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Section 13: Exterior
During cold weather
Salt and other chemicals that are spread on winter roads in some geographical areas can have
a detrimental effect on the recreation vehicle's underbody.
If your recreation vehicle is exposed to these conditions, spray the underbody with a
high-pressure hose every time you wash the exterior of your recreation vehicle.
Take special care to remove mud or other debris that could trap and hold salt or moisture.
After washing your recreation vehicle, wipe off all water drops from the rubber parts around
the slideout and doors.
™ NOTE: When the slideout or door is frozen, opening it by force may tear off
or crack the rubber gasket that is installed around the slideout or door. Pour
warm water on the gasket to melt the ice (wipe off the water thoroughly after
opening the slideout or door). To prevent the weather stripping from freez-
ing, treat it with a silicone spray.
Waxing
Wax your recreation vehicle once or twice a year, or when painted surfaces do not shed water
well. Use a soft cloth to apply a small amount of wax to the painted surfaces. After the wax
has dried, polish the recreation vehicle with a dry, soft cloth.
Do not wax your recreation vehicle in direct sunlight. Wax it after the surfaces have cooled.
Do not apply wax to any area having a flat black finish as it can cause discoloration. If the
finish has been stained with wax, wipe off the area with a soft cloth and warm water. When
waxing the area around the various openings, do not apply any wax on the weather strip. If
it is stained with wax, the weather strip cannot maintain a weatherproof seal around the
opening.
Do not use waxes containing high-abrasive compounds. Such waxes re-
move rust and stains effectively from the paint work, but they are also
harmful to the luster of the painted surface since they scrape off the coat-
ing. Further, they are detrimental to glossy surfaces, such as the grille,
garnish, moldings, etc. Do not use gasoline or paint thinners to remove
road tar or other contamination to the painted surface.
Do not use a buffer and a buffing compound as it may damage the exterior
surface. Please contact a professional paint body shop for assistance.
Polishing your recreation vehicle
If painted surfaces have been severely damaged and have lost their original luster and color
tone, polish the surface lightly with a fine polishing compound. Avoid limiting your polish-
ing to the damaged surface only; polish a somewhat wider area, moving the polishing cloth
in one direction. After polishing, flush the compound from the surface and apply a coat of
wax to regain a beautiful luster.
Damaged paint
To prevent corrosion, touch up small cracks and scratches in the paint coat as soon as pos-
sible with touch-up film or paint. Carefully check the body areas facing the road and the
tires for damage to the paint coat caused by flying stones, etc.
Cleaning plastic parts
Use a sponge or chamois to clean plastic parts. Use warm water and a soft cloth or chamois
to remove any white residue from dark colored plastic surfaces. Do not use a scrubbing
brush, other hard tools, or wax containing abrasives as they may damage the plastic surface.
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