Drive through carwash and wider wheels...

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billyw

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I'm considering going with some wheels that will stick out an inch or so, and possibly some wider tires too. Anybody in the know on how wide those carwashes are? In the winter, it's a requirement around here.
 

shadowhawk

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you'd have to check your local carwash on what they allow or don't. Our local won't allow bigger than 13.5 wide.. You'd also need to check that width clearance. I'm pretty darn close on my local wash.
 

laffs

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Most car washes have a maximum height and width the attendant should be able to find or know. In my area there's only one drive through I use and it's touchless, has no wheel tracks or guards you just drive in to the centre until it says stop then it does it job. Considering I've seen 2500s with tow mirrors go through it you'd probably be fine in a 1500 with an extra inch on each side.

The track kinds that pull you along are probably a no go.
 
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billyw

billyw

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Thanks for the input. How did this end up under "detailing"?
 

quietpeen

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i moved it to detailing because its more about washing your vehicle and the size of the automatic car wash.
 

Jwithing

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I sometimes go to a local autospa, similar to waterway. 13.5 width is their max, which is what I have, the truck also barely clears height wise. There's also a cheap, bad ass touch car wash down the street that opened up with a bp gas station. It's a no-track pull in. I've got a ceramic coating, so I'm not worried about it being a touch car wash and it works great as a quick weekly run through to get the road salt off the truck.
 

Pull Ya

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Ceramic coating will help reduce the chance of any scratches, but IMHO if you have a choice I'd still prefer a no touch if you can find one close. I realize that sometimes people don't have many choices, but those swirling brushes give me nightmares---:naughty:
Jay
 

ExpressRules

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I use a self serve car wash with the high pressure spray guns for when I need to wash salt off in the winter, but would never use a "touch" wash. In a touch wash you risk having dirt rubbed off of the many cars before you go through rubbed onto yours.
 

Jwithing

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Ceramic coating will help reduce the chance of any scratches, but IMHO if you have a choice I'd still prefer a no touch if you can find one close. I realize that sometimes people don't have many choices, but those swirling brushes give me nightmares---:naughty:
Jay
I hear ya, but the coating I have is pretty bad ass, I've driven through tree branches multiple times and no scratches. I can also take a lighter and smack the **** out of my truck with the plastic and it'll grind the plastic down and no scratches. I k ow it's not bulletproof, but it sure does a hell of a job.
 

Pull Ya

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It sure is an improvement over the waxes we used to have in "the old days". After about a year and a half my coating is still doing a good job, although I can't stopping waxing it---habit I guess.
Jay
 

N1ck

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I have a seasonal car wash pass, one touchless wash every 24hrs. I have 20x12 -44 wheels and have no issues frequenting the wash.
 

Jwithing

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It sure is an improvement over the waxes we used to have in "the old days". After about a year and a half my coating is still doing a good job, although I can't stopping waxing it---habit I guess.
Jay
What coating do you have? I was told to not was mine. I've wondered if waxing would provide any benefit.
 

Jwithing

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I have a seasonal car wash pass, one touchless wash every 24hrs. I have 20x12 -44 wheels and have no issues frequenting the wash.
That's nice. I've wanted one but don't have anywhere near me to make it worth it.
 

Pull Ya

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I'll have to go to the garage to look??? It's one that you can wax over---but don't have to if you don't want to. I do it anyway---not only for the truck but for some "me time" in the garage.
Jay
 

IMRAM

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I'll have to go to the garage to look??? It's one that you can wax over---but don't have to if you don't want to. I do it anyway---not only for the truck but for some "me time" in the garage.
Jay

I would’ve interested in knowing as well.. thx


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Purplert

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Ehh both my vehicles are coated with cquartz and I still don’t/wouldn’t run them through one of those horrible touch washes...
Touchless yeah I’ll use those if I don’t have the time to wash it myself..


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IMRAM

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This question is probably been asked many times, but how hard is the preparation to put this coating on? I applied a good wax on my vehicle as soon as I bought it about 6 weeks
ago. Just curious how big a job it is or if a guy should take it to a shop.


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Pull Ya

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There are lots of videos about installing a coating. The main thing is preparation. If you used "regular wax" about 6 weeks ago, it is probably gone by now. Wax only last about 3 weeks. If you take your truck to a detailer and have them prep your truck and install a quality ceramic coating you probably looking at $700+. Another option would be is to use a good quality sealant on your truck. A sealant will last about 6 months and it goes on just like wax. I use Wolfgang 3.0 sealant and have had really good luck with it and I think the results are great. You might take a look at this web site--autopia---it is a professional detailer site. They talk about products and how to install them and also show the result they get. You can find lots of detailed info about coatings, sealant and waxes over there. They also sell products.
Jay
 

Jwithing

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I spent $1K for element 119 Diamond including wheels,glass protection, and paint correction. Took the dude 4 days by himself most the time. Truck had almost 30K miles. Best money I've ever spent.
 
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