Washing the van roof

moulesy
moulesy Forum Participant Posts: 9,402 ✭✭✭✭✭
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edited May 2016 in Caravan & Motorhome Chat #1

Just come in from walking the dogs and whilst out we walked past a guy washing his van. Nothing odd about that you might think, except that he was walking around on the van roof using a power washer. Now I always thought the advice was jot to use power washers
and it would certainly never have occurred to me that the van roof was strong enough to support my weight, even though it would make the job that much easier.

Anyone else do the job that way?

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Comments

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited May 2016 #2

    Our van roof is strong enough to stand on ,but would not use pressure washer,I use long handle brush with hose connected ,or did but storage wash out of use now so had to change van to have a clean roofCool

  • k8tiej
    k8tiej Forum Participant Posts: 7
    edited May 2016 #3

    Yes, we can walk around on our caravan roof too, as JVB66 we use hose and soft brush, never the pressure washer as wary of damaging roof lights etc. By the way it is usually my job to get on roof, whilst husband steadies ladder!

  • Goldie146
    Goldie146 Club Member Posts: 2,448 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2016 #4

    We use a telehandler with a safety basket. And a long handled brush. When I say "we", I mean my husband, not me!

  • Bakers2
    Bakers2 Forum Participant Posts: 8,196 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2016 #5

     

    We use a telehandler with a safety basket. And a long handled brush. When I say "we", I mean my husband, not me!

    Do you hire out the equipment? Possibly an extra fee for your husband, as he's experienced?

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2016 #6

    We also climb onto the roof for cleaning it, don't use a power washer just a brush on the hose good pressure of water gets it done fine, my job is the skylightsFrown

  • HelenandTrevor
    HelenandTrevor Forum Participant Posts: 3,221
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    edited May 2016 #7

    Not sure I would want to walk around on the caravan roof, OH usually has a long handled brush and a step ladder. 

  • HelenandTrevor
    HelenandTrevor Forum Participant Posts: 3,221
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    edited May 2016 #8

    We use a telehandler with a safety basket. And a long handled brush. When I say "we", I mean my husband, not me!

    That way sounds good. Smile

  • Bob2112
    Bob2112 Forum Participant Posts: 276
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    edited May 2016 #9

    Not sure how she does it but Mrs B always leaves it sparkling.

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,647 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2016 #10

    Not sure I would want to walk around on the caravan roof, OH usually has a long handled brush and a step ladder. 

    That's the way I do it too. Although one of the adverts for our van showed that it was solid enough to walk across I would not consider doing it. It's easy enough to reach all parts of the roof while standing on a set of steps and using a soft brush with an extending handle.

  • Biggarmac
    Biggarmac Forum Participant Posts: 364
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    edited May 2016 #11

    When my caravan was in for its service I paid extra to have it washed.  Now I have a motor home this ties me to that place to have it serviced. Unless of course any of you would like to volunteer!

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited May 2016 #12

    I  take  mine  to  the  petrol  station,  fill  up  with  fuel,  inflate  the  tyres  then  use  the  self  service  wash  facilities  &   wash  the  whole  vehicle  ==  I  do  take  a  lightweight  set  of  steps  tho'  !!  Its  the  only  real  way  to  clean  the  roof  on  my  Ducato  'cos  it's  not  flat  but  has  convolutions  or  some  such  things  which  certainly  got  filthy  over  winter !

     

    Its  also  a  great  way  of  getting  the  stink  of  fuel  off  my  delicate  little  hands   Happy  !!

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited May 2016 #13

    Just  dicovered  6  pages  on  this  subject  on  'ere  ==>!

    How  to  wash  a  Motorhome  !!

  • Grumblewagon
    Grumblewagon Forum Participant Posts: 246
    edited May 2016 #14

    Since buying our Romahome Dimension, we've never seen another until our recent ferry crossing to Ijmuiden. When we were watching the cars embark , there in the queue was another 'Dimension' and as OH commented, "their roof's dirtier than ours" !  She was
    right , it was.

