Hi, I asked this in my post about our bus being painted, and thought it should probably go in another post. Just wondering, do any of you wash your bus in truck washes. We did our other bus, but............... with the new one, just a little leary, lol. I am sure I will be pretty anal for a while about the bus. Well, maybe a long while, :o
Mine was never in a truck wash but it was a Eagle and I wasn't going to chance the siding to acid most of those places use.
acid?????
I did that. I was 30 bucks and like 5 guys washed her down in like 5 minutes. The one had a wand that was 8 foot long. The rest just stood around and ask how old is this thing! Got her home and spend 8 hours doing it right. I now wonder what was the better cost per hour.
We have had some do good and take a lot of time, and others that rushed it thru. We are going to probably carry a power washer on board and do our on. Usually there is someplace out back at a truck stop that you can do it.
I wash my 5A using a bucket with about 2 gallons of distilled water in it along with some Turtle Wax Wash and Shine. I use a garden sprayer and about 6-7 gallons of distilled water to rinse it off with. Just do a small section at a time, takes me about 45 minutes to do it. cost is about $12 or less and i don't have to worry about somebody doing any damage. :)
Ruthi, you need to check the laws at one time AZ and CA were the only 2 states not allowing acid in a truck wash they don't call Blue Beacon Truck Wash streaking beacon for nothing lol
good luck
Hmmm, never heard of acid wash before. I dont think I can trust places like that with the new bus.
Maybe best to wash your own coach.
Anyone with double pane windows best stay far away from a pressure washer. Let's remember the vintage of the windows. A pressure washer may force moisture into the panes, and then you get the fogged windows.
Garden hose for hosing off anything to do with near the windows, blast away below that.
Watched it happen, won't participate again!
happy coaching!
buswarrior
I thought that's what kids were for ???
Maybe you should have couple ;D
They are prouder of the bus when they wash it especially if it is real dirty :)
I do my own, especially since I heard the horror story from Sonnie. He has to replace all of his aluminum siding as it got stained really bad from a truck wash using acid. I think you will do a better job than a truck wash anyway. And with that new paint, I sure wouldn't let anybody else touch it!
Just for fun pull into a church car wash fund raiser and watch the kids light up, they'll do a fantastic job, use a hose and sponges and just soap and water and they will swarm over it like a bunch of bees, especially if you carry a long handled brush with you.
I always wash our bus myself. Car soap and a long handle brush. That way, I know what was used to clean it and know it will be done to my standards when finished. Speaking of which, I better get busy and wash it before the Back To The Bricks Rally next week end. It has been about 3000 miles and driving in the rain since it was washed. Jack
I ussed to take my MH to an RV wash in Yuma which was like an oversized car wash with rolling spray nozzles but no brushes. all the brushing was done by hand. Jerry
They have guys in Yuma that will come to you and wash your rig for a buck for each foot of length. They use pressure washers and long handled brushes. I have my own pressure washer but don't use it on the bus...only a long handled brush or a wash mitt. ;D
I've taken many trucks through the "streakin beacon" wash and have never had a problem. You can ask those guys to not use any acid on your bus. Acid will ruin your day if it gets on your aluminum. I had a set of tanks done that were black to start and when finished, they were kind of white looking. One other thing you will want to remember...have them use fresh water, not recycled water to rinse. It will cost more but does not streak as bad.
Don't overlook the distilled water process that Ed mentioned. Most water is reasonably "hard" and will leave surface streaking/spots if you just let it dry.
You can use regular water to rinse, but you will need to dry it what a good quality cloth. Many top end coaches have a water treatment system on-board just for coach washing.
There is no need for a pressure washer. A bucket, soap, hose and drying system is all you need.
Sometimes it is not all bad to have an "unfinished" paint finish ;D. I don't worry about drying very much. The Eagle siding does get spotty, but I use a quick wipe with some spray wax to get that off.
Jim
We have a friend that supplies wash to car dealers...says carpet shampoo on jug but we use on boat and bus cleans well and no streaks..far above stuff you buy at autoparts stores and cheaper....no water spots....ask your local car dealer what they use on lot.....The truck washes at piolt here won"t do a bus because of possible damage to finish. we use city water with that soap....will try to find brand name next time at boat...shinny is good keep grinnin ;D Bob
Thanks for all the advice. ;D