Exterior; Cleaning - Airstream Basecamp 2007 Owner's Manual

EXTERIOR

Cleaning

As a general rule of thumb we recommend the trailer be washed about every four
weeks and waxed in the spring and fall. In industrial areas cleaning and waxing should
be done on a more frequent schedule.
CAUTION
: ABRASIVE POLISHES OR CLEANING SOLVENTS SUCH AS
AUTOMATIC DISHWASHER OR ACID ETCH CLEANERS ARE TOO STRONG
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AND SHOULD NEVER BE USED. RINSE ALL GRIT FROM SURFACE PRIOR TO
WASHING. Use soft rags or wash mitts always moving lengthwise with the trailer.
NEVER rub hard on the Aluminum skin coating or painted areas. Even the softest
rag will damage the aluminum skin coating if excessive pressure is applied.
ALWAYS CLEAN YOUR TRAILER IN THE SHADE OR ON A CLOUDY DAY WHEN THE
SKIN IS COOL. Oil, grease, dust and dirt may be removed by washing with any mild
non-abrasive soap or detergent. Cleaning should be followed by a thorough clean
water rinse. Drying the unit with a chamois or a soft cloth may prevent spots and
streaks. WHEN WASHING OR WAXING YOUR TRAILER, ALWAYS WIPE "WITH" THE
GRAIN OF THE METAL ON THE ALUMINUM SKIN.
After cleaning and drying, a good grade of nonabrasive automotive paste or liquid
wax will increase the life of the finish, especially in coastal areas where the finish is
exposed to salt air or in polluted industrial areas. It will also protect the shell from minor
scratches and make subsequent cleaning easier.
It is important to remove sap, gum, resin, asphalt, etc. as soon as possible after they
appear by washing and waxing. Sunlight and time will bake-harden these materials
making them almost impossible to remove without heavy buffing. If asphalt remains on
the trailer after washing, use a small amount of kerosene on a rag and wipe the spots
individually, being careful not to scratch the finish.
If a substance is found on the coating that cannot be removed by normal washing pro-
cedures, Airstream recommends using DX 330 Acryli-Clean made by PPG Industries.
Follow all directions and warnings on the product container. Acryli-Clean should be
used by trained personnel only, using the proper equipment under controlled condi-
tions. Use the Acryli-Clean as sparingly as possible to remove glue, tar, and other
similar substance. Always rinse with cool water and dry after using the cleaner
To keep your trailer looking new, paint the "A' frame, LPG tanks, and rear frame as
needed.
It is recommended that the caulking and sealant used in external seams and joints
such as end shell segments and around window frames, light bezels, beltline and
rub rail molding, etc. be checked regularly. If this material has dried out and become
cracked or checked, or if a portion has fallen out, it should be replaced with fresh
material to prevent possible rain leaks. Caulking and sealing material is available from
your Airstream dealer.
Precautions should be taken to prevent excessive sealant from getting on the coated
and painted surfaces. Remove excessive sealant before it cures using DX 330 Acryli-
Clean made by PPG Industries as explained above.
CAUTION
: It may be possible for solvents other than those recommended to ex-
tract materials from sealants that could stain the coated surface or could prove
harmful to the sealants; therefore, these possible effects must be considered.
Test a small area first.
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