    True, I had washed and polished the van, but not the roof.  When we got home, I figured that the only was to clean it was to park closed to my workshop, climb on the workshop and wash it using a brush with along handle and a hosepipe.

    Did one side, then turned the van and did the other side. Not perfect, but a lot better than it was.

    Do you need any special cleaner / polish for a fiberglass roof, or just the same as for the van body?

  • Trini
    Trini Forum Participant Posts: 429
    edited May 2016 #15

    How do you clean around the roof lights especially under the 'lip' as they sit down on the roof?

    I know with the large Heki using a step ladder inside I can reach the roof with the Heki open, however, the smaller lights ie kitchen bedroom & toilet do not offer me this option.

    I cannot use step ladders down one side of the van.

     

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited May 2016 #16

    Trini,  If  you  have  a  Motor  Mover,  once  a  year  park  your  van  t'other  way  round  and  wash  the  "mucky"  half  then!  Sorry  its  the  best  suggestion  I  could  come  up  with,  I'm  afraid 
    Frown

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,582 ✭
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    edited May 2016 #17

    I would not stand on a caravan roof. It is a long way to fall and can be slippery and most caravans do not have a roof strong enough. Use a step ladder and a brush as the safest option for most of us.

    Under no circumstances use a power washer except on a low rate of flow. Most pressure washers are capable of blasting the sealant out of joints which would be disasterous.

  • HarleyDave
    HarleyDave Forum Participant Posts: 150
    edited May 2016 #18

    Our caravan roof will take my weight and I use a power washer when cleaning it why wouldn't I? I put caravan cleaner in it and use a soft brush on the lance so no high pressure involved then rinse off with water at low pressure

  • redface
    redface Forum Participant Posts: 1,701
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    edited May 2016 #19

    Sadly for me it is a broom and step ladder with a bowl/bucket of suds and a hose.

  • flatcoat
    flatcoat Forum Participant Posts: 1,571
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    edited May 2016 #20

    Walking on a slippery wet caravan roof without a fall restraint is just plain stupid. You certainly wouldn't be allowed to do so in the workplace. I have seen the consequencies of a fall from a single storey garage roof which is about the same height as
    a caravan and it was not pretty. 

  • 1Tracey1
    1Tracey1 Forum Participant Posts: 240
    edited May 2016 #21

    I think I would be reluctant to stand on my caravan roof, although wish I dared as the long handled brushes I use struggle to get in the corners around the roof windows (I don't know the technical terms).  

    As an aside, I have only washed my roof once and I did notice when I got up the ladders that there was some standing water on the roof.  In  storage we level our caravan as I thought you had to do this for things like fridge gasses.  Would we be better off
    tilting it very slightly so the water runs off?

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited May 2016 #22

    I always have mine tilted quite a bit during its winter hibernation.

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,582 ✭
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    edited May 2016 #23

    I always have mine tilted quite a bit during its winter hibernation.

    It stops pooling on the roof but there are still dirt collecting spots around the roof lights.

  • m0rrisman
    m0rrisman Forum Participant Posts: 75
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    edited June 2016 #24

    tilted which way cyberyacht fore or aft

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,311 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #25

    Getting too old for falling off ladders or caravan roofs, so our roof gets cleaned once a year, when it is serviced. We leave ours tilted forward when in storage.

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited June 2016 #26

    We use a telehandler with a safety basket. And a long handled brush. When I say "we", I mean my husband, not me!

    Do  I  detect  a  touch  of  the  "Royalty"  about  that  answer  Goldie ??!??

    { My  Husband  And  I  Cool  really  means  "T'owd  Mon" }

  • royandsharont
    royandsharont Forum Participant Posts: 735
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    edited June 2016 #27

    I tend to wash the roof with a brush from a step ladder or a normal ladder but when I polish the roof I climb onto it. People are quite right it is very high up at 3m and I don't feel overly safe from slipping so I tend to move around on hands and
    knees on a pad to reduce impact. You have to just be careful of all the obstructions and whilst my MH roof is more than adequate to walk on at 80k but I cannot walk on the GRP part at the front over the cab or the fancy rear end panel. I have to reach out
    over the front on my belly or from side steps. I always fear for slipping over the top too! .Regards, Roy

  • Briang
    Briang Club Member Posts: 670 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #28

    I clean mine from a step ladder and a telescopic brush..

