Truck Washes

Topic: Truck Washes (Read 1161 times) previous topic - next topic

Truck Washes

November 20, 2014, 10:59:15 pm

How are the truck washes for use on a RV ? I have Zip Dee Awnings, with all of the supports and arms....are the washes equipped to Handle such ? Do they have brushes for the roof ?

Re: Truck Washes

Reply #1 – November 21, 2014, 06:12:22 am

Howdy Dave W,
When traveling, I have used Blue Beacon truck washes. IMHO, they do a pretty good job. Usually, have Rainex applied as well. They don't have brushes for the top of the coach, but will brush the sides, if asked. Link: RV Benefits
Good Luck, Dave A

Re: Truck Washes

Reply #2 – November 21, 2014, 07:23:07 am

Would have a talk concerning the use of acids they tend to use, not sure that is still the case but know it was years ago, just sayin beware.

Re: Truck Washes

Reply #3 – November 21, 2014, 08:13:46 am

I, too, use Blue Beacon and others on occasion. I have full body paint, would not use them if I had decals. They do a great job for the money. They do not have any way to do the roof. There aren no mechanical,brushes, just hand held brushes and pressure wands.

Re: Truck Washes

Reply #4 – November 21, 2014, 08:40:51 am

Are these do-it-yourself washes rather than automated ones? I've not used one yet, but I've thought about it.

Re: Truck Washes

Reply #5 – November 21, 2014, 08:50:56 am

Most of the big washes will just use a soap on Rv's ,On my semi they use acid /brightner on my wheels and tanks,but that is optional. Sometimes if you ask they will send a guy on the roof with a wand and do your roof i'm sure there is a extra charge,you can ask. Whjen I bought nelson a few weeks ago I had the truck wash in Fletcher do the whole thing including the roof he worked on it about an hr and a half paid him 100.00 bill It was well worth it,I gave the wash guy a 30.00 tip he did such a good job.

Re: Truck Washes

Reply #6 – November 21, 2014, 10:22:59 am

Wow looks good Stump (nice Front Plate)

Re: Truck Washes

Reply #7 – November 21, 2014, 11:02:05 am

Takes me a hour on the roof with a high pressure de ionized non spotting Apollo wash system setup and I soft brush and a little soap to do the roof completely.

Otherwise the dirt runs down the sides from the roof.

I do use blue beacon. No citric acid on anything. Rainex helps

Re: Truck Washes

Reply #8 – November 21, 2014, 11:03:39 am

Quote from: kb0zke – November 21, 2014, 08:40:51 am

Are these do-it-yourself washes rather than automated ones? I've not used one yet, but I've thought about it.

Not DIY or automatic they have humans wash the vehicles with brushes and power wands. You just watch. Well I guess that is kinda "automatic".

Roland

Re: Truck Washes

Reply #9 – November 21, 2014, 12:35:36 pm

Thanks, I just figured that they had BIG rotating brushes .

Re: Truck Washes

Reply #10 – November 21, 2014, 01:23:57 pm

All the years I had trucks I only went to the "streakin beacon" if I was in a hurry. They are fast. You can hedge your bets by telling them not to use acid and get the rain-ex treatment. The rainex helps the rinse process. When they say there finished I always asked politely to "please rinse it again"... If you re in California the Little Sisters truck washes are really good... Clean is good!

Re: Truck Washes

Reply #11 – November 21, 2014, 05:00:59 pm

Thanks, Roland. What's a typical cost for the service? Is that $100 mentioned above typical?

Re: Truck Washes

Reply #12 – November 21, 2014, 05:29:01 pm

The Blue Beacon truck wash in Baytown Texas charges $40 and does a great job, they will even was your toad if you leave it connected

Re: Truck Washes

Reply #13 – November 21, 2014, 05:59:50 pm

Quote from: kb0zke – November 21, 2014, 05:00:59 pm

Thanks, Roland. What's a typical cost for the service? Is that $100 mentioned above typical?

http://www.bluebeacon.com/RVMotorCoachWashing/RVMotorcoachWashPrices/default.aspx

Re: Truck Washes

Reply #14 – November 21, 2014, 06:39:11 pm

Thanks. I'm thinking that a Blue Beacon ought to be on our route one of these days.

