How to Wash a Travel Trailer & RV | Tips & Tricks From a Pro

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

Questions? Ask me anything!

[@warriorpride79]

Do you let your trailer air dry or do you use a microfiber or air gun?

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

Joe best to dry the windows and wheels. With my siding I just let it air dry. We used to have squeegees we would use on flat siding if there’s a concern of water spots.

[@jameskeeler6321]

Is there a wax you can apply with the pressure washer?

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

@@jameskeeler6321 you can use any wash and wax combo. I’m not aware of a straight wax that you can run through it.

[@RVGFam]

Great video. What soap are you using in the cannon gun?

[@frankstith7800]

I appreciate that you have trailer siding like mine, the corrugated aluminum. So many others have the smooth fiberglass that is easier to clean your way or with the waterless cleaners. So I was happy to see what you used. Thank you very much.

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

✊

[@katierinkol421]

Just want to say Thank you! Your tips and method made an intimidating job easy! Really appreciate it!

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

Great to hear!

[@Ryan-yi6su]

I'm going to be an expert! I'm not sure if you mentioned maybe I missed it. What kind of soap did you use in your foam Cannon??

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

I use an off the shelf car wash now, or Dawn dish soap in some cases. Depends what I'm washing!

[@Spinseeker1]

You make it look easy.

[@EssentialOilStories]

I washed my RV roof today for nearly 3 hours. Srubbed by hand using an RV Roof spray cleaner, then rinsed off. Now I need to wash the side walls..I got half done today. Then hopefully polish it before Memorial Weekend.

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

That is some dedicated cleaning. You’ll have the cleanest roof on the road in a few days. 😁

[@gregkeyser9862]

Great video! Just something to add from my experience with pressure washing trailer would be to be careful around the decal art on the trailer. I learned the hard way not to get to close with the pressure washer.

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

💯

[@kevywilliams3304]

Pressure washer infomercial…………….

[@goldenmoneystrategies]

Getting a Travel Trailer with Our Tesla Profits From Trading Options with ya in the Morning. Thanks For The Info! Have a wonderful summer :)

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

Congrats! Love to hear it. 😀

[@utoobproductreviews3297]

Good tips thanks

[@ralorralph]

If I wanted to compound my RV what would you say would be a good one to use? Great Video

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

Meguiar’s has a whole line up depending on your needs. I’d check them out.

[@alansanders3008]

What about waxing, how often should I wax my fiberglass sided 5th wheel. What is the best wax and process?

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

Generally the more weather it’s exposed to, the more often it could use a wax. Once a year is good. I like the newer synthetic waxes. They’re easy to apply and do a good job. You can apply by hand or an orbital buffer.

[@MondayKomolafe-zm7kt]

Well done sir great job.

[@bobbyd6304]

I’m looking to start a mobile pressure washing business doing mostly campers could you give me any advice on what supplies I should by including what pressure washer and tank?

[@jramos725]

Thanks for the tips bro, I live in an RV and actually am about to start my own RV, Mhome, etc washing service . Any quick, brief solid advice ? GOD BLES

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

Just do your best to have happy customers and you’ll be ok. Listen to them. They’ll tell you what’s important to them. Use that to ensure you’re offering the best service.

[@jramos725]

@@OregonCashFlowPro Yes I agree, the communication with the customer and following through makes the difference. Apreciate you, and Best wishes from So Texas ( RGV )

[@jramos725]

Good Morning, I dont want to take much of your time but I have a troy built pwasher that a friend lend me and was outside for months , got wet etc and im going to try and get going. What should I be checking to hopefully start it up.

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

@@jramos725 the gas and carburetor. Ethanol gas can absorb moisture in the air, causing problems with prolonged sitting. Same with the carburetor. It can get clogged, often due to that ethanol sitting. The pressure washing parts shouldn’t be harmed from sitting.

[@jramos725]

@@OregonCashFlowPro Ok I will go through them , clean them and hopefully get it going. I might go for a westinghouse 3200 that way I wont have troubles while doing a job. Thank you bro . Take Care

[@mikkaylaleighann9850]

Thank you for making this video! So helpful. Would you mind telling me at what point the GPM is considered “high”?

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

You’ll want at least 2gpm. You can’t have too much gpm. You just don’t want to much psi. It’s a trade off though. The orifice of the nozzle determines the psi/gpm ratio, based on what your engine can put out of course. Always opt for more gpm than psi tho. That’s your real cleaning power.

[@mikkaylaleighann9850]

Thank you!

