Airstream trailer protection

**mini1** · 09-16-2010, 07:35 PM

One of my clients just purchased a brand new airstream. He wants me to take care of it, both interior and exterior. I have never worked on this much polished aluminum. How do I buff this and what products/methods should I use? He wants to keep it looking new and the trailer lives outside near the sea coast in the hot sun, so it needs protection.

**Dan** · 09-16-2010, 07:50 PM

I think there is a thread where one of the pro`s here polished a whole plane. Maybe someone will remember who it was....

**Dan** · 09-17-2010, 08:57 AM

Found the thread:

http://www.autopia.org/forum/pro-det...erals-b25.html

Pretty sure that is bigger than an airstream.....

**mini1** · 09-17-2010, 05:33 PM

Good attempt, but it doesn`t tell me what products he used and the aircraft was like 40-50 years old with no clear coat. I`m trying to protect a 2010 model year trailer with clear coat. That is a different animal.

Originally Posted by yakky

Found the thread:

http://www.autopia.org/forum/pro-det...erals-b25.html

Pretty sure that is bigger than an airstream.....

**Dan** · 09-17-2010, 06:23 PM

Originally Posted by mini1

Good attempt, but it doesn`t tell me what products he used and the aircraft was like 40-50 years old with no clear coat. I`m trying to protect a 2010 model year trailer with clear coat. That is a different animal.

I`m sorry I didn`t know it was clearcoated. I hope you can accept my apologies. Someone had posted this:

"I have never worked on this much polished aluminum."

**mini1** · 09-18-2010, 08:10 PM

Anyone able to help?

**Tmac** · 09-19-2010, 03:42 PM

I sell Airstream trailers in the midwest for a living. Airstream recommends a product called Walbernize for the clear coat on the trailers. I have customers using Protect-All as a cleaner and wax as well as a number of OTC cleaner waxes. All seem to work well but need to be reapplied every 2 months or so. The roof is painted white and if you go up there be VERY careful where you step. Step only on the rivet lines, not in between, you will dent the roof. Also be careful around the caulking and seals and don`t use anything with solvents.

Do use a good microfiber towel as the clear coat does micromar easily.

Hope this helps. If you have any questions let me know.

**mini1** · 09-20-2010, 05:05 PM

Originally Posted by Tmac

I sell Airstream trailers in the midwest for a living. Airstream recommends a product called Walbernize for the clear coat on the trailers. I have customers using Protect-All as a cleaner and wax as well as a number of OTC cleaner waxes. All seem to work well but need to be reapplied every 2 months or so. The roof is painted white and if you go up there be VERY careful where you step. Step only on the rivet lines, not in between, you will dent the roof. Also be careful around the caulking and seals and don`t use anything with solvents.

Do use a good microfiber towel as the clear coat does micromar easily.

Hope this helps. If you have any questions let me know.

Can I use M205 with a rotary buffer at speed 2-3 with a black foam pad? The trailer is actually a 2008 model (I thought it was a 2010), so there are some surface scratches from tree branches.

**Tmac** · 09-20-2010, 07:15 PM

You can use M205 with a black pad but I would use a D/A at speed 3. As always do a test spot first. My shop guys do most of the scratch removal by hand. But they are not detailers.

Airstream started using the current clear coat in 2000 so your 2008 would have the most current finish. Post some pics when you get it done!

**Greg Nichols** · 09-21-2010, 09:11 AM

I would look into getting a detailer to apply Opti coat. It will last 3-5 years depending upon how you store the rig.

Cheers,

GREG

**mini1** · 10-06-2010, 08:49 PM

I wanted to let you all know that I wrapped up the trailer project. I used M205 at speed 2 with a black foam CCS pad. For the most part, the finish acted like a regular painted car. I topped it with a sealant. It came out really nice.

**Greg Nichols** · 11-12-2010, 03:16 PM

Originally Posted by mini1

I wanted to let you all know that I wrapped up the trailer project. I used M205 at speed 2 with a black foam CCS pad. For the most part, the finish acted like a regular painted car. I topped it with a sealant. It came out really nice.

post up your write up! Lets take a look.

Cheers,

GREG

**scrubs147** · 12-29-2010, 10:10 PM

Just last year I was at an RV show and saw this guy prepping Airstream trailers for their show. When asked, he told me that he sprayed the exterior with WD 40 and then followed it with some Windex. He simply wiped that mixture into the aluminum with a soft cloth.

**Tmac** · 12-31-2010, 11:07 AM

Originally Posted by scrubs147

Just last year I was at an RV show and saw this guy prepping Airstream trailers for their show. When asked, he told me that he sprayed the exterior with WD 40 and then followed it with some Windex. He simply wiped that mixture into the aluminum with a soft cloth.

The guy was an idiot. The whole point was to make the Airstream shiny, not clean or protect it. Used car dealers will sometimes use Pledge to make a car shiny, same idea with using WD-40. I would hate to try and wash that mess off.