Polishing the roof

[Dub Dog]

I am looking to give my new motorhome a really good polishing before the real bad weather is upon us. The job isn't worth doing IMO if I don't do the roof.
Now my caravan roof was a challenge but I did it but I'm still wondering about how I'm going to go about doing my motorhome roof.
Do any of you brilliant peeps out there have any tips to do this job safely and properly.

 

[K9Brian]

same way I do the caravan

 

[Mikey RV]

I just get the ladder out and get up there and do it.

 

[GJH]

I use a set of large stepladders. See here.

 

[FJmike]

For those of you that fear this job which isn't easy by any means, after cleaning thoroughly apply an aquawax. This is usually applied using a garden sprayer then rinsed. Several products are available such as Demonshine or Autoglym. Alternatively you could use Fenwicks Overwinter, any of these will protect your van over the winter months and is a lot easier than applying a coat of wax.

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[icantremember]

everal products are available such as Demonshine or Autoglym.

Would you say Fenwicks Bobby Dazzler would be any use?

 

[sallylillian]

I used Colinite last winter and the roof is still perfect so I wont be needing to do it this year.

 

[jongood]

I just get onto it and polish, takes a couple of hours.

You just need to check your roof construction.

Jon

 

[cookie]

as far as i am aware wax and polish are different things, i always use wax , a friend who valets vehicles for a living told me why

 

[sallylillian]

as far as i am aware wax and polish are different things, i always use wax , a friend who valets vehicles for a living told me why

And @Charlie on here has repeated vigorously, however I think for many Polishing is like Hoovering, whether done with a wax or a Dyson?

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[Chaumo]

Do any of you brilliant peeps out there have any tips to do this job safely and properly. [/QUOTE]

The roof of my motorhome is soms sort of acrylic that i cannot see would benefit from wax so just clean it thoroughly. I have found telescopic ladders to be the safest, lightest and easiest to store way of dealing with the roof. I tape half a rubber kneeler to each side of the ladder where it rests against the edge.

 

[Dub Dog]

Thanks so much for all your suggestions. I was really getting at can I get on the roof to polish it or not. Would it take my weight for me to get on to.

 

[Lenny HB]

If it is a bonded construction should be OK to walk on, handbook normally gives the weight the roof can support normally around 75kg.

 

[Dub Dog]

If it is a bonded construction should be OK to walk on, handbook normally gives the weight the roof can support normally around 75kg.

75kg. That's that out the widow then

 

[FJmike]

Would you say Fenwicks Bobby Dazzler would be any use?

Despite what Fenwicks claim Bobby Dazzler is just an aquawax so yes it is suitable

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[Khizzie]

Just get out there have a good look then ring a professional.. Lol

 

[xsparks]

Don't forget the risk assessment and method statement.

 

[Ex-caravantugger]

Used to use Bobby Dazzler after washing cars and van. Then tried Maguiar's wax. Brilliant !!!!! Use it only on the roof !

 

[Dub Dog]

I take it wax is better than polish. Does that mean it last longer?

 

[Ex-caravantugger]

Hi Dub Dog. I can only comment on the results I've had. I have a shelf full of polishes AutoGlym, Mer and some recommended by aircraft manufacturers. I used Maguiars wax and find that the shine is fabulous and has lasted. The muck is washed away by the rain. The car I've used it on, a Mazda MX5 is almost 13 years old and looks like it has just come out of the showroom.
Good luck tomorrow. Regards, Mike

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[FJmike]

For those like Dub Dog who haven't read the Detailing section of MHF. Wax protects , polish makes your van shine, but does NOT protect.

 

[Dub Dog]

Hi Dub Dog. I can only comment on the results I've had. I have a shelf full of polishes AutoGlym, Mer and some recommended by aircraft manufacturers. I used Maguiars wax and find that the shine is fabulous and has lasted. The muck is washed away by the rain. The car I've used it on, a Mazda MX5 is almost 13 years old and looks like it has just come out of the showroom.
Good luck tomorrow. Regards, Mike

Sounds like the right gear to me. Where do you buy Maguiars from if you don't mind me asking.

 

[Dub Dog]

For those like Dub Dog who haven't read the Detailing section of MHF. Wax protects , polish makes your van shine, but does NOT protect.

If that's true how come I've used autoglym resin polish for years and the water beads up and runs off like a good un.

 

[Ex-caravantugger]

Sounds like the right gear to me. Where do you buy Maguiars from if you don't mind me asking.

Hi again. I believe I bought mine at Halfords. It is expensive but I watched a few Youtubes first and decided to try it.
"Maguiar's proprietary Hydrophobic Polymer Technology increases surface tension so water beads and rolls right off. Safe on all gloss paints and clear coats.
NOT for use on flat,matt or satin finishes."

 

[Ex-caravantugger]

Just checked. It is Halfords. £29.99, 473ml and called Ultimate Liquid Wax. Comes with a pad applicator and towel to polish.

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[Charlie123]

If that's true how come I've used autoglym resin polish for years and the water beads up and runs off like a good un.

Autoglym SRP is an ultra light cut polish. It will improve the surface slightly and in doing so will make the surface slicker. This is why water runs off better than before using it.

But it offers Zero wax qualities so Zero protection to the surfaces it's used on.

Wax is to seal and protect. It has Zero polishing ability.

Polish is to improve the surfaces. They can be transformed from rough to touch to super slick but will require a wax after use to protect said surface.

There are guides in the Detailing section which will inform. Have a read and ask questions if you like .

 

[Charlie123]

Just checked. It is Halfords. £29.99, 473ml and called Ultimate Liquid Wax. Comes with a pad applicator and towel to polish.

Colinite 476S is ten times better. It's a high quality professional wax far better than the consumer rubbish from Halfords. There are topics and guides in the Detailing section. Oh and it's much cheaper as well .

 

[Ex-caravantugger]

Colinite 476S is ten times better. It's a high quality professional wax far better than the consumer rubbish from Halfords. There are topics and guides in the Detailing section. Oh and it's much cheaper as well .

Thanks, Charlie. I'll give it a try. If it's ten times better, I'd better put sunglasses on. Maguiar's is good.
Regards, Mike

 

[Charlie123]

Thanks, Charlie. I'll give it a try. If it's ten times better, I'd better put sunglasses on. Maguiar's is good.
Regards, Mike

The Thing is we surely must use a durable long lasting wax so we need to do the job infrequently.

Waxing a Motorhome takes a long time and is arduous. Climbing on roofs risky. So we should use a long lasting high quality wax. Colinite 476S is just that wax. The fact it's 18 quid a tin that will do ten motorhomes is a bonus.

In the Detailing section there is a guide on the wax and very importantly how to use it to very best effect. Read the guide it really will save you hours of time and help in getting the job done easily....

 

[Dub Dog]

The Thing is we surely must use a durable long lasting wax so we need to do the job infrequently.

Waxing a Motorhome takes a long time and is arduous. Climbing on roofs risky. So we should use a long lasting high quality wax. Colinite 476S is just that wax. The fact it's 18 quid a tin that will do ten motorhomes is a bonus.

In the Detailing section there is a guide on the wax and very importantly how to use it to very best effect. Read the guide it really will save you hours of time and help in getting the job done easily....

Hi Charlie, wish I'd read your answers before I went to Halfords and spent £30 on maguirs. But hey it sounds like good stuff still. Very informative of the difference between polish and wax. Thanks.
Just need my motorhome back to wax it now. Can't wait.

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