Help please - Spain, washing stations with raised walkways to do roof (1 Viewer)

Riverbankannie

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Just arrived Bilbao off Cap Finistere and out of what seemed like hundreds on MH, guess where we were placed? Yes out the back.
After my complaint that we couldn’t even see out of the windscreen to move off, the deckhand gave us a cursory wash with a hose and later we stopped in a parking area that had a tap and chucked litre jugs of water over the sides.
We don’t carry a hose because a PVC without a garage.
We can see from looking up at the roof lights that there are salt crystals all over but cannot think how to wash off. Very frustrating as we got stepladder out at home on Tuesday and gave all a good wash.
I have seen reports of some supermarkets with raised platforms to help wash high sided vehicles.
Can anyone remember the supermarket chain and was it Spain or France?
 

100brian

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Just arrived Bilbao off Cap Finistere and out of what seemed like hundreds on MH, guess where we were placed? Yes out the back.
After my complaint that we couldn’t even see out of the windscreen to move off, the deckhand gave us a cursory wash with a hose and later we stopped in a parking area that had a tap and chucked litre jugs of water over the sides.
We don’t carry a hose because a PVC without a garage.
We can see from looking up at the roof lights that there are salt crystals all over but cannot think how to wash off. Very frustrating as we got stepladder out at home on Tuesday and gave all a good wash.
I have seen reports of some supermarkets with raised platforms to help wash high sided vehicles.
Can anyone remember the supermarket chain and was it Spain or France?

Which way you heading.
Some repsol garages have them
 

Mikey RV

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I have seen them in France with the high platform so you can wash the roof, not seen any in this country.

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Pia

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Thereare definitely some in Spain and some campsites also provide those facilities....Benicassim springs to mind..it has 2 wash stations for motorhomes and we have seen several garages with ladder type systems to wash motorhomes in the south of Spain.
 
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Villasol in Benidorm has one but you will exchange the salt for a nice coat of limescale. Had exactly the same experience with our panel van.
 

Popeye

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There is a beauty down in Bosham, in fact it is a complete gantry so that you can walk above the roof and just keep edging the vehicle forward, not much use to you @Riverbankannie but of course you could always pop across there when you disembark at this end,

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Jul 12, 2013
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It may be worthwhile carrying a long handled wash brush with a hose fitting, as many Spanish paid Aires have a hose available and with a brush you should be able to clean the topmost corners of your van (or Double Decker bus if you have one).:whistle2:
 

Portland

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I will not travel this route because of this problem. I raised hell at the reception desk but they have heard it all before, they promise the van will be washed off with clean water as they dock! fat chance . we stayed in the lounge to check and no one washed the vans. After many calls to Brittany ferries we received a £50 voucher which we used on the St Malo. Its not on to Pay approx. £550 to be used as deck cargo, Ask for a refund

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Riverbankannie

Riverbankannie

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Which way you heading.
Some repsol garages have them
We passed a Repsol with wash stations and turned off main road to get to it. We decided against it as it was pressure hose and it didnt have a raised platform so I don’t think we could easily wash the roof.

I know where there is one in Cartagena, if you are heading that way.
Currently at Elephant aire and heading for Llanes tomorrow then probably across to Burgos if roads ok, then a meander around until travelling across to Villanova or thereabouts, then back up coast.

It may be worthwhile carrying a long handled wash brush with a hose fitting, as many Spanish paid Aires have a hose available and with a brush you should be able to clean the topmost corners of your van (or Double Decker bus if you have one).:whistle2:
We use one at home but normally the little space under rear lounge accessible from the back door is completely filled with 2 Bromptons. This time however completely filled with 2 golf sets in hope of a few rounds!

I will not travel this route because of this problem. I raised hell at the reception desk but they have heard it all before, they promise the van will be washed off with clean water as they dock! fat chance . we stayed in the lounge to check and no one washed the vans. After many calls to Brittany ferries we received a £50 voucher which we used on the St Malo. Its noy on to Pay approx. £550 to be used as deck cargo, Ask for a refund

I intend to ring up tomorrow and make my voice heard. We do not have a return booking as plan A was to use our last frequent tunnel ticket for return, however, apart from the salt issue, it was a pleasant journey and so we are considering returning and a voucher could be used (y)
 

Badknee

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Deffo one at the garage next to Lidl in Nerja very easy to find off the main drag through town two minutes off the M/way.