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #29

    I tend to wash the roof with a brush from a step ladder or a normal ladder but when I polish the roof I climb onto it. People are quite right it is very high up at 3m and I don't feel overly safe from slipping so I tend to move around on hands and knees
    on a pad to reduce impact. You have to just be careful of all the obstructions and whilst my MH roof is more than adequate to walk on
    at 80k but I cannot walk on the GRP part at the front over the cab or the fancy rear end panel. I have to reach out over the front on my belly or from side steps. I always fear for slipping over the top too! .Regards, Roy

    ....i assume you meant a trim 80 kg (12.5 st) Roy....? or are you saying that more expensive vans have better roofs?Wink

    for the doubters regarding roof strength....Hymer ran an advertising campaing many years ago where they sat one of their top line MH on top of another identical one to demonstrate the inherent strength....couldnt vouch for the average caravan though...

    needless to say, my MH roof has no problem accommodating my svelte 60 kg....Wink

    (though after a fortnight's holiday of too much dining and wine even i am going have to get a grip of the calories in the next few weeks.....Undecided....best
    get out and mow that lawn...or wash that van roof.....)

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited June 2016 #30

    I tend to wash the roof with a brush from a step ladder or a normal ladder but when I polish the roof I climb onto it. People are quite right it is very high up at 3m and I don't feel overly safe from slipping so I tend to move around on hands and knees on a pad to reduce impact. You have to just be careful of all the obstructions and whilst my MH roof is more than adequate to walk on at 80k but I cannot walk on the GRP part at the front over the cab or the fancy rear end panel. I have to reach out over the front on my belly or from side steps. I always fear for slipping over the top too! .Regards, Roy

    ....i assume you meant a trim 80 kg (12.5 st) Roy....? or are you saying that more expensive vans have better roofs?Wink

    for the doubters regarding roof strength....Hymer ran an advertising campaing many years ago where they sat one of their top line MH on top of another identical one to demonstrate the inherent strength....couldnt vouch for the average caravan though...

    needless to say, my MH roof has no problem accommodating my svelte 60 kg....Wink

    (though after a fortnight's holiday of too much dining and wine even i am going have to get a grip of the calories in the next few weeks.....Undecided....best get out and mow that lawn...or wash that van roof.....)

    ..Glad our van is not average thenWink

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited June 2016 #31

    I tend to wash the roof with a brush from a step ladder or a normal ladder but when I polish the roof I climb onto it. People are quite right it is very high up at 3m and I don't feel overly safe from slipping so I tend to move around on hands and knees
    on a pad to reduce impact. You have to just be careful of all the obstructions and whilst my MH roof is more than adequate to walk on
    at 80k but I cannot walk on the GRP part at the front over the cab or the fancy rear end panel. I have to reach out over the front on my belly or from side steps. I always fear for slipping over the top too! .Regards, Roy

    ....i assume you meant a trim 80 kg (12.5 st) Roy....? or are you saying that more expensive vans have better roofs?Wink

    for the doubters regarding roof strength....Hymer ran an advertising campaing many years ago where they sat one of their top line MH on top of another identical one to demonstrate the inherent strength....couldnt vouch for the average caravan though...

    needless to say, my MH roof has no problem accommodating my svelte 60 kg....Wink

    (though after a fortnight's holiday of too much dining and wine even i am going have to get a grip of the calories in the next few weeks.....Undecided....best
    get out and mow that lawn...or wash that van roof.....)

    ..Glad our van is not average thenWink

    ...sounds like you cant, eitherUndecided.

    which side of 'average' would yours be, and are you confident it'll support your weight....Wink

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