Washing the exterior of our TT

[matthewijenkins]

Hi All,

We bought our TT last year and it's in need of a bath! Before I begin getting the dirt off, I wanted to see what people use to wash their RVs. I usually use dish soap when washing my truck but wanted to make sure that was not too abrasive for an RV.

Thx!

[wowens79]

A Foam Cannon makes things so much easier. My wife will foam it up, and I start washing with a boat washing brush, then she comes behind me rinsing.
It goes super fast doing this.

I use a wash/ceramic wax soap. Mequiars, or Chemical Guys.

Just a tip, don't use a wash/wax with carnuba in it, it will clog up the cannon.

[mdcamping]

I use the 303 RV Wash & Seal for my present aluminum sided trailer. Works very well

Mike

[JIMNLIN]

I never use a detergent soap on my trailers/truck campers/cars/tractors/boats as it removes wax.
My nephew has a automotive detail business. His advice is never use a detergent on any surface that needs waxing from a long term lasting perspective. Reason being there are plenty of better products on the market for washing these types of surfaces.

I keep cars/trucks/boats/tractors/rv trailers for years. I use car wash products on My old '97 5th wheel trailer and it still looks new.

I have used simple green twice cleaning the trailers rubber roof which ran down the sides of the unit. The trailer was due to a wax job anyway so no issues.

[Grit_dog]

Scottiemom wrote:
My manufacturer tells me to use no high pressure wands and only baby shampoo.

Dale

Hahaha ! Good one!

[Scottiemom]

My manufacturer tells me to use no high pressure wands and only baby shampoo.

Dale

[Huntindog]

Until my present coach I never washed my RVs.With this one having Full Body paint, we decided to start washing it as the paint is beautiful. As big as it is, I looked into how the pros do it.We got an electric pressue washer and a foam cannon. A long pole with a sheepskin pad....And the most important part, a water deionizer for the rinse. No need to dry it, as the deionized water evaporates without leaving any spots. We can do our 45' Momentum in less that an hour. Use a good wash and wax product for the ultimate ease and shine.
No matter how you was an RV, be careful not to shoot water where it should not go, like in the refrigerator access panel.

[klutchdust]

MitchF150 wrote:
I use regular off the shelf 'car wash' mix for my vehicles. I've recently been turned on to the whole foam cannon method of washing vehicles now, and it's like when the light bulb was invented!

Found some "ceramic infused" wash for vehicles and it works great on the trailer too.

I use a car wash brush and the whole chore is done in a fraction of the time compared to buckets of soap and such.

Good luck! Mitch

x2 on the foam cannon. I like chemical guys products. foam it up then soft brush it off. Good results. Detailers years ago used ivory liquid, dawn is strong but gets the bugs off.

[JKJavelin]

All good advice above.
I happened across a jug of Dometic Wash n Wax on clearance a couple years ago and I like it. Beads up nicely.
As far as a hand wax goes, I've used many, and keep coming back to Nu Finish.
JK

[Tvov]

I use car wash, usually Turtle Wax Zipwax.

One thing to remember with "car wash" soap is that you shouldn't wash the rubber roof with it. Most car washes have petroleum distillate in them, which can affect the rubber roof material. This is just what I've always heard.

[valhalla360]

Thermoguy wrote:

matthewijenkins wrote:
Hi All,

We bought our TT last year and it's in need of a bath! Before I begin getting the dirt off, I wanted to see what people use to wash their RVs. I usually use dish soap when washing my truck but wanted to make sure that was not too abrasive for an RV.

Thx!

Dawn dish soap is what you use when you want to strip your vehicle of wax. I would not suggest using that unless you are planning to redo the wax or need to strip it for some reason.

I use decent quality car wash soap - typically purchased at Costco.

Bingo...dish soap is intended to strip grease. Wax is a form of grease.

Use carwash soap with a soft long handled brush and you should be good to go.

[Grit_dog]

Hit it with dish soap. If it ain’t been washed since last year it hasn’t been waxed.
But really whatever suds up is fine. Campers are made of metal and rubber and gelcoat and paint and powder coat. Just like vehicles.

[Thermoguy]

matthewijenkins wrote:
Hi All,

We bought our TT last year and it's in need of a bath! Before I begin getting the dirt off, I wanted to see what people use to wash their RVs. I usually use dish soap when washing my truck but wanted to make sure that was not too abrasive for an RV.

Thx!

Dawn dish soap is what you use when you want to strip your vehicle of wax. I would not suggest using that unless you are planning to redo the wax or need to strip it for some reason.

I use decent quality car wash soap - typically purchased at Costco.

[Wiscampsin]

Been using this on our last 4 campers and it works great and goes a long way.


https://www.amazon.com/Gel-Gloss-RV-Wash-Wax-WW-128/dp/B0027M3A1U/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1K0X8RJR143GZ&keyw...

[MitchF150]

I use regular off the shelf 'car wash' mix for my vehicles. I've recently been turned on to the whole foam cannon method of washing vehicles now, and it's like when the light bulb was invented!

Found some "ceramic infused" wash for vehicles and it works great on the trailer too.

I use a car wash brush and the whole chore is done in a fraction of the time compared to buckets of soap and such.

Good luck! Mitch