What do you do?

Ran into a locust swarm in Texas about 1/4 of our trip gone. We looked like a killing zone until we got home. But today, I washed the truck and the camper. Tomorrow we travel about 60 miles to our site with friends for four days.

So, a little of both.

Anmacc2 wrote:
Well we're getting set for our next trip, about 4000 miles over about 4 weeks. Usually I detail the van and TT and all of our gear inside and out. Start out with it all sparkling! It lasts (at least on the outside) less than a week. This time we're detailing the interiors but just a quick wash on the outside of the TT and Van. No polishing the chrome, no shine on the tires, no waxing out every little smudge and spot, no back to black on the running boards and mud guards, no scrubbing the awning till it's white white.... You get it. What do you do? Do you detail it before you go? When you get back? Both?

I really don't understand why folks beat themselves silly "detailing" their vehicles and trailers to death.

A simple and quick wash and I am done, no waxing, no polishing, no clay bars, no endless hrs of fruitless effort spent, nothing.

Why?

Well, simply put within a couple miles of driving the windshield and all front facing surfaces will have bunches of bug splats, road dust, pollen will quickly take up that clean surface and hide it.. One rain and all of your hard work is down the drain.

Sure, it is nice to look at a clean rig, but really it is only clean for a couple of minutes and depending on how bad the pollens are, seconds after you rinse it.

Free yourself of a useless ritual, just a quick wash and go camp..

I do a thorough clean of the inside when I get home. The outside gets washed. Then I get her ready to head out again.

I detail once a year - when I'm putting her away for the winter. That's when cupboards get emptied out and cleaned.

I wash mine down using wash /wax , especially the front of the TV during love bug
season,if not the darn love bugs will eat the paint off, I also spray the front of the TV with WD 40 during this time which helps a bit

I usually work so late the day before we leave on a trip that all I have time to do is vacuum the mud off the vinyl floors and get all my tools out of the back seat of the truck. I may give the outside a spray with the hose if it's really dusty.
When I get home I usually try to wash the camper to get all the bugs off before I put it back in the garage. Sometimes, if we get home late on a Sunday it doesn't get done because I'm tired and have to go to work the next morning.

Usually wash the trailer a week prior to leaving and the Truck just before leaving. Always try to keep the inside of my truck clean, so usually just a quick sweep (no carpet) and its ready. Wash both when I get back to get bugs off. Maybe do complete detail once or twice a year when time and mood permits.

Quick clean when we get back..

I bought it to use not to clean. :) :)

In the spring I wash it with soap an water followed by a wash and wax. We usually do the interior also.

It usually does not get put away until November sometime January. I used to clean it at the end of the season but it sits in the pine trees all winter and needs to be cleaned in the spring regardless; especially if the mice have decided to stop in for a visit.

I must admit I have not seen any better gas mileage, cheaper gas prices or better camping rates because it was bright and shiny. :)

I never clean before a trip, I might wash the days bugs off while there easier to remove after a days travel. I clean it up inside and out before I put it back in covered storage.

I have one of neighbors who washes/waxes and tire shines his cars every weekend along with power washing the house and patio. Whoever is visiting him gets their car done too. See where this going ?
I sit and watch him detail my truck and trailer. He really does a nice job and he feels it keeps the value of the neighborhood up.