RV Washing - RV-Dreams Community Forum

tonyd51 · RV-Dreams Community Member

RV Washing

Workinrvers · RV-Dreams Family Member

I have used them a couple of times. The ones I have used and have seen are simply large bays that they pull you into and they use brushes and pressure wands to wash the rigs. They do a pretty good job overall. One other option is some of the RV parks (mmostly in snow bird areas) have a name or two of companies/individuals that will come to your site and wash/wax your rig for you.

Phil

ahoweth · RV-Dreams Family Member

I have used them a time or 2 myself. I never was very happy with the result. These places are so geared to washing those over the road trucks and they are not nearly as picky as I am. Maybe it is just me but I have stopped using them. I haven't had any bad experiences but I don't want to either.

53 Merc · RV-Dreams Family Member

Had an excellent experience with a mobile washer. Got a business card from the campground office and called him up. He came in, washed, washed, and made the rv look new. I was impressed and I never got sweaty.

Bill Adams · RV-Dreams Family Member

We use the Blue Beacon chain of truck washes on a regular basis. No, it's not going to be the kind of detail wash that could be had by doing it yourself for paying a private service $100+ to wash or hundreds of dollars to wash and wax. The Blue Beacon wash costs $37 and you are back on the road in about 1/2 hour. There are option services including waxing and rain-x treatments if you have some extra time and money. I prefer to use BB for most of the washing chores and then pay a private service (or do it yourself) to do a detail wash/wax twice a year.
It's easy to do some detail spot cleaning on the coach after a BB wash and spray the tires with your favorite application.

Delaine and Lindy · RV-Dreams Family Member

We use the Blue Beacon (streaking beacon) several time and the results were ok. However I use the Blue Beacon chain often when I was running a big truck. For the price it works for me. The RV on site washers normally charge $1.00 a foot.. However I do most of my RV washing myself.... However I never put anything on the tires, just isn't for me.. Happy Trails....

Trabuco · RV-Dreams Family Member

Does Blue Beacon dry your RV after they wash it? Or is it left to air dry?

flyone · RV-Dreams Family Member

I have used Blue Beacon several times. Been satisfied enough to go back---will save you tons of time and elbow grease. Drip dry, but if you hit the road right away that 60 MPH dries it quickly. Some times they may miss a spot, so if that will bother you, you had better do it yourself.

Flyone

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Having driven 18-wheelers before, but only once ever to use a truck wash, some, at that time, used an "acid wash." Are the Blue Beacons now able to wash without damage to the clearcoat finishes of today's RV's

Terry

tonyd51 · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thanks everyone. I now have lots to think about. I have used private parties to wash the rig, but trying to save a buck. May not be the best place to save. Thanks again

Bill Adams · RV-Dreams Family Member

I don't know. BB sure is pushing the RV market even showing up at RV rallies to rep the place.
The clear coat on my RV is shot so maybe I should be suing BB!

ken and cindy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Have used Blue Beacon twice now. I like them. I get the extra RainX treatment done as well , it seems to help .

Trabuco · RV-Dreams Family Member

The information Terry brought up about using an "acid wash" has me a bit concerned. Sounds like these truck washes are set up more for trucks that need the heavy road grime cut through. Clear coats don't last forever but an acid wash might shorten the clear coat life by many years.

Delaine and Lindy · RV-Dreams Family Member

They want use "acid wash" on a RV unless you ask for it. I always told them (NO ACID WASH". They do or did in fact use acid wash, but I haven't run a big Truck (OTR type) since the 90's however I have used Blue Beacon several times with the Mobile Suites and have had no issues.. They didn't dry my Mobile Suites. They also washed the Truck also... Acid wash also will turn the Chrome a milky white. Happy Trails..

Trabuco · RV-Dreams Family Member

Good info I'll make sure I talk to them about the acid wash prior to them washing.

