In all the yrs I've had vans.
Since it came on the market.
I've used "Truck Wash" CT18. for dirty. and CT20 for after.
Yhat contains Polish.
and they designed for Trucks doing Highway work.
They DO work.
I just use Hose. Bucket with Mixture and soft broom.
Roof.
Either do it properly Panels too. with 2 x Trestles and planks.
Thanks guys. Sugar soap stays on the shelf in my Man Shed. I used it on the timber pergola and it worked a treat.
But as you say .... not for the caravan.
\thanks
Jay&dee
Strop uses car wash. Armerol. Was told not to use truck wash on caravans cos of doing something to the silicone. Might pay to ring a caravan manufacturer or repairer.
Depends what your wanting ? Just to clean live used normal car wash .. Then add a little kero and final wash . The kero seems to stay and leaves film while it dispats the water .. Yes truck wash can be a little caustic it washes out any wax's or oils in paint . Any chips tend to rust ..
Don't use Sugar Soap it's mildly abrasive and will remove the paint very quickly, just use normal car wash and wax........CT18 while brilliant stuff on the old truck did tend to fade some of the paint work.
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Checking out the places I drove past a thousand times................
Met a truckie on the Nullabor last year and his older rig was immaculate, asked him what he used and he said he had only ever used Cussons washing up liquid, he washed his rig at the end of each trip across and believe me it was superb.
When I mentioned truck wash and other stuff he just laughed, and said most truckies now don't use them.
Don't use sugar soap ! it will ruin the paint finish.
After you wash the van take it to a car wash place that has the overhead clearance and spray the whole rig with the wax spray then just drive out letting it self dry. You will have to clean any windows but it does a great job on car and van.
I am lucky my van is a poptop so it is easy to fit in a manual car wash and after doing the above it looks like new.
And it is a 2004 model.
The other advantage if one gets a pin stripe from light branches etc a quick rub with a moist soft cloth removes the mark.
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I was tired yesterday and I'm tired today betcha I'm retired tomorrow. he he.
Met a truckie on the Nullabor last year and his older rig was immaculate, asked him what he used and he said he had only ever used Cussons washing up liquid, he washed his rig at the end of each trip across and believe me it was superb.
When I mentioned truck wash and other stuff he just laughed, and said most truckies now don't use them.
Don't use sugar soap ! it will ruin the paint finish.
Absolutely!
I have been using dish washing liquid for decades. Chammy windows after wash.
Was told to use truck wash detergents and to pressure wash car...my reply is you do that and I'll do this. I keep my vehicles for 10 years or more and I sell them in immaculate condition.
It's the duco condition that sells the car!
Also, dish washing liquid cleans the engine bay beautifully. Dissolves cooking grease so dissolves engine bay oil easily.
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Cheers, Richard (Dick0)
"Home is where the Den is parked, Designer Orchid Special towed by Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited"
"4x250W solar panels, Epever 80A charger and 3x135Ah Voltax Prismatic LiFePO4 Batteries".
To be fair, my van is pretty new so has no deterioration to the finish yet, although it lives outdoors uncovered in all weathers. All I use is regular car wash detergent (Kitten etc) then Turtle spray wax all over. Water & dirt just runs off and it looks sensational. Recently I was looking around for protective coatings for the roof, but in the end I got up the ladder and treated it to liberal amounts of the spray wax, and I'll do that once or twice a year as a preserver.
I use sugar soap a lot on many things, great stuff - but as most here are saying, it would be way too aggressive for van or car finishes.
-- Edited by SouthernComfort on Sunday 2nd of July 2017 09:22:23 AM
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Cheers,
Tony
"Opinion is the medium between ignorance and knowledge" - Plato
My old alloy roof motor home .After painting . I made a mix of bees wax, linseed oil and turps . Just spread it over roof and leave . It lasts a few years . Water just runs straight off . My newer motorhome has rubber roof over ply ( I assume ? ) Same . I cleaned with high pressure water, painted with UV resistant paint and 6 months latter applied the same bees wax . About two cups, 1/4 cup of Linseed , heat together in stainless pot till liquid . Then add one or two cups of turps . I wash motorhome with car wash with a little kerosene added . It seems to stay on surface displacing water ., Keeping wax on paint etc . Which can be a concern with some truck wash additives .