How do apply wax?

[John in Kansas]

Hi folks,


We have a fiberglass RV on the way (17' Casita). It will be kept outdoors, and Casita advised to wax it twice a year. They suggested Meguiars. So I've ordered Meguiars M6332 flagship rv/Marine wax.


Now, I've never waxed anything in my life (I assume the "wax" settting at a carwash doesn't count), and definitely never had to care for a fiberglass trailer. So, how do I apply the wax? How do I know I'm getting the right amount on? Do I need to wash the trailer first? Any special washing instructions? Does washing it take the wax off?


Casita said it doesn't come waxed from the factory, so I imagine when it gets here in about a month, that will be one of the first things we need to do.


Thanks!


John

[C&G in FL]

I would suggest washing the trailer before applying wax. Use a product designed to wash cars. Do not wash with a detergent product; detergent will strip wax. I use a Meguier’s product for washing as well as waxing. Keep the sponge clean by rinsing it in a separate bucket frequently and wash without using circular motions. Once washed and dry, apply the wax per the instructions on the Meguier’s bottle. Easier to do it one section at a time. Apply the wax with a pad, allow it to dry, then buff it off with a clean, soft cloth (microfiber towel recommended), turning it and shaking it out frequently. If confident in its use, purchase a powered buffer for this step. Then step back and admire the shine. If you store the trailer under cover, once a year waxing should suffice to prevent oxidation. Bear in mind that washing and waxing is NOT rocket science. Enjoy your new Casita!

[Jon in AZ]

Any car wash product from Walmart or your preferred retailer will clean without disturbing old wax.

If you have the energy and will store uncovered, put a second coat on just the top. The sides on ours were fine for 6 months uncovered, but the top only lasted 3-4 months in high altitude Arizona sun.

[Bill in Pittsburgh]

I have not tried the newer ceramic waxes on my trailer yet but have found them fantastic on my vehicles.
My vehicles no longer need waxing twice a year but now once every two years. I keep them in the garage and don't drive them when the roads are salted or have salt residue but instead drive an old beater that I don't wash, let alone wax.
I will use the ceramic wax on my trailer when I get it out of storage in April.
No rocket science involved in waxing, just read the directions. Waxing is much easier than in days of yore when Simonize paste wax required considerable elbow grease. Modern waxes go on easier and come off easier while lasting longer. Owning up to 6 or 7 vehicles at a time and waxing each one twice a year with paste wax was a lot of elbow grease. Not sure about the wax from commercial car washes. Don't think I would ever put one of my "babies" to the commercial car wash test.

[jerrybob]

Waxing is good but lots of work and elbow grease required. I use a product called Bow to Stern (BTS).....it works great and takes me about 45 mintutes to do my entire trailer. I use it on our car/truck as well. My trailer is stored here on the property year round....lots of rain here. The BTS product is done about every 6 months. Trailer looks shiney and new. Use to do the wax thing....got too old.....too much work for me. The BTS product is easy....spray it on....spread it with the little sponge provided....wipe off with old t-shirt.....no real polishing or effort required. My two cents......

[Radar1]

Just don't overdo the wax, just a light paste coating is needed. If you layer it on too thick it just makes it more difficult to remove the excess.
Always best to wash the vehicle first so that you aren't pushing dirt around when waxing.
I just wax mine by hand even though I have electric buffers that I could use. I keep several microfiber cloths to wipe the wax off.

[John in Kansas]

Thank you everone for the suggestions! One followup - when you say a "pad" to use with waxing, what kind of pad is that?

[Radar1]

Originally Posted by John in Kansas

Thank you everone for the suggestions! One followup - when you say a "pad" to use with waxing, what kind of pad is that?

Some waxes come with a cloth/foam pad. Meguiars doesn't usually include a pad, so just a moistened microfiber rag will do.

[Monk]

Originally Posted by John in Kansas

Thank you everone for the suggestions! One followup - when you say a "pad" to use with waxing, what kind of pad is that?

