Truck Wash

[DLane]

Has anyone had their motorhome washed at a truck washing facility. From what I have seen through a web search, there appear to be some drive through type washes like for a car as well some that are more like a self wash car was where a high pressure wand presumably with a water/soap mix is used. For the latter type, it is not clear to me whether employees of the truck wash company still do the washing.

[DLane]

Has anyone had their motorhome washed at a truck washing facility. From what I have seen through a web search, there appear to be some drive through type washes like for a car as well some that are more like a self wash car was where a high pressure wand presumably with a water/soap mix is used. For the latter type, it is not clear to me whether employees of the truck wash company still do the washing.

[mercerc44]

Blue Beacon does RV's. I've taken a motorcoach to several and they do a great job. They will do what you want done. I've gotten a hand/brush wash and a light rinse. I don't have them put anything on the wheels. Just soap and water.

[UFO Pilot]

I used one in New Mexico. They had me drive in and then about 6 guys were all over the RV. They used pressure washers and scrub brushes. Drying was done by driving slowly thru the blowers. It cost me $60 and I was very pleased with the results.

[Wingman02]

There is one in Sieverville, Tn. We stopped and talked to an employee. We were told at anytime you can take the MH through and it would be like the automatic carwash bays but for the RV. If you let them know you would be getting a wash in advance, they would make sure and have extra people there to do a hand wash.

[Spikester]

Some truck washes may use industrial products for washing, make sure you understand what they will be washing your RV with before they start. This may help to avoid damage to your paint systems.

Merry Christmas
Spike

[Jetsmania]

Hi! I have used Blue Beacon many, many times. http://bluebeacon.com/ They only use their brushes on the wheels and my stainless. They did try to use them on my front and I told them no brushes. The trick I have learned, after myself & Chuck came out of one with soap streaks, is to make sure you get a good rinse. Just tell them not to rinse until after they are done running the rinse heads above the coach. Everything is done with power washers and it comes out great, if you do not have the time to do it yourself. I would strongly advise not to use the Truck Washes with the automatic brushes. Blue Beacon will also do your toad also. With the toad aprox $46.00 I have tried the Rain X application they offer, and feel it does not work. I do use Rain X on my windshield. Paul

[doc]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">There is one in Sieverville, Tn. We stopped and talked to an employee. We were told at anytime you can take the MH through and it would be like the automatic carwash bays but for the RV. If you let them know you would be getting a wash in advance, they would make sure and have extra people there to do a hand wash. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
I think we have used the one Wingman02 is talking about. Believe it is Blue Dolphin or something similar. Owner is from Florida. Stopped in the day before and he said he would have more help the next morning. This thing worked great. There is no high pressure jets ripping things. The machine does a fairly aggressive rinse to knock of surface grit and dirt. Then a spray with some sort of emulsifying soap. The employees have brushes they cover all parts of the coach to make sure the road film is loosened. This thing sprayed it a couple of times, even doing the roof. No revolving brushes to knock off mirrors, just the guys with the hand brushes. There is a rinse and then the wax cycle - same deal - spray and let set for a couple of minutes. Final rinse and they hand dry. Don't recall if there is a blower as you pull out of the bay or not. May have been.
They said we could have left the towed attached and they would have washed it when the coach was washed. They did a great job. I believe the deluxe version was like 60-70 dollars. Took about 15-20 minutes. They washed the wheels with soap and water and put some sort of tire treatment on the rubber. It looked great when we left.
Drove from there to Myrtle Beach and ran through a rain storm around Columbia and messed it up again!!

[Max Hubrich]

Hey Doc,

Isn't this why we clean our vehicles ? -- I always thought it's a rain dance ceremony

[doc]

you may have a point. With the drought we have had here for the last two years, maybe I should have washed it more often?
Of course then they city finds out you are washing a car/truck/RV or whatever and raises nine kinds of cain! You can't win.

[RVDude]

Blue Beacons are the way to go for RVs. First they actually have an RV specific wash process that does NOT use the caustic (acid based) truck cleaners or brushes. They also will (if asked) use low pressure on your Diamond Shield areas to avoid ripping that. If you are full paint, no brushes are used on the paint in any way. Finally, they offer an optional Rain-X after rinse for the entire coach.

Like I said, they are the only chain I know of to have an RV specific process and one that accounts completely for full paint and also understand Diamond Shield.

[DLane]

Thanks for your comments. I plan to wash my coach myself most of the time. My thoughts about using a truck wash was for when I return from purchasing it in Minnesota and driving it to New Hampshire this January. I expect the coach to get quite dirty on the trip and want to get any road salt off before storing it inside until I can equip it for a trip to Florida starting some time in February. I won't be able to wash it myself when I get to NH since it will be too cold. I will also want to be sure the under carriage is rinsed off.

[Max Hubrich]

Dlane,

Don't forget to stock up with this Salt Terminator product.

Good luck,

[Jetsmania]

Hi! I have never heard of Salt Terminator. looks like a neat product. I think after reading it's description I would be afraid to spray it on the painted parts of my coach. Looks like a great product for engine, and underneath. Paul