Cleaning; Cleaning; Exterior; Shell Body Maintenance - Airstream Nest 2019 Owner's Manual

Exterior

Exterior Cleaning

Shell Body Maintenance

Normal maintenance of your gel coated Nest is similar
to the care you would give your automobile. Overall,
automotive cleaners and waxes work fine.
NOTE
Do not use caustic or highly alkaline (high pH)
cleaners or those containing ammonia. These
type of cleaners may darken white or off-white
weathered gel coat surfaces.
NOTE
Always clean your trailer in the shade or on a
cloudy day when the exterior shell is cool.

Cleaning

We recommend general washing to avoid soil build-
up and staining. The soil on your gel coat finish is the
result of regular use and environmental pollutants
such as soot and smog. Periodic cleaning with a mild
detergent is necessary to remove normal deposits of
soil.

Waxing

From constant exposure over time to our natural
environment and undesired pollutants, the gel coat
begins to lose its gloss. To restore your finish to the
original gloss and color requires your special attention.
After washing with a mild soap or detergent give the
surface a good polishing with a self-cleaning marine
or automotive wax. Waxing in the fall and spring is
generally recommended to maintain and restore
most of the original gloss. If the surface has not been
maintained and has weathered badly, and if cleaning
and waxing does not restore the finish satisfactorily,
compounding will be required.

Compounding

Polishing compound (fine abrasive) or rubbing
compound(coarser abrasive) is recommended for use
on RVs to remove scratches, stains, or a severely
weathered surface. Polishing or rubbing compound
can be applied by hand or by mechanical means, such
as an electric or pneumatic buffer. After the scratched,
stained or weathered surface has been removed,
it should be waxed to enhance the gloss and color
while providing a seal to retard staining or new soil
accumulation.
6-2

Discoloration Removal

Your local fiberglass repair shop is best equipped and
trained to do this work. If regular washing and waxing
has been neglected, discoloration of the gel coated
fiberglass surface may occur. Discolored areas are
very shallow in depth, literally right on the surface.
The discoloration may be removed by gently wet-
sanding the affected areas only by using 600 grit,
specially treated waterproof sandpaper. It's important to
always sand in one direction, this includes the curves
too. Use water to cool and clean the sandpaper and cut
back on dust.
After you are finished sanding, dry the areas and
verify all the discoloration has been removed. If not,
repeat the process. After sanding, buff the area using
an electrical or pneumatic buffer at low speed (1750
rpm – 2250 rpm) with a generous amount of rubbing
compound on a soft wool pad. This will restore the
luster to the sanded surface. When buffing has been
completed, wash off the rubbing compound with clean
water, and dry the surface.
To restore the gloss to the affected area, use a high-
grade marine or automotive wax.

Repairs

During the life of your RV, some damage to the gel
coat surface is unavoidable. We recommend repairs be
done only by trained, experienced professionals at your
local fiberglass repair shop.

Refinishing

For a severely scratched or weathered fiberglass
RV that is no longer restorable by using the previous
methods, it may then be necessary to refinish it with
two-package or two-part aliphatic urethane enamel.
This can be done very effectively, but its recommended
refinishing should only be done by experienced
professionals.

Caulking and Sealants

It is recommended that the caulking and sealant
used in external seams and joints, such as rear-shell
segment, around window frames, light bezels, etc., be
checked once a year. If this material has dried out and
become cracked, checked or if a portion has fallen out,
it should be replaced with fresh material to prevent
possible water leaks. Caulking and sealing products
are available from your Airstream dealer.
2019 Nest