If you don't have any suitable place to set up and wash down a Quicksilver, what do you do?
[span style="font-size:13.6000003814697px;"]The challenge is, we live in an over-55 apartment building that does not even have hose fittings outside. [/span]Our QS 8.1 has been out five full, long seasons now. The original tent is doing fine, but I would love to wash it. If I were to take the camper to a car wash, I would have to...
[ul type="disc"][li]Set it up fully outside (obviously can't be in a bay)[/li][li]Would therefore need an outside wash arm (I don't know of one locally)[/li][li]Would need a ladder but have no place to store one (I sold an 8-footer when we moved in here)[/li][li]It would have to stand there and dry and I'm sure the car wash would love that[/li][/ul]
I suppose I could knock most of the water off the tent as we do after a rain, fold it up, bring it home, then set it back up in the parking lot, so the drying thing might not be a big challenge,in but just finding a place to do the job... Well, the tent has never been washed and I think maybe it should be, if for no other reason than appearances. I can't imagine taking the tent off and hand-washing it. It would be too hard to dry. It needs to be on the camper and stretched out.
Any ideas? 8-|
I plan to take my Camplite to a nearby truck wash. They have an outdoor bay so I don't need to try to fit it inside. They also have a hookup for a garden hose type hose, so I don't have to worry about the high pressure in the regular car wash. I have a tip-out bunk, so I will need to wash that tent as well. After washing, put it together for transport, and then open it up to let the tent dry.
Wash it at a camp ground.
I've used a waterless eco friendly wash on some cars. IIRC it's available from Wally World.
I attempted to wash my tent when I first purchased the 10.0. I found it to be awkward and nearly pointless at that time. I couldn't get any vantage points that allowed me to put any real effort into scrubbing. Either the tent material would bend and move, or I couldn't get high enough with my step ladder, and so on. I was toying with the idea of getting a second person involved to help put opposite pressure from the inside, as I scrub from the outside.
Now to your original point...if you are going to attempt this without your own personal space I think you are going to be limited to outside truck or car washes, friends houses, or campgrounds. With the 8.1 I would think you should be able to pull it into a traditional outside car wash bay, pop it open and then complete your wash. Heck, if its not busy I don't see why you would even need to put it up without drying. I do think you might run into some trouble with the length of hoses in those wash bays.
I think trying to wash it down when at a campground might have just as many pit falls. I don't know how many grounds would allow or appreciate you washing your rig while setup. Not to mention this still doesn't have a ladder available for you to wash with.
I think if I were in your shoes I would look for a friend with a house. Seems like that will be the easiest option, especially if they have a ladder :)
As I was writing this another option popped into my head. Maybe you could talk with a local RV dealer. I'm sure for a few bucks they would let you use their facilities to wash.
-Sean
Thanks so much Leslie, Larry, Shovelhead, and Sean. I just don't want to get in anyone's way. I think a truck wash with an outside bay might do it (but I wish I hadn't sold my ladder when we moved), or the local RV dealer. There's also the possibility that it's fine as it is. It's never been washed but it still looks pretty good, and mostly it never leaks. Maybe I should just leave it alone? :D
Thanks again! Chuck