Caravan Washing

just use some car wash and warm water and some good water pressure to get all the loose dirt off. I would be using a machine polisher with some light wax. That protect the paint from the elements.

Cheers!

Dave - caravans don't have automotive paint systems, and polishes will reduce them to the primer many years before they would do it on cars. Better to wash with water and maybe kitchen detergent in the bucket. No fancy stuff at all seems to be the go.

We've only had our van a couple of years and stored it outside, with a cover if we are leaving it for more than a month or so, and the surface seems to come up well with just detergent. The need for future washings comes from what's in the air and what washes up from the road - waxing won't help that.

I have a soft broom for washing over the van, and use a sponge on the windows as the polycarbonate is pretty soft and liable to scratch.

Cheers
Max

I have always used quality car wash'n'wax on caravans, trailers and boats. Recently I have started using Chemtek CT 18 to wash them down but I am not so sure it is any good without a follow-up wash'n'wax product. Water restrictions now though.

With the van the best care is to use it occasionally between bigger trips, eg for weekends. If at all possible do not park it on grass or soil for extended periods.

I bought one of those brushes on an extendable handle to wash my van. It has a dispenser for suds that screws on as well & it works quite well. I went over mine with "Fireglaze" and that seems to still be working with water beading up etc about a year afterwards....The important point to remember is that those covers you can buy will scratch windows & paint if they move at all in the wind & make sure you get any bird poop or tree sap off as it will quickly etch the finish....Scientific tests have shown that Sea Gull poop is the worst....

Hi Dave,
we bought a brush from Supacheap,cant remember the name but it spins with the water pressure going through it and cost $40.00 worth every penny,
regards,
Dave

I don't have any personal experience other then using a truck wash. The following tip may be useful if you are only running on the hard top; A very good friend who delivers (drives) brand new motor homes from factory to owners across the USA sprays 'Pam' frying pan oil (buy it in an aerosol can at the supermarket) across the upper front area of the vehicle so that bug strikes can be easily wiped off. Getting dried 'baked on' bugs off the front of a vehicle sure can take a lot of elbow grease!

If you want to stuff the paint, use CT18.I used it a few times on the truck, and it just eays the polish/wax off in about two washes,,,,,tho it is great for the chassis dirt...lol
If you want the van to look good in ten years, either plain old dishwashing liquid , in warm water, with a touch of kero, or try Mcquires(spelling?) wash. I found this best to use on our Jayco.
As for the oil spray before you go on a trip,,,,well, kero on a cloth and wiped over the surface is easier to get off, and won't leave any streak marks.

meow.

rick.

My caravan is dazzling sparkling white again! My husband spent 5 hours (while i was at work) rubbing with just water (elbow grease). As it hadn't been washed since we got home at the end of April, the mud was really set on hard, but even harder, oil or similar stains (from exhaust or road?) on the front. He didn't use anything in case it damaged the surface.

This is how it looked before the wash. The bit of rain we'd had didn't make much difference.
!MPG:21!

Firstly I don't own a caravan but am very fussy how I wash all of my vehicles. Stay right away from all the CT18's & Truckwash type products cos the reason they work so well at removing road grime, grease and diesel fume residue on trucks and semi-trailers is that they are very powerful harsh industrial cleaners that usually contain caustic soda as already stated and are really only suitable(and that is debatable) for two-pack epoxy coatings that a lot of heavy equipment is painted with these days. Only good use is for tyres, wheels and mechanicals i.e. engines/gearboxes & underbody. Problem is they remove the pigment from the paint and leave that white chalky faded "old paint look" in a very short time. (I must bathed in it at some time) Also be very wary of any household detergents especially the good ones like Morning Fresh because they have similar chemicals in them and since you don't consume them they are not required to tell you on the lablel what is in it. How do you think they cut through all that grease and grime on you dinner plate so well. I stay away from all of them. Find out from your caravan manufacturer (not the dealer who sold it) what paint they use and what they recommend to clean it and keep it looking like new. It is in their interest to keep you happy and keep their products looking good because it is a good advertisement for them and they know we all like to repeat bad news stories to anyone that will listen (and those that won't) just like on these forums. If they can't help speak to the paint manufacturer. I am a strong believer in regular use of a good polish or wax (obviously one that will protect rather than harm the painted finish) and you should be using one for protection from the suns UV's anyway. Don't believe a word of that stuff in you vehicle owners handbook that says acrylic finishes don't need polishing and is only true if you get a new car every year ha ha. You will find the bugs and dirt/stains etc come off much easier with less elbow grease if it is kept polished and shiny and some that are really obstinate will actually polish off. If the van has any ali checker plate panels or ali trim strips a good metal or bullbar polish will keep them shining but be aware they are going to oxidise and loose their shiny new look unless you keep on polishing those parts regularly. Around the window rubbers and trim rubber strips etc I use a soft nail brush or plastic scrubbing brush (about $3.50 in Bunnings) and this is where I break my own rules and if really bad red stains won't come out use a tiny repeat tiny amount of washing up liquid on the scrubbing brush on the seal/trim strip area only and wash off any adjacent painted areas immediately. Regards HP cleaning it is really a waste of time, except underneath if lots of mud is caked on, because you are going to have to use a sponge, running water and plenty of elbow grease to get all the dirt off anyway. Also HP water blasters, even the cheapies, will damage rubber/plastic trim strips if the water jet is held too close and will penetrate silicone sealed areas as well as lamp assemblies.