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Black Streaks
Yahoo Message Number: 50697
All the Folks

I used to get real upset when I had to scrub the black streaks off the sides of my SOB two or three times every year. I was sort of hoping that would not be a problem with the LD.

Guess I should have known better, here it is only four months since delivery and those ugly black streaks are starting to haunt me again.

What's the collective experience of the group regarding the prevention of these disfiguring and unsightly water stains?

Has anyone tried the EZE RV Gutters from CW or the Mfr. web site:

I'd sure like to prevent this scourge from happening on a regular schedule without having to expend a lot of elbow grease.

Steve S.
Lazy Bones
Steve S.
Lazy Bones & Cedar
2004 30'IB (Island Bed)
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery
Live for the day!

Re: Black Streaks
Reply #1
Yahoo Message Number: 50701
" those ugly black streaks are starting to haunt me again.

Quote
What's the collective experience of the group regarding the prevention of these disfiguring and unsightly water stains? Steve S.
Lazy Bones"
I can only give you my experience. I have not had a problem with black streaks, other than some light ones that may show up between washings, but nothing major. I have always been able to wash them off easily with soapy water and a long handled, soft brush, that I use on the whole rig. I have a '99 RB - blue - and in 5+ years have waxed sides and rear once, (Turtle Wax) and the front (leading edge) several times. It is still as shiny as the day I got it. I cover it when not in use. We have 55,000 miles on it. I still have people remark about the "custom paint job." I do wash the roof off a couple of times a year. Otherwise, that might cause some of the streaking.
Happy motoring!

Chris Hunter

Re: Black Streaks
Reply #2
Yahoo Message Number: 50705
Quote
Has anyone tried the EZE RV Gutters from CW or the Mfr. web site:

Steve S.
Lazy Bones
Steve, I installed gutters (CW) on our previous LD about 6 years before selling it with all gutter material still intact. They worked for me.

Tom.

Re: Black Streaks
Reply #3
Yahoo Message Number: 50725
Quote
I used to get real upset when I had to scrub the black streaks off the sides of my SOB two or three times every year. I was sort of hoping that would not be a problem with the LD. here it is only four months since  delivery and those ugly black
streaks are starting to haunt me again.

Quote
What's the collective experience of the group regarding the prevention of these disfiguring and unsightly water stains? Has anyone tried the EZE RV Gutters from CW or the Mfr. web site: Steve S.
Hi again Steve S.

I hate those black streaks too. I think they are going to be a fact of life unless you can park the rig under a roof. I've thought about those gutters you mentioned; but I'm finding the "streaks" below some of the windows too, (apparently the same dirt that accumulates on the roof finds its way on top of the window frames too) so I'm not sure the gutters would help much.

My plan of attack is to wash the roof as frequently as I can to minimize the dirt build up and I keep the rig polished so it cleans up easily. One other thing that I've found that helps a little; when I park the rig for extended periods, I park it so it is NOT level to encourage rain water run off and minimize the "pooling" of rain into puddles on the roof.

Steve K.
Steve K

2003 Mid-bath

Re: Black Streaks
Reply #4
Yahoo Message Number: 50728
Quote

Hi again Steve S.
" I hate those black streaks too... but I'm finding the "streaks" below some of the windows too..." " I park it so it is NOT level to

Quote
encourage rain water run off..."

Steve K.
Steve K.
 It appears that you have given much thought to this problem, as have
I. According to the Mfr.'s writeup, the EZE RV Gutters can be used
 above the windows as well as along the roof line. Think I'll try the roof first and then if necessary the windows also.

I like your idea of not leveling the rig when in storage. At least that way you can control which way the run-off will go. Saves on the area one must clean.

But like the guy with the leaky roof, good weather is coming and no need to worry then.

Steve S.
Lazy Bones
Steve S.
Lazy Bones & Cedar
2004 30'IB (Island Bed)
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery
Live for the day!

Re: Black Streaks
Reply #5
Yahoo Message Number: 50763
Quote
I used to get real upset when I had to scrub the black streaks off the sides of my SOB two or three times every year. I was sort of hoping that would not be a problem with the LD.

What's the collective experience of the group regarding the prevention of these disfiguring and unsightly water stains?
After washing my LD whatever streaks that are left are easily removed with "Meguiar's Cleaner Wax". I have used this great product on my wifes white car for years. It has great cleaning power to remove stains in the paint and also waxes.

The best wax I've ever ran across is a new product from Meguiar's called "NXT Tech Wax".
http://www.meguiars.com/store_meguiars/index.cfm It's super easy to use and gives the best shine and protection I've ever seen. I bought 4 quarts of the wax that the LD factory sells when I purchased my LD 2 years ago. The Tech Wax seems much better.
For example, the Ford hood which is not LD painted and the hardest to keep clean gets tree sap stained and covered with bugs. Since using the new product the hood is super shiny and when dirty cleans up quickly. I like it a lot, its not expensive and I can get it at WalMart.

