Dear Dave,
I bought an RV new in September 2015. It has been a pretty good unit except for the gel coat finish which, after just three years, required almost twice-yearly buffing and wax. After the first year I would polish the entire rig, but it got to the point that wasn’t enough. Other than being an old and, I’m sure, cheaper finish, when are the manufacturers going to come up with a more durable product for RV exteriors?
I know some are now using a new product (the name escapes me), that appears to be an improvement, but time will tell. I have resorted to sanding and clear-coating mine, one section at a time, which saves this tired ole body the suffering of buffing and polishing over and over. Just too much territory! Thanks. —Bruce, 2016 Sprinter 319MKS
Dear Bruce,
Crane Composites has been the main supplier of the exterior fiberglass sheet for more than 30 years, including Filon, Kemlite, and Noble brands. They have made great improvements in the UV protection of the exterior finish called the Gel Coat, but it’s not 100% maintenance free.
Brian Falkenberg, Crane Composites RV Market & Business Manager, states both the Filon and Noble brands should be washed and waxed at least every 6 months and sooner if exposed to the elements.
Newer product with pure resins
Brianza is a newer product introduced into the RV industry. It boasts pure resins from Germany and Italy, while others use additives. In fact, James Witty, President of Brianza USA, stated in a recent RV PRO article that Brianza fiberglass requires no maintenance. I find that hard to believe.
Several RV manufacturers have gone to full body paint in an effort to reduce fading and chalking of the exterior finish. However, I have found that paint will also require a cleaning and wax treatment periodically.
Azdel products
Another component that has been advertised quite often is Azdel. Many RV manufacturers throw it around like it is the end-all to delamination and exterior degradation. Azdel is a composite sheet material that is used instead of lauan board inside the design of a sidewall. It has nothing to do with the exterior finish, as it is laminated between the exterior fiberglass panel and interior paneling.
The concept is if your rig develops a leak and moisture penetrates the sandwich design of the sidewall, it will not separate. Lauan is a wood fiber panel and will absorb moisture and flake, swell, and delaminate.
I guess these manufacturers are planning on having water leaks rather than designing a better roof to sidewall seal and making sure the unit is sealed properly?
Products to keep the shine
Unfortunately, I don’t know of anything that is 100% maintenance free. However, there are some good products to help keep the shine, including Meguiar’s #50 Marine and RV wax, which Crane Composites recommends.
Others have used 303 Protectant, which is a liquid and is not as labor intensive as waxing.
Sharpline is one of the premier manufacturers of decals. Sharpline’s tech recently told me tests show that using RejeX on the decals will extend the life by 2-3 times! You can find it on Amazon here.
You might also enjoy these posts from Dave
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- Can I use pressure washer on RV? What about decals?
- What should I use to reseal my RV’s aluminum roof?
Dave Solberg is a leading expert in the RV industry and the author of the “RV Handbook.”
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We’ve used Zep floor wax for several years. Goes on easy with a sponge mop. No buffing. Put three or four coats on in one day. A plus is that the bugs on the nose cap rinse off without much scrubbing. It looks at least as good as using a power buffer and much, much easier. Pretty cheap too. About $30 for a gallon that will do our Class C at least four times.
I have had good success using both Meguiar’s polish and wax products to maintain my boat and trailers. A also use a layer of 303 on top of the wax to provide some additional UV protection. A random orbital polisher can make some of the work go faster. I do not recommend a rotary polisher as it is too easy to burn the gelcoat.
Ceramic coatings last longer than wax and the consumer-grade products are easy to apply. You can renew them periodically using spray-on products after you wash your RV (spray, wipe to spread, and let dry). That said, you need to buff off existing oxidation before applying the coating.
I started using Rejex on the boat to prevent lake stain. It works great for that. If you miss a spot it is very obvious. I also use it on the entire RV.
Thank you for the discussion, Dave! I have resorted to washing the RV when water is available. After drying, then I go over the RV with “Wash Wax All” and microfiber towels to wax it. If washing with water is unavailable, then I use “Wash Wax All” and microfiber towels to clean and then wax the RV. Chemical Guys also are making a similar product that seems to work well. I am beginning to experiment with ceramic coat products. These, I think, would be applied after the cleaning. Have a great day and safe travels!
I’ve used a ceramic product by maquiers. Wash spray on done. In one year I’ve washed my new truck once. The dirt just seems to disappear
yes, I’m lazy but that Stuff works