Washing a camper shell too quickly...

Hello guys. I am facing a conundrum. Just had my Leer installed on my Taco about a week and a half ago. They advised me not to heavily wash or wax the cap for up to 90 days. I live in the mountains of NC where we have a fair amount of salt on the roads so that is my dilemma.

I have an unlimited pass at an excellent car wash here that stays open (enclosed and heated) year round despite below freezing temperatures. I usually run this truck through twice a week, with undercarriage in the winter and hand wash in the warmer months.

What do you guys think? The truck is a 2017 and I just bought it last month so I never got the chance to undercoat it for the winter but will next year. Should I wait longer with the salt under the truck or wash it early and take my chances with the cap?

I searched this question and had no results...

Thanks!

 

You want to go against the wishes of the manufacturer of a $3K component? Your call. I live it the salt encrusted world of winter too. When it gets above freezing I will just take it to the car wash and spray the salt off. I don't use anything but the wand and not even the soap. I usually do this every two weeks or so. If you use this method you can avoid spraying the camper shell and still get the majority of the salt off. Salt is not going to hurt fiberglass and the water it gets on it will be no more than rain.
But, your call.

 

if it were me I'd contact Leer with the serial number, asked what day it was built or somewhere around there. Then ask their recommendation about your washing and waxing concerns.

 

Just use a hose for 3 months and hand wash it.

 

Good feedback guys. I will contact Leer with the serial number as well. My phobia with this truck is frame and undercarriage rust. Keeping the $40,000 truck healthy to me is much more important than the finish of an $1800 cap. But you're right, three months in one winter season should be negligible with hand washing to the frame. As of today everything underneath is pristine...

 

I would just wash yourself for the 90 days leer recommends. Spray off the salt from the truck body and undercarriage as much as you want, and just avoid the shell gelcoat. Also, the tag in your shell with the serial number should also list the manufacture date.

 

If it's a touch-less, you might be ok, even though some of those chemicals they use are pretty harsh. Would never recommend a auto car wash with brushes, new topper or not.

 

Nice canopy,
Wash the truck with the wand - don't go crazy spraying off the canopy. 90 days isn't that long.
Don't ever go through an automatic car wash.. (maybe that's just me)

 

I don't particularly love using the auto car wash. Before I was married, I would hand-wash and vacuum my vehicle weekly, spray wax and clean glass monthly and wax and polish, steam clean engine compartment plus shampoo carpet quarterly. Unfortunately between spending time with my family, my work commute and life has gotten in the way of my routine for these last several years. With daylight savings and temperatures in the mountains, I have accepted the use of the auto car wash particularly in the winter months.

Just the way it is.

Ya'll have made some good points. I will continue to hand-wash when the temperature allows putting emphasis on the underbody until my 90 day probation is up. Thankfully there is a company that undercoats in the area and so this won't be an issue next year. I HATE a dirty truck, particularly seeing salt caked on it!

 

All that car wash is doing is blasting that salt/water mix into every nook and cranny on your truck...salt sucks. Most car washes recycle the water (salt). Best thing to do is park outside...leave it frozen as much as possible and wash well at end of season. My2c...Grew up in Midwest and watched our vehicles disappear right before our eyes! Now Oregon is talking about using salt UGGGG!

 

I can't imagine washing with a mild soap could be any worse than the normal precipitation you'd get anyway. I could see avoiding harsh chemicals and waxing the gelcoat and paint for a while, though.

 

Manufacture date +90 is a good rule of thumb to ensure that the paint has time to cure. Top coating with a sealer wax could, in theory, trap contaminants and cause problems down the road. The day of your purchase is only used because most toppers are made to order (or close thereto).

I have a monthly pass for all of our vehicles and we all go through once a week here in Rhode Island and Maine. I’ve put 32K on my truck and the undercarriage has virtually no rust and no buildup (except for in the hard to get areas of the rear bumper). The cap is perfect.

The recommendation of let it ride out the season seems foolish. Leaving salt on a ferrous metal is recipe for disaster.

 

Never had a canopy myself, but am curious on why the 90days from Leer? Is it because its Fresh FiberGlass and needs to fully cure or something? Can someone edumacate me?

 

From http://www.leer.com/service-maint-parts

 

I guess I should've searched first... My bad... Brain is not working at all today. Thank you!

 

Good feedback. Being in RI and Maine, do you undercoat your truck with anything or just the weekly undercarriage washes?

 

The product used locally is ROC 40 and has a pretty good reputation. I've not seen it here on TW but it looks very similar to FluidFilm...

 

Light garden pump spray application.

http://www.saltawayproducts.com/ApplicationsPage.htm

"Special high-performing corrosion inhibitors in the product help protect metals from corroding if not rinsed off."

I use it.
Just by using water alone won't completely resolve the salt anyway.

 

Nope. NO need to - that stuff doesn't last long up here and is a pain to remove for reapplication. Just undercarriage washes in a soft drivethru and voila'...I had my last vehicle for 9 years and zero rust.