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09-22-2010, 08:58 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 181
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Pressure Washers
We arrived after dark on a trip to the beach and was surprised the next morning by how many bugs had given their all on the face of our TT. I want to get a small electric pressure washer that we can carry with us for general cleaning for the TT and around the house. Wally has a small Karcher unit for about $100 for the base unit, but it looks like there's a bunch of attachments that need to be purchased separately.
Has anyone had one of the Karchers? Also what other models would you recommend? What minimum PSI would you recommend for cleaning?
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09-22-2010, 09:20 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,555
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I have the electric Karcher 1500 psi unit. It came with two wands, one for lighter cleaning and one for hard materials such as concrete. It works well on the trailer and is not so powerful as to damage it. It also is good for cleaning the roof. Not too powerful but does a great job getting the grime off of it.
I went to the Karcher website and bought and set of extensions and an additional hose for other cleaning around the house. The hose extension allows me to go a lot further without having to move the washer itself. It does very well on my deck and concrete sidewalk too. I got it at Walmart for around $100 or so.
My only complaint with it is that the little "O" rings can split rather frequently and they don't appear to be a common size available at hardware stores. At least I didn't find any locally. I ended up ordering those from the website also to have them handy.
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09-22-2010, 09:41 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 181
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09-22-2010, 11:34 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Prairieville, Louisiana
Posts: 1,923
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Check out this one for $139.99.
Karcher is a great product. I bought a gas powered 9 years ago. No problens. It's got a 13hp Honda engine, 3600 PSI capability, 4 GPM.
I usually wash vehicles at 120 psi.
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09-22-2010, 12:12 PM
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#5
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Southwest Alabama
Posts: 9,850
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Just a word of caution. Be careful with a pressure washer it'll rip a decal or stripe off in a heart beat!
Your best bet for getting bugs off Bounce dryer sheets. I find that the unused ones work better for me but others say it doesn't matter if they're used.
Keeping the unit waxed make them easier to remove but doesn't prevent you from getting them.
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09-22-2010, 12:24 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Tacoma Wa
Posts: 182
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Now if Only there was a way to prevent the Bugs from spaltering on our Rigs, until then I agree, wax and wash, I prefer hand wash over pressurewashers
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09-22-2010, 01:49 PM
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#7
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Shenandoah Valley of Virginia
Posts: 9,280
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I agree with Bama Rambler.....I cringe when pressure washer and travel trailer are used in the same sentence. A pressure washer can remove decals and caulk in a heartbeat.
Get a long handled brush, add water and car wash soap, and the worst of the bugs will come off until you can get home and do a more thorough job.
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09-22-2010, 02:02 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,555
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The electric Karchers don't put out that much pressure. I've been cleaning my Flagstaff since we got it with mine without any problems. Just don't use the wand designed for concrete surfaces. That one will take the decals off. the other one works great on it.
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09-22-2010, 03:01 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 181
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hokiehall
The electric Karchers don't put out that much pressure. I've been cleaning my Flagstaff since we got it with mine without any problems. Just don't use the wand designed for concrete surfaces. That one will take the decals off. the other one works great on it.
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Hokie, what PSI do you use for the RV? Also Karcher has a right angle attachment that should help clean the black tank and sensors.
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09-22-2010, 03:13 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,555
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For the trailer I use the wand recommended for vehicles. There is only an on/off switch on the washer so it is all or none. The wand end can be turned to lower the pressure if needed and to use when drawing cleaning solution out of a bottle to spray on a vehicle. When rinsing I have it on full force but it isn't as powerful as a commercial car wash would be.
I might look into the right angle attachment for the tanks. Right now I have a wand that attaches on the end of a garden hose that you stick down through the toilet. It works ok. I have dumping facilities at home so I clean the tanks there real good after a trip.
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09-22-2010, 03:38 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 181
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Quote:
Originally Posted by milzat
Check out this one for $139.99.
Karcher is a great product. I bought a gas powered 9 years ago. No problens. It's got a 13hp Honda engine, 3600 PSI capability, 4 GPM.
I usually wash vehicles at 120 psi.
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I stopped by Wal Mart and they had the same unit for $129.99. They also had a good selection of attachments.
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09-22-2010, 03:41 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 181
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hokiehall
For the trailer I use the wand recommended for vehicles. There is only an on/off switch on the washer so it is all or none. The wand end can be turned to lower the pressure if needed and to use when drawing cleaning solution out of a bottle to spray on a vehicle. When rinsing I have it on full force but it isn't as powerful as a commercial car wash would be.
I might look into the right angle attachment for the tanks. Right now I have a wand that attaches on the end of a garden hose that you stick down through the toilet. It works ok. I have dumping facilities at home so I clean the tanks there real good after a trip.
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Is there a pressure gauge on the unit and a pressure regulator adjustment like there is on a air compressor?
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09-22-2010, 04:19 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,555
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bmg
Is there a pressure gauge on the unit and a pressure regulator adjustment like there is on a air compressor?
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Nope. Nothing at all. It is all or none, but it is a $100 unit so that doesn't surprise me.
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09-22-2010, 04:22 PM
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#14
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
Posts: 3,369
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Don't have a Karcher (sp?) but the reduced pressure is probably an advantage for this use. My neighbor took the paint right off his Silverado with his pressure washer!! Caution is advised.
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09-22-2010, 05:06 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Lake Charles, La.
Posts: 1,536
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i read the section in my manuel that said don't pressure wash and didn't for years. (really didn't know why not).
one day i was in a hurry and put a relative wide nozzle on the pressure washer and washed. i have a few nicks on my decals now. the trailer was 6 years old at the time (i had purchaced it new). sense mine is exposed to the sun constaintly, i believe that and its age were contributing factors. i was using the 3 rd tip down and stayed at least a foot away. this normally doesn't produce enough pressure at point of contact to do a good job of removing dirt. the number 1 nozzle and 4 to 6 inches from the surface, i use to strip the paint off my house (2600# nozzle pressure), the wider the angle, the less the pressure at point of contact.
because i haven't had a good experience with the pressure washer, i don't recomend it. i'll stick with the brush and water. i really have better results with the brush anyway.
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