Our opinion is '' Why bother''

Desert Dweller · Guru

Our opinion is '' Why bother''

Bushpie · Guru

Enjoy the journey DD ......perhaps wash it when you get there might be an idea.

Perth has just had a cold snap so I guess there will be an exodus from our lovely city as well.

Ge · Senior Member

i am with you, once a year detail in and out for me.

Desert Dweller · Guru

Ge wrote:
i am with you, once a year detail in and out for me.

Exactly. We wash our rig (car & caravan) twice a year. Why try to impress a load of strangers that you'll never meet again?

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

DD, I live full-time in my van ... have done so for over eight years .... It might get a wash once a year - depending on the generosity of a van park I might end up in.

I look at it this way. How often does one wash one's house? .... not very often I would suggest.

My Landy gets the outside washed about as often as well .... I do clean the inside probably monthly though coz I am a bit of a grub.

Cheers - John

The Belmont Bear · Guru

In my opinion DD who cares ? If you want to wash your van, car whatever it's up to you I don't think that the people you pass are going to take any notice of how clean your rig is. I can't recall ever being on the road and really looking at someone's van to assess whether it's been washed or not. Go ahead and polish it if you want but the first rain storm, roadworks or dirt road you go through no one is going to know any different.

Possum3 · Guru

Washing and polishing does give you the opportunity to thoroughly inspect your rig/s - It also gets the bug-guts off the surface that is not only unsightly but the acids in the splatter effect the durability of the fibreglass. By the same token I'm not going to dust down the thing every time I pull into camp. Generally remove spider webs and bird droppings when noticed - splash a bit of water and truck wash over tug and front van area when it's looking tired. Full wash, wax and polish about once a year.
It is the inside that gives us most grief forever tracking in little pebbles, even though dropping our shoes off when we enter.

meetoo · Guru

Desert Dweller wrote:
Keeping up appearances is not really practical unless we join the water wasting, detailing, nothing else to do but clean club. Will we be outcasts when we reach our destination. See you there!

How does joining that club make it more practical?

Cheers, John.

Radar · Guru

Desert Dweller wrote:
We're about to travel from Melbourne VIC up to near Yeppoon QLD much like a large number of retirees avoiding the southern winter. We thought about washing the exterior of our caravan before we leave home, but why bother? It's dirty from a recent trip to the NSW south coast. When we hit the road next week we'll definitely strike wet weather, mud & road works along the 2,500kms between our home & our QLD destination. Keeping up appearances is not really practical unless we join the water wasting, detailing, nothing else to do but clean club. Will we be outcasts when we reach our destination. See you there!

Hi Desert Dweller

Yes! I like your opinion but for me I like to keep my gear clean when possible, as I said thats me, don't go out of my way to do it.

For me it gives me the chance to check things with both the car and caravan closely.

I not big on polishing.

Most importantly I do it for myself.

Ron-D · Guru

Our Van is parked outside as there's no room for it in the garage,The Van is new and I like to look after my gear,it's covered with a custom made cover from cover world very expensive but worth it in the long run,so the van is always cleaned before the cover goes on for obvious reasons,so when we start our trip we leave home with a nice clean rig,it won't be cleaned while on the road as that's a waste of time.as others have said it pays to give your rig a good clean and a polish occasionally if you like looking after your gear...

SouthernComfort · Guru

Do your own thing, no need to seek approval or feel insecure about it!

We like living in a clean house, so the same applies to our cars and van. I used to spend much more time keeping vehicles fastidiously clean to enhance their resale value - until I finally learned it makes not one iota of difference at trade-in time!! Now we keep them clean entirely for own satisfaction.

Hendo · Guru

I once managed a caravan park where the owner would not allow any dirt or beat-up cars or vans into the park, Had to turn them away!

Phil C · Guru

DD you make a good point.

SWMBO insisted that we wash the van before our Perth trip (for whatever strange reason). After about a week the grey dirt was replaced with red mud... Must say the exercise was a WOFTAM

Cheers

Happywanderer · The Master

Haven't washed my van in months. As you say Why bother.

Vince · Senior Member

I wash the van once a year and spray it with liquid wax and leave it no rubbing or polishing.

Still looks good.

Cheers
Vince

macka17 · Guru

I wash my van on front lawn b4 every trip.
with CT20 (Truck wash and polish.)
Use same on cars too.
After that. If I stop at a truck servo, they often have "truck Wash" out the back for a coupla $$'s. I'll do it than. But apart from that. Shrug.
it's got a protective coating. Let it do it's job in my eyes.

Some like to baby cars. van. boats etc. Full on.

Me. I service religiously with best oils.
The muck can fall off when it's ready I reckon. just keep screen. Back window and No plates visible.

First 3 yrs I owned my new Patrol.
I washed it.. ONCE... Di Nagged me.
That Pewter Grey of Nissans is perfect for camouflaging dirt.

Cleaning cars for me. Is praying for rain.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

I wash the lower section of motorhome as we get dirt etc off the sides when opening under floor box's etc . Plus the clothes line under awning . I wash with bucket and sponge where it says no washing . Never had a complaint . Just don't use the hose to wash, and wast water .

Bryan · Guru

I wash mine when I think it needs washing.

aussie_paul · Guru

I guess it might maintain a better resale value.

Aussie Paul. smile

Ge · Senior Member

Vince wrote:
I wash the van once a year and spray it with liquid wax and leave it no rubbing or polishing.

Still looks good.

Cheers
Vince

What you use Vince sound's good to me.

Cheers avagoodweekend.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Your making excuses to be lazy .. lol

Vince · Senior Member

Ge wrote:

Vince wrote:

I wash the van once a year and spray it with liquid wax and leave it no rubbing or polishing.

Still looks good.

Cheers
Vince

What you use Vince sound's good to me.

Cheers avagoodweekend.

I use the Turtle brand spray on wax, I buy it at Supacheap and the van looks new still after 12 years old

Cheers

Vince

Swoffer · Senior Member

Pride ?

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

I'll have to try that in our shower ? Lol

Ge · Senior Member

Vince wrote:
Ge wrote:
Vince wrote:
I wash the van once a year and spray it with liquid wax and leave it no rubbing or polishing.

Still looks good.

Cheers
Vince
What you use Vince sound's good to me.
Cheers avagoodweekend.
I use the Turtle brand spray on wax, I buy it at Supacheap and the van looks new still after 12 years old
Cheers
Vince

Thanks Vince

I will give it a try. Maybe if I spay it on myself at my annual wash/shower it might stop me ageing, what ya recon.

Regards Ge.

Alfromoz · Member

I've seen a guy out western Qld camped in a dusty free camp, out wiping down his van and 4x4.
The rig would be covered in dust just exiting the camp.
I love a clean car etc but that seems obsessive.

The Belmont Bear · Guru

Vince wrote:
I wash the van once a year and spray it with liquid wax and leave it no rubbing or polishing.

Still looks good.

Cheers
Vince

Hey Vince sounds good what's the product that you use ?

Ge · Senior Member

The Belmont Bear wrote:
Vince wrote:
I wash the van once a year and spray it with liquid wax and leave it no rubbing or polishing.

Still looks good.

Cheers
Vince
Hey Vince sounds good what's the product that you use ?

Read two links up and you will find the answer.

The Belmont Bear · Guru

Thanks GE I missed that.

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

I started washing our van after our Bladensburg NP trip plus road works with a bucket & sponge (all we are allowed with tight water restrictions). Discovered a leak in the roof so am half way through resealing the joints! I need a sky-hook to be able to do the front!