I've actually watched the attendants at my car wash turn away a muddy 4Runner. I really appreciate that, as there is no way I'm going behind that vehicle. The gas station car washes have no attendant, and if not busy, you have no idea what went through right before you. That's what scares me about those. Some people have no respect for anyone else.

 

I have an unlimited plan as one other poster mentioned in central Indiana. I go through ultiple time a week, sometimes even per day. No scratches. Soft tonneau handles it well too!

 

wherever they salt or sand the roads, is where and when to beware of the "killer rotating brush"

 

Does this happen to be in Cheyenne?

 

No auto wash is gona get into all the places that you can reach with a garden hose. But its better than nothing. Delta Sonic and a few independents here can fit a stock 250-350. Lifted or larger wheels wont fit. I have the unlimited plan at Delta for $27/mo I can go once a day for a wash. Lately Ive been driving the 95 GC Jeep winter junk to keep the crap off the expensive truck even though the truck gets the Krown treatment annually. I will go to the car wash and then take it home and get at the undercarriage anally with the hot/cold water bib in garage. But sparingly because thats bad to do too if done regularly. The Krown rust proofing helps me sleep knowing Ill have metal left on the truck in 10 years. If you do nothing in the form of rust proofing expect rot in 5-6 years in the salt belt. Stay away from the company that sprays the black tar like substance in the underside.
Treat your truck to the "Krown" or "Corrosion Free" rust prevention treatments. This seals all those nooks n crannies so you really dont need to lose sleep over it. Water is almost as bad as the salt if regularly allowed into the hard to reach deep nether regions of a F series undercarriage.
My 2011 shows no signs of rust other than surface rust on the bare cast drive train components. Thats because I didnt have the luxury of rust proofing it when new. I bought it used in 13. A friend did his new and its shows nearly zero rust anywhere and he drives it daily in the slush n salt. I wish Henry would offer a rust belt package from the factory and do this the moment its built. But that would sell new trucks would it.

 

No, I am in Casper.

 

I WOULD NEVER TAKE MY TRUCK TO A CAR WASH PERIOD! If it's a old style spinner, new "anti" scratch spinner or a touch less spray wash THEY ALL RECYCLE WATER. So basically your power washer your truck with reused salt/mud/salt/calcium

 

I've stayed out of this as long as I can. SuperDutyScaler's post is total BS. I own 4 car washes. I have 7 automatics (6 touchless, 1 friction), and 17 self-serve bays. I don't recycle a drop of water, nor do most of the car washes I know of. The ones that do, usually only use it in automatics on high-pressure rinse passes. Soft water is used in soap and wax cycles and RO water is used on final rinse. Both are better quality water that comes out of the average household tap.
On the subject of reclaim (the correct term) water. It is not just sewer run back through the equipment. It is generally only captured from automatic washes, since self-serve bays could possibly have anything mixed in. The solids are settled out in a series of tanks and then the water is run through filtering equipment that costs tens of thousands of dollars (the main reason most washes don't have them) and produces relatively clean water, just not clean enough for chemicals to work well.
So, wash your car wherever you want. I'm just letting you know that most car washes dispense better water than you have at home.

 

Your right, they do, and I'm no tree lovin hippy, but twice in the last few years our local water supply has been threatened with drought. So that can actually be used as a positive. My car wash has a very large filtration room attached to it. The large salt, dirt and grime is the easy part to filter out. It comes out crystal clear on my windshield. If it was as bad as some lead you to believe, there wouldn't be thousands of newer cars running through just this 1 car wash everyday.

 

I'm not surprised at SuperDutyScaler's uneducated opinion, but I am surprised at this post from Ron94150. I can't imagine anyone in this business would think that all washes use reclaim. Ron, I'm puzzled as to why you would make this statement that you should know is totally false.
Regardless, I'm not going to get into a pi$$ing match, so everyone can believe whatever they want to...
Oh, to the OP. Most washes can handle a vehicle up to 7', usually with a couple of inches to spare. Just believe the clearance that is posted.

 

I don't know why you think I'm in that business? Didn't realize I said anything out of line. Maybe all the auto car washes don't use reclaim, but I just said it's not a bad thing that they do. My car wash obviously does because there is a huge filtration system. A friend of mine use to own a pumper truck and pump several of these car washes everyday that used filtered water. Be surprised at my post if you want, but I don't really know what I said out of line?

 

Ibwashincars, I think when I said "my car wash", you thought I meant I owned one. I should have worded that better, "the car wash I use".

 

That's it exactly.


So ok, I apologize, you're just wrong.

 

Been wrong before, but I'm still taking up for car washes.

 

Keep up the good work.