Dust, sun and farm roads
Elk Grove summers are hot and sunny, and most RVs here live outside. Months of sun break down the shiny top layer of fiberglass and gelcoat until it turns chalky. Rub your hand on the side, and if it comes away white, that’s oxidation. Light oxidation usually polishes out well. Heavy oxidation can improve a lot, but if the gelcoat is worn thin, it won’t look new again. We’ll look first and tell you.
If you keep the RV on a rural property near Sheldon or Wilton, dust is the other big issue. It settles on the roof, in the awning and on every flat surface, then streaks down the sides when it rains. A good wash before each trip keeps that grit from scratching the finish.
Trips up Highway 99 or I-5 add a thick layer of bugs to the front cap. The longer they sit in the sun, the harder they are to remove, so a wash soon after you get home helps.
Side yards, HOAs and storage lots
Many Elk Grove subdivisions limit how long an RV can sit in the driveway. If you bring the RV home just to load or unload, tell us your window and we’ll try to schedule the detail inside it. Side yards and RV pads work well as long as we have room to walk around the rig.
If your RV lives in a storage lot, we can usually work there, but some lots don’t allow outside service or washing. Check with the lot and tell us which one it is when you book.
On a rural property, we just need fairly level ground next to the RV. Gravel is fine.
How RV pricing works
RV detailing is quoted, because no two jobs are the same. A 22-foot trailer that was washed last month and a 38-foot fifth wheel that sat through two summers are very different days of work. We look at length and height, how much oxidation and streaking there is, whether you want polishing and wax, how much interior cleaning you need and how easy it is to work around the RV. A few photos and the length are usually enough to get started.
If you also have a boat for the Cosumnes River or the Delta, or a tow vehicle that needs a detail, ask us to quote it on the same visit.
Before the first trip and after the last
The two most popular times for an RV detail are spring, before the first trip, and fall, before it goes into storage. A spring detail clears off the dust and streaks from months of sitting. A fall detail removes the bugs, road film and campground grime so they don’t sit on the finish all winter. Wax before storage gives the gelcoat a little more protection from the sun.
A clean RV is also easier to check over. With the dirt gone, cracked sealant, loose trim or a damaged seam is easier to spot. We don’t make repairs, but if we notice something while we work, we’ll point it out so you can get it looked at before the next trip.