SECTION 10 –
MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE
10-2
undercarriage regularly with water, especially
horizontal surfaces, cavities, and other areas
where mud and other deposits may collect.
EXTERIOR FINISH
Follow these precautions to keep the exterior
surface of your motorhome looking its best and
preserve maximum gloss and durability.
Parking
•
Avoid parking under trees. Rinse bird
droppings and tree sap off as soon as possible.
Lukewarm soapy water can help speed up the
cleaning process.
•
Avoid parking near ocean salt spray.
•
Avoid parking near factories with heavy
smoke or industrial fallout.
Driving
•
Antifreeze, fuel, or window solution spilled
on plastic surfaces, decals, and appliques
should be rinsed off immediately with water.
•
Bugs and bird droppings should be rinsed off
with water or washed with lukewarm soapy
water daily.
Washing
•
Frequent washing and thorough cleaning is
recommended to prevent damage to the finish
from exposure to damaging salts, calcium
chloride, road tar, tree sap, insects, and other
foreign material.
•
Do not use strong soaps or detergents for
washing the motorhome.
•
Wash with cool water out of direct sunlight
using a mild liquid soap (any “no-tears” baby
shampoo can be used). Never wash the
vehicle in direct sunlight or while the vehicle
surface is hot.
•
Be careful when using pressure-type washers
to avoid loosening exterior decals or sealants.
NOTE: Avoid aiming water flow from a hose or
spray from high-pressure washing
equipment into any appliance intake
because damage or difficulty in
operating appliances may occur.
•
Commercial vehicle wash facilities should be
avoided. Revolving brushes, “soaking”
solutions, and high-pressure water spray may
damage sealants, decals, and appliques.
•
Pressure-sensitive appliques or decals on your
coach require very little maintenance, but
should be treated like any painted surface on
your vehicle. Wash with mild soap and water
and rinse thoroughly. See “Exterior Graphic
Care” for details.
•
After washing the coach, carefully inspect
sealant around window frames and vents and
any other joints that may have loosened or
separated. See “Sealants - Inspection and
General Information” at the beginning of this
section for details.
Waxing and Polishing
When water will not bead up and roll off the
finish of your freshly washed vehicle, a coat of
automotive wax may be applied to the finish.
Wax not only improves the appearance of the
vehicle, but protects the finish against oxidation
and corrosive substances.
We recommend using a wax that is compatible
with painted and gel-coated fiberglass finishes.
If the finish begins to look dull or discolored,
it may need to be cleaned with a polishing or
cleaning compound formulated for gel-coated
fiberglass finishes.
If the running boards begin to look dull or
discolored, they may need to be cleaned with a
polishing or cleaning compound formulated for
gel-coated fiberglass finishes.
NOTICE
Never use a strong solvent such as
lacquer thinner, or harsh abrasives on
plastics, decals, and painted surfaces.
