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05-07-2019, 06:47 AM
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#1
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 1,788
M.O.C. #14547
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Roof cleaning
OK, I've already gotten several dope slaps alongside my head for neglecting my 'duties'. I dislike getting up on that nicely arched roof with so many lumps and bumps (vents/air conditioners/antennas,, etc) so haven't been doing a good job housekeeping. Today is my 3rd and last partial day of scrubbing with only the LR slide left. Phew!
I've used liquid Spic and Span in the past but really don't want to strip the rest of that sidewall wax. This year I'm using a no wax car wash and the job is only mediocre unless I really get into it with a medium bristle brush.
OK, what do you use? I did clean one slide with some Camco roof cleaner but that wasn't much if any better then the car wash. Any magic elixirs to clean these rubber roofs. (I do miss the metal roofs we had on a couple past RVs. A 20 dollar bucket of Henry's aluminum roof paint, a couple hours and it was 'clean' again )
__________________
Dave W
2014 Montana High Country 343RL (Sold!)
2011 Ford 6.7 Lariat CCLB (Went to PU Heaven)
2019 F150SC XLT SE Sport,w/full tow package
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05-07-2019, 08:17 AM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
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A number of years ago the manufactures of the roof were at the National Rally and said don't wash it. In 9 years of full timing with two Montanas I never have. They said, "If you can't resist, use Dawn or something else that doesn't have a fruit smell and will attract birds and squirrels who will try and dig the fruit up:.
__________________
Dick, Joyce, Diego, Picatso and Gustav
2017 3720 RL, and 2013 HC 343RL
Pullrite Hitch, IS, Disk Brakes, 3rd AC, Winegard Traveler, Bathroom door mod, Dometic 320, couch for desk swap, replaced chairs, sun screens, added awnings, etc.
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05-07-2019, 08:21 AM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Salem
Posts: 7,550
M.O.C. #2283
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You are probably doing your roof more harm by cleaning it than leaving it not cleaned. Get your camper nice and cool and take a nap.
Lynwood
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05-07-2019, 08:36 AM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 1,788
M.O.C. #14547
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Dick & Lynwood - If only I could just leave it alone, i would. It spends all winter (15 Oct to 15 April) under the 100 foot tall oak trees in the yard on its parking pad. Even though I did a half a@#$d washdown last fall, it was dirt black. Some will say buy a cover - well after having wind, mice, general rot and misadventure (my big feet) destroy three of them (900+ bucks), that is no option for my SS (and lousy pension) either.
It doesn't need to be 100% clean, but heavy dirt deposits don't fill me will good cheer either
__________________
Dave W
2014 Montana High Country 343RL (Sold!)
2011 Ford 6.7 Lariat CCLB (Went to PU Heaven)
2019 F150SC XLT SE Sport,w/full tow package
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05-07-2019, 10:21 AM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Salem
Posts: 7,550
M.O.C. #2283
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Dave I live in the woods to. Big oak trees, what a mess. The oak blooms roll off our roof as big as footballs. Then the bear comes to visit about every night. If something can eat it you don’t leave it outside, because the bear will.
Lynwood
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05-07-2019, 11:05 AM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: North Ridgeville
Posts: 20,229
M.O.C. #2839
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What DQ Dick said we were at the same seminar
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05-07-2019, 11:47 AM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 1,788
M.O.C. #14547
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I just did the LR slide. You probably could have planted potatoes and carrots there. There is hope though as to never doing the slides again. I have a set of 4 toppers to finish installing this week - well three. Trekwood's seal vendor didn't mind spending my money but so far no seals nor any shipping date for supposedly stock material.
Lynwood - oak trees just ensure that you keep busy at least 3 seasons a year - spring bloom balls, dropped twigs and branches all summer then a mountain of acorns in the fall which keep the local deer happy(we had 14 regulars this past winter)
Can you buy Dawn that doesn't smell like apples or citrus? Gotta look next trip to the store.
__________________
Dave W
2014 Montana High Country 343RL (Sold!)
2011 Ford 6.7 Lariat CCLB (Went to PU Heaven)
2019 F150SC XLT SE Sport,w/full tow package
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05-07-2019, 12:11 PM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2017
Location: new caney
Posts: 1,050
M.O.C. #19873
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The less I walk on the roof the better. My rv stays inside the barn except when traveling but it does get dirty. I just use dawn and water and it works well. If it gets stained then it won't hurt it and the scrubbing to get stains off will probably do more harm than good. Sometimes less is more.
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05-07-2019, 12:21 PM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Bridgewater
Posts: 1,196
M.O.C. #13166
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If you decide to go ahead and clean it, I find blue dawn works best for me.
__________________
2010 Montana 3455SA, Mor/Ryde pin, wet bolts, TST 507, Progressive HW50C, GY G614
2019 Silverado D/A 3500HD LTZ DRW CC
B&W Companion
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05-07-2019, 12:54 PM
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#10
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Salem
Posts: 7,550
M.O.C. #2283
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[QUOTE=Dave W;1142460
Lynwood - oak trees just ensure that you keep busy at least 3 seasons a year - spring bloom balls, dropped twigs and branches all summer then a mountain of acorns in the fall which keep the local deer happy(we had 14 regulars this past winter.
And doesn’t include the 800 cubic feet of mulched leaves.
Lynwood
Edit
Living in the woods isn’t all bad. I had a turkey gobbler strutting and gobbling less than a hundred feet from my home 30 minutes ago.
