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04-27-2019, 07:54 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 28
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Keeping Rig Clean
Just returned from 1st trip pulling towed. It rained during trip, which included Dallas weekday traffic, of course both MH and towed were extremely dirty( especially towed). Returning home, I just washed each one.
But this all raised a question; How do you all as full timers, being frequently on the road, deal with the issue of keeping your rigs clean and looking good?
I would appreciate seeing how each of you deal with this issue.
__________________
2011 Winnebago Journey
2017 GMC Terrain (Towed)
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04-27-2019, 08:13 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Somewhere Nice
Posts: 1,466
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We use truck washes when we find them on our route. Also many parks will allow you to wash the coach, for the asking. Or you hire someone to wash it at your campsite. Sometimes I have used my onboard tank and washed it.
Problem with using water from a spigot is it is not deionized water, thus leaving spots unless you quickly dry the surface.
We were at a nice RV park outside Phoenix that allowed me to use their coach wash bay. It had deionized water. Washed the coach and toad for free. Just BYO soup and brush. What a deal!
__________________
2008 Monaco Dynasty Squire
Paul & Luci
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04-27-2019, 08:57 AM
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 4,985
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As full timer's we need to be flexible. Some CG's will allow a quick wash, for others I will do a dry off with towels after a rain or heavy dew. It helps to keep a good wax on the vehicles so the dirt doesn't adhere.
I am amazed that CG's discourage washing and clean RV's but understand the overuse of soap, and overspray potential in a CG. Yet most CG's will allow professional mobile wash companies to clean your RV on site.
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04-27-2019, 10:14 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Alpine Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Traveling in North America
Posts: 2,248
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We usually do windshields and then spot clean when an area looks really bad on the coach. The car gets bucket washed as needed like the windshield.
__________________
Barbara & David O'Keeffe
Figment II (Alpine 2002 36 MDDS)
On The Road since 2006
Blog
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04-27-2019, 10:17 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Today? Clayton, North Carolina
Posts: 5,093
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RLCASC
..... How do you ...deal with the issue of keeping your rigs clean and looking good? ....
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Short answer: you don’t. If you travel, you pick up road dirt, bugs, and surprising amounts of stuff I have yet to identify! [emoji15]. You have to manage expectations. There’s a big gray area between “not bright and shiny”, and “dirty”, and the sooner you recognize that the easier your life on the road becomes. If you get hooked on the “bright and shiny”, you can spend a lot of time or a lot of money, or both, chasing it. Personally, I have better ideas on how to expend those valuable resources!
Like pduggs, I sometimes use a truck wash when handy. There’s a chain called Blue Beacon that is often located near truck stops or truck service facilities. (There are a few around Dallas, and a couple near OK City.) They do a good job, and they’ll honor requests: don’t touch the roof, and avoid the refrigerator vents- that sort of thing. I’ve never had them damage anything. You can run through with toad attached, and they’ll clean both for $50. Coach (40 ft DS) alone was $40. That price was in Dallas about a year ago, and don’t forget to tip!
Many CGs or RV Parks can point you to local services that will come do a wash, or wash and wax. A few times in the last 7 years I’ve sprung for a full wash/wax. Coach looks great for a while; price usually runs about $10/ft.
__________________
John and Diane (RIP Lincoln, 21 FEB 22) RVM103 NHSO
Fulltimers since June, 2012
2002 Dutch Star 40, Freightliner, Cat 3126, 2004 Element
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04-27-2019, 12:22 PM
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 448
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On BLM property dispersed camping, I wash it where I am using a soapy rag, drinking water and air dry.
When it rains I hit the front with a soapy rag after a good soak to get the bugs off.
FWIW, in places like Lake Tahoe the public washing stalls don't water spot. Very handy. I wouldn't try that in So. Cal..
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04-27-2019, 01:44 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Enjoying the Western States!
Posts: 19,767
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We never went through a truck wash. We didn't want those truck brushes on our RV.
We utilized public campgrounds mostly so we washed small sections at our leisure with a bucket of water then used 'The Solution' for a great shine. Most often, only the bottom bay sections needed cleaning. The top stayed fairly clean.
We cleaned the windshield after every ride. It's a lot easier to get bugs off when they don't bake on. Same for the front of the motorhome.
It really didn't seem like a chore to us and we did it when we felt like it.
Twice a year we'd be in a campground that allowed washing and that's when we did the full job - including the roof.
__________________
Full-timed for 16 Years . . .
Traveled 8 yr in a 2004 Newmar Dutch Star 40' Diesel
& 8 yr in a 33' Travel Supreme 5th wheel
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04-27-2019, 02:05 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 3,009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by grindstone01
I am amazed that CG's discourage washing and clean RV's but understand the overuse of soap, and overspray potential in a CG.
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The school district! I drove buses for had a main bus terminal with an enclosed Hotsy with drains hooked into the municipal water treatment plant for school bus washing. The two other terminals in two different cities only had outdoor concrete wash pads which only drained on to the surrounding ground.
