I am going to dewinterize our TT tomorrow (finally!) and I am wondering if I should wash the roof, too. Our TT is about 1.5 years old and it's never been washed.
I am quite diligent about checking seals up on the roof (and cleaning/re-sealing those), but if it's just dirty, is it really necessary to 'wash' everything? I mean, some people get up there with Spic N Span and Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, and scrub away and I wonder why (since no one actually SEES it, right?). I would think the more 'contact' the roof has with cleaning agents and scrubbing, the more detrimental it would be to the roof. So I was thinking of rinsing it off and leaving it at that. Any advice here? If I should wash it, what is the most gentle cleaning agent I could use (there seems to be a lot of disagreement over what should be used to clean rubber roofs!).
Also, we have a lot of those black streaks on the sides of the TT. What is the best thing to remove those? I've heard that Mr. Clean Magic Eraser works well on those, as well, but that could be very time consuming - and I don't have a lot of time! Can dish soap be used for a decent wash - or is something else more gentle or effective?
Any cleaning advice you may have would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
Paula
Larry, Paula and Two Kids (ages 5 & 3)
2006 Dodge Ram Power Wagon
2007 Jayco Jay Flight 20BH
I always check the roof before buying a RV . Some time I might even borrow a ladder from the neighbor of the person selling the RV. My feeling is if the seller did not take care of the roof the rest of the RV might not have received
the proper care. I have even not stopped if the sellers House and property
is run down and not properly cared for as I feel if the person did not take care of there property more than likely the RV was not properly taken care of.
Just my 2 cents worth
Keeping your roof clean is necessary to reduce the black streaks on your TT. I wash mine 2 times/yr. I also use gutter extensions and I have no black streaks. I use Simple Green and Bleach to clean the roof. It works great. The roof is snow white after 2 years of ownership. I usually do it at the beginning of the year and once during our long camping season. I gaet rid of any black streaks that I may get with Fulltimers Choice Black Streak remover found at Wal Mart. It works great.
04 Lariat Supercrew 4x4,5.4,3.73, Edge tuner, flowmaster duals
06 Trail Bay 31BH, nicely optioned
Equal-i-zer
Prodigy
Follow vehicle, 05 KIA Sorento EX for the golden retrievers.
I washed my roof the first year and never again. However, I keep it covered when not camping. Soapy roofs are very slippery and I'm getting too old to risk it.
Dick_B
2003 SunnyBrook 27FKS
2003 3/4 T Chevrolet Suburban
Equal-i-zer Hitch
One wife, two bikes (both Electric Schwinn's with motor assist)
You get the black streaks because your roof is dirty. When it rains it washes all that dirt down into your gutters and then on side of trailer. Should also clean gutters black dirt builds up in them as well.
The Hoops. ED and Becky
Missy our little Bichon
2004 F350 V10
2005 Jayco Legacy 38RDQS
I'd opt for the quick rinse and then grab a beer.
Ya know, it's bound to rain soon and it'll get rinsed then! Grab the beer now!
Seriously, how many of you wash the roofs on your houses? No one? Then are you caring for your house roof properly?
The ONLY reason to wash it would be if you have a black streak problem and it bothers you.
Washing the roof can actually shorten it's life. The roof is designed to slowly oxidize, with the oxidized layer shielding the rubber underneath from the sun. By washing it you remove the oxidized layer, and the sun beats down on the fresh rubber quickly oxidizing it, which is then removed by another washing etc.
Most all trailers nowadays have rain gutters. The problem with them is the spout is short and unless the TT is perfectly level the water will hit the TT sides leaving the black streaks. There are gutter exstensions you can buy, or a cheap trick is to simply clip a clothespin to the gutter spout. The water runs down the clothespin and drips away from the trailer.
Huntindog
2001 Wilderness 26H
Onan 4.0 Microquiet\26 gal. tank
72 hours of run time!
T-145s
2001 Silverado 3500 CC D/A
EQUALIZER Hitch
Juiced, K&N air filter
Banks 4" exhaust
100% BOONDOCKING
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