Olde Towne, 307 W Mission Ave

Self Serve RV Wash in Bellevue, NE

Finding a place to wash an RV is hard. Most car wash bays are too short, and automatic washes are not built for campers. Big John's Car Wash has a self serve RV wash in Bellevue, NE, with a 14 foot bay at our Olde Towne location, 307 W Mission Ave.

The bay is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and the floors are heated. You can clean your camper, travel trailer or motorhome before a trip, after a trip, or before you put it into storage.

Big John's is veteran owned and has served Bellevue since 2010. RV owners from Offutt AFB, Papillion and La Vista use our Olde Towne bay because it gives them the height they need.

Quick answers for RV owners

Where is the RV bay? Olde Towne, 307 W Mission Ave, Bellevue, NE 68005. Call 402-898-2622. RVs cannot use our 41st & Harrison location.

How tall is it? 14 feet of clearance.

How wide is it? 15 feet 4 inches.

When is it open? 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year. The bay floors are heated.

Will my truck and trailer fit? Yes. The bay is a drive through, so you pull in, wash, and drive out the back.

Do I need an appointment? No. Pull in when the bay is open.

How do I pay? Olde Towne takes cash only.

Where can I take my RV to wash it?

Big John's Car Wash self serve bays at 307 W Mission Ave, Bellevue, NE, home of the 14 foot RV wash bay

This is one of the most common questions RV owners ask. Your choices are usually a truck stop wash, a mobile washing service, your own driveway, or a self serve bay tall enough to fit.

Truck stop washes are built for semis. As Jayco notes in its guide to cleaning your RV exterior, truck washes often rinse the roof but do not scrub it. A garden hose does not have the pressure to remove road film.

A self serve bay with 14 feet of clearance gives you room, water pressure and the right tools, and you control how each part of your RV is cleaned.

Why regular RV washing pays off

An RV is a large investment, and its exterior takes a beating on every trip. Bugs, tar, road film and bird droppings are acidic or sticky, and the longer they sit, the harder they are to remove.

Regular washing helps you:

Keep decals and gelcoat from fading and staining
Spot cracked sealant, loose trim or roof damage early, before water gets in
Remove road salt from the frame before it starts rust
Keep black streaks from setting into the sidewalls
Keep your RV looking its best if you plan to sell or trade it

A wash is also the best time to walk around your RV and look closely at every panel. You will see problems you miss when it is parked in a storage lot.

What fits in the Olde Towne RV bay

The 14 foot bay at Olde Towne is built for tall vehicles. It fits:

Travel trailers under 14 feet tall
Class B camper vans
Class C motorhomes
Pop up and teardrop campers
Truck campers on a pickup
Toy haulers under 14 feet tall
Fifth wheels and Class A motorhomes
Boats on trailers

Measure your RV to its highest point before you pull in. That includes the roof air conditioner, vents, antennas, satellite dome and any roof rack or solar panels. Your owner's manual lists the height, but measure it to be sure.

Length: the bay is a drive through. Pull your rig in, wash it, and drive out the back side. You can wash your tow vehicle and trailer together.

Width: the bay is 15 feet 4 inches wide. Retract slide outs and fold in mirrors before you pull in.

Our 41st & Harrison location has a 10 foot bay height and is not set up for RVs. Use Olde Towne for any camper or motorhome.

What is in the bay

The Olde Towne bay has every setting you need to wash an RV:

High pressure wand for road film, bugs and mud
Foaming brush for the sidewalls and front cap
Tire cleaner for wheels and tires
Undercarriage wand to rinse the frame and tanks
Spot free rinse to finish without water spots
Heated bay floors for cold weather washing

How to wash an RV in a self serve bay

An RV has seals, decals, vents and awnings that a car does not. A careful wash protects those parts and keeps your RV looking its best. This order works for most travel trailers and motorhomes.

1. Plan before you pull in

Close every window, roof vent and storage door. Retract the awning and any slide outs. Bring a soft brush on a long pole if you want to scrub the roof, plus a step ladder only if your RV maker allows roof access.

2. Rinse the whole RV first

Use the high pressure wand to rinse loose dirt from top to bottom. Hold the wand at least a few feet from the surface. Rinsing before you scrub removes grit that could scratch the finish.

3. Work from the top down

Wash the roof edge and front cap first, then the sidewalls, then the lower panels. Gravity carries dirty water down, so you clean each section once.

Jayco's cleaning guide recommends washing from the top down and using mild cleaners. It also advises against automatic car washes for RVs.

4. Keep pressure away from seals and decals

High pressure can lift decals, force water past window seals and damage roof membranes. Keep the wand moving and angled, and do not spray straight into seams, vents, the fridge vent or the AC shroud.

Use the foaming brush on fiberglass and painted panels. Rinse the brush first to clear grit from the last user.

5. Clean the front cap and bugs

The front cap and windshield collect the most bugs on a road trip. Let the foam sit for a short time, then brush and rinse. Bugs come off easier when they are fresh, so wash soon after a trip.

