Correct products for my RV?

[pnnf]

Hello everyone,

I have done a few buffing jobs but am no expert and could use some help. I have a 40' fifth wheel with a white Gel coated exterior. The front and rear caps are plastic, I believe, and I've completed them both with Meguiar's Ultimate Compound and Ultimate Polish. They turned out fantastic. I'm getting ready to tackle the big job and want it to shine like glass. I do know the finished product is only as good as the prep work so I want to do it right.

My question is the Gel-coated portion. The fifth wheel is a 2007 model so it has seen lots of weather and is out in the elements 24/7. When I bought this new-to-me fifth wheel the dealership detailed it and did a quick buff job. However, that was about 1.5 years ago and though most areas are still glossy there are spots that look dried out. The oxidation is coming back, in my opinion. Its not that the fifth wheel is very oxidized but it does need some help and correction. I do not have a DA and will only be using a variable speed buffer from Harbor Freight. These are the products that I've picked for the job:

MEGUIAR'S Mirror Glaze Ultra Pro Speed Compound M110----Using MEGUIAR'S WRWHC7 Soft Buff 7" Rotary Wool Heavy Cutting Pad
MEGUIAR'S Ultra Pro Finishing Polishing M210-----?????
MEGUIAR'S M6332 Flagship Premium Marine Wax----?????


I'm not sure what pads to use for the polish or the wax. I'm thinking to do the polish with a regular cotton pad and the wax should be done entirely by hand with microfiber towels, but I'm not sure.

I'd like to know if you all agree with my choices before I buy them and if not what would you suggest and why?

Thank you very much for any help,
Ill post before and after pics when completed~

[Old Bear]

Re: Correct products for my RV?

I start by explaining that I am not very familiar with gel coat.

Meguiars has a newer product that might be a good place to start.
Meguiar's M49 Marine/RV Heavy Duty Oxidation Remover - Marine Cleaner to Remove Oxidation, M4916, 16 oz

[Old Bear]

Re: Correct products for my RV?

Gel coat can be hard. Here is another option designed for oxidized gel coat rather than automotive paint.
Meguiar's Marine/RV Pro Grade Power Cut Compound, 32 oz.

[Old Bear]

Re: Correct products for my RV?

Since most 40 foot RV include graphics from decals or film, let us ask others what we need to do to avoid damaging those.

Here is link to a similar thread.
5th Wheel fiberglass trailer

[Nick Winn]

Re: Correct products for my RV?

Hello everyone,

I have done a few buffing jobs but am no expert and could use some help. I have a 40' fifth wheel with a white Gel coated exterior. The front and rear caps are plastic, I believe, and I've completed them both with Meguiar's Ultimate Compound and Ultimate Polish. They turned out fantastic. I'm getting ready to tackle the big job and want it to shine like glass. I do know the finished product is only as good as the prep work so I want to do it right.

My question is the Gel-coated portion. The fifth wheel is a 2007 model so it has seen lots of weather and is out in the elements 24/7. When I bought this new-to-me fifth wheel the dealership detailed it and did a quick buff job. However, that was about 1.5 years ago and though most areas are still glossy there are spots that look dried out. The oxidation is coming back, in my opinion. Its not that the fifth wheel is very oxidized but it does need some help and correction. I do not have a DA and will only be using a variable speed buffer from Harbor Freight. These are the products that I've picked for the job:

MEGUIAR'S Mirror Glaze Ultra Pro Speed Compound M110----Using MEGUIAR'S WRWHC7 Soft Buff 7" Rotary Wool Heavy Cutting Pad
MEGUIAR'S Ultra Pro Finishing Polishing M210-----?????
MEGUIAR'S M6332 Flagship Premium Marine Wax----?????


I'm not sure what pads to use for the polish or the wax. I'm thinking to do the polish with a regular cotton pad and the wax should be done entirely by hand with microfiber towels, but I'm not sure.

I'd like to know if you all agree with my choices before I buy them and if not what would you suggest and why?

