Pop-top gel coat maintenance

[cgtmiles]

Tempted to get the roof painted or wrapped silver to match the van?
I've cut mine back and polished again with carnauba wax but realistically at some point the gel coat will go threadbare and chopped mat strands will start to show.
Our camper is chestnut brown but I did respray the tailgate spoiler a dark solid brown Vauxhall colour after the first gloss black paint crazed, might arm myself with multiple aerosol cans of that with plastic primer underneath again as the dark brown is looking good still a year later ie. no crazing and there's not a lot of the roof not covered by solar panels.

I think getting it wrapped is the long term solution. Some day I’ll need to replace the solar panel and so probably do it then I guess. I’m hoping that not going to be for a few years yet

 

[True Romance]

Before



After

 

[Bav]

Last of the big spenders - just bought a 500ml tin of Polytrol colour restorer.

I WILL get my rear bumper protector back to black!

 

[Tony Abbott]

Last of the big spenders - just bought a 500ml tin of Polytrol colour restorer.

I WILL get my rear bumper protector back to black!

@Bav , I heard this product could be used on a pop top to get the shine back, thoughts?

 

[Bav]

@Bav , I heard this product could be used on a pop top to get the shine back, thoughts?

Not tried it yet mate, but I regularly watch the YT channel "Chop's Garage" - a west country car dealer specialising in the sale of sub £5k cars - he isn't sponsored by them, but he swears by the stuff for restoring the colour and shine of any black trim and he even uses the it on paintwork. By the results he gets, I'd say it'd work well on a pop-top.

 

[MrD]

Not tried it yet mate, but I regularly watch the YT channel "Chop's Garage" - a west country car dealer specialising in the sale of sub £5k cars - he isn't sponsored by them, but he swears by the stuff for restoring the colour and shine of any black trim and he even uses the it on paintwork. By the results he gets, I'd say it'd work well on a pop-top.

For Polytrol results have a nose at this…..

 

[twotone2]

I spent hours yesterday, deoxidising, polishing and waxing my roof (and £60+ on the meguiars products) and it doesn’t look that good!

I used marine fibreglass polishing compound from Machine Mart, think it was less than £12, went over with that, then Autoglym came up brilliant

 

[Thread Bear]

I used marine fibreglass polishing compound from Machine Mart, think it was less than £12, went over with that, then Autoglym came up brilliant

We used to use oxalyic crystals to clean up the gel coat on boat superstructures. Its used as a bleacher and takes the yellow out of the gelcoat finish, you can get it at the chemist. Don’t use on painted finish.

 

[WoodthorpeT6]

Am I right in saying that polish brings out the shine and wax seals it to give a longer protective finish? I polish and wax gel coat on the car and poptop

 

[cgtmiles]

I used marine fibreglass polishing compound from Machine Mart, think it was less than £12, went over with that, then Autoglym came up brilliant

Looks like they do this in 3 grades, fine, medium and course. Which did you use and how bad was it to begin with? Also did you do it by hand? I think the results I got were because it did it by hand not machine. I plan to do it again next wash when it’s not so hot

 

[cgtmiles]

Ok so I’m back at square one if not worse so now invested in some polytrol (the products are stacking up on the garage shelf!). Anyone got a longer term result using this stuff?

 

[MasterMates]

I have given up trying the polish or polytrol route getting the roof wrapped next week. Will post some pics when its done.

 

[JumpShip]

One of the guys on another forum has just posted a warning on using polytrol after messing up his black poptop and making it look even worse .
I think he put it on too thick plus it looks like its reacted with the polish that was possibly on the roof previously.

 

[cgtmiles]

One of the guys on another forum has just posted a warning on using polytrol after messing up his black poptop and making it look even worse .
I think he put it on too thick plus it looks like its reacted with the polish that was possibly on the roof previously.
View attachment 250951

Like @MasterMates this will be last chance saloon for me treating the poptop, next stop wrap!

I saw similar in the comments of the video posted earlier. In the video it shows his roof fully mat and quite uniformly shagged. Mine still has gloss in places so along with the waxing etc I’ve already done I was wondering I think could be an issue.

Any advice from people on here that have used it?

 

[oldiebut goodie]

One of the guys on another forum has just posted a warning on using polytrol after messing up his black poptop and making it look even worse .
I think he put it on too thick plus it looks like its reacted with the polish that was possibly on the roof previously.
View attachment 250951

There are 2 different products - I wonder if he has used the wrong one. There is a restorer and there is a renovator, One is just applied the other is applied and then washed off.

 

[MasterMates]

I did a test panel on the roof, cleaned it throughly and then wiped it down with panel cleaner/wipe. It didn’t look very good hence going for a wrap.

 

[cgtmiles]

I did a test panel on the roof, cleaned it throughly and then wiped it down with panel cleaner/wipe. It didn’t look very good hence going for a wrap.

If you don’t mind me asking what sort of money have you been quoted for wrapping just the roof? 4 digits?

 

[MasterMates]

If you don’t mind me asking what sort of money have you been quoted for wrapping just the roof? 4 digits?

Three digits, if i could work out how to PM id let you know the amount.............im rubbish with this sort of stuff sorry

 

[True Romance]

Mine has gone flat and dull again so the Meguiar's only lasted a few weeks/months. Will be investigating a carbon fibre look wrap for next year.

 

[JumpShip]

There are 2 different products - I wonder if he has used the wrong one. There is a restorer and there is a renovator, One is just applied the other is applied and then washed off.

This is the one he used -