Corky 8

Good morning to you all, Could someone Please tell me the easiest way to wash the top of my Motorhome, its a Bessacarr E720, I spent most of the morning with the M/H pulled up tight to the side of garage with me on the garage roof a long wash brush taped to a longer broom handle ,it worked ,but not too good around tv antenna and rooflights ,it also has a full roof rack and access ladder,which I,m reluctant to spread a board across and work from, how do you all Cope, the roof was completely green with algea when I collected it from Dealer who quoted health and safety would not allow them to get up to wash it,
Thanking you for any info Corky




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justme AKA Grath

The dealer is just bone idle!!!
Mine was the same when I collected it
On my old van, I used to climb up the ladder and walk on the roof as checker plate fitted
On my new van I use large step ladders and find them quite ok!
I just have to be carefull not to push them over when I am on them
But you R V 's will not have a problem as I believe they are walkable on!!!

Jim

Your Bessacar roof should be absolutely fine to walk on, I used to lash two 35kg canoes to our Bessacar E495 roof and I weigh just under 3 canoes!

Just be careful up there when it is wet

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kands

Hi Corky
Welcome to the forum by the way
Good question this..... I guess it is not possible to stand on the roof of your van and that being the case makes cleaning it a tad difficult. I once cleaned the roof of a Swift Kon Tiki that we owned for a while and found that I could stand on the rear of the roof where the rack was so that made it easier.
I mixed up a bucket of Biological Washing Powder (Ariel I seem to remember...) and spread it around with one of those long handled cleaning brushes that you can get from the shows etc.... I left it for a while (about 1/2 hour???) and then went and scrubbed as best I could from the rear roof, and then got a ladder leaned up against the awning rail to reach the front bit. I then used a pressure washer (set to a gentle setting) to blast away all the crap. The sides were covered in a green mess but that was easy to wash off....
This does an acceptable job because the enzymes in the washing powder are helping with the cleaning and you are not just relying upon that scrubbing action alone....
I hope this helps

Keith

Corky 8

Thanks Justme, I.ll give the roof walking a try, I may have to take the tape off the brushes and wrap it around my knees to stop them knocking, Corky

justme AKA Grath

On my previous van, I washed the roof every time that I washed the van, which was every time that it was used (every 2 weeks).
On my new van, I must admit that I have only washed the roof 4 times in as many months.
I expect that the reason is because I do not have a roof ladder fitted and no checker plate at the rear.
If you do decide to walk on the roof without checker plate, be careful not to leave any dents made by your feet or knee's

Corky 8

Much obliged Kands, I like the idea of biological washing powder, sounds just the thing, and I will have to set to and make an extendable brush,to suit the job, But thank you for your input it is appreciated Corky

justme AKA Grath

If you do go up on the roof tie a rope to the bucket and when you go up onto the roof you can take up the brush, hose and the other end of the rope and then pull the bucket up by the rope. Be very careful not to scratch the side of your van with the bucket and do not lean out too far or you may fall over
Make sure that the hose will not kink and make sure that it is long enough!!!.
Very frustrating, when you have to climb down to unkink it or unravel it from a tow bar or similar

Corky 8

Hi Jim and Thank you for your advice, I think I weigh three canoes so should be ok , most of my other camping vehicles, Caravannette,s Caravans have not ben a problem washing, and my old motorhome, a Bedford CF Debonair (yes that long ago ) was shaped so the roof was accessable from a step ladder, Many thanks , Corky

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kands

Corky
Above all that has been said, I think it was Jim mentioned about being careful up there when the roof is wet.....
If you are at all concerned don't go up on the roof.... It is a long way down
The roof will be extremely slippery when it is wet, fistly from the algae that is up there and next from the soap solution. Please do be very careful mate and wear correct footwear for the job like a good pair of trainers.
Just a quick thought.... Can you find a large car wash (personally I detest tham and do not ever use them) that will be high enough for your MH? If so I would guess that it would do a reasonable job of scrubbing most of the green crap off?????
Whatever, Please do be careful up there........ I know how scary it can be on an RV roof when it is wet

Keith