I don't know which government agency, probably the EPA, shut them down. The reason I heard is that since Colorado uses chemicals including magnesium chloride on the roads to lower the freezing temperatures during winter snows they didn't want the chemicals washing off the buses into the waterways.
We had to drive the buses stationed at the satellite terminals to the main terminal to wash them. That could be a reason. More likely it's a liability issue if an RV owner slipped and fell, especially from off the roof.
__________________
2005 Monaco Knight 40PLQ; Cummins 8.3L ISC330, Pacbrake, Allison 3000, Roadmaster RR8R, ScanGauge D, 2004 Kawasaki Vulcan VN750(Geezer Glide) on a Versahaul carrier pulling a 2013 Kia Soul+; 2.0L, 6 speed Sport shifter(great car) on an American Car Dolly(great dolly.)
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04-27-2019, 03:04 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Enjoying the Western States!
Posts: 19,767
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Another reason some RV parks don't allow washing - the ones that don't have paved sites - is because the ground can get too saturated if you only pull in for a couple days and wash and then the next person comes in and washes, etc. Some parks require 1 week to 1 month stays to be able to wash the RV.
__________________
Full-timed for 16 Years . . .
Traveled 8 yr in a 2004 Newmar Dutch Star 40' Diesel
& 8 yr in a 33' Travel Supreme 5th wheel
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04-28-2019, 12:33 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: USA
Posts: 245
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I have an deironizer and pressure washer so I wash the coach when it gets dirty takes less than 2hours to do a good job. If the rv Park does not allow washing I had no problem I finding a vacant store or lot, spent a lot for a nice looking coach so it all worth it for me.
__________________
Surmotor
2017 Cornerstone A
2016 Acadia
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04-28-2019, 01:20 PM
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#11
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Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 28
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Expectations
Quote:
Originally Posted by JFXG
Short answer: you don’t. If you travel, you pick up road dirt, bugs, and surprising amounts of stuff I have yet to identify! [emoji15]. You have to manage expectations. There’s a big gray area between “not bright and shiny”, and “dirty”, and the sooner you recognize that the easier your life on the road becomes. If you get hooked on the “bright and shiny”, you can spend a lot of time or a lot of money, or both, chasing it. Personally, I have better ideas on how to expend those valuable resources!
Like pduggs, I sometimes use a truck wash when handy. There’s a chain called Blue Beacon that is often located near truck stops or truck service facilities. (There are a few around Dallas, and a couple near OK City.) They do a good job, and they’ll honor requests: don’t touch the roof, and avoid the refrigerator vents- that sort of thing. I’ve never had them damage anything. You can run through with toad attached, and they’ll clean both for $50. Coach (40 ft DS) alone was $40. That price was in Dallas about a year ago, and don’t forget to tip!
Many CGs or RV Parks can point you to local services that will come do a wash, or wash and wax. A few times in the last 7 years I’ve sprung for a full wash/wax. Coach looks great for a while; price usually runs about $10/ft.
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Thanks for the “Manage Expectations”
I like Bright & Shiny but know this isn’t always possible when traveling.
I am just looking for options to keeping things reasonably clean.
I don’t mind spending the time, I hand wash & wax our vehicles at home. ( Not fond of car washes)
Have witnessed people in CG doing a bucket hand wash each day until rig clean.
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04-28-2019, 10:33 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Outdoors RV Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Nowhere, now here. Freedom!
Posts: 4,602
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I didn't buy an RV so I could keep it shiny all the time. I wash it when I feel like it. I inspect it all over a couple times a year, treat the roof to protect against UV, make sure the tires are in great shape all the time (most important to me).
If you find washing, polishing and waxing recreational than you got the right thing for that I guess, a recreational vehicle that gives you what you want. I got an RV for the recreation, exploring, and adventure.
__________________
ORV 19B Full Timer from '15 to '20, '14 Ram 2500 Diesel and a GSD. Vancouver, WA
de K7NOL 146.52Mhz Safety? (CLICK ME!)
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04-29-2019, 04:00 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 161
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I purchased "Aero Cosmetics Waterless RV Aircraft Boat Wash Wax Mop Kit with Bug Scrubber/Mini Mop". Mop has a double sided head, one wet for whatever solution you chose to use, this wipes off the dirt, flip it over to dry side to dry/remove any streaks. I'm no expert but have been happy with the ease of using this. sells on amazon with reviews by much more experienced individuals than I. Lately, after having the rig washed and waxed, I just use water to get the dirt off, dry side wipe avoids streaking.
__________________
Mike and Julie Roamin With The Romes
2013 Newmar Dutch Star 4347
2022 Ram 1500 Limited, Blue Ox Avail tow bar, Patriot II brake
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04-30-2019, 05:21 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Entegra Owners Club Spartan Chassis
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 107
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Usually there is a recommended coach washing company at a resort. I use them. Around 120. For a 45 foot coact
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