When using a buffer, I use a "Red" finish grade polishing pad. This is for light polishing and waxing. Amazon sells them at around $22 for three. These do a great job of removing oxidation and leave a great shine if you use Meguiar's Flagship Premium Marine Wax.

I leave my Scamp out in the elements all year, in the Pacific Northwest, and it easily holds up for a year.

FYI - the pad I have been using is the SPTA brand, polyurethane 3 piece Red T20 buff and wax.

[CharlesinGA]

Some Escape people in the past have suggested RejeX by CRC and so I bought some. I had to use medium and fine Maguire's abrasives and a buffer with foam pads to remove the oxidation from the gel coat on the roof, but, when finished I gave it a coat of RejeX and was shocked at how slick the surface was. I then washed my truck and did it too, and it is also slicker than I have seen a polished/waxed surface in the past 50+ years.

I did the roof while I had the A/C removed for replacement. Previously I had polished the front with the buffer and abrasives and waxed it with Zymol, which is good, and easy, but nothing like the RejeX. I will re-buff the front lightly and do the sides and then put on a coat of RejeX. Trailer is kept inside so minimal weathering.

Charles

[Bill in Pittsburgh]

Bottom line for NEVER WAXED ANYTHING is waxes today are easy to apply and remove while working better than waxes of yore that were difficult to apply and even more difficult to remove.
Many good products on the market and no need to be apprehensive. I have been waxing my own cars and motorcycles since I was 14 years old and even as a bubble headed teenager it was not rocket science.
Carnauba paste wax was the gold standard in the 70s and maybe even the 80s, while much better than what I used in the 60s is now not as durable as silicon-, ceramic- or graphene-infused coatings. It also doesn't provide as much protection and chemical resistance, as a synthetic product.
Just pick one, read the instructions, and do it with out fear.

[Meadowlark]

As others have said, use Meguiers or something similar to wash the Camper. Don't do what I used to use, Dawn dish soap. And just saying "Simonize" made my shoulders scream-yes, it's good wax but made for floors.

I have used Turtle Wax's ceramic stuff and it did a good job. I would have kept using it until Jerrybob enlightened this grasshopper about BTS, Bow to Stern cleaner.

It's what the boat people use, it works just as well on our FG campers. IT cleans and protects, acting like a wax without all the physical effort. I sprayed it on with a sprayer, wiped it off (I read the instructions) and was done in half the time a wax job would have taken.

Now I won't use anything else. My Casita lives outdoors under a carport, and I live in the Carwash State of Washington.
To repeat what he said, BTS doesn't involve scrubbing or buffing needed. It goes on very nicely with little effort and just wipe it with a microfiber cloth or, as J bob said, an old T shirt.

The one problem I had with BTS is FINDING it. None of the boat shops carried it. So I called the company that makes it. It's run by one fellow who was VERY nice and sent me a bottle of it. One 32 oz bottle-(it's concentrated, so you must add water,) is just the right amount for a Casita. He even threw in a sample bottle of 'protectant". Haven't used that. Now my 2011 Casita looks like it just came off the show room floor.
And no I don't get a thing for extolling the BTS's virtues.

[Bill in Pittsburgh]

Originally Posted by Meadowlark

The one problem I had with BTS is FINDING it. None of the boat shops carried it.

Found BTS in about 12 seconds on Amazon. The description describes it as a cleaner only.
So do you apply wax after using this product?
I'm curious to try some of the products mentioned in this thread.

[jerrybob]

Originally Posted by Bill in Pittsburgh

Found BTS in about 12 seconds on Amazon. The description describes it as a cleaner only.
So do you apply wax after using this product?
I'm curious to try some of the products mentioned in this thread.