Thank you very much for any help,
Ill post before and after pics when completed~

Hi pnnf,

Does your trailer have vinyl graphics you will be working around?

Also, if you are opting to go for automotive compounds & polishes, M110 & M210 are tuned very specific to automotive, and we cannot guarantee a good experience on gel coat. I would recommend our M100 Pro Speed Compound & M205 Ultra Finishing Polish. M100 Pro Speed Compound is a more "wet" compound & although I have not heard or used M110 on gel coat, would imagine M100 will be easier to work with. You would use this with your wool pad. M210 Ultra Pro Finishing Polish is tuned specifically for sensitive automotive paints. I would imagine you are going to need more "refining" ability for your finishing polish step. M205 Ultra Finishing Polish on a yellow foam pad would be more suitable.

Our top recommendation would be our M67 Marine/RV One Step Compound, followed by M63 Flagship Premium Marine Wax.

[pnnf]

Re: Correct products for my RV?

Hi pnnf,

Does your trailer have vinyl graphics you will be working around?

Also, if you are opting to go for automotive compounds & polishes, M110 & M210 are tuned very specific to automotive, and we cannot guarantee a good experience on gel coat. I would recommend our M100 Pro Speed Compound & M205 Ultra Finishing Polish. M100 Pro Speed Compound is a more "wet" compound & although I have not heard or used M110 on gel coat, would imagine M100 will be easier to work with. You would use this with your wool pad. M210 Ultra Pro Finishing Polish is tuned specifically for sensitive automotive paints. I would imagine you are going to need more "refining" ability for your finishing polish step. M205 Ultra Finishing Polish on a yellow foam pad would be more suitable.

Our top recommendation would be our M67 Marine/RV One Step Compound, followed by M63 Flagship Premium Marine Wax.

Thank you both for the reply's and help. Old Bear, thank you for the link as well. I did go and read it and it got me thinking , thank fully.

I am no stranger to the buffer but I am definitely no expert either. I guess I know enough to be dangerous . Now I'm worried about "buffer trail". I'm guessing the chances for buffer trail are very high and probably very noticeable With a wall 12' tall and 40' long. Though the wall is broken up by windows there are still very large areas in which to show off my inexperience.
I do have decals but they are in pretty bad shape. I'm not to worried about scratching them up as they are so bad. I doubt the scratches would be worse than the cracking. I plan on taping them off later and repainting them. Don't know if ill sand and feather them out or work some glazing compound in the cracks before painting but that's another post and topic
I'll take the recommendation and look for the M67 compound. What is the working time with the M67? Are there different nubers after the 67 to look for, M67XX?
I have no rpm indicator on the buffer but I do have a speed dial which has settings from 1-6. The buffer has a range of 600-3500rpm's so setting 3 would be about 1750rpm and setting 2 would be about 1166rpm. What is the recommended rpm for the M67? Will I have time to go over the area a few times if needed? Will I be able to go back if needed to rework an area? I'n not sure how much this product cuts or how aggressive it is so I'm trying to avoid damage the gelcoat by overworking, operator error is still in play . Which leads me to the wool pad. I like the reviews of the MEGUIAR'S cutting wool pad and it looks like it'll do a good job but I have no working knowledge of the pad. Will a regular white wool pad work? The white generic wool pads seem to be available everywhere and having to order the MEGUIAR'S wool pad makes me want to source what I have locally. With the recommendation for the M67 and since I will not needing a polish. I can go straight to the M63 Flagship Premium Marine Wax is it better to apply/remove it by hand or is a machine a better choice? What is the recommendation? Would I still need the yellow pad for the wax? Would any generic yellow pad be sufficient? Even if i have to buy multiples of the cheaper pads thats ok. Sourcing locally is better for me.

With such large area and chance for trails and marks. Is there a refining product I could use should I see bad marks in the finish? Will the wax do the job? What are the recommendations, if any, for left behind marks?

Thanks again for the help so far. I like the idea of completely removing one step in this process. She's a big rig and I welcome one less revolution around her~