Washing underside of motorhome

[andyelbac]

As a relatively newbie (first MH purchased last August) and still learning, what are Funsters thoughts on getting underneath the MH with a power washer with the pressure dialled down to remove any winter salt residue? In my car I don't think twice about running it through my local IMO and selecting the under car wash, but I'm conscious of water penetration. Is it best to stop worrying and leave it? After all, won't a few runs out in wet weather end up washing all the salt off anyway?

 

[Jo662]

Is it best to stop worrying and leave it? After all, won't a few runs out in wet weather end up washing all the salt off anyway?

I think you have answered your question right there
I wouldn’t pressure or hose underneath what with wires and water pipes and the chance of water ingress.

 

[PP Bear]

Having been under my coach build and looked at the shoddy, rubbish wiring that the Autotrail fitters left, the poor insulation and exposed connections, I’d steer well clear of any forced attempt of cleaning there.

Once you’ve had any form of electrical failure on a van and the nightmare it sometimes is to locate the fault, you’d definitely not think about it.

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

Hmmee, a pertinent question. I was under our bus yesterday fitting a home brewed spare cassette carrier. Whilst under there I also took the bungs out of the waste tank to give a good squirt round inside with the hose pipe. I noticed that on the light weight carrier cradle for the grey water tank the dusting of paint was already starting to peel off. It was crossing my mind whether to give the underside a good squirt over as well. Perhaps just a well targeted washing rather than a broad sweep? To repaint the the waste tank carrier would be a PIA, whether in situ, or removing from the vehicle all together, do others bother doing anything or just chalk it up to the ageing process?
Any ideas on the best re-coat material for the underside of the floor sandwich, and the floor to wall junction, I'm thinking some water based bitumastic, " Black jack " or " Thomsons 10 year " flexible flat roof sealant?
Mike.

 

[2GB Racing]

For me and my PPVC I always give it a powered wash underneath pre it’s March MOT just to make it easier for the MOT inspection and they also let me have a good look around it whilst up on the ramps, I then disconnect and reconnect things like the electric steps, tank level sender units etc to make sure that connections are still good and not corroded etc

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[WallaceandGromit]

Having looked under the van whilst replacing my failed low level camera there is no way I'd jet wash the underside due to it being plywood.

 

[2GB Racing]

Aaarrrr the advantage of a tin box PPVC no plywood

 

[Folkranger]

Aaarrrr the advantage of a tin box PPVC no plywood

simply rust

 

[Kannon Fodda]

Never bothered to try and wash under the car, maybe a bit of a hose around the wheel arches, but that is about it. And if you use one of the many handwash places where hoards of people jump on it for five seconds the washers go nowhere near underneath.

But jetwash under my PVC would be asking for issues. There are intentional openings in the floor of the PVC towards the rear to allow for ventilation into the Trauma heater locker for a fresh air supply to the heating ductwork. Some of the pipe apertures are barely sealed with mastic, and who knows about the stuff that can't be seen above tanks. Not sure that the alarm sounders would welcome water sprayed into them (they do face opposite from the van driving direction).

 

[2GB Racing]

Rust what’s rust ? Chassis rails all injected with wax oil, floor pan 99% covered with wax oil, I dropped the tanks to make stronger hangers and wax oiled the floor above the tanks, re mastic where it was suspect, Anyway a medium underneath pressure washer once in the spring is nothing to a years driving of road water, salt, grit and muck.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Stealaway]

down to remove any winter salt residue?

Our van and many others never goes anywhere near the roads in winter. We are strictly double digit tourers

 

[andyelbac]

Right, I'm going to play safe and leave the underside alone.....still, more pub time!