Ceramic coatings

[Tlmgcamp]

I have Azdel exterior wall panels on my TT. Has anybody tried an off-the-shelf ceramic car wash or wax? I am trying to make those black streaks easier to clean

[Flybob]

I have used several and have had very good results. I am sure everyone has their favorite, so I will not recommend one over the other.

[lazyjj]

Originally Posted by Tlmgcamp

I have Azdel exterior wall panels on my TT. Has anybody tried an off-the-shelf ceramic car wash or wax? I am trying to make those black streaks easier to clean

First place to start is by ensuring you clean the roof of the trailer a couple of times per year. Most black streaks come from AC condensation drip and rain from the roof. As previous poster said, any of the auto car products work pretty well on RV's. I usually prefer Mothers over some of the others but have had success with them all. I also use Wash Wax All from time to time. I am a host in a state park over the summer and we are asked not to put soaps on the ground so Wash Wax All gets me through the season until I can get back home to do a better wash and wax job.

[SFBeck]

I applied Maguiars hybrid ceramic wax after washing with Dawn in October. There were some black streaks in late November and I washed again with Mothers CMX ceramic wash. In my experience black streaking is a roof issue even when I wash the roof twice a year.

Heavy duty cleaners such as Dawn liquid soap appears to work much better than regular car wash cleaners. Applying the Maguires spray on hybrid ceramic wax is easy after washing.

[Rhumblefish]

Originally Posted by Tlmgcamp

I have Azdel exterior wall panels on my TT. Has anybody tried an off-the-shelf ceramic car wash or wax? I am trying to make those black streaks easier to clean

For what it's worth, Azdel is a fiberglass-based composite insert that replaces wood/luan INSIDE the wall sandwich. Its main benefit is being unaffected by water, so no swelling or mildew and less risk of delam, while being half the weight. Your Apex Nano has a fiberglass exterior.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewifG3yXEeg

Ceramic coating and wax both serve as a sacrificial layer that - among other things - DO help make surface dirt (including the dreaded black streaks) easier to remove. Some waxes also contain a polishing element that help remove stains and oxidation as the wax is applied and then buffed.

Black streaks, left unchecked or unaddressed in quick order can become much, much more difficult to clean off.

Here's an old RV 101 video that holds true almost a decade later:

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

I'm a fan of modern cleaning chemicals. There are a million of them, and some do better than others, considering what is making your particular streaks. Black streaks and related stains are generally an amalgamation of organic material, surface dirt and oxidation, and can be fairly different from place to place around the country. Likewise, RV's that spend more time outside and uncovered fall victim to black streaks more rapidly than those that are stored covered or indoors. If you find something that works well for you, keep using that.

I like Starbrite products, and have used them with satisfactory results on boats and RVs. Likewise, I am a big fan of 303's chemicals and am looking forward to receiving their black streak remover to put it up against favorite Starbrite. Lastly, I've also recently heard good things about "LA's Totally Awesome."

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rx_yuz1fhJw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHw5RNnl3Ew

Again, there are commonalities, but not all black streaks are the same.

Just my .02. hope this helps.

[D W]

As long as your rig is exposed to "road grime" you're going to have black streaks. I rarely use my A/C during camping season ans still get them. They are far more pronounced on white panels. I haven't found anything that prevents them. I use LA's Totally Awesome cleaner to remove them. You can find LA's Totally Awesome at Walmart, Amazon and most Dollar Trees. It comes in a concentrate, so a little goes a long ways.

[5picker]

Black streaks mostly come from the roof so routine roof maintenance is a must to cut down on black streaks.

I've used some "off the shelf" ceramic stuff and didn't find it went on/worked/lasted any better than other stuff. I think true ceramic coatings are huge prep and big money.

I'm a sucker for "easy" and had been a fan of "Wash Wax All" until someone here turned me on to "Gel Gloss RV Wash and Wax." It is awesome!

[Sunseeker16]

Use Meguires wash and wax several times a year and that's all you need. My 2016 looks like new. Granted I have great storage but road grime and bugs clean off easier if it's kept clean. Dryer sheets to clean off bugs works great just use some wash and wax behind it.