Experience with Blue Beacon Wash?

Log in

Log In | Register

Skip to main content

Topic: Experience with Blue Beacon Wash? (Read 807 times) previous topic - next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Experience with Blue Beacon Wash?

January 22, 2018, 10:37:00 pm

Newbie here, just learned about Blue Beacon Truck/RV Wash. Any experiences other owners can report? Any warnings to offer? Thanks.

Re: Experience with Blue Beacon Wash?

Reply #1 – January 22, 2018, 11:03:50 pm

Quote from: mboynton - January 22, 2018, 10:37:00 pm

Newbie here, just learned about Blue Beacon Truck/RV Wash. Any experiences other owners can report? Any warnings to offer? Thanks.

Welcome aboard, Marcia. I know nothing about Blue Beacons as I've always washed my LD at home.

Chris

Re: Experience with Blue Beacon Wash?

Reply #2 – January 22, 2018, 11:12:49 pm

I have no experience with any truck or RV wash service, but suggest that you find out exactly how Blue Beacon washes an RV, i.e., do they use a pressure washer, and which products they use, i.e., might the products damage the finish/rubber/vinyl?

Using a pressure washer can force water into the refrigerator, battery, and water heater compartments, into the furnace outlet, and possibly into other areas of the rig as well.

YMMV, but using a truck wash service on my LD would not be my choice.

Re: Experience with Blue Beacon Wash?

Reply #3 – January 23, 2018, 12:21:02 am

Yes, Blue Beacon does use pressure washers but my experience with a half dozen washes over the past three to four years has not turned up damage of any kind. YMMV.

Re: Experience with Blue Beacon Wash?

Reply #4 – January 23, 2018, 03:02:03 pm

If you search YouTube for "Blue Beacon RV Wash," you can find lots of videos of it, Marcia. It looks very professional and fast assuming there aren't a bunch of rigs ahead of you in line, I guess.

Best wishes,
Jim & Deb
Santa Cruz, CA
2016 TK

Re: Experience with Blue Beacon Wash?

Reply #5 – January 23, 2018, 04:13:09 pm

Another thread active right now is discussing the old paint pattern vs the new one. The new one uses less paint and no decals, except for the Lazy Daze logo. On the old paint scheme, with many decals, right about 15 years and older the decal edges are getting pretty frail. Especially if the rig has been outside exposed to sunlight. I think a pressure wash might remove large chunks of decal. It depends on the age and condition of your paint and decal pinstriping. RonB

Re: Experience with Blue Beacon Wash?

Reply #6 – April 07, 2018, 03:01:51 pm

I have friends with huge big-buck top end class A's who will only use Blue Beacon to wash their rig when they're on the road.

Lori Y
2011 24FL

Re: Experience with Blue Beacon Wash?

Reply #7 – June 25, 2018, 09:45:56 pm

Just to report my own experience...I had time and proximity to a Blue Beacon Wash today (Stony Ridge Ohio, near Toledo at I-280 and OH TPK I-80/90) so ran my 05 RK through it. I have to say it was a great experience. (FYI, they are open 24/7; this location has two wash bays, tho I THINK one of them may be dedicated to rinsing out INTERIOR of tanks and trailers.)

There was a tanker in the exterior wash lane when I arrived, then an SUV (whaatttt?) and then me. Door opening is 14H and 13W, so plenty of room. When the tanker was gone, the SUV and I both rolled into the bay, and teams went to work on pre treating both of us. I could watch the guys use different hoses, sprayers and brushes/rollers on the SUV, and then when they got ready to actually wash me, I pulled forward and got out of the LD to go into the office, pay, and watch out the window while they completed the job. I felt the washer guys showed genuine respect for both vehicles. The "crew chief" introduced himself to me, looked me in the eye, shook my hand and asked if I had any particular areas I wanted them to focus on cleaning. Not your average "workin' at the car wash" guys. Total was about $37, including undercarriage wash.

When they were finished with me (no machine or hand drying -- total time on premises was less than 15 mins, I estimate) I pulled across the road into a Love's truck stop. When exiting the bay, a HUGE sluice of water came down off the roof and over the cab. I parked, used paper towels to wipe off some small bits of black crud that looked like it had washed from the window sills or off the roof/awning -- and then dried the whole coach with a couple of old dish towels. I did not find any chips or dislocation in the trim striping, or anything else that looked damaged from the process. The roof was washed with a low pressure water feed from the top of the wash bay. I didn't climb UP to take a look at the roof yet, but I did open all my bins and look around for water infiltration -- and amazingly, in a 14 year old coach, everything was BONE. DRY.

