Drive-Through Car Wash Roll Call

This question is mostly for those who have roof racks and bed mounted RTTs, but I'm curious what those without have to say too.

Normally I try to hand wash the truck at a power washing station or at home since that's the best clean, but I've been curious how many people with a lot of gear mounted to their trucks use drive-through car washes for the quick rinse? Picture below for reference, but I have a mid-height rack with an RTT and traction boards/bike mount on either side of the rack. Add the roof rack with rifle case on top and it's not the normal profile of the truck anymore. Then I have the rear bumper with swingout off the back and that could be another thing that gets caught.

 

I don’t have gear mounted but if I did I would still go to the one I use now. It’s a touch less drive through.

Hand wash is obviously great but it’s also super easy to do a drive through and then go home and just do quick touch ups, IMO.

 

Just from experience from the vehicle wash at work, I won't take my truck through a vehicle wash with the spinning brushes. I have seen broken mirrors, broken side windows, broken windshields, license plates and brackets removed. And the damage the brushes does to the paint and headlamps and everything else.... it's like sandblasting.

 

I guess that's a good point of clarification, touchless drive-through where the arms just spray water, or the spinning brush style? I used to take the truck through a brush style before the gear had been mounted, but there is a touchless at the gas station across the street from my office that I'm curious to use.

 

Never through a drive-thru car wash as I'd be too skeered of ripping something off. Even with my low profile rack/rtt... Only time I use a car wash (manual hose sprayer) is when coming back from a beach trip but hand wash again when we get home.

 

Only if touchless.

 

I take mine through a touchless wash from time to time, especially in the winter to blow off the salt residue.

 

Touchless, and then finish up with spray detailer at home because the wash never gets off all the soap residue. Never have and never will go through one with the spinning brush sandblasters of doom. My GF on the other hand doesn't care as much, which is good because her mom has gotten me gift cards for the spinning brush washes on three occasions, each time after telling her that I won't ever use them.

 

Never. Hand washing is therapy for me. Sure it takes a while but what have I got to do anyway.
Local car wash locations have free blow-and-suck for interior, and some handy moist micro fiber towels for interior wipe down.. free !!


I got this to for the hood and top .. I got an older one I use on the bed cover to keep it nice looking.










Micro Fiber towel dry - these things are amazing - takes 2 of 'em on a truck one for a car.



Finish it off with this stuff, love it.


For tires and wheels I'm happy with this stuff..

 

I’ve heard from detailer buddies that the crap in the car wash soap degrades your clearcoat so I only wash my vehicles at home..

 

I did it a few times with my 14 that had the factory one installed. No issues but normally I prefer to do it myself.

 

Yes. A touchless I would go through. I do find that they are only good for knocking off the heavier dirt though, but good enough in a pinch.

 

This is exactly how I do it and the same for how my wife does it. Haha.

When I was younger, I worked at a full service car wash & detail shop for 5 years and saw time and time again things get broken by the spinning arms of death lol.

 

I just picked up some Chemical Guys Interior Cleaner, and some Leather Clean and Leather Conditioner for the steering wheel and shift boot. That stuff is magic. The interior cleaner made the dash and door panels like new and the steering wheel and shift boot look better than new. I highly recommend it.

 

+1 for chemical guys products. Can't say enough good stuff about them and they have a wildly comprehensive lineup of products.

 

"Spinning brush sandblasters of doom"

That has to be the top quote of the day!!

 

Nothing mounted to my 21 off road only use a touchless car wash.

 

Addresses of said establishments please

 

Touchless/brushless all the time, in fact I've never washed my truck any other way.

Zero point busting your hump washing a vehicle when you live down a dirt road in the dead ass middle of BFE.

 

Flexible solar panel attached with industrial strength velcro to my Snugtop. After months long road trip, visited a Seattle area Costco with a drive thru car wash. Thought that was the coolest thing. It was until I remembered coming out of it that I didn't remove the panel. Attendant was cool about stopping the line and retrieved my panel which had blown off at the dryer section.

Did I learn from this? Hell, no. Sometime later, I think in Salt Lake I did the same thing. One can go brain dead from being on the road. Good thing though, is the solar panel still works.