I’ll take it.
Lynwood
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05-07-2019, 12:55 PM
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#11
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Sun City
Posts: 408
M.O.C. #23256
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Hmm, so I guess it like having antique furniture. Call it "patina" and leave it alone..
__________________
Dave in AZ
2008 Montana 3400RL
2008 Dodge Ram 3500 Diesel Dually
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05-07-2019, 03:11 PM
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#12
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Site Team
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Oro Valley
Posts: 3,930
M.O.C. #20477
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I just hose it off a couple of times a year, if I am lucky enough to get it rained on then I don't even hose it off.
__________________
Zack and Donna plus Millie and Ranger
2018 3160RL
"Life is too short to stay indoors, enjoy the ride!"
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05-07-2019, 03:28 PM
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#13
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Posts: 2,707
M.O.C. #7992
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Dave W, I'm like you and can't leave it alone although not as diligent as I one time was. I use a pretty heavy concentrate of Blue Dawn, about 8 ounces in 4 gallons of water. Use a fairly soft car wash long handled brush to apply the cleaner. Let set for a couple of minutes and rinse it off. Takes about 45 minutes to do the entire roof. Doesn't get rid of all the stains but removes most the dirt. About 3 times a year keeps it fairly clean. I did use one of the roof cleaning liquids one time. Got the roof really white but left a hell of a residue on the sides of the RV that required some pretty heavy scrubbing to remove. Won't make that mistake again.
__________________
2006 3000RK
2009 Ram 2500
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05-07-2019, 05:20 PM
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#14
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 1,788
M.O.C. #14547
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Looks like the next time I will use Dawn and a long handled brush. Dawn does about everything else around here that needs to be cleaned. And no, the 5er roof doesn't need to sparkle, just needs to not look like that 'tater patch mentioned above .
__________________
Dave W
2014 Montana High Country 343RL (Sold!)
2011 Ford 6.7 Lariat CCLB (Went to PU Heaven)
2019 F150SC XLT SE Sport,w/full tow package
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05-07-2019, 08:05 PM
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#15
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Islip Terrace
Posts: 405
M.O.C. #22165
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I cant leave it alone & dont, I have been using a mixture of laundry detergent & a little bleach. First I hose it off & the camper, presoak with a little bleach any bad spots & then scrub away. Let it dry & wipe down with 303, at least 3 times a season. Never wore out a roof or had a roof leak or issue ever & the roofs always looked good.After the roof I wash & wax the rest, I love walking up to it & smell a hint of clorox & carnauba.
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05-07-2019, 08:38 PM
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#16
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Lake Havasu City AZ.
Posts: 1,811
M.O.C. #10552
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Gees guys if the manufacture says leave the roof alone then leave it alone.
Someday one of us will be up there trying to get it sparkling white so the birds can poop on it and fall off.
Then some goody for all lawyer will be suing all the roof material manufactures and all the RV manufactures.
There by increasing the price of the RV, and all the components in the roofs.
Just saying is all.
__________________
Wayne and Ann Moore
2015 Ford F-350 King Ranch
Firestone air bags, bed saver.
Add 40 GAL tank in bed.
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05-11-2019, 07:01 PM
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#17
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: westminster md
Posts: 2,318
M.O.C. #17894
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FYI, Dawn is not recommended to be used to wash your car/RV/boat etc. It will remove any wax that is there. Once the dawn washes down over the sides of your RV, the wax is GONE. Now you will have to re wax the entire camper. Use something milder or use dawn of whatever, on your hands and knees, being careful not to let it run down the sides.
__________________
2018 Chevy 3500 LTZ Dually Diesel 4x4 CCLB
2011 Montana 3455 SA. 6 point level up. Disc brakes. Curt Q24 Hitch. 5 step glow steps
Progressive EMS. Valterra tank valves. Sailun G637 tires. ARP fridge control. All led lighting. Mor Ryde IS
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05-12-2019, 02:00 PM
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#18
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Manahawkin
Posts: 274
M.O.C. #21100
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DQDick
A number of years ago the manufactures of the roof were at the National Rally and said don't wash it. In 9 years of full timing with two Montanas I never have. They said, "If you can't resist, use Dawn or something else that doesn't have a fruit smell and will attract birds and squirrels who will try and dig the fruit up:.
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I have always used Dawn 1-2 times a year on my roof no issues and I usually reseal or fix any sealant when I am up there. Really all it does is keep the garbage on the roof from coming down the sides and making black streaks but I like to keep the whole rig clean since it is easier to detect any issues.
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05-12-2019, 03:54 PM
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#19
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: somerville
Posts: 135
M.O.C. #12636
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Do nothing
Cleaned my 2012 initially with dawn, then the last few years with Murphy’s Oil Soap.
Had to have roof replaced last year due to limb tearing a hole in roof (insurance covered). Repair company told me that my original roof was brittle, probably due to cleaning saying don’t clean. So now the only reason I go up is to sweep and inspect sealant.
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05-12-2019, 08:30 PM
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#20
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Dundas
Posts: 406
M.O.C. #10690
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Does anyone use a 1600 or so psi pressure washer? It's at the lower end of the pressure range and no soap required so no wax loss from the sides of the rig. Just keep a reasonable distance from the surface with a spread pattern nozzle. Use a sweeping motion at about 30 to 45 degrees.
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