SECTION 11 –
MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE
11-2
weight to the vehicle. This, in effect, reduces the
amount of cargo you can carry and remain within
GVWR and GAWR limits.
Corrosive materials, such as those used for ice
and snow removal and dust control, can also
accumulate on the underside of a vehicle. These
materials should be removed by flushing the
undercarriage regularly with water, especially
horizontal surfaces, cavities and other areas
where mud and other deposits may collect.
EXTERIOR AUTOMOTIVE
PAINT FINISH
–If Equipped
The body of your coach is fully or partially
finished with the highest quality automotive
paint and clearcoat. Follow these precautions to
keep the finish on your coach looking its best and
preserve maximum gloss and durability.
Parking
•
Avoid parking under trees –
When this
happens you should rinse the bird droppings
and tree sap off as soon as possible. Tree sap
is a form of sugar and will dissolve after a
couple of rinses. Bird droppings can eat into a
painted surface if left unattended and need
removed as soon as possible. Lukewarm
soapy water can help speed up the cleaning
process.
•
Avoid parking near salt spray –
When this
happens you need to rinse off the salt mineral
residue to minimize the corrosiveness of the
salt.
•
Avoid parking near factories with heavy
smoke or industrial fallout –
Industrial
fallout can eat into your coaches finish when
dew or rain mixes with it to create nitric or
sulfuric acid that gets magnified by the
intensity of the sun. As the water evaporates
the acid becomes more powerful and attacks
the painted surface.
Rinsing and washing the surface helps remove
the fallout and neutralize the acid. After the
initial 60-day cure stage, a coat of wax or
polish can help protect the surface from these
types of contaminates.
•
Do not scrape ice or snow from the painted
surface.
Brush off gently with a soft-bristled
‘snow brush’ – avoid being forceful with the
brush.
If brush scratches show after the motorhome
thaws out, it may be possible to remove them
by hand waxing with a silicone-free liquid
wax.
Driving
•
Avoid driving on gravel roads.
•
Rinse off bugs and bird droppings with water
daily.
•
Antifreeze, fuel or windshield/window
solutions spilled on the painted surface should
be rinsed off immediately with water and
allowed to air dry. Wiping dry with a towel
may create fine scratches due to the solvent
nature of these types of fluids.
•
Fuel cannot be diluted and dissipated with
water. It must be removed with a mineral spirit
type cleaner (such as
SEAFOAM Bugs-B-
Gone
or equivalent) or a silicone-free spray
wax and micro fiber cloth to remove the stain
left by fuels.
NOTE: When driving in wintry conditions the
road surface may be covered with heavy
salts or small rocks to improve road
traction. These types of road conditions
can cause undue surface damage to your
RV. Please refrain from driving in these
conditions
Washing
•
Commercial vehicle wash facilities should be
strictly avoided! They will scratch your RV!
This is because truck style wash centers
have high-pressure wands that emit
higher than necessary water pressures
and the brushes are very aggressive.
Most truck wash brushes are made from
a heavy plastic for durability and are
under heavy pressure. They are designed
