Tips for washing a grimy enclosed trailer?

[roc_on_the_rocks]

I have a 1995 24' Haulmark enclosed trailer, nothing fancy, mostly serving as race car storage in the last five years, but I want to start taking it to the nearby track occasionally. I bought it used in 2012 and it has been painted before. The trailer rests parked by my house, mostly under the shade of large trees.

After years of neglect, want to give it a good wash and maybe apply something to counter or delay the buildup of mold, moss and grime. I hand washed it at one time, with soapy sponge and brushes, it looked good for a while but that was a lot of elbow grease.

Can you guys share some tips for enclosed trailer washing? Is power washing it the way to go? Complementing with hand scrubbing on tougher dirt or sensitive areas? I was a little hesitant to power wash it first (especially considering the repaint), but that’s a lot of surface to hand scrub the whole thing again.

Is RV washing detergent the way to go? Any suggestion for products? Please share your technique.

What about for preserving it? I read about applying Nu Finish Car Polish. Is it worth it? I wouldn’t wax it for the shiny looks, but it could be worth if it extends times between washes.

PS.: My pressure washer is a Generac 2800 psi / 2.5 GPM.

Thanks in advance for all tips or insights.

 

[bhonshell37]

You should look at Meguiars wash plus. And a apc for the area where the clearance lights are located.

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[ard]

Id power wash first- not too aggressive, keep your distance. Then get a 12" wide wash brush on a 6 ft telescoping pole, and virtually ANY car wash product and give it a good scrub.

 

[sammynomas]

I would power wash first also, then try a scrub brush in a bucket of water and Simple Green (about 75 percent water).

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[38Chevy454]

If you want the lazy way, a truck wash place will wash the trailer. Won't be too much money being a 24 ft, but they use a pre-soak and then power wash. For sure after it will look better than when you drove it in, but depending on how much you may still need some hand wash time at home. Then any wax protectant will help keep looking nice.

 

[Kmp259]

This is what we use on our trailer......it works great....

https://www.rvupgradestore.com/Streak-X-Black-Streak-Remover-1-Gallon-p/streakxgal.htm

 

[Bob275]

I used this on our RV Trailer, in a spray bottle.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005R6LOZM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Works great to clean the mess from the trees.

 

[headwrench]

When my son & i raced. We used a product calles RV 455....it was $25 a gal 8 years ago. No idea what it is now...however we did find a product that wormed as well..."simply awesome" in a spray bottle at dollar general. We just poured it in a bucket of water & washed it with a rv brush. Worked great. For the tough black streaks we just sprayed it on full strength & wiped it with a rag. Worked for us....give it a try. Worth a try for $1.50 or so a bottle. Hope this helps

 

[NitroShark]

Bleach white is what you want. Used it for the last 30 yrs. it works

 

[Matt M PA]

I too have an enclosed 1995 Hallmark, except mine is a 22'.

I wash and wax mine twice a year and have done so since new. I do a typical type of car wash...then with my Porter Cable buffer and an old pad ('cause the screws on the trailer will destroy it) put on some Klasse All In One. Buff it off.

The Klasse seems to last pretty well, but I've yet to find anything that really lasts all that long outside.

One tip is to clean the roof every now and then...helps keep the black streaks from happening on the sides.

It takes a few hours, but well worth it. Every few years I paint all the black trim, and above the rear door. We're due for that now.

Now...what to re-coat the roof with?

Here's mine from last Sunday.

 

[MarlynOC]

Gutter Zap with power washer. Some of stain is result of acid rain.

 

[Falcon67]

Hand wash, car wash soap, wax. Power wash liable to blow water under those wall seams. Might not be a big deal if the interior is unfinished.

24' is nothing - we've already had to wash the new one, it's 34' x 8.5 x 8' tall.

 

[roc_on_the_rocks]

Thanks for everyone's input, very appreciated.

Got to learn about some products here that I wasn't aware of.

Black Magic Bleche-Wite Tire Cleaner to wash the exterior of the trailer?

Didn't know about APC... Acrylic Paint Conditioner?

I plan on powerwashing it, being careful with the stream direction when close to the seams.

This is my fist enclosed trailer, so here's a basic question: Is it OK to stand/walk on its roof? Should I have some 2x4's (longitudinally) to distribute my body weight? (~200lb)

PSMatt M., your trailer looks better than new!

 

[simpler=better]

Simple green is amazing. Don't let it sit on aluminum for more than a day though, it will eat at it.

 

[NitroShark]

Black Magic Bleche-Wite Tire Cleaner to wash the exterior of the trailer?

Yes, Spray it on a small area. Brush it in. Quickly hose off. Use lots of water to rinse the crud off. It will remove all black streaks and haze/powder. You will thank me later.

 

[Spencer Was Here]

I use a water-powered rotating brush head for my pressure washer, which when used at the same time as the pump is injecting soap into the water, works quite well.

 

[Bob275]

Black Magic Bleche-Wite Tire Cleaner to wash the exterior of the trailer?

