Peeling Zep Wet Look - Fiberglass RV
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Old 04-17-2021, 06:59 PM   #1
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Name: Nigel
Trailer: Scamp 13
Minnesota
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Peeling Zep Wet Look

The attached photo shows what happens around the entire top curvature of my 1997 Scamp 13. Last fall, I scrubbed with Barkeep's Friend and a scotchbrite pad, applied 6 coats of Zep Wet Look, following instructions all the way.
The top and all four sides of the trailer look good. Only the curved part of the body adjacent to the roof has this problem.
I would think maybe UV rays are somehow the problem but then the south-facing side would be worse.
The trailer is stored outdoors in Minnesota. I do use a broom to sweep snow accumulation off the roof.
Is the problem with my gel coat do you think?
Thanks.
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Old 04-17-2021, 08:11 PM   #2
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Did you first wash the trailer with dish soap before applying Zep to remove contaminants, then dry it? The Zep along the top edges of my trailer have been flaking off recently, but the Zep has been on there 5 years. I do store my trailer in the garage, so that's another factor.
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Old 04-17-2021, 09:04 PM   #3
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I've heard it is common over time for the Zep to flake or yellow, then it has to be stripped off and reapplied. Reasons why I never did our trailers. But it sure is shiny when first applied, but we didn't need that look.
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Old 04-17-2021, 11:05 PM   #4
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yeah, I'd rather use a polishing compound to get the scratches and haze out, then a polymer sealant for a multi-year 'wax' job. floor wax is for floors.
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Old 04-18-2021, 08:36 AM   #5
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Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz View Post
yeah, I'd rather use a polishing compound to get the scratches and haze out, then a polymer sealant for a multi-year 'wax' job. floor wax is for floors.
in a perfect world the Gell coat would remain that way and a light wax once a year would be great especially if you have a newer model trailer but many here have 30-50 year old trailers that still have the original gell coat but have deteriorated so much that waxing over and over to try to get that shine back will in most cases not happen.I’d much rather easily apply Zep once a year on my 45 year old trailer and restrip every couple year for a beautiful shine then spend hours and hours waxing with very poor results over and over ,gave up waxing years ago and will never do again.
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Old 04-18-2021, 10:43 AM   #6
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the polymer sealant coating I was referring to is NOT a conventional wax. I have a 20 year old Ford truck thats parked outside 24/7 and always has been, the PO polymer sealed it before sale, and its still shiny 3 years later when I rinse off the pollen and road dust that accumulates.. original white paint. I have yet to do this to my Escape, but fully intend to at some point this year.
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Old 04-18-2021, 12:21 PM   #7
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Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz View Post
the polymer sealant coating I was referring to is NOT a conventional wax. I have a 20 year old Ford truck thats parked outside 24/7 and always has been, the PO polymer sealed it before sale, and its still shiny 3 years later when I rinse off the pollen and road dust that accumulates.. original white paint. I have yet to do this to my Escape, but fully intend to at some point this year.
I use this - bug splats practically hose off. https://www.amazon.com/CorrosionX-61...e%2C287&sr=1-4
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Old 04-18-2021, 12:41 PM   #8
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When you use ZEP on Gelcote eventually it will do this. The only thing that I could find to remove the peeling wax is ZEP Stripper. Other cleaners and solvents would not work.
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Old 04-18-2021, 01:11 PM   #9
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I use this - bug splats practically hose off. https://www.amazon.com/CorrosionX-61...e%2C287&sr=1-4
thats another polymer sealant.

with any of these, after washing the fiberglass and removing all dirt, and drying, if the surface isn't smooth and shiny, you want to take a pass with a polishing/rubbing compound to take off any 'marshmallow' and bring back a smooth surface to the gel coat, THEN apply the sealant. as long as you renew the sealant every few years, you'll not need to do that polishing pass again.
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Old 04-18-2021, 01:14 PM   #10
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phew, that Zep stripper is some nasty stuff...
https://zsds3.zepinc.com/ehswww/zep/...C013=ZULFFS128
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Old 04-18-2021, 02:50 PM   #11
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Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz View Post
phew, that Zep stripper is some nasty stuff...
https://zsds3.zepinc.com/ehswww/zep/...C013=ZULFFS128
It’s really not that nasty and can be deluded to suit your usage speed and will not harm any other part of the trailer at least it has not harmed anything on my trailer .
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Old 04-18-2021, 03:00 PM   #12
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Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz View Post
phew, that Zep stripper is some nasty stuff...
https://zsds3.zepinc.com/ehswww/zep/...C013=ZULFFS128
Dang, I knew I shouldn't have drunk that!
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Old 04-18-2021, 06:01 PM   #13
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It’s really not that nasty and can be deluded to suit your usage speed

How deluded do you have to be to use it in the first place?
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Old 04-18-2021, 06:34 PM   #14
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How deluded do you have to be to use it in the first place?
did I get caught by the spell check police again ,I may hold the record now.
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Old 04-18-2021, 06:41 PM   #15
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did I get caught by the spell check police again ,I may hold the record now.

Yup 👍
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Old 04-19-2021, 06:47 AM   #16
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Glenn is just waiting to "hop" on misspellings!
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Old 04-19-2021, 06:48 AM   #17
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Glenn is just waiting to "hop" on misspellings!
Ya think
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Old 04-19-2021, 08:30 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz View Post
phew, that Zep stripper is some nasty stuff...
https://zsds3.zepinc.com/ehswww/zep/...C013=ZULFFS128
Ummm. John, exactly what is so nasty about that? I mean, yes it is a bunch of chemicals, but perhaps try looking up the constituent chemicals in that polymer sealant you are fond of. What is used to strip that stuff? I would call Zep just another brand of polymer sealant. Slightly more temporary though.

I have read that the engine grease remover setting at the car wash may remove Zep. Though it is probably a different chemical from one car wash to another car wash. I wonder what the safety data sheet looks like for that stuff?
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Old 04-19-2021, 09:28 AM   #19
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Glenn is just waiting to "hop" on misspellings!

Ah, but that one was irresistible.
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Old 04-19-2021, 11:46 AM   #20
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Better to look at the actual MSDS, rather than a special CA form.

Realize what you are asking this stripper to do, remove a heavy layer of floor finish from fiberglass. Not the easiest task.

To the OP, your experience is unusual. I am over two years on my Zep finish. Only issues I have is where I had to clean the surface later from doing the belly band rebuild. Lesson learned, do the polish AFTER you have finished outside projects.

Randy Bishop has used Zep on many vintage trailers, and in his case, they sit outside in the hot SE USA sun. He has been getting several years out of his.
Randy's thread here:

https://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/...ell-43004.html

Zep Stripper MSDS https://www.manualshelf.com/manual/z...s128/msds.html

And here's the MSDS for the RejeX product recommended above:

https://www.bac-online.com/customer/...X-16OZ_SDS.pdf

I'll leave it up to others which is more hazardous.

According to the RejeX website, their coating lasts about six months to one year.
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