[@gabrielking8461]

Extra tip here; I’m a pressure washer that cleans driveway, house siding and roofs. you’re regular water spot puts out at most 5.0 gpm. So anything under 5.0 is great. I’d suggest anything from 2.0+ to 4.0!

[@shaun9842]

Thanks for this video! Needed that inspiration to do mine. 🧼🪣😊

[@nolannsautodetail5468]

How much would u charge for something of this size. ? Thank you in advance. How do you price different units u wash. :).

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

It’s been awhile, but in general we would charge per linear foot. Make some calls in your area to find out the going rates and price your services accordingly. Your competition may have their prices online as well. 🍀

[@EYNugget]

Thanks, just the video I needed! Thanks for covering everything in detail. do you recommend any kind of soap?

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

Not really. I like anything that foams a lot.

[@jamessund5370]

Chemical guys 👌

[@adronorta8462]

Wouldn’t that brush scratch? And also how much would you charge for that Rv, I want to start my own pressure washing business

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

That brush does not scratch. It’s very soft. Just keep it off the ground where little rocks and dirt can get in it. Not sure what people are charging these days. Back when I did it we were about $2 per linear foot. It’s a great business. Good luck!

[@motavice3499]

@@OregonCashFlowPro I'm at 10-12 per ft for doing just what you did and going back over it with a spray sealant.

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

@@motavice3499 you can get a lot for adding that sealant! Good for you.

[@gsantos612]

Thanks, so what soup do you recommend?

[@cool3nc]

Curious how you end up building connections with the parks to wash the trailers? I’m a mobile detailer in Georgia and would love to get more into oversized vehicles

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

Just go in and talk to the people in the office. Tell them what you do and ask if it’s ok to wash there and if they have any restrictions. They may have certain times that are quiet times, May have a section set aside for washing that they want you to use. They may let you put your cards or flyers at the desk and they will likely have a brochure you can advertise in. They get a cut of that, so any advertisers they’ll likely be more open to alerting the guests about. It always worked to just drive our wash truck (windows open) through the parks also. People will flag you down, no need to bother anyone with a sales pitch. Best of luck out there! 🍀

[@galapagosbusinesses.8859]

@@OregonCashFlowPro 👍GOD BLESS.

[@wheeliefish5161]

Great vid! I’m wanting to start a side business washing rvs and got a couple questions. When you were doing others rvs what happened when there were stains that wouldn’t come out? Did you just do a regular wash and not worry about the stains? I’m practicing on the rv trailer we l have and I can’t get all the stains out especially on the awning. I’m worried what a customer might think if I wash their rv and it’s not perfectly clean🙂 Thanks so much!

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

Good question. Don’t worry about working miracles. Charge for what you plan to do. If they just pay for a wash, charge for a wash. If you see stains that won’t come out, you can tell them ahead of time to set expectations. If you can get stains out, ask if they want it for an upcharge.

[@wheeliefish5161]

@@OregonCashFlowPro Ok, that makes me feel better🙂 Thanks so much!

[@phyllismustain8820]

Great video!. Recommendations on the brush handle? The bungie ideal, really good. Is there a link to that? Let’s talk about the background music. Very nice.

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

I’ve always liked extendable handles. The challenge is finding ones that last from the pressures of brushing. I prefer ones that click to lock, as opposed to twist lock. For bungee, I prefer an adjustable one for an optimal fit with different ladders. Appreciate the support!

[@industrialexitstrategist2022]

Thank you for this video! What soap do you recommend for 2019 Jayco Northpoint 385thws? My rig is almost 45 ft. Do I wash with slides in OR out or both? I have been still for 12 plus months.

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

Any good car wash or Rv soap should be fine. I used to use some industrial Soap that you can’t just pick up at the store. I prefer to wash with slides out, to clean the tops of the slides. Either way is fine though.

[@stephenlataxes9904]

Any tips for cleaning a roof that you cannot walk on?

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

I had small extension ladders with rubber foot standouts that would work good for that. Or toss a piece of plywood or a wide plank on top that you can walk on.

[@markking956]

Do you have to do anything different around the windows etc?

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

Yeah, don’t spray hi pressure directly into any open areas or sealed openings such as around slide outs or where windows open. Turn down the pressure or just step back and use the mist to rinse.

[@slow.blobeye8345]

You blew my mind with that business idea...

[@sandrairwin378]

What did u use for soap?

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

I had an industrial wash & wax. I would buy the powder out of TX.

[@jtteger1715]

Looks new!!!!