There was a 5th wheel lined up to wash when I was pulling out of the truck stop.
I honor you guys who hand wash, and I get that we should not run our LDs through here every week -- but Blue Beacon worked for me. Of course they have a web site with their locations posted.
I am now going to get some Meguiars and see if I can bring up a shine!
MJB

Re: Experience with Blue Beacon Wash?

Reply #8 – June 26, 2018, 09:43:15 am

On the years I've use Blue Beacon at different sites. No issue to speak off. Last time I went they told ,as company policy, me they don't wash the top of RV's because of the equipment of the roof.

Re: Experience with Blue Beacon Wash?

Reply #9 – June 26, 2018, 12:36:45 pm

Quote from: mboynton - June 25, 2018, 09:45:56 pm

When exiting the bay, a HUGE sluice of water came down off the roof and over the cab.

Sounds like Lake Newton paid you a visit!

Re: Experience with Blue Beacon Wash?

Reply #10 – June 26, 2018, 01:37:01 pm

Quote from: colddog - June 26, 2018, 09:43:15 am

On the years I've use Blue Beacon at different sites. No issue to speak off. Last time I went they told ,as company policy, me they don't wash the top of RV's because of the equipment of the roof.

The problem with that is that the roof frequently is the dirtiest part of the rig, especially here in SoCal where the atmosphere, er, settles on the top. It gets mighty filthy mighty fast. If not washed regularly along with the rest of the coach, any rain or even overnight condensation will eventually rinse some of that crud off and form the dreaded black streaks that cascade down the sides. Washing the roof easily takes me as long or longer than the whole rest of the rig. — Jon

Re: Experience with Blue Beacon Wash?

Reply #11 – June 26, 2018, 02:03:18 pm

In So Cal, how often do you wash your LD? Once a month, every other? Do you have any roof cleaning/washing tips? Do you use a soft brush on your solar panels to clean?

Re: Experience with Blue Beacon Wash?

Reply #12 – June 26, 2018, 02:21:19 pm

Quote from: Tiger (Clark) - June 26, 2018, 02:03:18 pm

In So Cal, how often do you wash your LD? Once a month, every other? Do you have any roof cleaning/washing tips? Do you use a soft brush on your solar panels to clean?

Our LD is stored under cover and protected on 3 sides in a 34' length space. She gets a bath every time we go out which is at least once a month and that includes the roof. I'll also wash it again after a longer trip to remove road crud and bugs. We use a very soft bristle brush on a washing wand. We don't use any soap or other cleaning materials but just water. I use a cotton towel or that washing wand to wash the solar panels. Sometimes I need to use a diluted solution of simple green on the roof if Mother Nature handed us some gifts. Then we hand dry everything with terry cloth towels except the roof. Finally, we hand-wax our LD twice a year. Hope this helps.

Re: Experience with Blue Beacon Wash?

Reply #13 – June 26, 2018, 03:23:07 pm

Regarding black streaks, these are not nearly as bad on a LD as many other RV's that use rubber roof material. LD still uses aluminum, I believe.

Re: Experience with Blue Beacon Wash?

Reply #14 – June 26, 2018, 04:36:42 pm

"Regarding black streaks, these are not nearly as bad on a LD as..."

Early on I installed a gutter rail along the upper edge of the side walls. It has kept the black streaks to a minimum.

Re: Experience with Blue Beacon Wash?

Reply #15 – June 26, 2018, 05:04:09 pm

Quote from: Tiger (Clark) - June 26, 2018, 02:03:18 pm

In So Cal, how often do you wash your LD? Once a month, every other? Do you have any roof cleaning/washing tips? Do you use a soft brush on your solar panels to clean?

Depends. We wash it every time we go out (these days, mostly to a Caravan Club outing). I’d say once every two months on average. I can’t store it at home, and the facility (half hour away) has no means for washing, so it’s a process of getting my neighbor to move his truck to free up the only spot the rig will fit on the street within range of my 100 ft hose. I use a stiff-bristled push broom on the wetted roof and it takes vigorous and forceful pushing to get the dirt and black spots to (mostly) disappear. For the first eight years, I didn’t use soap, but that has now become necessary. Sometimes I need to scrub certain areas with a textured pad. None of it is fun, altho the neighbors and passers-by seem to be much entertained. The solar panel I clean with the softer side of the scrub pad. The only tip I can think of is the impossible dream: find a conscientious teenager who will work for cheap. 😉. — Jon

Re: Experience with Blue Beacon Wash?

Reply #16 – June 27, 2018, 02:34:56 am

A California Duster is a good place to start; if used regularly, it will remove much of the dust of travel. It's also good for cleaning solar panels.

Affiliate Notice

LDOF is user-supported. When you purchase through some links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.