Yea....my first bottle was bought direct from company....now I get it on Amazon. One 36oz bottle will last a few yrs if just doing Casita....I also do both our vehicles as well. They all shime as Meadowlark says. To answer your question.....no wax required. I wash my trailer....let it dry and apply BTS. Spray it on.....use their included sponge to wipe it around...let it dry for 15 mintutes or so....wipe it off easily with old rag. No elbow grease required....for me...the whole process takes about an hour which includes moving the ladder around for the roof. If you like to wax.....nothing wrong with that.....I just got too old for all that work. Wax will put a better coating on your trailer but BTS twice a year is just easier and looks just as good.

[lmgray]

Originally Posted by Bill in Pittsburgh

Found BTS in about 12 seconds on Amazon. The description describes it as a cleaner only.
So do you apply wax after using this product?
I'm curious to try some of the products mentioned in this thread.

BTS has different products and it sounds like you found their cleaner -- you want the "protectant": https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001RVAAAG

[lmgray]

Originally Posted by Bill in Pittsburgh

Found BTS in about 12 seconds on Amazon. The description describes it as a cleaner only.
So do you apply wax after using this product?
I'm curious to try some of the products mentioned in this thread.

BTS has different products and it sounds like you found their cleaner: https://www.amazon.com/Bow-To-Stern-.../dp/B00O9EYC0M

folks here are talking about the "protectant": https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001RVAAAG

[Sammy Joe]

Well with 50 years in marine indistrey in boat manufacturing'. Believe me I’ve waxed 100’s of boats. I am an attention to detail man wanting it just right. SO You want to make sure all the waxes and mold marks that were there to make the mold pull away from the part. Most don’t realize the camper will still have some wax buildup from making it. I would use a white 3 m pad ( like green ones at hardware store. )And acetone. It is a harsh chemical we use in all aspects of manufacturing. Put it in a dark squeeze bottle and a snap shut hole. Wear gloves . Just wipe sections at a time and wipe off with towels a lot of extra work but you will start with a clean canvas. The wax you use is good I actually us it on ours . Others told you how to apply so I’ll skip that. Now that it’s done wait a month and wax it again much easier to do 2 nd coat. I personally use a Harbor Freight 6 “ orbital buffer to save my arms lol
Let it cure for a month give it a good wash.
The next step can be done 2 ways apply a spray on wipe off
Ceramics coating . Works great but have to do 2-4 times year if in full sun. Or the other way is to go read about true ceramic coatings. There are a lot better and can last years. The thing that makes it expensive is labor . It is not hard work but slowly and even to make it come out great. Some will say I’m crazy telling you to do all the work, But if one gets the gelcoat protected properly it will show it for years to come. I love to use this brand on everything boats ,camper , golf cart, windshield. It dosest last but 2 months but I enjoy doing it. Mother’s CMX ceramic wax .
I’m known as Mrrobalo on internet.
Just my 2 cents worth .

[Tedster52]

Like others have said, make sure you trailer is freshly washed before waxing. Any dirt left on the trailer will be loosed up by the wax, so you end up rubbing dirt wax on the surface, with visible dirt swirls that last as long as the wax. Before its annual wax job, I power wash then hand wash the entire trailer to make sure dirt is completely gone, even from any small pores in the surface. I use an automotive or boat soap both in my power washer & in the bucket I use for hand washing.

[ThomasC]

I like Turtle wax hybred ceramic because of this guy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2lrXVV9kWU

He has an older video where the Turtle wax came in first. Basically, you wipe it on, and it leaves a haze. Then you wipe it off. It is really easy.

[Meadowlark]

Finding BTS was an issue for me because I don't use Amazon. I've seen how they treat their employees. If you're not the CEO at amazon, you're like a sled dog at the back of the pack...all you see is dog butts.

But I did use amazon's review page and when I was shopping, all they offered was the BTS protectant, not the cleaner. And I did't need a gallon, just one bottle. NOW I own a gallon of it and this spring when it stops raining, I'll do the Casita again as well as our cars.