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05-27-2016, 04:56 AM
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#1
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Full Time Camper
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Winchester, ON
Posts: 1,177
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Preventing bugs on front of trailer
As we prepare to leave for Alaska next Wednesday, we are trying to figure out what is the best way to keep bugs from sticking to the front of the fifth wheel. Online, we have found suggestions such as silicone spray, cooking oil spray (such as PAM), or WD40.
Is there a product out there which is made for this purpose and works well? Has anyone had any success in preventing bug splatters?
We are hoping that whatever works on the trailer will also work on the chrome grill at the front of our truck.
__________________
2012 Cruiser Sahara 330SS
2015 F250 Super Duty diesel
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05-27-2016, 07:11 AM
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#2
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Weekend Camper
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Ny
Posts: 15
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I recommend just a good quality wax job. Carry some automotive detailing spray and clean it up every day or so. Anything you spray on like cooking oil or wd40 that remains wet will attract dust and may be more of a problem than the bugs. Enjoy your trip!!
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05-27-2016, 07:26 AM
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#3
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Full Time Camper
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Winchester, ON
Posts: 1,177
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Thanks! I think hubby was trying to avoid the wax thing due to the ongoing work involved, but what you say makes sense. I will pass it along.
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2012 Cruiser Sahara 330SS
2015 F250 Super Duty diesel
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05-27-2016, 07:59 AM
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#4
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Full Time Camper
Join Date: May 2012
Location: N.C. Mountains
Posts: 2,411
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Yes good wax. Also to clean bugs off; keep some dryer sheets handy. Make them damp and the bugs will come off easier. Safe travels.
__________________
*2016 CAF25SE Cruiser Aire 5er. *2020 Chevrolet 2500 HD Custom
*Ted & Tricia (Mimi - Teacup Poodle/ Sailor - Maltipoo)
*I have tried to live my life so that my family would love me and my friends would respect me. The others can do whatever the Hell they please!” —John Wayne
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05-27-2016, 08:50 AM
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#5
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Full Time Camper
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Belle River , Ontario
Posts: 1,753
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Just leave it till you get home, it will always get dirty and it shows that you are really travelling. There are 2 rv coin op washes in Dawson City and one at Sourdough campground in Tok ,alaska( a must camp to stay at.) While at dawson, stay downtown as it walkng distance to all stuff,the other 2 are to far to walk.
__________________
It was a rainy few days at Algonquin Prov park...tarps kept us dry.
Wayne --Belle River (Windsor), Ontario
2013 Sunset Trail Reserve 25RB..(just sold it)
2015 White Chev Silverado 2500HD 4x4 (6.0 l gasser)
2003 Mountain Star 890SBRX Truck Camper
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05-27-2016, 09:21 AM
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#6
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Site Team
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: WI.
Posts: 9,154
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Over the years I have found several different ways to help with the bug problem Some have worked better than others.
The very best one that I have come up with is to simply leave the truck and camper in the garage. With this method the clean up is minimal. Usually just a quick once over with the hose and a casual wipe down will easily remove any of the small amount of droppings they leave behind. This is no where near as bad or strenuous as having to scrub the dried, sun burned on guts that gets splattered all over the front of things.
Second best would be to simply back the rig down the road.
Third method would be to just cover the front of both rigs with a tarp. When done driving for the day it's just a simple shake of the tarp and they will drop off.
As you can see, I'm trying to inject a little humor here.
We all know, scrubbing bugs off the front of our rigs is part of the travel business.
Happy travels, and have a safe enjoyable trip.
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05-27-2016, 09:54 AM
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#7
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Seasonal Camper
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: California
Posts: 333
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WD-40 would make a gawd awful mess, way worse than the bugs.
I'm so jealous of your trip. Post pictures please.
__________________
Dave Edmiston
2015 Crossroads Elevation Homestead toy hauler
2014 Dodge RAM 3500 4x4 Diesel Dually
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05-27-2016, 10:05 AM
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#8
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Full Time Camper
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Belle River , Ontario
Posts: 1,753
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another trick I found (after the Alaska trip) was to go to the hardware store and buy 5-6 ft of soft door screening. clamp it to the bottom air dam(the plastic part under the bumper that always finds curbs.)and clamp the top to the cover under the hood that is above the fan. Close the hood and it will stay in place to keep bugs out of the rad and the tranny cooler in the opening in the bumper.
And in saskatawan ,there are white moths that plastered the rad.
__________________
It was a rainy few days at Algonquin Prov park...tarps kept us dry.
Wayne --Belle River (Windsor), Ontario
2013 Sunset Trail Reserve 25RB..(just sold it)
2015 White Chev Silverado 2500HD 4x4 (6.0 l gasser)
2003 Mountain Star 890SBRX Truck Camper
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05-27-2016, 11:51 AM
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#9
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Full Time Camper
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: MS
Posts: 2,746
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Our truck drivers spray the fronts with food grade silicone
__________________
Frank and Janet Henn
2000 Monoco Lapalma
being pushed by a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Traveling with Rainbow the wonder dog and now with Sunshine the rescue Schnauzer.
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05-27-2016, 12:43 PM
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#10
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Seasonal Camper
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: New Mexico/ Calif
Posts: 312
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Some auto parts stores. (Pep boys). Carry rock protection in a spray can
Helps with rock pits. Kinda like a clear bra but you spray it on
Then it washes off with water. But if it rains hard its gone
__________________
2013 Jefferson
2006 Chev 3500 DRW
2009 Corvette
Tony & Joanne
Full Time
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05-27-2016, 12:45 PM
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#11
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Site Team
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: PA
Posts: 5,715
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Stay away from wax. Bugs actually stick to wax. Use a good polymer coating such as Rejex or Turtle Wax Ice. The Ice goes on very easy and can be completed in a short amount of time. (Wax is also bad for decals)
There are other brands of polymer that I'm sure would work just as well.