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

jt teger 2015 and holding up well. 😁

[@NGF-Life]

interesting video James. Do you need special driver's license to drive truck + trailer? What's your annual cost to maintain the trailer?

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

No special license to pull travel trailers generally. Maintenance largely depends on if you store it outside and whether you do the work yourself. Cost will vary widely for each scenario above.

[@donaldstclair9988]

What do you use on the black streaks that remain?

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

Black streak remover can help. Otherwise grab some MacGuire’s rubbing compound and buff them out.

[@isaacjewett4695]

Also, how long does it take you on average to wash a trailer?

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

We would wash in teams of two and it would take about 30 minutes.

[@kayseacamp]

A few questions. If your rig has slides should you aim your pressure washer away from the trailer on the slides? Or should pressure washers not be used to clean the slides at all? Lastly if you are full-timing how often should you give the exterior of your rig a wash down?

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

Good questions! I try to never aim high pressure at the slide out seal. The slide out itself can be pressure washed. Just aim straight at the side and push the water to the seal to get the rinse, or step back a bit and don’t worry about it, as long as the seal is good. I would wash it after each drive, to get bugs off it. Other than that, whenever it starts to get mildew is probably fine. Sealing and protecting the roof is one of the more important things to pay attention to, since it will be exposed to the weather and sun continuously.

[@kayseacamp]

@@OregonCashFlowPro thank you. My husband and I are planning to start full-timing next year so I'm doing research on cleaning and general maintenance cus I don't want to end up on an RV fails compilation hahah

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

@@kayseacamp smart! 😆

[@blisslimoservice1732]

@@kayseacamp how is the business going? im in california and im planning to do this pressure washer Rv's but I know they might seem easier than houses but you can mess them up too if you dont know exactly what u are doing..

[@isaacjewett4695]

How much do you usually charge for a trailer cleaning ?

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

It’s been about a decade since I’ve done this. Used to charge by the foot. $2 or $2.50 per foot I think then. It was $1/foot when I first started.

[@johnwiechel]

I may have missed it. What solution are you using in the foam cannon?

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

Basic car wash detergent. My siding doesn’t require anything special.

[@johnwiechel]

@@OregonCashFlowPro is it safe to use a SH mix? Say 1 or 1.25%?

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

@@johnwiechel I never tried it. We always scrubbed. I’d suggest checking with high end RV manufacturers to see what they say. That’s gonna be your biggest risk if something goes wrong.

[@johnwiechel]

@@OregonCashFlowPro yea. Siding on one I was just asked to wash has algae all over the sides. So was hoping a light SH mix would give a better clean and faster results

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

@@johnwiechel I imagine it could help. I’ve never had a problem getting algae and mold off RV’s and trailers without it. The pressure does a good job. The only areas that can be troublesome is caulking that’s turned green from mold.

[@galapagosbusinesses.8859]

👍Glad i found this channel. Subscribed. Excelénte.👍

[@CarlosTorres-cm6ls]

Do you do any wax at all?

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

Yes but I didn’t in this video.

[@gaylebanks7533]

Other info says don’t use pressure washer on trailer, just soap and water with a soft brush.

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

Good advice in general. Most people try to use the pressure to clean. That can cause damage to certain finishes and stickers. I like it for its ability to soap quickly, knock off thick gunk, and rinse with minimal water. The soft brush is used to scrub the dirt.

[@1027tonystephens]

Do you use a foam wax as well after you do a complete wash?

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

Back when I did it professionally we had a wash and wax that would foam up nicely and do real well. I haven’t gotten any foaming waxes to try with this yet. I imagine there’s some good ones out there that would do the trick.

[@bryanquintero467]

does it matter what soap you use?

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

It can if you have specific needs for your type of roof or siding. In general it isn’t that big of a deal, though some work better than others.

[@colbysmith2684]

How do you quote for a wash?

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

Check what other companies in the area are charging so you can be competitive. We charged by the linear foot around here.

[@colbysmith2684]

Thanks!

[@el.godfather1335]

Around how long does it take?

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

Depends on the size, but most can be done in less than an hour.

[@el.godfather1335]

@@OregonCashFlowPro and another question, do i have to be careful with the ac on top like getting water in it or anything like that or is it ok to power wash the top with the ac there?

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

@@el.godfather1335 I never had an issue around anything, but I always paid attention to not use high pressure toward the vents and any openings. Low pressure and angled so it’s at least perpendicular to the vent slats.

[@SMASHERJP]

Link to that pressure washer?

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

I don’t have a link unfortunately. I picked it up at Costco. You can usually find them there in the spring and this one has been great. It’s a Subaru engine with electronic start.

