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yakman · 07-05-2008, 02:57 PM

Hello,

I haven't seen this issue addressed in campground rules, so one would ask, can we wash our trailer at a campground or is that a taboo thing one just does not do in the campground?

yakman

davidz71 · 07-05-2008, 03:01 PM

I've only seen one trailer being washed on a campsite pad and thought it was out of the ordinary. My first thought was why didn't they take it to a car wash or wash it in their yard? I don't know about others but it might leave a mess that someone behind me might have to clean up. I just don't do it.

BamCamper · 07-05-2008, 03:02 PM

Yes. It usually is taboo.
Some campgrounds and RV parks have signs posted saying it is not allowed.

**azflycaster** · 07-05-2008, 03:03 PM

That would be up to the campground. If I had a campground I would not allow it, but that's just me. You would be using a bunch of the campgrounds water and the soapy water off the trailer has to go somewhere. The guy in the spot next door might not be happy if the soapy water pooled under his trailer.

2airishuman · 07-05-2008, 03:10 PM

really depends on the campground...

many of those where it is prohibited include the 'no no' with the list of other things, like dog poop.

but not all make it obvious.

IF i don't see it listed in the rules or on the office WALL, i assume it's ok.

till told otherwise, and this has ONLY happened once while in the act of washing.

some places i've camped have "NO WASHING CARS/TRUCKS" posted, but are ok with the rv bath.

i think some private park owners go through phases and change their 'rules' based on abuse by some campers...

or even day of the week (since weekdays many campgrounds are much less occupied) i never do it on friday/saturday...

i've even been in parks that have "OK TO WASH, PLEASE PAY US 5$" signs...

and parks that have designated sites for washing, with built in drainage for the water and an 'upcharge' for those sites...

the big surprise (for me) is the number of state parks where it's OK to wash, but they don't encourage it...

i've even got a short list of commercial parks that have signs and advertise that "YES u can wash your rv here"...

with ~ 55 gallons of fresh water on board, i can JUST do a washing at the rv storage lot after a long dirty trip...

cheers
2air'

overlander63 · 07-05-2008, 03:28 PM

We live in an RV park, so our circumstances are slightly different from most vacationers. In our park, they have a reclaimed water system throughout the place, with one purple-colored spigot for every 4 or so spaces. Washing RVs is permitted here, as long as you use the stuff that comes out of the purple taps. And I have used it to wash Bertha.

kstampa · 07-05-2008, 03:55 PM

i've washed ours on occassion at a state park and here's the biggest reason why. We live in an urban area and our AS is stored about 15 miles away so it's not terribly convenient to get to it just to wash it. I imagine there are many others like us who don't have the luxury of storing their AS in their back yard. So if you see me srcubbing away some time cut me some slack

Al - K4GLU · 07-05-2008, 04:39 PM

Well where it is allowed I wash mine all the time. Unfortunately there are few commercial CGs that allow washing. But even some that have rules saying no washing will allow you to wash if you ask nicely first and if they aren't real busy. It never hurts to ask. State Parks, town and county parks etc very rarely have any prohibitions against washing and if the rules don't say no then as far as I'm concerned it's OK. Only problem with the latter is that some do not have water hookups. And there is no prohibition against washing at the Terraport in Jackson Center!

davidz71 · 07-05-2008, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kstampa

i've washed ours on occassion at a state park and here's the biggest reason why. We live in an urban area and our AS is stored about 15 miles away so it's not terribly convenient to get to it just to wash it. I imagine there are many others like us who don't have the luxury of storing their AS in their back yard. So if you see me srcubbing away some time cut me some slack

Your secret is safe with me. I understand your situation and even those with covenants that won't even let you keep an RV on the property. Fortunately, I live in a small, but getting bigger, town that allows us to keep boats, trailers, etc. in the driveway or back yard. I digress since that was discussed in another thread.

vinstream · 07-05-2008, 08:30 PM

A shinny trailer is a happy trailer! If anyone ask just say "with the price of gas these days I find a cleaner Airstream gives me better gas mileage!" Then just smile at the SOB and continue to wash~!

