How often should I wash my trailer & roof?

[UltimateSVT]

Hello all. I just purchased this 2016 Dutchmen Coleman 274BH 3 weeks ago. I'd like to keep it looking like new for years to come. I have it parked under a car port so I know that helps a lot. I've only used the camper once & it's been sitting at home under the carport ever since. So here are the questions.

#1. How often should I wash the roof of my camper?

#2. How often should I wash the whole trailer?

#3. Does anyone know the weight limit on these Dutchmen roof tops? I weigh 267lbs so I'm worried about getting up on the roof to scrub it.

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[MitchF150]

If I drive in the rain at anytime, I need to wash the trailer, just to get the road grime off of it.. I don't do the roof until it looks bad enough that I feel I need to wash it... 😉

If i get lucky enough to never drive thru rain during my camping season, I don't have to wash it..

I waxed it the first couple of years i owned it since brand new (2002)

But, to be honest, I've only washed it with "Turtle Wax" car wash soap since then and been happy.. It's fiberglass sides and the decals are still fine on the sides.. The front one died several years ago..

Still have the same trailer and it looks great and I do need to wash the roof again.. I'm #230 and I walk on mine, but I try to stand on the roof joists only.

Good luck!

Mitch

[atreis]

You don't NEED to wash it at all. You might want to, but that's for you, for cosmetic reasons. (I wash the solar panels on mine, but that's it.)

[rcknrbn]

If you decide to get on the trailer's roof, be VERY careful once you soap it up. It becomes as slick as ice once you do that. Personal experience! I didn't go sliding over the side but I came close!

I ended up washing it from the ladder with a long brush.

We just purchased a new Forest River Rockwood Mini-Lite. The paperwork from the manufacturer recommends "wash the exterior monthly with warm water and a mild detergent".

[93Cobra2771]

captnjack wrote:

93Cobra2771 wrote:
Forgot to mention, nice username. You can guess the year model of my SVT.

Check with the manufacturer on your roof. Some are made for it, some are not. You will be getting up there to recaulk your roof once a year, so you may as well plan on getting up there sooner than later.

Or do like I did and use eternabond tape on every seam. Then theres no recaulking to do.

I do not caulk the roof every year. I keep an eye on it but I see no reason to recaulk every year. Am I missing something?

I think that is what most manufacturers recommend. All it takes is a hairline crack in caulk and major damage. Once you use the eternabond, it will last life of the roof.

[trail-explorer]

DutchmenSport wrote:
Wash it when it looks dirty. That might be once a year, or when you return home after every trip, or maybe even while you are ON a trip.

Roof: Wash it when you start seeing black streaking on the side of your camper. That's my "cue" it's time to wash the roof. (usually just once a year, in the Spring).

x2

[captnjack]

93Cobra2771 wrote:
Forgot to mention, nice username. You can guess the year model of my SVT.

Check with the manufacturer on your roof. Some are made for it, some are not. You will be getting up there to recaulk your roof once a year, so you may as well plan on getting up there sooner than later.

Or do like I did and use eternabond tape on every seam. Then theres no recaulking to do.

I do not caulk the roof every year. I keep an eye on it but I see no reason to recaulk every year. Am I missing something?

[ralph_day]

Nice canopy. Not plastic piping. Got a brand name?

[93Cobra2771]

Forgot to mention, nice username. You can guess the year model of my SVT.

Check with the manufacturer on your roof. Some are made for it, some are not. You will be getting up there to recaulk your roof once a year, so you may as well plan on getting up there sooner than later.

Or do like I did and use eternabond tape on every seam. Then theres no recaulking to do.

[UltimateSVT]

I swear, forums are awesome. Most of you cracked me up... except the reply with the cracked rooftop. That freaked me out.

I am very anal when it comes to the cleanliness of my cars. I wash them every 2 weeks religiously. Hence why the question came about. I do have the trailer parked under a carport but there's about 2ft of rooftop hanging from the back & the front.

I bought the camper 3 weeks ago, took it to my mom's house (2 hours away) that same week, used it that weekend then brought it back home. We have no plans on using it until June.

I bought a nice long brush that I guess I will have to use to be able to wash the roof. After seeing the link to the cracked rooftop post, I refuse to get up there. It does look like it'll be ridiculous work since I will have to get up the ladder, scrub, get down, move the ladder, get up the ladder, scrub, get down, move the ladder, get up the ladder, scrub, get down, etc... Now I know why these roofs don't get washed as often. I'll probably wash it every 60-90 days together with the rest of the camper. This morning I just ordered two 10x20 tarps to place on each side of my canopy for added protection from the elements & also added pool noodles to the canopy legs in the event they brush up against the side of the camper. I'd like to keep it lookin' gorgeous.

Thanks everyone.

[93Cobra2771]

Mine is under cover, and gets it a couple times a year. Unless it's covered in bird poop or heavy pollen.

The roof gets maybe once a year.

A dirty roof will get the sides dirty quicker, but under cover pretty much stops all that.

[1ofmany]

donn0128 wrote:
How often do you wash your car? Mine gets cleaned after every trip, and usually again before.

First point is where we get on...if it's dirty, I wash it, body and roof. As far as waxing goes, at least once a year, but more often when I have the energy. A call to your TT manufacturer might be in order to determine if the roof will support your weight.

[DutchmenSport]

Wash it when it looks dirty. That might be once a year, or when you return home after every trip, or maybe even while you are ON a trip.

Roof: Wash it when you start seeing black streaking on the side of your camper. That's my "cue" it's time to wash the roof. (usually just once a year, in the Spring).

[time2roll]

I let the rain wash the roof. Heck I let the rain wash the sides too.
Ok maybe once a year I hose off the sides. Aging gracefully is an art 😉

[SprinklerMan]

I wash vehicles the week I buy them and the week before I sell them . I will let my kids wash the sides of the camper , but they are 11 and 8 , so about 1/4 gets washed before the water battle begins .