6. Rinse the undercarriage and wheels

Rinse the frame, holding tanks, wheel wells and hitch with the undercarriage wand. Use tire cleaner on each wheel, then rinse.

7. Finish with spot free rinse

Go over the full RV once with spot free rinse. It dries without mineral spots, so you do not need to towel dry a large rig.

How often should you wash your RV?

Most RV owners in Nebraska do well with a full wash at these points:

Before the first trip of the season
After any long trip, especially through bug country or on gravel roads
Once a month while you are using the RV
Before winter storage
After any trip on salted or treated roads

Washing before storage matters most. Road salt and grime that sit on the frame and body all winter keep working on metal. AAA's road de-icer and rust damage fact sheet estimates rust from de-icers costs U.S. drivers about $3 billion a year, and advises a thorough undercarriage wash to remove salt.

RV roof care

The roof takes the most sun, rain and tree sap of any part of your RV, and it is the part owners see least. Dirt and mildew on the roof run down the sidewalls as black streaks.

Check your owner's manual before you clean the roof. Rubber (EPDM and TPO) roofs, fiberglass roofs and aluminum roofs each need different cleaners. Some makers do not allow you to walk on the roof at all.

If your manual allows it, use a soft brush on a long pole and a cleaner made for your roof type. Rinse the roof with low pressure from the wand, holding it well away from seams, vents and sealant. Look over the sealant around vents and the AC unit while you are up there. Cracked sealant is where most roof leaks start.

Awnings, slide outs and windows

Retract the awning before you wash. If you clean the awning fabric, let it dry fully before you roll it up for travel or storage. A wet awning rolled up tight can grow mildew.

Rinse slide out toppers with low pressure and let them dry before you retract the slide. Keep the wand away from window and slide seals, and never spray straight into a gap.

Before storage and spring prep checklist

Use this list to get your RV ready for winter storage or the first trip of spring.

Before storage:

Do a full wash, top to bottom, including the roof if your manual allows it.
Rinse the frame, holding tanks and wheel wells with the undercarriage wand.
Let the RV dry fully before you cover it or close it up.
Check roof and window sealant for cracks.

Spring prep:

Rinse off winter dust and any pollen from the storage lot.
Wash the front cap and windshield.
Check the awning for mildew before you open it all the way.
Rinse the undercarriage to remove any salt left from fall trips.

Washing your RV in winter

Some Bellevue RV owners travel south for the winter or use their camper for hunting season. If you drive on treated roads, rinse the frame and wheel wells soon after you get home.

Our Olde Towne bay stays open 24 hours a day all winter, and the floors are heated, so you are not working on ice. Pick a day above freezing when you can, so doors, locks and seals dry before night.

Do not wash an RV that has been winterized with water in the lines unless you plan to drain it again. Check your owner's manual first.

Can you take an RV through a car wash?

You should not take an RV through an automatic tunnel car wash. Most have a height limit well under 14 feet, and the brushes and rails can catch on mirrors, awnings, ladders and steps. Jayco advises hand washing instead.

A self serve bay with enough height is the safer choice. You wash by hand, so nothing touches your RV that you are not holding.

Serving RV owners across Bellevue

Our Olde Towne bay sits on Mission Ave in Bellevue's historic Olde Towne district. RV owners come from across Bellevue, from Offutt AFB, and from Papillion and La Vista.

If you are stationed at Offutt and getting ready for a move or a trip, the Olde Towne bay is close to the base. If you store your camper in Papillion or La Vista, stop by on your way to or from the lot.

The RV bay is part of our self serve car wash bays, with the same tools and 24 hour access. For directions and bay photos, visit Big John's on Mission Ave. For hours and payment, see answers to common car wash questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I wash my RV at Big John's Car Wash?

Yes, at our Olde Towne location, 307 W Mission Ave, Bellevue. It has a 14 foot bay for RVs, campers and other tall vehicles.

Can I wash my RV at the 41st Ave location?

No. The bays at 41st & Harrison are 10 feet tall. Use the Olde Towne location on Mission Ave for any RV or camper.

How tall can my RV be?

Your RV must be under 14 feet at its highest point. Measure to the top of the AC unit, vents and antennas before you pull in.

How wide is the RV bay?

The Olde Towne bay is 15 feet 4 inches wide. Retract slide outs and fold in mirrors before you pull in.

Is the RV bay open in winter?

Yes. The Olde Towne bay is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year, and the bay floors are heated.

Can I use the high pressure wand on my RV?

Yes, with care. Keep the wand a few feet away from the surface, and do not spray straight into seals, vents, decals or the roof membrane.

Do I need an appointment to wash my RV?

No. The bay is self serve. Pull in when it is open and wash at your own pace.

How often should I wash my RV?

Wash it before your first trip, after long trips, about once a month while in use, and always before winter storage.

Can I wash a boat at Big John's?

Yes. Boats on trailers fit in the 14 foot bay at Olde Towne. Rinse the hull, the trailer and the wheels, then finish with spot free rinse.

Who do I contact with questions about the RV bay?

Call Olde Towne at 402-898-2622, or reach our team through our website.