Kurt 2003IB

Re: Black Streaks
Reply #6
Yahoo Message Number: 50767
Steve S.,
 I recommend washing the roof every time you wash the LD.  That's what we do (using cheap Blue Coral Wash and Wax) after every trip.

So far

Re: Black Streaks
Reply #7
Yahoo Message Number: 50769
Quote
Steve S.,

"I recommend washing the roof every time you wash the LD..."

Barry 01 r rb tx

Barry
I took delivery of my 30'IB just FOUR MONTHS ago. I have washed the roof twice during that time. Just this past Friday (Feb 11th) I scrubbed the black streaks away. Today it rained. I now have black streaks again.

Steve S.
Lazy Bones
Steve S.
Lazy Bones & Cedar
2004 30'IB (Island Bed)
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery
Live for the day!


Re: Black Streaks
Reply #9
Yahoo Message Number: 50796
Quote
Steve S.,

How many times have you washed the LD in 4 months?  My
recommendation was to wash the roof every time.

Quote
Barry 01 r rb tx
Barry

"...I have washed the roof TWICE during that time..."
 When one undertakes to wash an apple, one does NOT wash only half an apple.

So, counting the two wash jobs (including the roof) that I've done in the four months that I've had possession you can add in one black streak removal along the street side and rear cap. No, there are no leaves or any other detritus accumulating on the roof, only airborn dirt, the same stuff that falls on my SOB which is parked not more than ten feet behind the LD. It also gets black streaks but nowhere to the extent of the LD. I wash it only 3 to 4 time a year.

I believe that as soon as this &@*%$&$ rain quits the first thing I'm going to do is instal RV gutters.

And today it's raining again!

Steve S.
Lazy Bones
Steve S.
Lazy Bones & Cedar
2004 30'IB (Island Bed)
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery
Live for the day!

Re: Black Streaks
Reply #10
Yahoo Message Number: 50806
Steve S.,

May you have sunny skies.
 Also may you have good luck with the gutters.  I hope they solve your problem.

Barry

Re: [Life With A Lazy Daze RV] Re: Black Streaks
Reply #11
Yahoo Message Number: 50809
At 05:37 PM 2/15/2005 +0000, you wrote:

Quote
No, there are no leaves or any other detritus accumulating on the roof, only airborn dirt, the same stuff that falls on my SOB which is parked not more than ten feet behind the LD. It also gets black streaks but nowhere to the extent of the LD. I wash it only 3 to 4 time a year.
I'm wondering if it isn't something in your local air or rain or dew that causes this problem. We have never had black streaks on our LD, even though it sits in outside storage all year and we're not religious about washing it or otherwise cleaning off detritius that might get on it.

Sonsie

[Life With A Lazy Daze RV] Re: Black Streaks
Reply #12
Yahoo Message Number: 50813
Quote
"I'm wondering if it isn't something in your local air or rain or
dew..."

Quote
Sonsie
Sonsie

You may very well have a valid point there. I have given some thought to the possibility that there may be a certain amount of fallout from the local oil refineries even though they are some miles away. Considering that they lie northwest of my location and the prevailing winds are from that direction it does seem reasonable.

Citizens who live much closer than I to those refineries complain loudly whenever there is a "flare" at one of the facilities. They claim they get a heavy coating of "soot" on their vehicles when that happens. Could be I'm experiencing the same result to a lesser degree.

At any rate it looks like gutters or a cover are in my future.

Steve S.
Lazy Bones
Steve S.
Lazy Bones & Cedar
2004 30'IB (Island Bed)
Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery
Live for the day!

 
Black Streaks
Reply #13
Yahoo Message Number: 50797
Quote
After washing my LD whatever streaks that are left are easily removed with
"Meguiar's Cleaner Wax".



I've got to put in a plug for a new product we just discovered.
 We've just given our LD it's second coat of wax (4 coats on the red) with Finish First.
 We were running out of Finish First, so I ordered some more from See It Shine.  They were out of stock on Finish First, so offered to send us some Cycle Finish for the same price that we would have paid for the FF (Cycle Finish is a more expensive product).  Earl -- who does the waxing -- thinks that the Cycle Finish is a better product than the FF.
 HOWEVER, the Cycle Finish isn't what I want to tell you about.  Along with the order, they sent us a small spray bottle of a product called "Ace It!" Earl has fallen in love with this product!.  Our Honda Element is black, and Earl says when he waxes it, he can still see the swirl marks.  However, with Ace It!, there are no swirl marks.  In addition, all you have to do is spray it on and wipe it off -- no waiting for it to dry and having to go back to wipe it off.  http://www.seeitshine.com/order.htm

Linda & Earl 2004 23.5'  Red TK From Quartzsite, AZ
Linda Hylton