Have any of you taken your truck through an automatic car wash that was not a touchless wash? I ask because I have heard horror stories of trucks getting their antennas ripped off (because of the aluminum body) and things like that. I prefer to wash this truck by hand at home but I don't always have the time to do it. In the winter especially I like to just run it through the wash to get the road salt off of it. We have a touchless wash and a soft touch (more cloth material instead of brushes) nearby. The soft touch line moves much faster as it takes your vehicle through the wash while you sit and enjoy the ride. I always go to the touchless and sit in line for what seems like an eternity. I've heard that you merely take the antenna off when you go through the wash. Is that necessary? I get the feeling that I'm hearing a lot of things from folks who want to discredit the aluminum body so I thought I would come to the folks who know. Any cause for worry here?

 

Either wash it by hand so there`s no need to worry about the antenna or play it safe by removing the antenna before going through any "TYPE" of car wash. Some people have different experiences both good and bad with a car wash, the antenna, and the aluminum body on the current generation F150 so use the info that`s out there to your advantage.

 

All car washes are not considered equal. I've been through some that I wouldn't make a second trip to. Fortunately the only automatic car wash in my small hometown works great. No leaks under the high pressure water and it comes out with a shinning like new.

I would love to be able to wash it by hand but I'm not physically able to.

 

I stopped using contact type car washes after my brother, who worked in one during high school, told me that he saw multiple instances of antenna or trim pieces ripped off and getting caught in the brushes. He said that by the time they noticed, cars following had their paint severely scratched by the debris in the brushes.

 

Around here pickup trucks are so common I can't imagine this is a problem. But if you are worried, three minutes in the wand wash style gets you as clean as any automated wash

 

I've been getting weekly car washes for over a dozen years. I did have the rubber antenna break on my last vehicle, I don't know if it was defective or if the car wash was to blame. Beyond that, I've never had any issue.

With my 17 F150, I only keep the antenna finger tight. I always have the antenna removed on this truck before going through the wash (95% of time it's a soft touch, not touchless)....usually by rolling down my window and asking the attendant to hand it to me.
Frankly, the only reason I have it removed is because I saw a picture of where one got ripped off the truck and damaged the fender. I don't know if that is what really happened in that picture that was circulated, but I play it safe. I can tell you that my huge local Ford dealership doesn't remove the antenna to run it through their car wash and they wash every vehicle that goes there for service. That is more telling than anything, because if it was really a problem, these guys would take the antennas off so they wouldn't have to fix them. I can't even imagine how many aluminum trucks/expeditions they run through their wash daily/weekly/yearly.

 

Mine has seen nothing but automatic car washes. 53K miles. Antenna gets removed as does the ball mount for the hitch. Mirrors are folded in. Not a single problem. Tonneau cover keeps the bed dry as well.

 

Go to a do it yourself car wash where you insert some quarters and you get a high pressure hose and a soapy brush. They only cost $2-5 depending on how much time you want and they do a great job....

 

And most of those soapy brushes will leave lovely scratches all over your beautiful truck because the person(s) before you scrubbed the mud and dirt and whatever off of their mud covered 4X4 and its buried deep inside that brush. And the high pressure wand will lift the paint right off if it catches an edge of a chip or whatever.

No thanks.

 

LOL. Maybe in Texas but not here....

 

And what is so Lame may I ask? Just making a comment based on experience. If you don't like it, well then don't read it. Where is the blocked button.

 

I've used my local car wash hundreds of times in the 18 years we've lived here and never had a problem. If people in your area are classless slobs that's unfortunate but there's no need to get your panties in a wad over a car wash thread. Will somebody please tell Tex how to block me?

 

Ok, so what I'm hearing is there is no real problem but remove the antenna just in case. Pretty much the way I was leaning but I wanted to see what the general consensus was. Never know when there's something else floating around out there that you haven't heard. As for the wand wash, I too dislike using the brushes for the very reason CR172 states. Never had a problem but I just don't trust that people will leave it clean. Whenever I was using these washes, I would always wash the brush out when I was done so as to leave it clean for the next guy. Most times I took a bucket and sponge so I wouldn't have to use the brush. The wand washes around here have gone up in price to the point where I would rather sit in the truck and ride thru the wash for just a dollar or two more. Guess it's no big deal to take the antenna off for peace of mind. just wondered if it was absolutely necessary. I think I'll give this a try this week and see how things turn out. Thanks for the input.