Yes, Spray it on a small area. Brush it in. Quickly hose off. Use lots of water to rinse the crud off. It will remove all black streaks and haze/powder. You will thank me later.

Definitely! Used it on our travel trailer all the time. No pressure washer needed!

 

[Matt M PA]

Thanks for everyone's input, very appreciated.

Got to learn about some products here that I wasn't aware of.

Black Magic Bleche-Wite Tire Cleaner to wash the exterior of the trailer?

Didn't know about APC... Acrylic Paint Conditioner?

I plan on powerwashing it, being careful with the stream direction when close to the seams.UIKeyInputDownArrow

This is my fist enclosed trailer, so here's a basic question: Is it OK to stand/walk on its roof? Should I have some 2x4's (longitudinally) to distribute my body weight? (~200lb)

PSMatt M., your trailer looks better than new!

Thank you!

APC is an All Purpose CLeaner, usually by Meguiars.

Walking on the roof....you really need to find the ribs underneath and stay on those. The first time I sealed the roof of mine, I parked it close to our porch and put a board across like walking the plank.

 

[Big Dad]

You can buy this at dollar general or family dollar

its cheap and it works great

 

[JRC3]

This stuff is awesome on aluminum gutters, wood or vinyl eaves, and vinyl siding. I see no reason it wouldn't work on a trailer too. Don't buy the one with the built in garden hose sprayer, get this and mix it in a garden sprayer. This $7 jug makes 5 gallons of cleaner.

 

[roc_on_the_rocks]

First, thanks everyone for the great tips.

I washed it in Sep/17 and it all went very well. I skipped the power wash and hand scrubbed the whole thing. I used these products depending on what I was dealing with:

Turtle Wax 50597 Max Power Car Wash
Black Magic Bleche-Wite Tire Cleaner
Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner

My arms we shot afterwards, but the result was great. Thanks again.

 

[Jeff May]

I've used the LA Awesome from Dollar General.
I have a red enclosed trailer. The danged galvanized roofing used on it will leave black streaks down the sides.
I tried several different cleaners, LA Awesome so far has been the best.
The first time I used it straight....
Now I cut it about 50% with water. I use a regular car wash brush on an extension and only do 2 to 3' wide sections at a time then rinse it down and move to the next.
This year I want to coat the roof with a white roof coating in hopes of stopping the streaking and just to make sure it doesn't leak, it's a 2005 model.

 

[machz]

Just FYI for the future pick up slimy grimy powder and mix it in a bug sprayer then spray on wait a min and pressure wash off. My boat sits in a slip all summer and come fall when I pull it out of the water the bottom is solid brown. Afer a application of slimey it's as white as the day I bought it.

I also use it on my siding, roof and several other places around the house and have never found a better product for mold, mildew or grime It's about $35 (I get it locally for $25) for three gallons.

https://slimygrimy.com/

 

[ob355]

i have used SoftScrub and a wet sponge for years, works great and does not damage the finish on the trailer. you can get it at any grocery store so its not hard to find.

 

[sberry]

I hot wash first, then if I need to apply some industrial purple diluted or some power wash soar, car wash stuff with a brush and rinse off again. Helper,,, parked it a little close. Sometimes I pull up along loading dock where I can be more level with it.

 

[ct03911]

I too have an enclosed 1995 Hallmark, except mine is a 22'.

I wash and wax mine twice a year and have done so since new. I do a typical type of car wash...then with my Porter Cable buffer and an old pad ('cause the screws on the trailer will destroy it) put on some Klasse All In One. Buff it off.

The Klasse seems to last pretty well, but I've yet to find anything that really lasts all that long outside.

One tip is to clean the roof every now and then...helps keep the black streaks from happening on the sides.

It takes a few hours, but well worth it. Every few years I paint all the black trim, and above the rear door. We're due for that now.

Now...what to re-coat the roof with?

Here's mine from last Sunday.

I do basically what Matt does.



My go to product is P21S Total Auto Wash. PH balanced, it is still a very good aluminum cleaner/brightner and all purpose safe cleaner. No acids etc so it is metal safe.

I spray the roof in the shade or low sun and on a 9' ladder and long handled brush clean the roof well. Don't walk up there. Hose it off.

I spray the side of the trailer a few panels at a time with the black steak remover you find in boat centers or rv places in the obvious streaky spots, hit the rest with a fine mist of Total Auto Wash and then with a long soft bristled brush in a bucket of regular car soap, go at it panel by panel.

When done I again do what Matt does, Polish and protect with Klasse All in One applied and buffed by a random orbital and wiped off with a microfiber.

 

[roc_on_the_rocks]

Thanks for the extra tips guys, it will help me on my next time washing it (as well readers here).

I'll look at these products with next time comes:
- Slimy Grimy Granular Formula
- P21S Total Auto Wash
- LA's Totally Awesome

I unfortunately don't have hot water in the garage, or a hot water power washer.

 

[Throbbin Rods]

When I worked on semi's we used to steam clean the refrigerated trailers after a few trips. Did the job.

 

[Shadowdog500]

Reliable 1 spray cleaner makes a white trailer white again with no elbow grease needed.

Chris