My new truck feels huge to me so like the topic said do any of you use the automatic car washes? I know I would at least have to fold in my mirrors but I do not want to get stuck like Winney the poo leaving rabbits hole.

 

You won't like this answer. There's 3 car washes near me. I fit in 2 out of 3, it's the height not the width that's stopping me at the 3rd.

 

When I go to the only auto car-wash here the sidewall and about 1 inch of tread runs on the "barrier bar" so the actuall bottom of my tire isn't touching the ground, kind of like it is on rails. I clear by about an inch(soon to be not fitting) I only used it when the salt got real bad in the winter, any other time it gets washed by hand.

 

I would NEVER take my truck to the auto car wash. That is the worst thing you can do for the paint/clear coat as far as washing is concerned.

 

I take mine thru those no touch washes in the winter when its to cold to wash it myself. With the regular mirrors, regular cab, and 4wd it just makes it. But if I had two broken arms Id still wash it myself then use a full automatic car wash with those dirty brushes sanding down the sides of my paint!

 

Mine fits just fine. The width is good. The height just barely makes it. I go to a touchless wash. When that boom goes over the cab, the antenna gets clipped.

 

My truck doesn't fit in the auto wash (height). The guys there wash it by hand

 

I have one of the touch less ones here by my house. The ones that just spary water and soap and air. No brushes !!!!! i have a 4x4 crew cab 4door and its a 350srw with a leveling kit in the front and i have 33's on it and it hits my antenna a little as it goes over but nothing that wind doesnt bend and i need to fold in my mirrors.If i leave in the hitch in the back it will smack it and keep on going but it dont hit the truck.. We also have an Excursion 4x4 and it goes in there as well with the stock 31's mine is obviously taller and longer but thought i would throw that out as well. I usually never take it there unless i have to like go to work monday for a meeting or what have you and i had a little to much fun on the weekend and no time to wash. Its usually all by hand. But since its brushless its a quick 5 bucks and its a half way decent wash... i still wash it by hand but i have a detailer come and hand wax it for me. I tried to wax it by hand once and that was the last time.. He charges me 50bucks for a hand wash and a hand wax and inside as well and to me my 4 hours it took to wax it and have my arms sore for a day cause this thing is huge and getting on ladders and this and that, the first time is worth 50 bucks every 2 months or so...just my thoughts...

ryan

 

You are using the wrong wax, or using the wax wrong. I wax mine about everytime it is washed(a minimum of once every two weeks, most of the time it is weekly, on a sat. night. I can have it done on an hour if I am lazy about it. Also are there that many brush car washes left?? I don't wash my pickup on trips I guess(never really had to) but only thought that the brushless was out there.

 

I haven't found a single automatic car wash that mine will fit in.

Definately a height problem for me

 

No automatic car washes for me.

I have teflon on my truck and those automatic car washes are terrible for that. This is the second truck I have used the teflon coating...have it put on every 10-12 months and don't have to wax in between, just wash, looks great, well worth it to me.

 

I use mother paste wax with no machine.. I live in florida and its hot as hell i work in the shade and if you do it right and start with lets say the front quater pannel that pannel is ready to be taken off by the time i get done applying to the end of the door.... I know how to use the wax. Are you using a liquid wax...and like an electric buffer to take it off. If i was using that i can see it taking 1 hour.But when you HAND apply paste wax and that stuff is dry and ready to come off and you HAND take it off with a clean rag it takes time it takes about 4 hours fromt the time i start washing and then you have to dry the truck and then start waxing... Shoot washing it takes a good 20min by its self and drying it takes another 20. I dont know about anyone else. Im very peticular about my truck i like to do it right and to do it right takes time...Maybe im just slow i dont know...but i dont think thats it...

ryan

 

Some tracks will put a line on your allow rims.

 

Anyone realize they are responding to a 17+ year old thread?