When using an automatic car wash, would I have to remove the antenna?

really weird question yet again. Is this thing modular? Or do you just leave it on if I am going through the wash?

 

I never did on my 1st gen.

 

If it is touchless you can leave it on but if it has brushes or anything that comes in contact with the truck other than water I would remove it.

 

I've never taken mine off. It'll bounce around a bit, but it has never broken off from brushes hitting it. Just my experience.

 

I never have taken mine off. No issues.

 

If it breaks, the car wash won't pay for it.

'Cause they have signs telling you to take it off and fold in your mirrors.

 

Take it off. Or go ahead and replace it now.

 

I'd take it off only takes 10 seconds.

 

Take it off if it is ( like mentioned above) brush type car wash. The brushes may not rip the antenna off, but over time the brushes will cause the antenna base to work loose causing a floppy/wobbly antenna.

 

I had a friend with a ram 1500 and the carwash ripped the entire antenna mount right down the fender pannel. The carwash paid for the reapirs with OEM parts.

 

LOL I had a room mate one time had his truck merdered by his own roof rack. in a car wash
beat the hell out of the whole truck lol he didnt install it good

 

This. Never have removed it, that dirty thing needs to get clean too Still looks great.

 

besides the problem of damage to the fender and mount if it gets broken, the most scary part is if it comes off and gets hung up in the brushes it whips the living shit out of your windshield and truck, seen it happen before , NOT WORTH THE RISK, remove it for spinning brush carwashes

 

Wow, I have never even considered this...

I have a monthly membership to my local car wash. I wash my truck as much as twice a week. I guess I should do this...

 

I wouldn't use an automatic car wash if it has brushes or cloth strips, only touchless. Just sayin'

 

I never use a car wash. I've always done it myself, its really not that hard

 

I see no reason to change what you've been doing. You of all people have had the highest chance for something to go wrong, and nothig did.

I think you're fine...

 

I have never removed it but I have seen the pictures on the internet where the antenna got ripped off and all kinds of damage. I think these are the exception though rather than a common occurrence. Like everything else we do, there is always the risk of something going wrong. Most car wash places have a disclaimer posted that they are not responsible for damage and that you have to remove the antenna.


(Red one is the aluminum F-150)

 

You're in California. Youre lucky because you have the nice weather to wash a vehicle.

Nobody wants to wash their truck when it's 20* outside in other states that actually have weather.

 

Never had an issue with the antenna breaking but I did have my drivers side mirror ripped off in a automatic car wash a couple years ago. I could tell I was a little too far left and desperately tried to fold it in time to no avail. Lots of soap and water in the cab and all over me too. I always wash it by hand now and still boycott that damn gas station even though I was the one at fault.