__________________
Mark & Susan
Lehighton, Pennsylvania
EAGLE HT FIFTH WHEEL | 30.5CKTS - '13 Ford F150 SCREW - PullRite Superslide - Roadmaster Active Suspension
Member - "Northeast Adventures RV Rally Group" & "Mason-Dixon Bunch"
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05-27-2016, 12:47 PM
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#12
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Seasonal Camper
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: New Mexico/ Calif
Posts: 312
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Or. You can use road wrap. Water proof but more work
__________________
2013 Jefferson
2006 Chev 3500 DRW
2009 Corvette
Tony & Joanne
Full Time
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05-29-2016, 04:59 AM
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#13
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Full Time Camper
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Winchester, ON
Posts: 1,177
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Thanks for all the input, everyone. We will definitely look into some of them. We leave for Alaska on Wednesday, but it will take us over a week to Dawson Creek, BC due to a couple of stops along the way. Once we get on the Alaska Highway I will post regular updates whenever we have decent internet.
__________________
2012 Cruiser Sahara 330SS
2015 F250 Super Duty diesel
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05-29-2016, 05:29 AM
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#14
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Full Time Camper
Join Date: May 2012
Location: N.C. Mountains
Posts: 2,411
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I've been to Alaska once on a cruise. Always wanted to go to Chicken Alaska. Gold mining country. Are you Prospecting any gold while your there. I'm a long time prospector. Panner, high banker, sluicing; this was one of my best weekends ever sluicing in NC. Most of the time I barely find enough to pay for the gas to get back home. LOL.
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05-29-2016, 06:48 AM
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#15
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Full Time Camper
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Winchester, ON
Posts: 1,177
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We are not sure what all we are doing up there besides taking in the scenery and fighting off mosquitoes. We just take things as they come.
__________________
2012 Cruiser Sahara 330SS
2015 F250 Super Duty diesel
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05-30-2016, 09:32 AM
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#16
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Full Time Camper
Join Date: May 2011
Location: So. Cal.
Posts: 577
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mark5w
Stay away from wax. Bugs actually stick to wax.
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Huh? Do you remember that physics 101 class dealing with the coefficient of friction?
Just not true.
__________________
Bob and Better Half
2007 F-250 PSD, SW, CC, LB, 2WD
2006 TF32SS Cross Terrain Toy Hauler (sold)
Reese 16k slider
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06-08-2016, 04:18 PM
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#17
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New Camper
Join Date: May 2016
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 4
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Rain-X. Anyone tried this? I've used it on my windshields and my motorcycle and it seems to help a bunch. It actually makes it easy. I've not used it on anything but glass or chrome, so I'm not sure what to think about the diamond plate or the painted metal siding.
The other thing to think about is to try and make the inevitable clean up a since you WILL get hammered by bugs and unless your camper is teflon.... you're going to scrub. If you can, get some hot water and coat down the areas. I used a spray bottle with some light soap (Simple Green), and hot water. Let it soak for a few. Then scrub with a rag and usually the bugs come right off.
I use Simple Green for everything. I'd put it on my breakfast eggs if I could.
__________________
It's real simple: free your mind and your trailer will follow. :)
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06-08-2016, 05:42 PM
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#18
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Full Time Camper
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Winchester, ON
Posts: 1,177
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Hubby tried the wax and we have a bug collection to show for it, we are currently in Edmonton, AB, heading to Dawson Creek tomorrow. We will look for a bug screen for the truck to protect the rads while there.
__________________
2012 Cruiser Sahara 330SS
2015 F250 Super Duty diesel
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06-08-2016, 05:53 PM
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#19
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Site Team
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: PA
Posts: 5,715
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Quote:
Originally Posted by r2millers
Huh? Do you remember that physics 101 class dealing with the coefficient of friction?
Just not true.
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If you read up on Carnuba wax you'll find out that it only last around 6-8 weeks and is affected by the heat and weather worse than any other product.
Another reason I prefer a polymer. I'm not going to protect my rv every 6-8 weeks.
__________________
Mark & Susan
Lehighton, Pennsylvania
EAGLE HT FIFTH WHEEL | 30.5CKTS - '13 Ford F150 SCREW - PullRite Superslide - Roadmaster Active Suspension
Member - "Northeast Adventures RV Rally Group" & "Mason-Dixon Bunch"
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06-09-2016, 06:57 AM
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#20
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Full Time Camper
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Belle River , Ontario
Posts: 1,753
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Lone oak..You must not have seen my post about the hardware store and basic screen for a door. get it long enough to go from the lower fascia under the bumper(plastic clamps will hold it there or gorilla tape )to the rad cover under the hood. clamps or tape or the weight of the hood holds it there....couple bucks and it is good for the trip.
when you get to liard(sp) hot springs..stay there even if it in the parking lot across the street.....well worth the bathe in the real hot spring.
__________________
It was a rainy few days at Algonquin Prov park...tarps kept us dry.
Wayne --Belle River (Windsor), Ontario
2013 Sunset Trail Reserve 25RB..(just sold it)
2015 White Chev Silverado 2500HD 4x4 (6.0 l gasser)
2003 Mountain Star 890SBRX Truck Camper
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