Cleaning Shingle Tar from the fiberglass exterior

Hi all, I apologize for starting a new post on this topic because it seems I have read about this before on this forum, but after searching for sometime, I just can't seem to find the topic.

Yesterday we had up to 100 miles winds blowing in Farmington, UT, and my trailer sustained quite a bit of damage from my neighbors shingles from their home. My trailer shows markings and signs of scratching from the shingles pelting my trailer. I haven't even had time to look at the roof yet.

So the question is what product or products can I use to remove roof and shingle tar (quite a bit of it) from the side and perhaps roof (rubber) of my trailer. It seems the post I can't find mentioned something about WD-40.

Can you help me out with this?

Yes, I did sustain damage to my windows on that side also. My luck.

Thanks so much!

Bob

Hi Bob, sorry for your loss. Maybe their or your insurance would help pay for the repairs. On the tar subject, last year we were pelted by a tar truck, and I found that " Oil Eater" from Costco did a great job of removing the tar. It was a lot of work, but finally removed all the tar on truck and w/c. I used the "anti cling" dryer sheets the wife has, with the oil eater and it worked very well.

Good luck.

I use a squirt of Brake clean (aerosol can) on a clean rag and a quick wipe followed up with a wax of preference. Just dampen the rag, don't saturate the area and keep the chemical away from plastic parts.

I've used Bug and Tar Remover from my local auto parts store. It's a Turtle Wax product and contains petroleum distillates. Label says "Super penerating formula dissolves and removes bugs, tar, oil, asphalt and stubborn stains from all car finishes and chrome". It also says it is not intended for plastic.

Maxtor, you should have had that taken care of by the tar truck's insurance company. A few years ago I drove through what seemed to be water on the road. It turned out that it was spilled vegetable oil coming from a delivery truck on the side of the road. My insurance company authorized me to take my pickup in to a detailing company that wiped all the oil off and followed it with a wax job (charged to the delivery truck's insurance policy).

Kim wrote:Maxtor, you should have had that taken care of by the tar truck's insurance company. A few years ago I drove through what seemed to be water on the road. It turned out that it was spilled vegetable oil coming from a delivery truck on the side of the road. My insurance company authorized me to take my pickup in to a detailing company that wiped all the oil off and followed it with a wax job (charged to the delivery truck's insurance policy).

The tar truck was doing about 80 mph, spraying everyone it passed. I did not get a look to see which company the truck was with. I would have had to speed up to 85 or 90 to catch him.

Maxtor wrote:

Kim wrote:Maxtor, you should have had that taken care of by the tar truck's insurance company. A few years ago I drove through what seemed to be water on the road. It turned out that it was spilled vegetable oil coming from a delivery truck on the side of the road. My insurance company authorized me to take my pickup in to a detailing company that wiped all the oil off and followed it with a wax job (charged to the delivery truck's insurance policy).

The tar truck was doing about 80 mph, spraying everyone it passed. I did not get a look to see which company the truck was with. I would have had to speed up to 85 or 90 to catch him.

Too bad. BTW, where in Redding are you? I have a cousin just south of Shingletown. She owns the Wild Horse Sanctuary at the bottom of Wilson Hill. Are you familiar with it?

Kim wrote:

Maxtor wrote:

Kim wrote:Maxtor, you should have had that taken care of by the tar truck's insurance company. A few years ago I drove through what seemed to be water on the road. It turned out that it was spilled vegetable oil coming from a delivery truck on the side of the road. My insurance company authorized me to take my pickup in to a detailing company that wiped all the oil off and followed it with a wax job (charged to the delivery truck's insurance policy).

The tar truck was doing about 80 mph, spraying everyone it passed. I did not get a look to see which company the truck was with. I would have had to speed up to 85 or 90 to catch him.

Too bad. BTW, where in Redding are you? I have a cousin just south of Shingletown. She owns the Wild Horse Sanctuary at the bottom of Wilson Hill. Are you familiar with it?

Yes we have been to the sanctuary. Very nice work your cousin is doing to help save the horses. We are about 15 miles west of there.

Man-o-man...sorry for the late thanks. I now have my internet back that was knocked out by a second wind. I heard on the radio this morning that we've (city and residences) have hauled 3100 tons of green waste and debris to the landfill and other lots allocated for this cleanup.

Thank you all so much for the responses. I have contacted my insurance and it appears they will only cover the broken windows if the cost for repair is over $500 (deductible). Nothing for the scrapes and tar markings/clumps on the exterior. Neighbors insurance is out of the picture.

I will definitely try your suggestions. I just didn't want to damage the exterior fiberglass by using some chemical that might do it harm.

Bob

Well...here is a short "rest of the story" on my battered wildcat. I got up on the roof to see if the shingles that had pelted my TT breaking windows and scraping the fiberglass, had also cut my rubber roof. Sure enough. I went to a retailer and purchased some roof repair tape until I could contact the insurance company. Contacted them and they told me to take the Cat in and get an estimate on damages. Two days later I received a call telling me that they would have to replace the roof because after it was sliced open the wind continue to "loosen" the rubber and caused more damage. Long story short, total cost will be $8,500 for roof and other broke, dented and bent items.

Let us know the outcome.

Will do...I don't get it back until sometime in February.