Fiberglass care

[Kyrabee]

I have a Brenderup trailer so front and top are fiberglass. The last time I washed and ‘waxed’ it, it looked horrible and the stuff just kind of smeared around. It was a product made for fiberglass. Fast forward about 3 years and I’m pretty sure that stuff is all oxidized off and it is badly in need of another wash and treatment. I have tried multiple detail businesses and a few boat places and I can’t find any of them that seem to want my money . I really don’t want to do it myself (failing hip awaiting replacement) but it looks like I’ll have to. Does anyone know of a GOOD fiberglass specific treatment?

TIA, Susan

[LCDR]

Most all major car detailing product companies have a line of fiberglass products. My personal choice is Meguiars. They have a rubbing compound to remove oxidation and a fiberglass one step wax. To do it right, though, you’d need to acquire a power random orbital buffer and wool pads, plus a lot of time.

The RV world is where I have found the most information about fiberglass care. There are way more RV owners out there who detail their vehicles than than horse trailer people who do. If you have not tried already, an RV service facility may be willing to take on your horse trailer. They have the equipment and such to do big jobs and to deal with moving trailers around.

Another thing I started doing with my fiberglass trailer roof about 10 years ago is to spray it with a product called Wet & Forget every year. Prior to this I’d needed to power wash every year to remove all the black lichen growth, and now that never happens. The roof stays nice and white, and those black streaks that used to stain my trailer’s white painted aluminum sides don’t appear either.

[George_T_Mule]

Kyrabee, the component in fiberglass that is deteriorating is the epoxy resin. Once cured, stuff doesn’t stick to epoxy very well (makes things like wax iffy), and UV from the sun will oxidize the unprotected plastic resin.
Your best bet for long term will probably be to paint it, and then only if you do a good job with the prep work, or the paint won’t stick either. If you are to the point where you are seeing exposed fibers, you might want to consider putting down another layer of epoxy ahead of the paint. Even more intensive prep.
Google for articles on maintaining a fiberglass boat, and you should find more than you ever wanted to know on the subject, and a boat shop might be a better choice for getting the work done as far as that goes. They can probably prep with a sand-blaster, and spray on a second “Gel-coat” for you, and just that might serve for several years. Most trailer shops are unlikely to have (or even be aware of) this capability. Educate yourself, so you can ask appropriate questions and avoid avoid being hustled into inappropriate service work.
About the only other thing I can offer is that the longer you wait, the more trouble it will be ($$$) to set things right.

[Kyrabee]

@George_T_Mule

that the longer you wait, the more trouble it will be ($$$) to set things right.

I know. So far no fibers exposed…at least on the front. I will try the RV dealers that service. I had been concentrating on boat or car detailers. I do not have the proper equipment for the job. My ladder is too short to really reach across the roof without an extension arm of some kind and I don’t have a buffer so it is a physically difficult job by hand for this old lady and throw in the bum hip I just don’t think I have it in me. Apparently these businesses are booming because none of them have ever called or texted me back. I physically stopped at one but they only do their high end boats if they are in for service.

Thank you for the info.

[Kyrabee]

Still striking out. I have contacted at least 5 business and no one has returned my calls. Oh, one business actually answered the phone but would give no guarantee of that his choice of finish would ‘stick’ on fiberglass. So annoying and frustrating.

[usernameTaken]

This could be worthless, but maybe call Brenderup? They may be able to recommend someplace (might have to check with a few different dealers) or at least supply some information of what kind of place/what services to look for?

Good luck, and I have a feeling if they aren’t calling you back, it could be that they won’t be able to do what you need, but it also could be that it’s the height of boat / rv season and they are swamped. I’ve had similar frustrating trying to ‘get a hold of the right people’ experiences and just want to say, don’t give up!

[Kyrabee]

@usernameTaken

also could be that it’s the height of boat / rv season and they are swamped.

I’m thinking this may be the issue. Brenderup’s are no longer made. They shut down a year after I bought this one .

[usernameTaken]

Ohh right. I do recall hearing they are no longer made. Sorry, I should have checked that before suggesting contacting them. I have always liked their trailers, so it’s too bad they aren’t making them anymore.

