How often do you carwash your Tacoma ?

Can I take my bike thru a touch less wash?

 

Here's my car/truck wash regiment:







EQUALS:

 

Every Saturday using nothing but Optimum, Chemical Guys, and P&S products.

 

Not to mention their washed with recycled water....who knows how free it is from any harmful crap. I know i wouldn't want to drink it, let alone shower in it.

 

I've got a hot water line with a shut-off valve inside my garage, i connect the hose to once a month during the winter to spray off any salt on and underneath the truck.

 

Looks like someone posted a pic in post #73.

Here's another



They are most noticeable in bright sun. You won't even see them in indoor lighting or at night. They are micro scratches in the clear coat. If you don't actively try to prevent them, then highly likely you have them. I can guarantee that any of these folks who bring their vehicles to car washes where a brush touches the paint 100% is covered with them. Most people don't notice or care about them, but once you do its a production to prevent them. I owned a black corvette for many years, and one of the best ways to avoid getting them is to use a leaf blower to dry your car off, instead of wiping down with towels. Two bucket method, making sure you aren't smearing dirt/rock particles across paint while washing.

Can also be corrected via polishing and with a good sealant/ceramic coating, mitigated to a high degree.

So like I said, if you don't notice or care about them, keep it that way. Lower blood pressure levels

 

Because most people aren't going to wash it more than once a week and if it's raining it will delay it get washed.

 

I see where the threads of my paint are ruined must come from.

 

Yea I'm assuming it averages out since the OP posted that he takes it between 2-4 times a week. So if you figure average of 3 times per week, 12 times per month for $20. Would be interesting to know what the all in cost per wash (including labor, land, material & utility costs) is, as they are grossing $1.66 per wash in his case. Wish someone would chime in with the numbers, because it does seem like these places are cash cows.

Where I live when it rains the carwash closes down, so they lose money on those days.

I'm guessing they are counting on the gym phenomenon where people pay for the monthly membership and hardly ever go. I've read that something like only 10% of gym members actually go on a regular basis. Also probably hoping they buy water/snacks and other sundries while there.

 

Haven’t washed my truck in 8 years

Nature’s rain is the only thing that rinses my truck

 

I have no trouble going through the carwash with a truck. All the brushes one one way it's impossible to get swirls in a car wash maybe lines but not swirls
. But my other car not a chance. Hand wash only and not too often

 

I guess you haven’t met Walter White.

 

Good one! Actually know Walter well, wife & I binge watched it. That explains everything

 

Once a week in a carwash with no brushes!!!

 

I try to wash my truck by hand every other week
If possible. I use a bucket with grit guard. Microfiber wash mit. Then dry with the absorber synthetic choaios. I use the Maguires hybrid ceramic wax a few times a year and use the detailer spray every few washes to keep the coating refreshed I wash all the towels each time nothing is used again without being washed. If I can't get to hand wash or the weather is too cold. I go to the car wash but never an automatic that's not touchless. I will find a touch less or go to the do it yourself stall and use the high pressure to wash of grime.

I used to take my Jeep Liberty to those unlimited washes at Apple auto park for years. Yeah it always looked clean and I would wash it sometimes once a week or more often at times. The clear coat on the hood eventually failed too.
Since this truck is my first new vehicle I'm trying to treat it better.

 

I don't carwash my truck ever.

One, I do it myself.

Two, you don't carwash a truck.

 

I use a touchless in the winter as it gets the salt right off the underside better than I ever will. My local has one that has arms that extend under the truck, and blast the underside up and down, it literally looks new under there after its done. In the summer when it's muddy it just gets blasted off with a pressure washer, and once or twice a month it gets a 2 bucket wash and spray wax with Toyota genuine spray wax (yes it exists) that I get for free working for a dealership. Shit is awesome.

 

I think it does have an effect on the paint over time, but when it's -40 out (my touchless completely dries the truck with an awesome blaster) and it's covered in salt, I'd honestly rather just take the risk of that.

 

I agree, I'm an IL kid, sometimes its your only option though not the best option.

 

When I set the sponge in the bucket and I come back to it frozen, it's time for the touchless