GEN 2 Car Wash

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shooters1380

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Ok so here’s one I haven’t yet read any information on.

So I’m at the Chevron yesterday tanking up and this guy in a new F-150 behind me starts a convo. Ya know typical BS. “Hey man nice truck, I wanted the Raptor but got a sweet deal on this F-150” and blah blah. He then asked me if I’ve taken my truck thru a car wash yet. I said no, I don’t really like car washes as they tend to not do a great job and if they use brushes, it’s gonna mess up your paint. Then he asked me if the Raptor would even fit in standard car wash tracks beings it’s what, 4-6” wider than a standard truck? Got me thinking. Of course I said I have no Fn clue dude.

I was thinking how much wider the Raptor is in my driveway versus my 2017 Dodge Ram 2500 and of course the other two F-150 trucks I’ve owned and I realized he may have had a valid point. Anyone had any issues running thru a car wash? Just curious.


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Proflyer

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I send mine through all the time and have a wash membership. It's far more important to me to get the mag chloride off after a snow storm than worrying about some micro scratches from the soft cloth wash. I have some CO pinstripes from trail time anyway. It's a truck...
 

goblues38

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The Brushless one by me fits the Raptor no problem. Plenty of cars with tires as wide as the Raptor.

The brushed one specifically has a sign that says cars with wider fenders should not be sent in.

The issue is not the wheel width, it is the sensors for the things on the side of the car. Most cheaper washes are only built to tollerate "rack width". So a car or truck like a raptor or something else with wide fenders are i danger of getting hit by items in the tunnel on the side of the car.
 
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shooters1380

shooters1380

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I send mine through all the time and have a wash membership. It's far more important to me to get the mag chloride off after a snow storm than worrying about some micro scratches from the soft cloth wash. I have some CO pinstripes from trail time anyway. It's a truck...
True. It’s a truck. But I’m thinking that many people pay another grand or more for special coating like ceramics or a wrap that’s anywhere from 2500 to 7 grand and maybe they might care about at least making a feeble attempt at taking care of their very expensive truck. But you’re right. It’s a truck


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Donovan

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Every since car wash I go to does not allow me to go in.

So its handwash forever lol.
 

policedutchdog

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A lot of the car washes we have here in Socal won't fit the Raptor but as you know many have hand washing available. I invested in a foam canon several years ago but it's significantly more difficult for those in colder climates to keep that road salt and mess off their vehicles. Being from the east coast, I don't miss that at all.
 

Proflyer

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True. It’s a truck. But I’m thinking that many people pay another grand or more for special coating like ceramics or a wrap that’s anywhere from 2500 to 7 grand and maybe they might care about at least making a feeble attempt at taking care of their very expensive truck. But you’re right. It’s a truck


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For sure, plus you being in SoCal you don't have the winter garbage like we have in CO. The mag will etch the clear coat if you leave it on there, so getting it off is priority one. I have a full detail type setup in my garage which I use for my more 'delicate' toys.
 
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