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BUS WASHING 101
Upon our return from our latest jaunt the bus had the normal road dust and grime that seems attracted to the bus as though they are magnetic particles jumping onto a magnet. Skillfully I will work my way around the coach with a wipe rag and copious amounts of elbow grease, pull it outside, and immediately watch the dirt and trash of man coat it again.
It is my very own personal Black-hole of the Bus Community.
This time the normal grime was accompanied with a healthy dose of green tree pollen so yesterday I decided to wash the bus. It is important to note my bus washing does not involve a hose or soapy water. I only do that if the bus has special dirt on it like road salt or mud or some kind of unusual grime.
One thing I absolutely hate about bus ownership is washing the beast. It is not on my top ten list or any bucket list available anywhere, and this includes “Camping World.” This time I got one of them “Epiphany” things you are always hearing about.
Today, quite by accident I discovered that I am pretty much entrenched in Old Fartdom. That name is as good as any I suppose, as I am fairly sure this is not “my Golden Years” period of life. If it is, then they are going to LOVE ME at the home.
I suspect it is human nature to ignore the obvious signs for the maximum time possible, but yesterday I found I could no longer lie to myself. After fetching my washing materials, bucket, rags, ladder, I notice everything’s starting to click for me … My knees, my elbows, my neck.
Using a five gallon pail of water, a washing brush and a long pole. I wet the brush and start at the top where it curves into the roof and wash all the way down in 4 foot sections. I go around the bus, loosening whatever is stuck on the bus. Some of the dust and dirt gets flushed to the floor of the garage, the rest is loosened and within seconds the water drops the material onto the floor.
After the above phase of the procedure is completed, I get out my 10 foot step ladder and I dry the coach from the top curve of the side panels all the way down to the point at the bottom of the windows. I can do 4 or 5 foot sections at a time before I climb down and move the ladder. When I am done with that phase I move the ladder aside and start drying from the windows down to the bottom of the bays.
What I describe is a lot of stretching, bending, climbing, lifting and moving.
Yesterday it took place in 1.5 hours (roughly) which is pretty normal for when I was 50. But I am not and today I know I am firmly centered in Old Fartdom. I am so sore that even my hair aches. In fact it is a wonder I don’t have aching teeth. Everything else aches, so why not. It would not surprise me that I will have different parts of me waking up at different times tomorrow morning.
Yet today if the weather allows later on, I am going to try to wash my wife’s car and my pickup truck, and that event will involve a ladder, hose and soapy water plus the drying of the vehicles.
If I ever win the lottery and can afford something like this, I think it would be best to just go out in the backyard and have the wife shoot me. I am getting way too old for this stuff. As a matter of pure unadultrated fact: I’m praying for rain right now.
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28 Replies
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Under stand. Take my coach out every 3 to 4 weeks and here in Texas those bugs fly year round. Wish Beacon was closer even though it’s only 97.4 miles down the road in San Antone. After this time. it ( Blue Beacon) will be part of the road trip no matter which a way I’m a heading.
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Real men wash their own coach. I’m still a real man because I still wash my own coach.
It used to involve water, wash mits, scrub brush, and a long pole plus a ladder to get up to the top to dry it, but now it also involves Motrin. Lots of Motrin.
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Not just real men Jon… I’ve washed ours and dried every inch numerous times. I even waxed a Bluebird once including the roof… will never do that again though, but I quite enjoy washing the bus !!
Diane
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Diane,
Let me know when you are going to hike up the ladder to dry that H3. I want to watch. When you are done I will provide the Advil or booze, your choice.
1999 XLV X-6872, liberty #440 -
I just washed the Liberty Elegant Lady the other day. Even though rain was in the forecast, I just couldn’t stand all the dirt on it. Liberty Coach in Stuart had done a beautiful job washing and detailing our coach when we were down for service recently. Driving back to TN, rain, bugs, changed our beautiful new coach into a bug mobile!
I spent three hours taking my time washing and drying the coach. I do consider it good exercise which I do need.
I will wash just the front when we stop for a night while on the road. I HAVE to get those bugs off. It just makes it so much easier the next day.
Mark
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Under stand. Take my coach out every 3 to 4 weeks and here in Texas those bugs fly year round. Wish Beacon was closer even though it’s only 97.4 miles down the road in San Antone. After this time. it ( Blue Beacon) will be part of the road trip no matter which a way I’m a heading.
The bad part about owning an Iggle is the alum. skin is not allowed the luxury of a truck wash (acid baths ruin the finish) and it has to be done by hand. Which of course, is the point of the post. Bus washing is not much fun, and not to be enjoyed … period.
Recently a friend of mine was complaining about spending $80 to have his wheels polished. I just smiled and replied, “that is a bargain my friend, bet on it.” Like my Daddy was fond of saying, “Never look a gift horse in the mouth.”
Thank all of your for your comments.
BCO
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Just for the record so that even an Iggle owner doesn’t have to hand wash his coach Blue Beacon has what they call an RV wash.
This wash uses nothing more than soap and water. No chemicals and they do hand wash. The use of a power washer is part of it.
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With the current cost of about $8K to re-skin one of these Turkeys Jon, I am not willing to risk it. All it takes is one time, and if they have not flushed the system, or there is any type of acid in their lines, I will be toast.
I do however appreciate the information on that, I do not frequent their washes and I was unaware of that feature they are offering.
BCO
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I stopprd drying mine a while back invested in a spot free washing system saves a lot of time and no spots, Jon still have to have the Advill though guess it comes with age, Gary
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Gary:
You say “I guess “IT” comes with age.” Like what the definition if “IS” is, what is the definition of “IT”?
Do you mean that Advil comes with age or do you mean what I think you mean… that ‘intelligence‘ (to use a spot free rinse) comes with age. I am guessing you are referring to intelligence. After all you were responding to Jon.
Wait…on second thought, as old as Jon is, he should be right up there with Einstein.
Hope your Dr. Appt. this morning was on time, Jon.
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Im a lazy kind of guy and avoid work at all cost. Dont think I was born this way. it seems to have come on gradually.Anyway, I dont mind washing the coach but absolutely HATE the wipedown part ! Hish Amaral turned me on to a deionizer that you can buyline from costco.Best money I ever spent. NO wiping ,No spots !
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About time you woke up Ted, er I mean Red.
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Ive been awake Tom, just lurking here (its less painful) lol. By the way our non rally rally at lazydays went well. 14 coaches, not all our brand, plenty of beer, lots of lying went on ,and good food. The pool was great till someone pooped in it. It was either a small child or Ed Shea. My vote is Ed.
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Hey Tom this is a response to your fix for my typing problem. So far so good. Now Patti is gonna try it on the new computer. thanks again. Its ok to go up on the dues now.
Red -
In all the excitement about washing I forgot to mention the name of the de-ionizer . Its called the spotless water system and as I stated before I wash the cars or coach and rinse with the deionizer and walk away. No wiping and no spots. Finally something that actually works as advertised.
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