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RV-Dreams.com Home -> RV-Dreams Community Forum -> RV Maintenance and Technical Tips -> How do you wash your DRW trucks?
Post Info TOPIC: How do you wash your DRW trucks?
RonC


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How do you wash your DRW trucks?
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I bought the most capable SRW truck I could because I wanted to be able to go thru car washes.  That has worked out fine ... but I may have to go DRW someday.  Will I then be forced to hand wash my truck, which I really don't want to do.  So what do you DRW guys do?



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Ron and Janice

 

2016 Ford F350, King Ranch, DRW, 4x4, CC, 6.7 PS Diesel, remote control air lift system

2017 Durango Gold 381REF, Lambright furniture, MCD shades, morRYDE IS, 8K Disc brakes, GY G114  LR H Tires, 27,320 lbs CGVW

FT class of 2016
CJSX2fromCT


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Hand wash it.

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Cowdog353


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Hand wash, then wax on, wax off all by hand. Sometimes I'll use the wand type of car wash but not often. One of the few drawbacks to a DRW, everything else makes it the perfect tow vehicle for trailers up to around 15k, just my opinion.
Enjoy the exercise.

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ROPeach


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We have found  places that accommodate DRW,  check for 'truck wash'.



-- Edited by ROPeach on Monday 25th of July 2016 06:17:50 AM

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Cummins12V98


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I don't care what vehicle it I have NEVER used a car wash. If it's too much work then most RV parks have a list of preferred people to wash/wax RV's and TV's.

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RonC


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My 5th wheel's GVW is 15,000 lbs. so my F350 SRW 4x4 is within all the numbers (actually a couple of hundred pounds over on CGW, but under in tow weight, pin weight, all tow vehicle axle weights and towed axle weights). Truck is pretty much at it's limits (which probably have some fudge factor built in). Never had a problem going up or down steep grades, but I do go SLOW down ... really SLOW. I'm really not interested in exploring the "limits" of my braking system. I don't anticipate ever buying another 5th wheel, but never say never. Plus my truck is a 2014, so it may get replaced someday. I do believe a DRW truck is more capable, but more difficult to fit in a parking space and the car wash thing. I figured it was hand wash ... but the truck wash idea is one I hadn't thought of. Also, having a mobile wash service do it and the rig is a good idea. Thanks for all the responses ... as usual, I learned a few things.

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Ron and Janice

 

2016 Ford F350, King Ranch, DRW, 4x4, CC, 6.7 PS Diesel, remote control air lift system

2017 Durango Gold 381REF, Lambright furniture, MCD shades, morRYDE IS, 8K Disc brakes, GY G114  LR H Tires, 27,320 lbs CGVW

FT class of 2016
The Bear II


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I use a soft bristle long handled brush that attaches to the garden hose. This allows me to wash the truck or the 5th wheel without the need for a ladder except the front cap on the 5th wheel. If the truck is hitched I can stand in the bed and get the cap.

The brush has a valve to control the flow of water through the brush or turn off the water flow. When there's lots of dirt, I use a 5 gallon bucket with water and soap. Dunk the brush in the soap mixture soap up the truck, scrub with the brush and then rinse it off.

Once everything is clean I use Turtle Wax Zip Wax www.turtlewax.com/shop/products/turtle-wax-quick-easy-zip-wax-car-wash-wax-16-fl-oz-

Every two years I have an RV mobile detail do a complete wash and wax of the 5th wheel. The truck I wax by hand every two years.

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Dave and Denise


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Just yesterday I took the F450 through a "normal" car wash. Clearance of 7' was ok and width wise the only thing I did was turn in the outside mirrors. These are big trucks and take ladders and a lot of time to wash them by hand. While I have a show car that I would not dream of taking through a car wash, I don't hesitate with the pick up. After all it's a truck and I use it like a truck not a work of art.
Also, you can go to Truck Washes that are designed for big rigs.

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Sean


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I hand wash and wax ours. Compared to washing and waxing our 40' long by 13' tall fifth wheel, it's a piece of cake :)


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Alie and Jims Carrilite


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Most of the no touch laser wash type places will fit a dually with no issues. If your mirrors fit so will the dually fenders. When we had the Dodge, I ran it thru touchless washes all the time wherever we found them.

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RonC


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Great tips ... the touch-less car washes is a great suggestion. There may be a DRW truck in my future.

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Ron and Janice

 

2016 Ford F350, King Ranch, DRW, 4x4, CC, 6.7 PS Diesel, remote control air lift system

2017 Durango Gold 381REF, Lambright furniture, MCD shades, morRYDE IS, 8K Disc brakes, GY G114  LR H Tires, 27,320 lbs CGVW

FT class of 2016
CJSX2fromCT


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When using a "truck wash" tell them NO ACID, could lead to your decals on your rig to peel.

