Pressure Washer - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Waggin Tails · RV-Dreams Family Member

Pressure Washer

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

In 2006 we were advised to get a pressure washer for our trip to Alaska. We were also told the cheap one at Wal-Mart was good enough. It was a Karcher and about $75. I looked at the more powerful models and wondered how I would have room for them, it was hard enough to find space for this model. I made sure it worked and off we went. Well most campgrounds on the journey did not allow washing at your campsite, but many had pressure washing stations. Some were free, most were not but they also were beefier and better than the one we carried. On the whole trip I used it twice just because I had it and it was OK but I really needed a more powerful model. A few months after we got back I got it out to use it and found it was all fouled up. Turns out it required maintenance and could not sit unused. I found it another home with someone who would maintain it properly.

When we are allowed we wash with a bucket, brush and hose and it seems to work fine. Mostly we are not allowed to wash, though we will be washing this weekend since we are at a repair facility waiting on a part. I can get the brush and bucket out and working much faster and easier than the pressure washer and putting it all away is also easy and fast. I can also wash the bugs off the front of the RV at campgrounds that say, "no washing", and not have any complaints from the campground as long as I only use a bucket and no hose.

I know this isn't helping but I also don't think anyone I know carries a pressure washer in their RV.

Luvglass · RV-Dreams Family Member

I agree with Bill, I think we only know one person that owns one. We hardly ever see one being used in a campground.

Aside from maybe being helpful with the front for the bugs, I don't think they are necessary.

-- Edited by Luvglass on Friday 30th of September 2011 10:46:52 PM

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

We don’t carry one and from experience I really don’t recommend their use. Their use may seem faster, but a good, soft, long handled brush (I use the kind that you can connect to a water supply) and a bucket actually seems much more effective. It is also much easier on the paint and clear coat finish.

I got a lot of experience with mud and fine dirt during our trip to the Canadian Northwest Territories. That trip made the Alaska trip seem like a Sunday afternoon drive in the country mud and dirt wise. All of us got the best results with a brush, bucket and hose. At best, the pressure washer would “streak” and you still had to brush off the last layer of dirt.

Safe travels

Bill

Waggin Tails · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks guys. As you can see, I am still thinking S/B not RV. I'll rent one for the task at hand.

I have a telescopic brush that connects to a hose and find it works pretty well for the RV. I also use that on our truck. Works pretty good.

53 Merc · RV-Dreams Family Member

Like others have said, a power washer is just in the way. If you got bugs to get off the front cap, a spray bottle of Awesome Cleaner from Dollar Tree works a lot better than any washer would be. A good brush, a bucket of water and away you go.

janni · RV-Dreams Family Member

Bucket and brush here too. A person has to really weigh what items are necessity. Have heard about the Awesome cleaner before and will have to try it. Bugs are a pain to get off.

Bill Adams · RV-Dreams Family Member

I have a Karcher pressure washer that I have had and carried since the beginning of time. It's small and handy but I rarely use it. I mostly use it when I get a wild hair to clean the engine, radiator (be careful) or the grill but we sometimes use it when washing the coach. A few campgrounds allow coach washing but a pressure washer must be used to save water. I would guess that I use it about once a year on average and if I planned ahead I could do all of the same things at a local self-serve facility where the RV would fit and save the space mine currently occupies. It is quite small, however, so not a lot of space would be saved.