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Riverbankannie

Riverbankannie

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Deffo one at the garage next to Lidl in Nerja very easy to find off the main drag through town two minutes off the M/way.
Like Totana, Nerja a bit of a detour to get a wash but thanks anyway.

We will keeps eyes open for larger MH parked up near us and ask if they have a step ladder as I know many carry them. At least we could chuck a few buckets of water over the top (y).
 
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Riverbankannie

Riverbankannie

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Hang in there until tomorrow and nature will do it for you ...rain due in Llanes tomorrow ....

https://www.eltiempo.es/llanes.html?q=llanes
I looked on Ventusky earlier but didn’t spot rain.
We were going to try the municipal golf course there for a starter as we haven’t been able to play for a few months.

Golf or van wash?? Which would I prefer? :rolleyes:
 
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Thereare definitely some in Spain and some campsites also provide those facilities....Benicassim springs to mind..it has 2 wash stations for motorhomes and we have seen several garages with ladder type systems to wash motorhomes in the south of Spain.

You can borrow excellent step ladders in Benicasim at Bonterra Park,, BUSBY.
 

Badknee

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Like Totana, Nerja a bit of a detour to get a wash but thanks anyway.

We will keeps eyes open for larger MH parked up near us and ask if they have a step ladder as I know many carry them. At least we could chuck a few buckets of water over the top (y).
Yes that's an idea, soft brush from Chinese shop wouldn't cost much either.

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There is a Camperstop outside Aguilera, in the Mercia region that has one you can access... just make sure that you get to it before the Germans.. they take forever to wash and brush their motorhomes.
 
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You can borrow excellent step ladders in Benicasim at Bonterra Park,, BUSBY.
That's if you can get in there. We had enough trouble trying to get in in Altea where we are now, I was thinking of not even trying Benicasim.
And by the way, do avoid leaning ladders on the top rounded section if it's a pvc. It looks nice and firm and strong metal, and fine at the time, but when you have finished cleaning and look up, you can see little creases on the top edge. They don't go away!
 

GWAYGWAY

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There was one at the gas/fuel staion at Aguillas where we stayed at the site behind, it was big too and there was a bloke with liner type doing his roof with the long attachment they had fitted up there.
 
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We decided against it as it was pressure hose and it didnt have a raised platform so I don’t think we could easily wash the roof.
Nothing wrong with a pressure hose and it would wash the roof from ground level. Just stand further back than you would with a hose. A pressure washer used at a few feet (say 6 feet) away is incredibly wetting and would be the best way of clearing the salt.
 
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Popeyes you said there was a beauty with a gantry in Bosham can you tell us where as we would be very interested in trying it out. Thanks.

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There was one at the gas/fuel staion at Aguillas where we stayed at the site behind, it was big too and there was a bloke with liner type doing his roof with the long attachment they had fitted up there.
We’ve just spent a week there ourselves, and used that washing station. Stand well back, if you use it. It nearly knocked me off my feet :eek: ! It’s a good place to stay, and the weather is lovely :D. I think we’ll probably be back there in a couple of weeks.
 
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Riverbankannie

Riverbankannie

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Thank you everyone who replied to this thread.
All plans now changed, we like doing that.!
We are cancelling our return through France and spending all our holiday in Spain. Apart from the salty van, we enjoyed the crossing, so having wrung a £50 voucher (thanks @Portland) from Brittany Ferries this morning :dance2: and using a friend and family discount, we have booked a Pont Aven back on 2nd April.

So we have changed our route and now moving south towards Madrid and we might even make it to Totana:sun: @jumartoo . Any golf near you?

Bonus is, it’s rained all day travelling across through Burgos.
It can stop now, please, thank you very much:whistle:

The Brittany Ferries lady firstly implied it was my fault for booking a very where it says some may be parked on open deck, then she offered to refund a produced receipt from a Repsol type auto wash, then she offered £30 and I managed to push it it to £50.
I don’t understand why they don’t have a proper washing station at the terminals, surely it would help with all the complaints.

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Dec 23, 2014
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There is a beauty down in Bosham, in fact it is a complete gantry so that you can walk above the roof and just keep edging the vehicle forward, not much use to you @Riverbankannie but of course you could always pop across there when you disembark at this end,

:) Shall be in that area soon and my roof needs a good clean so where is this wash exactly?
 

Northernraider

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I personally wouldn't put a pressure washer anywhere near my motorhome ...but opinions vary.

Prefer to wash by hand even if it's harder work its less abuse on delicate seals not to mention vents etc

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