Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 15, 2025 ...

Wash / Wax / Polish

February 22, 2016, 07:50:55 pm

Hi All,
We've got an individual in our central Florida community who enjoys washing, waxing, and polishing motor homes.  He says he's considered starting a business to provide these services - but he wasn't sure what constituted a fair and reasonable price. Told him I'd query our members to get some feel for current charges.  Please include coach length and price in your reply.

Thanks,

Jon Harris

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Re: Wash / Wax / Polish

Reply #1 – February 22, 2016, 08:40:33 pm

At Rayford Crossing in Spring, TX, Extreme Wash & Detail charges $200.00 for a combo wash/wax on our 38 ft. 
Not a paste wax job.  Wash, rinse, let dry while doing another, spray wax and rub.

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Reply #2 – February 22, 2016, 08:41:51 pm

Most around central Fla get 10.00 bucks a foot wash, buff, wax. Roof and wheel polish are more

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Reply #3 – February 22, 2016, 08:55:16 pm

Hey John, Precision Detail did our 36' coach a year ago.  Total exterior detail, wash, compound, hand wax, buff, beautiful.  The took off all of the awning brackets so there was no working aound any of that stuff.  All of the awning hardware and the metal awning covers were polished to a high shine. They completely cleaned the interior of all of the bay doors and the door frames. They were down to cleaning the bay door handles with little brushes (like tooth brushes) and q-tips.  They painted everything in the wheel wheels, everything you could see and beyond.

It took three full days, stayed in the coach overnight.  It was plugged in all of the time. One guy did 99% of it and you could tell he took great pride in what he was able to do.  It was $1300.  It is not something that needs to be done every year but it would be less if you did it every three years.  If you did it every year it would probably take a day and a half and cost $650.  Lot less to do if the oxidation is less.  Next time I am in NAC I will get it done again.  At least 15 complete exterior details for the price of a FBP and those need to get detailed too.

So if your friend is in good shape and willing to really put the work into it there is probably plenty of work.  He needs to have the right insurance for himself and for his customers. He needs sturdy equipment, ladders, scaffold, tools, and everything else as well as appropriate personal protection gear.

In between the fluff and buff experience owners need to do their part.  We are dedicated Wash Wax All folks.  And comments in campgrounds make us feel pretty good.

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Reply #4 – February 23, 2016, 09:39:35 am

Years of Airstream ownership taught me, when washing & waxing, to "go with the grain". The same applies to our coaches, as the stripes can be scratched if washed/waxed on the vertical. I had ours washed in Prescott, AZ by a mobile crew using a trailer-mounted outfit w/ filtered water. Once I explained it was a fresh paint/stripe job and I wanted them to wash on the horizontal, things went well. Did the whole coach (including roof & wheels), wiped her down + did the toad for $125.00. Very pleased. 

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Reply #5 – February 23, 2016, 10:03:25 am

John I just had mine washed and waxed including roof. Also cleaned glass, dressed tires and cleaned wheels $320.00. I have a 40ft. coach. And I live in the Villages fl.

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Reply #6 – February 23, 2016, 10:54:07 am

We were quoted $200 for a mobile wash company to come out to the campground in southern Alabama.  Just a wash and dry.

Keith

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Reply #7 – February 24, 2016, 08:50:09 pm

On site in RiverBend Motorcoach Resort LaBelle Fl, my coach was $80 which included roof and tire dressing.  They later washed and waxed my 26' stacker in the storage area for $150.  There are 3 mobile wash companies that use their own water in the resort and prices are very close.  David

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Reply #8 – February 25, 2016, 05:01:52 pm

David....see what they would charge to come remove the 10" of fresh snow off mine so I can come visit you done there lol...hope your having a great winter down there!

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Reply #9 – February 26, 2016, 12:47:56 am

I live in Houston and use a mobile service where they come to my house to do the service. For just a wash and hand dry, I pay around $240 (including gratuity for the workers), and for a wash plus a hand wax, it's closer to around $400. This is for a 45' rig.

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Reply #10 – March 01, 2016, 10:42:23 am

It appears your friend may be headed to an excellent business opportunity.  We took ours to European Details in Scottsdale, they are sole contract with Barrett Jackson auction, in preparation for new decals in Apache Junction.  They used a four part process starting with 3000 grit to bring it back over two full days with two man crew.  Incredible difference with gelcoat and aluminum wheels etc.  1100 was the price.  After doing ours he said future coaches would be 35 to 40 per foot.  We are headed back to him on our way to Nac for wax over new decals etc.  We are 36 feet.

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