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06 GMC 3500 SLT  Duramax, Allison.

09 Montana 3665re

Safe travels to all, Take each day as a gift for that is truly what it is.

Cert. RVIA Tech 11/24/16 
RonC


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Yeah ... just looking to wash the truck, not the 5th wheel, but thanks for the "no acid" tip. I learn something new everyday on this forum.

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Ron and Janice

 

2016 Ford F350, King Ranch, DRW, 4x4, CC, 6.7 PS Diesel, remote control air lift system

2017 Durango Gold 381REF, Lambright furniture, MCD shades, morRYDE IS, 8K Disc brakes, GY G114  LR H Tires, 27,320 lbs CGVW

FT class of 2016
Neil and Connie


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RonC wrote:

I bought the most capable SRW truck I could because I wanted to be able to go thru car washes.  That has worked out fine ... but I may have to go DRW someday.  Will I then be forced to hand wash my truck, which I really don't want to do.  So what do you DRW guys do?

 You're supposed to wash your truck???

Mine gets done one a year, maybe twice if I'm feeling generous…the rest of the time I figure the universe got it dirty so the universe can wash it. I use a hose and brush when I do it.

 



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RonC


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Neil ... you have that beautiful new Ram with the hauler bed. I'll bet it's clean as the day it was built!

😜

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Ron and Janice

 

2016 Ford F350, King Ranch, DRW, 4x4, CC, 6.7 PS Diesel, remote control air lift system

2017 Durango Gold 381REF, Lambright furniture, MCD shades, morRYDE IS, 8K Disc brakes, GY G114  LR H Tires, 27,320 lbs CGVW

FT class of 2016
Neil and Connie


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RonC wrote:

Neil ... you have that beautiful new Ram with the hauler bed. I'll bet it's clean as the day it was built!

😜

 Nope. It's pretty dirty now. It's got going on 6K miles on it so far and has only seen water in the form of rain since we left Classy Chassis. I'll probably wash it when we get to Fort Myers on Sep 1 though.

 



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Den-Bev


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I found a car wash in Yuma were I took my DRW truck when we were there last winter. Other than that, a bucket.

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RonC


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Took my SRW truck thru a "no touch" car wash and left the mirrors out ... they were cleared on each pass, so I'm thinking that our new dually will have no issues with that style car wash ... happy, happy!!

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Ron and Janice

 

2016 Ford F350, King Ranch, DRW, 4x4, CC, 6.7 PS Diesel, remote control air lift system

2017 Durango Gold 381REF, Lambright furniture, MCD shades, morRYDE IS, 8K Disc brakes, GY G114  LR H Tires, 27,320 lbs CGVW

FT class of 2016
Happy Prospector


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Never really thought about it, it is the wife's job to keep things clean.



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RonC


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Careful ... Don't poke the bear😎

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Ron and Janice

 

2016 Ford F350, King Ranch, DRW, 4x4, CC, 6.7 PS Diesel, remote control air lift system

2017 Durango Gold 381REF, Lambright furniture, MCD shades, morRYDE IS, 8K Disc brakes, GY G114  LR H Tires, 27,320 lbs CGVW

FT class of 2016
RonC


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Took the plunge ... picked up my new 2016 King Ranch F350 DRW CC today. She's a beauty! As a result I got a bigger turbo, better exhaust brake, increased HP and torque, improved transmission, a more appropriate tow ratio (3.73 vs 3.55) and SURPRISE!! a better non-towing ride. It's 2" lower than the SRW F350 I traded in, so we'll have to hook up the 5'er to check the "levelness" of our rig. Much better match of trailer to tow vehicle from a capabilities point of view, so plenty of capacity for the load. We'll have to take it on the road to see how this translates to an improved towing experience. Stay tuned.



-- Edited by RonC on Friday 19th of August 2016 10:32:15 PM



-- Edited by RonC on Friday 19th of August 2016 10:32:53 PM

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Ron and Janice

 

2016 Ford F350, King Ranch, DRW, 4x4, CC, 6.7 PS Diesel, remote control air lift system

2017 Durango Gold 381REF, Lambright furniture, MCD shades, morRYDE IS, 8K Disc brakes, GY G114  LR H Tires, 27,320 lbs CGVW

FT class of 2016
RonC


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OK ... took the new dually to a laserwash (touchfree) car wash. Worked beautifully, YEAH!! Alie and Jim, thanks for the tip.

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Ron and Janice

 

2016 Ford F350, King Ranch, DRW, 4x4, CC, 6.7 PS Diesel, remote control air lift system

2017 Durango Gold 381REF, Lambright furniture, MCD shades, morRYDE IS, 8K Disc brakes, GY G114  LR H Tires, 27,320 lbs CGVW

FT class of 2016
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