cleaning a trailer

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spanishmak

Member
can anyone tell me what i can use to clean up an aluminum trailer(you know that oxidation type stuff that builds up on it)I have tried pressure washing it but that didnt work.ANY IDEAS??
 
spanishmak said:
can anyone tell me what i can use to clean up an aluminum trailer(you know that oxidation type stuff that builds up on it)I have tried pressure washing it but that didnt work.ANY IDEAS??
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Try WD-40 and a wire brush...let the WD-40 sit for about 5 mins or so before you scrub...
 
Like reel said!
I know it does sounds strange.
After you get the trailer back to the shape you want, you need to then do some preventive maintenance.
The outer protective coating has been lost, allowing oxidation. My favorite preventive covering for aluminum is spray silicone.
 
Well, a wirebrush and WD will work for sure, but that's a lot of elbow greese. Buy some Naval Jelly. The one for aluminum, not metal, spread it on with a paint brush, let it sit a while and then just hose it off. Viola...all done... (I like the chemical way because it gets into and cleans the pores of the aluminum.) Then either spray it with silicone or clear coat it with polyurethane. :beer:
 
I was going to say navel jelly also, stuff is great!! can get at most hardware stores walfart use to carry it also
 
Destroyer said:
Well, a wirebrush and WD will work for sure, but that's a lot of elbow greese. Buy some Naval Jelly. The one for aluminum, not metal, spread it on with a paint brush, let it sit a while and then just hose it off. Viola...all done... (I like the chemical way because it gets into and cleans the pores of the aluminum.) Then either spray it with silicone or clear coat it with polyurethane. :beer:
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Didn't know they made NJ for aluminum...like the way that sounds...I was thinking of the polyurethane finish, too...will that hold up?
 
i have an al trailer that is 12 year old and i have never done anything to it, i just refer to the coating as "patina". thats what the antique people do, makes it worth more.
 
Go to a powerwash supply store and buy a product called "alumna-Brite". It will clean the aluminum without etching it. Made for cleaning alumium siding you can use a pump spayer to apply let the solution soak and powerwash off.

Brian
 
reelapeelin said:
Didn't know they made NJ for aluminum...like the way that sounds...I was thinking of the polyurethane finish, too...will that hold up?
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Reel, I have a friend that did his alum trailer that way about 6 years ago and the poly is still looking good. But there does seem to be a slight yellowing to it after all these years... (The poly, not the alum itself.)

NJ was originally made for the US Navy, and was made to remove rust from steel. Then several years after the original they came out with NJ for aluminum. One bottle is a pink label, the other is a blue label. I forget which is which.
 
Destroyer said:
Reel, I have a friend that did his alum trailer that way about 6 years ago and the poly is still looking good. But there does seem to be a slight yellowing to it after all these years... (The poly, not the alum itself.)

NJ was originally made for the US Navy, and was made to remove rust from steel. Then several years after the original they came out with NJ for aluminum. One bottle is a pink label, the other is a blue label. I forget which is which.
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Good to know...I'm pretty sure the steel version is pink...
 
I just pick the lint out of mine with my fingers but I can understand you old guys needing the jelly to make sure you get it all out. :booty::clap::sun::beer:
 
As a follow up to my original post:

Duro Navel Jelly is in a Pink Label plastic jar. 8 oz.
Duro Navel Jelly for Aluminum was in a blue label plastic jar, but it seems it is no longer made...(At least I could not find it online).. however, Loctite makes a similar product called:

Loctite Navel Jelly for Aluminum

Price varies from $2.85 to $4.95 for an 8 oz bottle, depending on the store.

Additionally, after doing some research, I find that many people have had very good results using Simple Green to clean aluminum. Stuff seems to work really well...

WARNING!!! The US Air Force has banned the use of Simple Green for cleaning airplanes. Seems that if it's not removed completely (under rivet heads, screws, etc) it will cause excessive corrosion and is believed to have caused a Chinook Helicopter crash.

Oven cleaner works really well also. Do not use oven cleaner on aluminum that gets hot however (like an engine manifold), since the lye residue in the pores will cause the aluminum to turn dark grey.
 
Aluma- Brite that I use is an acid, it foams on bare aluminum. Same stuff removes the rusty looking hull stains but I imagine it is tough on gelcoat.
Two years ago I got tired of looking at corrosion on my trailer. Used 3M Heavy Duty Rubbing Compound and then gave it a coat of wax. Got darn tired after the first couple hours. Turned into a two week project. Never did get to those pesky cross members but the outside and fenders look 100% better.
 
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