“Take these three items: some WD-40,
a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. [Anyone] worth his salt can fix almost
any problem with this stuff alone.”
-Clint Eastwood, “Gran Torino”
There is a lot to be said for
keeping a simple toolbox, especially when it comes to RV maintenance. Why
clutter up your garage with all sorts of necessary equipment if you do not need
it all? Like Clint Eastwood’s character in “Gran Torino,” we at RVbyLIFE
believe that restoring, an RV does not mean you have to be an expert in RV
tools. You just need the right tools: the tools that are versatile
enough to handle a wide variety of RVs and situations.
But what exactly are the
“WD-40, vise grip, and duct tape” of the RV restoration universe? We have a few
suggestions for essential materials you will want.
Tool #1: The Git-Rot ® Kit
Okay—technically this one is a kit
and not just one tool. But tackling rot usually requires more than one type of
supply. It requires exactly what this kit provides: a complete strategy for
tackling wood rot at the point where it is most necessary. Being able to inject
your treatment is essential here because it will help you treat the problem at
its source. Getting rid of rot from the inside will be essential for ensuring
that the wood lasts longer, restores to its original sheen, and remains strong.
Otherwise, you are merely treating the exterior of the wood without actually
getting to the root of rot.
To apply, make sure that the wood is
first dry—this will help ensure that the liquid saturates the wood without
dilution and works as effectively as possible. In addition, be sure to check
your RV for rotted wood, carefully inspecting it beyond an eyeball test.
Tool #2: Git-Rust®
There is nothing that quite makes an
RV look its age like rust. But many RV owners accept rust as an inevitability
rather than treating it as a challenge to be conquered. With Git-Rust, you can
chemically convert rust into a paintable surface, allowing you to restore a
surface to an original sheen with minimal labor investment. In other words, it
is really easy to use. If you really want to be thorough, you should be sure to
paint over the affected area—that is what Git-Rust is for, after all.
Make sure you have a plan in place
before applying Git-Rust; you should know what paint you will need to have on
hand and which areas you will be treating.
Tool #3: Fiberglass Rubbing Compound
Finally, what good is an RV
restoration without restoring one of the most common elements in your RV
construction—fiberglass? Removing oxidation and stains while restoring the
fiberglass finish is one of the quickest shortcuts to restoring the entire look
of your RV to “brand-new.” It helps to have a very fine fiberglass-rubbing
compound on hand to make the job easier. If you have some RV wax on hand, you
can use this compound to prep the fiberglass surfaces for a waxing that will
help maintain your RV restoration efforts, as well.