If you are on facebook, there are a couple brenderup horse trailer groups, not sure if they would be helpful but you never know. Here’s one that popped up but I do not belong to it nor can verify anything about it other than it appears to be active. Brenderup/Böckmann/Equitrek/ Sirius/Fautras horse trailers USA

[Kyrabee]

Thank you. I will check that.

[walktrot]

Consider yourself a yacht owner.

Boats are built of fiberglass with gelcoat on the exterior. It makes it look shiny and new but ulmtiately weathers out. What you usuallly do annually is use a product specifically for cleaning and polishing gelcoat . Do Not use anything abrasive. When you get to the point where the gelcoat is shot, you need to prepare the hull itself carefully by sanding. There are paints specifically made for refinishing fiberglass. Awlgrip was the top-end produict when I had my boat. Done well you don’t notice that the hull has been refinished. If you are in an area that has a yachting maintenance service, check with them.

If you scrape off my exterior layer - gelcoat - of horseshit, dry hay, shedding hair, and fly spray, you will find a single-handed sailor. I learned to ride when I was 11 and always loved horses. But dad taught me to sail when I was 6 - he taught me about priorities. I sailed for 45 years. Laid up my ocean-cruising sailboat in November 1999 and started prepping the hull to paint. I had a shouulder than needed reconstruction in April 2000 with 6 months to recover. Volunteered at a nearby therapeutic riding center. Ended my sailing career. Why? Because sailing is dangerous - if you fall overboard in Maine’s cold ocean water you will die within minutes. Horses are safe. No matter what happpens, you land safely on the ground. If you are a kid, it turns out. Adults don’t bounce.

There is one striking similarity. Going out on trails, circling hayfields at the walk are just like cruising on a sunny day. Plenty of time to watch the beautiful scenery slide by.

[clanter]

Cotner trailers in PA currently is building fiberglass roofed horse trailers, might give them a call about care of the roof?

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[Kyrabee]

It isn’t the care…I have done it before. The last product I used specifically for fiberglass was terrible. I asked for a product because that last one did not work well at all.

I have ultimately decided I want to get someone to do it for me and I can’t find anybody that will answer the phone or even email me back. I am currently somewhat crippled and the thought of crawling up and down a ladder 10-15 times to get it done is just exhausting. So, my question has changed somewhat (as in who the heck will do it). I don’t know if they hear horse trailer and think it will be full of crap? The inside doesn’t need anything (and is very clean). I just want the outside fiberglass detailed.

I can get the front pretty comfortably but the roof is hard. I only have a 7 foot ladder. I just can’t find anybody that wants my money. That is now my dilemma. All I can do is keep trying. Once summer is in full swing, maybe the vendors won’t be as busy?

Thanks all for your replies.

[Jarpur]

This might sound off the wall, but don’t semi-tractor trailers sometimes have fiberglass components? I mention this because, back when I owned an aluminum trailer, I had it cleaned at a small business across the side street from a large truck stop. The business was set up for tractor trailers, but the entrepreneur was happy to take my money, and did a great job on my horse trailer.

Just trying to think of an atypical place that might be interested in taking your money.

Another possibility is to contact one of the independent contractors that details vehicles at dealerships. For instance, back during my boarding days, a couple of fellow boarders did this at various dealerships (they’d show up and see what work the dealer had for them, on a piecemeal basis). I used to take my F250 to be detailed at the local Honda store by their independent contractor guy (I paid him directly, and there was never a problem with the dealership). A person who does that kind of work on a free-lance basis may be interested, and capable, of working on your roof.

[Kyrabee]

I think some of my neighbors use someone who visits their homes. I may ask them. I just need to get the right stuff to apply to the fiberglass.

I am also my Mom’s caregiver so it is sometimes hard to chase people down but I need to do it.

I was keeping the trailer at my 55+ community in the trailer parking but rent is taking a big jump in July including the trailer parking so I am moving it back to the barn (free) next week. I was hoping to have it done before I moved it but it doesn’t look like that will happen.