Rinsing off camper

[2happycampers]

Hi everyone,
We just got back from 3 days at St. Andrews State Park at Panama City Beach, Florida.  If you've never been there, it is on a barrier island absolutely surrounded by salt water. The gulf of Mexico and a lagoon. (Our pics will be posted on webpage on webshots shortly.)  Anyway, the winds were blowing salt spray all over.  I thought we might have to rinse down the tenting material because of the salt when we got home and set up to clean but, wanted other opinions.  What do you think?

[Azusateach]

Well, salt is corrosive and abrasive, so I don't think it'd hurt at all to hose it down.  I'd think that over time the friction of salt on canvas would wear on corners.  Plus, when you pop down that salt's going to get all over everything inside.  Oops!  Guess that damage is already done -- I'd pop 'er up hose it down & vacuum off the bunk ends real well.

Sounds like a beautiful place!

[Camping Coxes]

We have not just hosed, but gently washed our tenting before getting our Pop-up Gizmos because of nature "dropping" stuff on them.  We have a long-handled car wash brush, the kind you're supposed to attach to your hose (but we don't because it leaks) and we used very dilluted gentle detergent (Dreft) and washed the tenting.  Worked beautifully.  When you see the water beading up and running off the fabric, you're amazed at how well that waterproofing works!  If it was my trailer, I'd absolutely wash it down well.  Salt water has to be washed off a boat after use, so why not your trailer?

[tlhdoc]

I always rinse the camper off after camping at the beach (well except today, I dropped it off at the dealer on the way home).  I don't wash it, but give it a good hosing off.