Stacks and car washes

[ChillyDog]

Just wondering if the guys with stacks run their trucks through the gas station car washes or not? Any problems? Thanks

 

[work2muchplay2little]

No, it's too tall for most, and from previous experience, they don't do a very good job. How 'bout you?

 

[ISBPilot]

Don't Fit!

At 8' tall and 20' long, all I can get in most car washes is the hood. Plus it would probably spray too much water in the stacks.

 

[Shovelhead]

Car Wash??????

What's a car wash?

I thought those were just dirt re-distributors. (from one vehicle to another)



We don't need no steeeenkin' car wash.

 

[Fireman Dave]

Re: Car Wash??????

Originally posted by Shovelhead

What's a car wash?

I thought those were just dirt re-distributors. (from one vehicle to another)



We don't need no steeeenkin' car wash.

I'm with Shovelhead. Nothing touches my truck that isn't attached to my hand.

 

[ChillyDog]

I have not tried it yet and doubt that I will. I was just thinking it would be nice to blast some of the salt, sand and slop off the truck after it snows. It get's a little tricky trying to hand wash a truck when it's below freezing! How do the guys with stacks in the northern regions keep their trucks cleen in the winter?

 

[wtrenholm]

I just use the shop after work to was my rigs in the winter. But not everyone has that perk.



I've after the wife to take a second job so I can build a better shop at home. But it's not going over all that good though.



Wayne

 

[Fireman Dave]

Chilly:



I have the luxury of a heated (including the floor!) firehouse to use in the winter. If I didn't have this option, I'd go to a self service wash - where you can control what happens. Make sure you wipe out the insides of the doors, etc... to prevent freezing.

 

[DarrellB]

I don't have stacks but just built a new 56'x32' pole barn to keep my truck and other toys in and had floor drains installed so I could wash it inside in the warm, also put metal on 2 sides to keep the walls from getting wet. I have washed it when it rains and when it gets too cold, sure makes it a lot easier.



I washed it once last year and the water froze to the truck before I could get it dried



You would be surprised how much cleaner a vehicle stays when it's kept inside.



Big D

 

[MikeR]

Why in the world are you running your truck through a carwash??? That is the absolute worst thing you can do to your paint!



-Mike

 

[SlyBones]

Gotta agree, the gas station car washes are terrible. There is a self service car wash near by, that uses warm water in the winter, and has low pressure settings.



Sometimes I just hose it off, others times I take the bucket and wash the truck by hand, and use the warm water and low pressure hose to fill the bucket and rinse, etc. Not only keeps the truck clean, but prevents your hands from freezing and falling off.

 

[JJW_ND]

Automatic Washes not that bad!

Here in Central ND, the DOT uses coal dust along with salt to deal with snow and ice. It really makes a mess of vehicles. Salt usage has been on the increse. What a mess. With all the wind we have and the little traffic, I wish they would just let it blow off like they used to. Now the roads stay wet even below below freezing. Blowing snow sticks to this mess instead of blowing clear.



I don't think any of the many many service station car washes use brushes anymore. All are touchless. The better ones have an attendent prewashing with a high pressure hose. You would be surprised how good a job these do with NOTHING ever touching your truck.



BTW, most of these washes stay open until -10. Ice build coming out of them gets pretty thick.



jjw

ND

 

[JohnE]

Most of the automatics have a height, length, and width restriction. I don't fit in the local brushless with my extended height topper and stacks will probably cause the same problems. I took it off this winter and will try it some time. Not sure if the length is a problem, but it will be close.



Another local Rammer found out his dually doesn't fit in all automatics, too.



I spent part of my afternoon at the local self wash. It wasn't busy so I took my sweet time. I bring 5 gallons of warm water, a bucket, and my car wash soap. I power wash the top and bottom sides then hand wash the entire top side. I finish off with 2 rinse cycles. When I take my time, all the collected ice, sand, salt on the bottom side drops so I can give it a good rinse.

A dry towel to wipe all the weather stripping to prevent freezing and I'm on my way.



If you can find an automatic to fit the Ram, here is another option:

Go to the self wash and rinse the entire bottom side. Use 2 cycles and get all the frozen crap knocked loose.

Drive to the automatic and get the top side clean and take yout time through the air curtain dryer. I always carry a rag and dry the weather stripping to prevent freezing.



Sorry for the long post, but when you live in the land of ice, snow, sand & <em>salt</em> one can never be too AR...



-john

 

[Jeff H]

How much higher are your stack vs the cab height? Some car washes measures the distance from your vehicle. All done automatically. Don't think that would pickup stacks. It could hit them.

I've got a set of black stacks that are only as tall as the cab. I don't have them on the truck anymore. The guy who put them on krickled up the pipe running to the stacks. I doubt if I will put them on any time soon.