advice on protection from tree sap?

[Greg71]

Hi,
Weve just returned to caravanning after ages years break, and to optimize the use we'll get from it, we have seasonally sighted it an hours drive away.
The pitch we've been allocated is however, under a tree, and already after a few days, the roof and awning is getting a layer of tree sap and related debris.
I did give the van a coat of Auto Glym resin wax before sighting it, but is there anything I can put on the caravan and awning to prevent the sap taking hold and making everything really dirty like other vans?
I we thinking maybe Rain X or something similar? Any advice would be gratefully appreciated.
Thankyou.

 

[colin-yorkshire]

best advice I could give would be to get a better seasonal pitch, one that is not under a tree, tree sap is resin it the same stuff they make GRP from and two pack paint, it is sticky and wont come off without considerable effort. and could become a full time job trying to remove it, I never pitched under trees for that very reason, sorry.
may be some one has a miracle cure for it but I never found one just avoided the issue, to start with.

 

[Greg71]

Thanks Colin, I know your right, but until another pitch comes available, which doesn't happen very often on this site, I still need to find a solution.
Cheers pal.
Please keep any ideas coming, thanks.

 

[JeffD]

Slightly different issue but having just washed the van on return from a holiday in France have found the roof to be pebble-dashed with lime resin droplets. Despite trying several means to remove these haven't found anything yet that will work reasonably quickly (thought there could be an issue when I needed to use a flat bladed screwdriver to clean the car windscreen on holiday ).

Has anyone found a simple solution to this problem.

Many thanks.

 

[Hutch]

Greg, I understand the problem , don't know the cure but I do know RainEx will not help, it was originally used on aircraft windscreens, about 35 years ago, and only works for about 48 hours, so putting it on the roof wont help. Sorry. Sheet of plastic over the top maybe.

 

[Dustydog]

Sorry to be unhelpful but Colin has given the best solution. B)
Maybe you could ask the site owner to prune the tree a bit
If you look closely the resin will also be landing on the sides and all plastic windows and skylights. They will be damaged irreparably.
You can but roof only covers but you may need a bespoke one made for your caravan. It won't protect the sides front or rear.

 

[Burn]

Had this problem earlier in the year while pitched under a big tree at a club site,the mess the sap made on my car windscreen was dreadful and could have been dangerous if it had rained on the way home due to it being sticky,tried the sharp blade on the screen to remove the worst then finished off by claying the screen,that did the trick.I understand you cannot use a sharp blade on the roof but claying is very easy and more than achievable on a van roof,good luck.

 

[Hutch]

Burns , welcome, can you please enlighten me on Claying,
I havent heard about it before, obviously a cleaning method. ?
Regards
Hutch. .

 

[00buzz]

hutch....see here

http://www.performancemotorcare.com/blog/what-is-a-clay-bar-for-best-car-detailing/

 

[Burn]

Hutch,yes as pointed out by the article OObuzz posted,i do my car in stages a couple of times a year and always wax after,it is great for cleaning the paint surface on a van as it is not abrasive like T Cut it just takes any contaminates off the surfaceand glides smoothly across the surface when used with an appropriate lubricant ie Detailer.Another great use of clay is on a vehicle windscreen and you would be suprised by what comes off but obviously you would not use the same piece of clay that you did the vehicle with and certainly not detailer i use a mix of Fenwickes van cleaner and water.Apologies if i have gone off subject but thought it might be relevant to subject.I see you are not too far away from me,i`m in Dunstable.

 

[Mel]

Hi Greg. I have no idea if it would work, maybe someone else will have an opinion; but you can get "overwintering" products that you put on a clean van at the end of the season and wash off again at the beginning. Supposed to protect the van from winter muck etc. I think Fenwicks make one. Obviously not for use on the awning but perhaps a liberal use on the van roof........??
mel

 

[DaveA1]

You can bye a clay mit from Halfords for about £12 I used it with a double strength mix of wash and wax shampoo all over the car, windows and paintwork, shines like glass

I have used it on the van to remove dried on flys from the front of the van, works fine.

 

[Hutch]

Dave A1, and Burn, thanks for the infor about The Clay Mitt.
I will check it out next time in,
Burn , yes not far away, easy to get to M1, A1 etc. And about 4 Miles from CMK.

 

[JRS1]

Hi Mel , you mentioned Fenwicks Overwintering as a cover for the roof and stoping bird droppings from staining the paint work. There are now many product which are said to do the same thing as Fenwicks but are much harder to remove come the spring, the Overwintering will protect your Caravan /Motorhome depending on the thickness of the product which can be a given a second coating if you think it needs it, you will get at leased 6 or 8 applications from one bottle, and what's more you can still use the caravan without removing it.