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 Expert
Posts: 4625
   
Location: Desert Land | I previously had a Trails West steel trailer and I just got a new to me Exiss aluminum trailer and it's filthy. Before I start putting my stuff or horses in it I want to give it a good washing. This is my first aluminum trailer, so I have a few questions.
How often do you wash your horse trailers? (Inside & out). I do a good scrub down inside and out at least once a year - pulling mats, scrubbing etc.
What is the trick for getting the white aluminum looking new again?
With my previous trailer, it had the wood slat floors, so I would pull the mats and then scrub the wood down and the water would drain out through the cracks of the flats - but the aluminum doesn't have anyway to drain. I was thinking of opening up a small hole, maybe the size of a quarter on the floor of the back corners. Would there be a problem or dis-advantage to doing that?
The carpet on the floor of the tack room is really dirty and smells (apparently a cat was in a travel carrier and got loose in there). I'm going vacuum it, but can you use a wet vac in there?
Thank you!
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | For the outside, acid wash. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 197
Location: Jones, OK | For the outside go to a Blue Beacon....they do it all for you can even wash your truck and rain-ex it!! Normally does not cost a ton but compared to hand washing it is great...they can acid wash it and put brightener on it (if you have colored stripes on the trailer it will make some colors bleach out and turn white so use caution with the brightener) |
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 The Bling Princess
Posts: 3411
Location: North Dakota | I use Dawn Dish Soap on the inside where the horses are. It not only takes grease away, but horse poop too!!LOL As for the goose area that I don't know. I suppose you could steam clean the floor, just make sure to suck all the moisture out.
ETA: I clean my trailer from top to bottom in the spring, a couple times throughout the summer and in the fall once things slow down. I like a clean trailer:)
Edited by WYOTurn-n-Burn 2014-04-04 1:14 PM
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  More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | Elbow grease. I don't acid wash. Too nervous about permanent damage to the painted aluminum. I bought mine new and I make sure to wash it each time I come home because the paint can stain if grime left on too long. |
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | hammer_time - 2014-04-04 12:58 PM For the outside, acid wash.
This. It will bring back the shine of the metal aluminum. I bought a used trailer and even after we washed it, it still looked dirty. Got that baby acid washed and WOW it looked brand new! We had a friend of my father-in-law's do it, who professionally cleans semi-trucks and does acid washing all the time. I don't need to get it acid washed every year, but whenever it starts looking dirty again (even though it's clean) I'll get it done again.
Of course, the acid wash does not go on the white part. |
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More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | r_beau - 2014-04-04 1:19 PM hammer_time - 2014-04-04 12:58 PM For the outside, acid wash. This. It will bring back the shine of the metal aluminum. I bought a used trailer and even after we washed it, it still looked dirty. Got that baby acid washed and WOW it looked brand new! We had a friend of my father-in-law's do it, who professionally cleans semi-trucks and does acid washing all the time. I don't need to get it acid washed every year, but whenever it starts looking dirty again (even though it's clean) I'll get it done again.
Of course, the acid wash does not go on the white part.
I think she has white painted aluminum we don't want to be telling her to use acid. |
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Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | CYA Ranch - 2014-04-04 1:23 PM r_beau - 2014-04-04 1:19 PM hammer_time - 2014-04-04 12:58 PM For the outside, acid wash. This. It will bring back the shine of the metal aluminum. I bought a used trailer and even after we washed it, it still looked dirty. Got that baby acid washed and WOW it looked brand new! We had a friend of my father-in-law's do it, who professionally cleans semi-trucks and does acid washing all the time. I don't need to get it acid washed every year, but whenever it starts looking dirty again (even though it's clean) I'll get it done again.
Of course, the acid wash does not go on the white part.
I said right on the bottom that the acid does NOT go on the white. |
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More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | r_beau - 2014-04-04 1:25 PM CYA Ranch - 2014-04-04 1:23 PM r_beau - 2014-04-04 1:19 PM hammer_time - 2014-04-04 12:58 PM For the outside, acid wash. This. It will bring back the shine of the metal aluminum. I bought a used trailer and even after we washed it, it still looked dirty. Got that baby acid washed and WOW it looked brand new! We had a friend of my father-in-law's do it, who professionally cleans semi-trucks and does acid washing all the time. I don't need to get it acid washed every year, but whenever it starts looking dirty again (even though it's clean) I'll get it done again.
Of course, the acid wash does not go on the white part.
I'll put my glasses on. LOL |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 475
Location: Alabama | I used something like this: http://rvwash.net// Bought it at the local RV place. I just hooked it to the hose & sprayed. I used a soft brush on the really soiled areas before rinsing.
My floor has small pencil sized holes in each corner for drainage. When I pull the mats & clean the inside, I park it on a hill so that everything drains out the backend (the small holes would take forever to drain). Before I replace the mats, I make sure everything is completely dry (floor & mats) and put down baking soda between the floor & mats (I buy the large bags at Sams). You have to carry in the mats & place them down or you'll drag the baking soda all to one area. The baking soda will neutralize the urine & delay pinholes. |
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 Semper Fi
Location: North Texas | I'll second Blue Beacon Truck Wash. Faster 'n Elbow Grease. But not cheaper. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 612
| You should sprinkle Baking Soda under the mats after you wash the floor. The baking soda will neutralize the ammonia from the horses. |
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Expert
Posts: 4625
Location: Desert Land | foundation horse - 2014-04-04 11:47 AM I'll second Blue Beacon Truck Wash. Faster 'n Elbow Grease. But not cheaper.