Re: Truck Washes

Reply #15 – November 22, 2014, 01:08:38 am

Of course there is an app for Blue Beacon to help find the next one down the road or where you are going.

Re: Truck Washes

Reply #16 – November 22, 2014, 10:48:21 am

Quote from: Horace B. Cupp – November 21, 2014, 08:13:46 am

I, too, use Blue Beacon and others on occasion. I have full body paint, would not use them if I had decals. They do a great job for the money. They do not have any way to do the roof. There aren no mechanical,brushes, just hand held brushes and pressure wands.

Why would you not use them if you had decals? Do you think the power spray wands would be powerful enough to begin stripping off the decals?

Re: Truck Washes

Reply #17 – November 22, 2014, 11:14:20 am

Hi David,
A pressure washer will take the factory decals off almost instantly. I learned the hard way when I first cleaned my Foretravel. Foretravel was stocking replacements back then. No longer available today.
Raymond

Re: Truck Washes

Reply #18 – November 22, 2014, 11:22:45 am

Can the truck wash get tree sap off my coach? The national park service had me camped under a poplar tree all summer in Acadia national park and now I've got icky black stuff all over the front driver's side roof and down the nose of my rig. I was considering using diesel on a rag to remove it... or a high pressure steam cleaner wand... I don't wanna make it even messier though. What should I try?

Re: Truck Washes

Reply #19 – November 22, 2014, 12:33:39 pm

Quote from: kb0zke – November 21, 2014, 05:00:59 pm

Thanks, Roland. What's a typical cost for the service? Is that $100 mentioned above typical?

I think that may be a bit high, but the price is dependent upon what you have them do. Their service has more than one service "recipe".

Roland

Re: Truck Washes

Reply #20 – November 22, 2014, 01:58:47 pm

Quote from: Roland Begin – November 22, 2014, 12:33:39 pm

I think that may be a bit high, but the price is dependent upon what you have them do. Their service has more than one service "recipe".

Roland

Yes 100.is not typical i had just bought this and it had been sitting for 4 years in a storage lot next to the interstate it was covered in diesel soot top to bottom.

Re: Truck Washes

Reply #21 – November 22, 2014, 02:07:00 pm

Quote from: Raymond Jordan – November 22, 2014, 11:14:20 am

A pressure washer will take the factory decals off almost instantly. I learned the hard way when I first cleaned my Foretravel. Foretravel was stocking replacements back then. No longer available today.

Thanks for the information. I wasn't aware of the risk--but I am now!

Re: Truck Washes

Reply #22 – November 22, 2014, 10:07:56 pm

Quote from: Roland Begin – November 21, 2014, 11:03:39 am

Not DIY or automatic they have humans wash the vehicles with brushes and power wands. You just watch. Well I guess that is kinda "automatic".
Roland

Roland,
You have obviously had a better experience than I have.
From my experience, I'm not sure why people take the risk of using these truck washes, especially Blue Beacon. The track record is certainly not uniformly good and I've seen instances where considerable damage was done. How does one know if they are going to get a good one or not? And, they make you sign a no-fault disclosure before they start, at least the ones on the east coast do.

Truck washes affecting coach finish

User beware, from my personal experience.

It's much safer to use a mobile vendor, recommended by the next RV Park/Campground that you stay at. It may be a few $'s more, but probably about the same price.

Neal

Re: Truck Washes

Reply #23 – November 23, 2014, 10:24:46 am

I have used Blue Beacon with good results, I have found in FL near major tourist areas that there is usually a Mobile wash outfit and they have done good work. Prices vary but I usually paid 50 to 100 bucks, washed with brushes and hand mitts, sprayed with wax and squeegeed and towelled down.
Gary B

Re: Truck Washes

Reply #24 – November 23, 2014, 04:14:37 pm

Scott,

I'd start out with WD-40 for the tree sap.

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