How to care for your aluminium ute canopy 2023
You finally have a new aluminium service body and within a few months, it has collected quite a bit of gunk and dirt. You try your best to keep it clean but it's virtually impossible without proper cleaning supplies and regular cleaning. In fact, there are many who end up damaging their new aluminium service bodies by using cleaners that are not meant to be used on aluminium surfaces. Such cleaners do get rid of gunk in the short term but also damage the protective cover underneath that increases the risk of oxidisation. Here's everything you need to know about keeping an aluminium service body clean.
What Are Service Bodies?
In simple terms, service bodies may be defined as a protective canopy It is estimated that almost 40% of the vehicle sold each year in Australia are utes and one of the ways to enhance the functionality of your ute is to invest in a good quality aluminium . One of the biggest advantages of a ute service body is the increased load area and secure storage.
3 Step Guide to Cleaning Your Vehicle Service Body
Aluminium service bodies are typically used by tradesmen and by their very nature, are subject to the rough and tumble aspects of the working environment. Therefore, they are exposed to rough conditions as well as bumps and knocks that can potentially damage the service body. With this in mind, here are our top 3 tips you need to follow to keep your aluminium service body squeaky clean and looking great:
Wash It Regularly
One of the first and perhaps, the most important things you need to do on a regular basis is to give it a good wash. Almost all the aluminium service bodies have a protective powder coat and if you give it a good wash, it will not only keep that protective coating safe but will also get rid of any dirt or debris lying on the surface. It is also important to only use a soft cloth. Do not think that because aluminium is metal that you can get away with using steel wool or other abrasive cleaners. These methods will damage the protective cover and make it susceptible to oxidisation.
Get Rid of the Harsh Stains
If you regularly carry motorised equipment, leaks such as grease or oil can cause stains on the surface of your service body. It is important to get rid of any residue as quickly as possible. If there is something sticky on the surface, use a pressure hose to blast away the sticky residue. It is also recommended to use a special aluminium cleaner to remove grease, grime and other stains that are tough to remove. Slightly acidic products will work but make sure you do not use something that is capable of damaging aluminium.
Steer clear of acidic cleaners
It’s important that you never use harsh acidic cleaners as they will oxidise the surface and your service body will have a permanent dull yellow colour layer on top.You can use mild detergents to keep your service body clean. If there are grease stains, you may like to try WD-40 on a soft rag.
Final Thoughts
Overall, aluminium is lightweight and a well-designed service body adds a lot of functionality to your ute. Keeping your ute tray clean isn't that difficult provided you wash it down regularly and use a good quality specialist cleaner to get rid of any sticky residue. The most important thing is to make sure that you wash it down regularly and do not let anything stick to the surface for a long period of time.
MFI Provides High-Quality Ute Service Bodies
MFI Automotive Group specialises in designing and manufacturing customised service bodies. We offer a wide range of standard designs as well as completely customised solutions to meet the requirements of our customers.
For more information regarding high-quality service bodies, please call us today at MFI Automotive Group on 1300 634 669 or get in touch with our friendly sales team here.