Whoa, how much to wash my rig again...???

[Jim]

Here in Fairview, Oregon at a nice park and often saw a local RV washing service in the park. Usually took a couple workers a couple hours to do a rig as big as mine. So called them up to get a quote to wash my 35' Winnie Class A.

I expected the price to be a little higher than the $2-$7 per foot I'm use to of course because everything RV related in this area is too darn high and it's certainly not Mexico prices. I was thinking near the high end of the scale, so $245.

The guy comes out to give me a quote and launches into a phoney, "You have oxidation!! Oh, no!", he says as he rubs his finger through the dirt on the side of the RV showing me that it comes right off with his finger.

Yeah, OK, I have some minor oxidation, big deal (and what he was showing me was just dirt). So how much, I ask? He grabs his gallon jug of liquid oxidation remover to show me, as though I'm suppose to be impressed or something. Using a liquid product is like the reverse of hard. Splash it on a brush and just brush off the oxidation. Not like you have to rub every foot of the RV by hand anymore.

He wanted $550. I laughed at him a little, told him no way.

Wow, $15.71 per foot, or $137.50/hour. For washing a RV. Not exactly skilled labor so it's hard for me to justify paying that much when I could pay a high school kid $25/hour to do it.

What do the rest of you pay these days? Does $550 seem a little high to you too?

[msmith1199]

I just paid a guy $525 for my 35 foot motorhome. But that was a complete wash, then a oxidation remover then a hand wax (or a buffer wax). My RV is 12 years old and all I've ever done to it before was wash and spray on wax. It took two guys almost five full hours so I thought $525 was reasonable for that.

[lryrob9301]

Rwake901 wrote:

lryrob9301 wrote:
$550 is ridiculous for just a wash. I get a complete exterior wash & wax for $275 in Florida. I got my 40' coach washed completely for $125 in Salt Lake City.

Is this for a hand wax? I would pay that in a minute. Washed and hand waxed mine this spring myself. Took me two days. I told my wife this might be an every other year job. lol $275 sounds cheap... 😄

Yes, Dazzling Detailing out of Orlando Fl. Wash including roof, hand wax, and polish aluminum wheels till they look like chrome all for $275 + tip. ($60)

[RoyB]

Everytime we drive close to a truck stop especially in the early evening we hear all kinds of ladies advertising to wash your truck on CH19...

I have a feeling they are talking about something else hehe...

Roy Ken

[KCFDCapt]

I had my 39 foot Class A with painted exterior washed and waxed for $250.00.

I think your guy is way beyond what I would be willing to pay for that "service."

[Rwake901]

lryrob9301 wrote:
$550 is ridiculous for just a wash. I get a complete exterior wash & wax for $275 in Florida. I got my 40' coach washed completely for $125 in Salt Lake City.

Is this for a hand wax? I would pay that in a minute. Washed and hand waxed mine this spring myself. Took me two days. I told my wife this might be an every other year job. lol $275 sounds cheap... 😄

[2oldman]

bigred1cav wrote:
Truck wash $60 including spray on wax

I was going to try that until I saw 4 guys with high-pressure wands... yikes.

[bigred1cav]

Truck wash $60 including spray on wax

[Triker33]

I get mine done with no extra cost $$$. I do it myself. Roof down and it only takes me 3 partial days with a small power washer and a long stick brush.

I do that 2 times a year if it needs it or not. 🙂 That has worked for the last 17 years of full time. At my winter spot washing is allowed.

[azrving]

$550?????? I would paint my old girl for that much. 🙂

[aslakson]

We get our 32' MH detailed - wash, wax, polish - for $300 in Southern California. They include the wheel simulators and for another $20 even do the toad. And it's good work - crew of 4 guys takes about half a day. The result usually lasts a whole year until we get back there.

al

[LittleRedGoat]

Helmsey, I have lost the guys card, but I did see him several times cruising thru River Plantation looking for business, I would guess he visits them all.

[Jim]

2oldman wrote:
--Snip--I had a complete wash and wax job, and it was machine-buffered over every square inch. A lot of work. Cost more than $500 and looks brand-new. I've had the spray on wipe off jobs, for $400, and they do ok, but not compared to a complete wax and buff.

Compared to Southern CA prices, I think you have a bargain, depending on the kind of job that's done. You can call me a sucker, but I'm also not a sucker for cheap jobs that look good for a couple months. I really don't think a high-school kid is going to do a very good job.

I hear ya, 2Oldman, but I'd watched this crew work on 2 rigs very close to me, one right next door, and they never used a tool more complicated than a brush on a pole. If I'd seen them using a buffer, than I might have reconsidered. They were no better than some highschool kid you watch carefully, and give plenty of instructions too.

[Effy]

Had a company in MD once quote me $600 for a wash and wax. I was like "Um. no"

[Helmsey]

LittleRedGoat wrote:
I got my 36ft fifth wheel washed in Pigeon Forge for $80 dollars, roof was included in the price

Who did that? I need them to visit me on Labor Day weekend.

[2oldman]

Jim@HiTek wrote:
"You have oxidation!! Oh, no!", he says as he rubs his finger through the dirt on the side of the RV showing me that it comes right off with his finger.

Not like you have to rub every foot of the RV by hand anymore.

If you do have oxidation, it will be the same color as what he's rubbing. Not dirt color.

I had a complete wash and wax job, and it was machine-buffered over every square inch. A lot of work. Cost more than $500 and looks brand-new. I've had the spray on wipe off jobs, for $400, and they do ok, but not compared to a complete wax and buff.

Compared to Southern CA prices, I think you have a bargain, depending on the kind of job that's done. You can call me a sucker, but I'm also not a sucker for cheap jobs that look good for a couple months. I really don't think a high-school kid is going to do a very good job.