[@thebandit4393]

Lots of great tips throughout the video. Thank you for taking the time to shoot and edit all this on top of the work to clean! Two questions: (1) what soap do you typically use in the foam cannon and (2) how do you clean your awning?

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

I’ve used all kinds of car wash soap and regular dish soap in the foam cannon. The awning is a messy challenge to do quickly. I just soap it and scrub it with a brush usually. To clean it better, I’d suggest getting awning cleaner and a good sturdy ladder, then clean it by hand. Less messy, more effective, but time consuming and labor intensive. Have fun!

[@thebandit4393]

@@OregonCashFlowPro Thanks for the kind reply! I will try some different car washes. I know Dawn is more of a strip wash and will remove wax, which can be good occasionally but not as a regular wash. I usually don't use that on a car unless I plan to wax it afterwards. Mostly I'm looking for something designed to foam.

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

@@thebandit4393 they all seem to foam good with this.

[@SundryGirl]

👍😁THANK YOU OREGON CASH FLOW PRO. YOU ROCK🎸

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

My pleasure 😊

[@ReMz10184]

What would you charge for a job like this? I just started my auto detailing business this year and just had someone request a quote to wash and wax a 27 foot motor home. Im a bit out of my wheelhouse here.

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

We were charging $7/ft to wash and hand wax motor homes. I think people are up close to $10/ft now, but if you are just starting, may want to go a bit lower while you learn the particulars. Though with the new waxes that go on so easy, it's so much easier than it used to be. I know someone doing ceramic coatings that's charging a LOT and doesn't take much more time either. Good luck!

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

That's $7/ft for the rig, not for each side btw. Fairly easy to make $100/hr at that rate.

[@ReMz10184]

@@OregonCashFlowPro Thanks for the reply. Im a very seasoned auto detailer and unlike when I started, there is now youtube. With those 2 things in consideration, and the awesome products now available, I was in a pretty good spot to spend a night doing some research in order to put together RV quoting packages. I went with $10/ft for a wash and exterior detail. $5/ft for a spray sealant. $5/ft to buff and wax the roof with an all in one ceramic. Total estimate came to $540. Mobile detail. I was really just winging it. Turns out an RV detail shop an hour away quoted the guy $450 and he had to bring it there. So, I wasn't too far off. He agreed to have me do it for the mobile factor. Appreciate your video. It definitely helped! I just need to get a brush like that and bring my 50ft high pressure hose.

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

Troy Remy that’s great! Sounds like a good bid. Where abouts are you located?

[@ReMz10184]

@@OregonCashFlowPro Haha funny you ask. I was just going to comment for any reading what I posted that this is pricing for Alaska.

[@billmccune9551]

What soaps should you use to wash your trailer?

[@brendaespinoza7861]

So what would be a good psi to take mildew off

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

It doesn’t take much psi to get mildew off. Decent gallons per minute and you can flush it off with relatively low psi, think 500 or less.

[@darkgelfling]

What would you have charged a customer for a cleaning like that?

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

It’s been nearly a decade since I’ve charged for this. At that time I think I was charging $2/ft. Best way to know what to charge is call your competitors and find out what they charge.

[@darkgelfling]

@@OregonCashFlowPro thank you . great video BTW it has a lot of good tips

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

@@darkgelfling my pleasure 😊

[@darkgelfling]

@@OregonCashFlowPro sorry to be a pain. What type of soap do you recommend. If you did say in the video I did not hear it and I’m sorry. Thank you

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

@@darkgelfling I didn’t in the video. I got my soap from a local supplier. Most any car wash soap is fine. You might reach out to a local commercial distributor to see what they have. If you’ll be using a pressure washer and the foam cannon, pretty much any soap will work and go a long way.

[@shoebert31]

remember people,be cautious of the PSI on the roof membrane

[@jayminc3442]

Didnt wash it for a year and it looked like that, man mines green after a year 😂 WA life under trees

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

For sure! Fortunately no trees above it.

[@tkirk3660]

I put my machine dead center then the hose is plentiful

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

Whatever works! 👍

[@mydreamwindow1721]

Great video and lots of useful info! If I may make a suggestion... The ball valve is a lot more useful on the gun side of the hose than the pressure washer side and it's much easier to access. Just some food for thought.

[@ricklundberg1152]

We need a new American Flag

[@OregonCashFlowPro]

I actually got one shortly after this. :)

[@olgacosme7657]

Half the fkn video and nothing !! SU and get to cleaning !!!!!