heavily swirled.

Very heavy hard water deposits. Extends to middle of glass. Standard removal process failed to remove issues.
Winsol Crystal Clear 550 was used. This is a Pro Only product. ALWAYS test a small portion of
glass for specified times, then proceed with remainder of glass cleaning. (000 steelwool did not budge these deposits)


Acid worked very well. 95% of hard water stains are removed. A light 0000 steelwool process afterwards and subsequent RainX application removed the remainder.

Examples of oxidation removal. Pic was heavily contrasted to show gelcoat oxidation removal.
Bright sun and white gel is tough to photograph! Notice that there is hardly any dusting from the compound process, nor are there any buffer lines or hazing. Pad choice is paramount.






Left shows shine, right shows oxidation (dull)

Reasonably heavy oxidation. (difference)
The gelcoat responded well to the Fiberglass Gelcoat Compound.



Very heavy swirls on cab portion.

Swirls removed, light scuffing from compound.

Left = swirls, right = removed (with compound scuffing)

Complete.

Even without direct sunlight, the cab is highly reflective.



RV's are tough to maintain. I know firsthand.
Living on the Central Coast near Pismo Beach
detailing RV's and boats for 10 years taught me a lot about gelcoats.
Once the gelcoat is glossy, a steady application of a UV protectant will keep it on par much easier than just waxing the gelcoat. This is why I stand behind Leverage Polish (wax).
It has no petroleum agents that could dull the finish, next to
sunlight or improper washing techniques is the main cause of gelcoat oxidation.
The cab showed heavy iron ore deposits and swirls. Cause? Typically parking near sand or railroad tracks.
Washing with hard water doesn't cause the ore deposits, but can easily grow the ore crystals.
(to be as visible as the ones above)
Washing with de-ion water helps to eliminate these deposits, but a regular Claybar process removes them simply and completely. Follow up with a fine polish and wax.
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