Detailing a horse trailer...need help!

david b

david b

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I have a potential customer interested in having her horse trailer detailed. I've never tackled something like it so not sure where to begin or what to tell her. Here's a pic...

View attachment 57026


Not sure if that's aluminum or steel above the tandem axle trailer and what about the white portion of the trailer? Guessing I need to ask more questions before proceeding but she's an hour away so hate to drive there and back to see it with my own eyes.

I have the Flex 3401 and a ton of foam pads(every color in the rainbow) but no wool/mf pads. What do you think? Any pad/product suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,
David
 
Don't have any pad recommendations, David. But I'll guarantee the metal above the wheels is aluminum. That much steel would add a ton of weight to the trailer.

As for the white, it has to be either painted aluminum or fiberglass.

Hope this helps you in some way.
 
My approach would be to do an AIO...
Go around the trailer once and then you're done.

Tom
 
Some of these trailers have a gelcoat, so you might want to look into whether that's going to change your polishing plans. I bet the other stuff is aluminum as well.

(Sent via my mobile device...)
 
Nuvite products are great for gelcoats or single stage aluminum.They don't sell that product on here ,there based out of I slip.They have a product caller nupol it's a strong cleaner and brighter for aviation .by hand or machine it's a awesome product.Check out my fb page St Lucie auto spa.I detailed a 1967 airplane with that product and the before and after are amazing.
 
Thanks for the information. I did confirm with the owner that it is aluminum and not steel. Thinking of going this route with the Flex 3401...

step #1 Wolfgang MetallWerk™ Fine Aluminum Polish for weathered aluminum trailers, diamondplate, wheels, bumpers, and trim. Airstream trailer polish, metal

step #2 Wolfgang MetallWerk™ Concours Metal Sealant, aluminum sealant, metal protectant, chrome sealant

and these pads - 6.5 inch 50/50 Wool Acrylic Polishing Pad (3 Pack)

I've got so many foam pads and products that I'm confident I can find something to make that white part shine. I'll be sure to share pics after.

David
 
This is pretty simply a cargo trailer. And not a cheap one no doubt.

Usually the biggest offender on the Trailer, especially the painted panels is dirts and discoloring of the paint.

Rains, and rain drip stains are one culprit. Comes from a lack of protection, usually many people aren't anal about upkeep.

It calls for some type of cleaner, to rid the paint of dirts, and as well maybe some clouding-hazing, and loss of gloss due to oxidation.

Yeah, good ole Meguairs Cleaner Wax at about $6 a pint will cleanse the paint without causing any damages from being too aggressive a product.

Personally, and if it can be helped-avoided, I wouldn't go at it with a aggressive Polish or Compound. All one would do is remove and thin precious paint in the process.

Problem with that Megs Cleaner Wax. Two weeks later, water won't even bead, the stuff is gone, caput, not at all a long lasting product. But it has good detergent cleansing action. And it's cheap, and easily gotten just about anywhere.

What I've done for years, and do on my own Cargo Trailer lately, is concoct a Frankenstein mixture of Megs, and another product of choice that has good durability.

And the one product I often reach for is Collinite #845 Insulator Wax.

Easy, it's a liquid, squirt a bit of this and a bit of that on a pad and go at it. The Colly #845 is now "fortified" with more cleansing action to rid the dirt, stains, oxidation, leaving behind high gloss, and a more durable protection. I've found they play pretty well together.

And removal is fairly easy with some terry Cloth Towels after.

Whatever you do, don't resort to Duragloss #501! Ask me how I know, and found out the (very) hard way. Stuff just not come off these types of finishes sadly.
 
david b said:
I have a potential customer interested in having her horse trailer detailed. I've never tackled something like it so not sure where to begin or what to tell her. Here's a pic...

I have the Flex 3401 and a ton of foam pads(every color in the rainbow) but no wool/mf pads. What do you think? Any pad/product suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,
David
Click to expand...

Hi David,

Here's your picture,

57026d1494253042-detailing-horse-trailerneed-help-horse-trailerjpg



Like others suggested, I'd do the painted or gel-coat portions with a AIO or cleaner/wax. (same thing, different words). My favorite is the 3D HD Speed. Killer product. Use it with a foam polishing pad on your 3401 and clean your pad of the.

For the aluminum, if it's not in bad shape, any brand name aluminum polish will shine it up and you can also use your FLEX 3401 with a foam polishing pad.


:)
 
Ok, I really over-thought this then. An AIO it is - HD Speed and McKee's 360 are my favorites. And an aluminum polish. Time to get to work.

Thanks all for the imput. Mike, I look forward to meeting/working with you when you visit LC Mfg for the 2-Day Road Show in Wisconsin in August.

David
 
david b said:
Ok, I really over-thought this then. An AIO it is - HD Speed and McKee's 360 are my favorites. And an aluminum polish. Time to get to work.
Click to expand...

Have fun with this project, looking forward to the "after" pictures.



david b said:
Thanks all for the imput. Mike, I look forward to meeting/working with you when you visit LC Mfg for the 2-Day Road Show in Wisconsin in August.

David
Click to expand...


Looking forward to meeting and working with you also.

I have some catching up to do since I was offline for roughly 5 days for this last 3-day class here at Autogeek but as soon as I can I'll start posting pictures of the class this last weekend and I think everyone is going to be blown away at the before and after pictures of the amazing cars we worked on.

Plus, having David and Don from Lake Country Buffing Pads attend this class primed them to know what to expect when Autogeek rolls into town.

It's going to be fun!


:)
 
Finally got around to detailing this horse trailer. Thanks to the forum members and Mike P for adding your recommendations.

Went with HD Speed on a LC Hybrid white polishing pad on the Flex 3401. Used Mother's Mag and Aluminum Polish for the aluminum trim and side panels(used a couple of the white polishing pads that come with the PC 7424 XP).

View attachment 58729

50/50 - machine polished on the right - dull, hazy, film on the left.

View attachment 58730

Machine polished on the right - dullness on the left

View attachment 58731

View attachment 58732

The owner was so thrilled with the trailer that she left her tow vehicle with me too - an F350 - to do an exterior wash/spray wax and an interior detail.

View attachment 58733

Cha-ching $$$

Thanks for looking,
David
 
Looks much better. The aluminum portion could use a little more attention imo, but as long as the customer was happy that's the main thing.
 
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