3fortheroad · RV-Dreams Family Member

We also use BB once in awhile and have not had any problems. Is it perfect, no but for the price it works for us. The only real down side is that once you are in line for a wash there's not much of a chance to change your mind. On a nice day there is generally a line waiting for their turn and once you are in line there is not a whole lot of room to turn around.

I also drove long haul for several years, back then the Wash Bays would always ask before they did an acid wash. For one there is an additional charge for the acid wash and most of all it is hard on chrome and polished aluminum.

Bill Adams · RV-Dreams Family Member

These services can be quite pricey, but they usually do a really excellent job. We paid $120 to have our 40' coach washed on the high end and $60 on the low. Wash and wax usually runs $5/foot and up (I have been quoted as much as $12/foot).
The price will vary depending upon whether you are staying at a park that charges $100 night or $25/night but the quality of the service is usually pretty similar in all cases.
We just had the coach and toad washed today at Blue Beacon. It was $35 for our 40' coach and $12 for the large extended length van that we tow.

-- Edited by Bill Adams on Wednesday 22nd of February 2012 06:42:14 PM

HomeSweetRV · RV-Dreams Family Member

53 Merc wrote:
Had an excellent experience with a mobile washer. Got a business card from the campground office and called him up. He came in, washed, washed, and made the rv look new. I was impressed and I never got sweaty.

Do you mind sharing with us what that service cost?

Delaine and Lindy · RV-Dreams Family Member

The RV parks were the Mobile washer guys work is around a $1.00 a foot..... Happy Trails....

53 Merc · RV-Dreams Family Member

HomeSweetRV wrote:
53 Merc wrote:
Had an excellent experience with a mobile washer. Got a business card from the campground office and called him up. He came in, washed, washed, and made the rv look new. I was impressed and I never got sweaty.
Do you mind sharing with us what that service cost?

Yeah, at the time it was $3.00 per foot. He used reverse osmosis and softened water. Did not have to wipe or dry the first window or part of the 5er. But, he did was the roof and made it all white again and put tire dressing on. The wheels were spotless. Man, the thing looked new. And, like I said, I never got sweaty.

It was in Fredericksburg, TX. And I think a company sells the washing rig to vendors. Seemed like a very well made and thought out rig. Name was Next Step. It was rigged up like a pressure washer, but he only used the pressure washer to deliver water. Never got the spray close to the walls. He wet it down, sprayed a cleaner (non-hydrocarbon), scrubbed with a brush, rinsed and then spot cleaned if required.

Hogladyrider · RV-Dreams Family Member

WOW lots of great info here.

We have been looking for someone to give our 5th wheel a good bath and coat of wax and the prices we have been quoted here in central Florida is $10 foot, that's a tad bit too pricey for my taste when you have a 40' rig.

Heck that's a week's paycheck for me! Guess I am in the wrong business.

We have stopped into a few local RV parks to look on bulletin boards for detailers with no luck which I found surprising. A dealer gave us the name of someone to call.

We will keep looking as we want to get it done before the Florida heat sets in.

Susan

DreamingtheDream · RV-Dreams Community Member

I am needing to find someone to wax our rig (as I hate doing that type of work more than anything) but I can not find anybody except one company that is mobile. For our 35' fifth wheel they charge $412 (plus tax I guess). As much as I hate doing that kind of work, that is a steep price. I have read several blogs of full timers getting a full wash and wax for under $200 in other parts of the country. I may just start calling some of the big resorts around me and see if they have anyone. We usually never stay at those places, we prefer state and national parks. But we have had the fifth wheel for right at 2 years now, so someone (maybe me) is going to have to get a coat of wax on it! lol.

Dutch · RV-Dreams Family Member

I like to use Blue Beacon when we head south from upstate NY after spending the holidays with our kids in the winter. The one just off I81 at the Flying J near Ft Chiswell, VA has always done a pretty good job of getting the accumulated salt residue and other road junk off of the coach and toad for us.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Five year old thread. Closing.

Terry