Dang...I wish there was one closer. Looks like there is one about 75 miles away. |
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Expert
Posts: 4625
Location: Desert Land | r_beau - 2014-04-04 11:25 AM CYA Ranch - 2014-04-04 1:23 PM r_beau - 2014-04-04 1:19 PM hammer_time - 2014-04-04 12:58 PM For the outside, acid wash. This. It will bring back the shine of the metal aluminum. I bought a used trailer and even after we washed it, it still looked dirty. Got that baby acid washed and WOW it looked brand new! We had a friend of my father-in-law's do it, who professionally cleans semi-trucks and does acid washing all the time. I don't need to get it acid washed every year, but whenever it starts looking dirty again (even though it's clean) I'll get it done again.
Of course, the acid wash does not go on the white part.
Yes...it's aluminum painted white. |
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More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | TheOldGrayMare - 2014-04-04 3:46 PM r_beau - 2014-04-04 11:25 AM CYA Ranch - 2014-04-04 1:23 PM r_beau - 2014-04-04 1:19 PM hammer_time - 2014-04-04 12:58 PM For the outside, acid wash. This. It will bring back the shine of the metal aluminum. I bought a used trailer and even after we washed it, it still looked dirty. Got that baby acid washed and WOW it looked brand new! We had a friend of my father-in-law's do it, who professionally cleans semi-trucks and does acid washing all the time. I don't need to get it acid washed every year, but whenever it starts looking dirty again (even though it's clean) I'll get it done again.
Of course, the acid wash does not go on the white part.
Its a couple hour drive for me to get to the closest truck wash and to get to a Blue Beacon its about a 4 hour drive plus I'm cheap so I do it myself.  |
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Regular
Posts: 90
Location: North Ga. Mountains | I have a Platinum that has already been acid washed and dulled the white part. Is there anyway to get the shine back on the white part? |
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Semper Fi
Location: North Texas | On The Road Again - 2014-04-04 4:40 PM
I have a Platinum that has already been acid washed and dulled the white part. Is there anyway to get the shine back on the white part?
Buff it out. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 371
Location: California | Ok, I really know this answer!! Streak Master. Never acid wash again. This makes your aluminum look just as good. My son had a trailer wash business and this is all he used. Not harsh, no gloves, masks...just a brush or mop and a hose. Great stuff! |
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Expert
Posts: 1695
Location: Willows, CA | We had a 4Star dealership for some time and washed a lot of trailers. We always used Dawn dish washing liquid at the lot. Most commercial truck washes us a citric brightener that will not harm paint. The result will not be as bright as acid, but your color paint will stay brighter. |
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Expert
Posts: 1477
Location: In the land of peanuts and cotton | hammer_time - 2014-04-04 12:58 PM
For the outside, acid wash.
Yes acid wash is the best! It's spray on spray off. No scrubbing neccacary. Latterly takes like 20mij to wash our entire trailer and it's a 15ft lq so it's not exactly small. Makes the white bright white and the aluminum sparkle. Always looks brand new. Never had a problem with dulled paint. We wash ours about 3 times a year. Before we start going to a lot of shows in the spring, when we start using it every weekend in the summer, and in the fall before we go to Perry Ga for NBHA world.
Edited by TessBelle 2014-04-04 8:08 PM
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Sock Snob
Posts: 3021
| I have a bottle at the shop of something that i bought at west marine. Just putmthis stuff in a bucket and used a mitt and washed the trailer and took the black marks off the white easy the plain metal not as brite as acid wash. The gallon was 30.00 will get the name and post tomorrow. That stuff did a nice job and my trailer was really nasty. Talk to you tomorrow. Also did not take much elbow grease. |
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 Go For It!
Location: Texas | I use Duragloss 861 Aluminum Cleaner and Brightener… It takes me about an hour to wash my 3H w/ 14' shortwall. The stuff works great!
http://www.duragloss.com/1-Gallon---Duragloss-HD-Aluminum-Cleaner--...
I just put it in a bucket (1 part cleaner to 5 parts water, depending on how dirty my trailer is) and use a soft auto brush with a long handle to apply. Then I rinse with the water hose.
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Veteran
Posts: 166
Location: castle rock, colorado | Steakmaster is my absolute favorite product! Inexpensive and very good! |
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 Big Gun
Posts: 2216
Location: Texas | Liquid tide with bleach for white aluminum, just don't leave in stickers too long |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 543
Location: Where the animals rule | Where do you get the Streakmaster or the Duragloss? Need to do mine also. Thx. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 543
Location: Where the animals rule | I found the websites just thought maybe I could purchase somewhere without ordering off internet.
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Expert
Posts: 4625
Location: Desert Land | Thanks for the input guys, I appreciate it. |
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Washing Your Horse Trailers - Especially aluminum