Rebee · 07-05-2008, 08:47 PM

We just finished a 3 month, 8,000 mile trip around the country and I have not seen one CG that allows someone to wash an RV. They did have private parties authorized to come in with their owen water and wash your trailer for a nominal fee. I had mine washed several times, the washers did a good job for a reasonable price.

dale

yakman · 07-05-2008, 09:33 PM

I can certainly see the need to clean the ol' trailer up while on a long road trip. An extended road trip would leave the trailer pretty dirty. With the loads of rain we camped in early last week, the runoff from a quick wash shouldn't seem to harm anyone. I can't imagine having to use a car wash you may stumble upon. We have a car wash near the house but I will not touch the AS with a high pressure wand. Plus, the layout of the parking lot would not allow me to pull the truck through the bay and get the trailer out the other side.

It sounds like some CG's seem to recognize the need for fulltimers to clean their trailer.

What do travelers with the big pushers use to clean their RV's? Do they go to a semi-truck/truck stop wash? Most pushers I see seem to be pretty spic 'n span clean and I can't imagine many of those owners up on a ladder putting on the elbow grease.

yakman

eubank · 07-05-2008, 09:40 PM

We permit it if the owner will promise not to use a ton of water, making a major puddle. But there are always a few out there who seem to think that a couple hundred gallons of water is necessary to clean off the bugs. Noooooooo, Mama! Not in these parts of the country!

Lynn

**moosetags** · 07-05-2008, 10:17 PM

Lucy usually gets her road baths at a commercial car wash, but we have washed her at a campground on two occasions. Once we paid a $3 fee for the extra water use. The other time, we were about the only campers in the campground, and the owners told us to just go ahead and give Lucy a bath there.

TBRich · 07-05-2008, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yakman

...snip...

What do travelers with the big pushers use to clean their RV's? Do they go to a semi-truck/truck stop wash? Most pushers I see seem to be pretty spic 'n span clean and I can't imagine many of those owners up on a ladder putting on the elbow grease.

yakman

Many of the larger truck stops on interstate routes have washing facilities for semi trucks with tall clearances and even scaffolds to get up high enough. It's a great place to clean up while on the road...

HDS · 07-06-2008, 06:15 AM

It seems to me to be a little inconsiderate. I wouldn't want to camp in a car wash. It's bad enough having to clean up after dogs and pick up the last guy's trash without having to be in mud and mess from washing a trailer. Many quarter car washes have a bay thats big enough for large trucks, why not use that? The pressure should be better that you'll get from a hose at a campground, and anyway, camping is for leisure, beer and napping, not working. Your Airstream looks better dirty than most folks clean SOB.

Steve & Susan · 07-06-2008, 08:04 AM

The campground where we keep our AS during the summer allows washing, which we do twice a year.

We stayed at a KOA in Sault Ste. Marie Ontario that had an area in the campground where you could pull your TT and wash it there - concrete pad, drain, water supply.

Other than those two, the answer is usually no, although I've seen some folks washing theirs using a 2-gallon garden sprayer - minimal water use and no puddling.

Journalist · 08-02-2008, 09:51 AM

I've been known to spray off the bottom couple of feet of mine after a particularly hard rain on a non-paved campsite that had splattered sand up onto the skin. However, the ground was already wet and I didn't use soap, just the water hose. I just think it's a bit incinsiderate to break out buckets of soap and start spraying water everywhere in a campground. Go to your local car wash and have a look at all the soap and road grime that has dried on the concrete. Do you really want to camp in the middle of that?

tpi · 08-02-2008, 10:23 AM

Its generally not done in RV parks due to the tight packing of spaces. Runoff and spray being the problem.

But..there are parks which allow it and have specific areas for washing. Betabel Rv park near Gilroy CA. is an example.

Best thing is to ask at each stop. Offer a few $ for water and ask if there is an uncrowded area of the park you can camp in, or a designated wash area.

I'll do a little spot cleaning in ordinary sites, but not with a hose..

3 Dog Nite · 08-02-2008, 12:00 PM

I try to use a truck wash located near truck stops for my MH. I can't wash her at home as I full time. I have been known to rinse off the road dust with a hose from time to time.

Try to be frugal with the water & no one will complain. There was only once when I was confronted about this. I had started with the front so I said was just cleaning off the bugs from the windsheild for safety.

As an occasional campground host, I encourage you to ask about rinsing if there is a sign that forbids washng it.