Car wash?

New owner of a 2021 Venture edition with the big Yakima rack. Has anyone one taken this through a car wash? I’m a bit afraid of it breaking off the plastic front panel of the rack with the Yakima logo on it. Thoughts?

 

Don’t.

 

My car wash has a sign saying anything that’s older than 10 years old is your responsibility, anything newer if it breaks or whatever they’ll replace it. I’ve taken a tundra through before with a rack and the fairing on it, nothing came off.

 

Don't go to the ones with the spinning brushes, they will hold onto dirt from past cars then scratch your paint. I use the ones with the water jets because my apartment doesn't have a hose I can use to wash my vehicle off. It did take some paint off my roof rack, but it was flaking off already and I will be repainting it. The do it yourself car washes are the best ones to use.

 

I can’t speak to other companies, but Mister Car Wash will put a permanent override on your account, so that way when your vehicle tag is scanned, it’ll automatically disable any brushes that would’ve touched the top of the vehicle, only allowing the high pressure water to hit that spot. Downside, your hood misses out on a good cleaning, at least down the center.

I don’t have time to wash my 4R by hand all of the time during spring/summer/fall (winter is a given), so I had to find a car wash I trusted. I still step out for a once over after going through - ultimately never leaving their property until I verify no damage has been done.

I know that’s nails on a chalk board to some, but it’s a bit tough to convince the wife I need 2 hours every other weekend to clean the vehicle. When I was single it was a MUCH different story. That said, don’t fret the car wash, just be sure it gets proper treatments/coatings and TLC in between - you’ll be fine.

 

I only do the touch-free automatic. I had a Yakima Off-grid basket on it for a year, and it never got damaged.

 

That’s high level customer service for a car wash! Very cool. No Mister Car Wash around these parts though—Mike’s or The Tube. I’ll see what they have to say.

 

The only problem I had with mine (touch-less) was that the dryer caused the fairing to flip down since it is mounted from the bottom on pivots. It was fine otherwise.

 

Not mine, but a roof rack incident at the carwash.

 

This exactly. Just don’t. My wife and I are fortunate enough to have a synergy here. Unlimited hand washes for 40.00 a month for both 4runners. And boy do we take advantage of it. I go through about once every two weeks she’s about once a week. If we want the interiors done it’s an extra 5.00 a visit and those kids hustle. If it’s muddy they will charge an extra 10.00 for that visit but they spray it down really good before a brush or rag ever touches it. And I can verify each car gets a new wash towel each time.

with me getting my front runner put on tomorrow they put a thick layer of wax on for me since it’s probably the last time the roof is gonna see wax for a while.

 

Yikes!

 

Haha! Was that the guy who thought the car wash should fix it for him?

 

I think so, but not certain.

This was from a thread on the other forum and I just scanned it.

 

Do you go to the Synergy in Halls or West Knoxville? If you have been to both, is one better than the other? I have only been to the one in Halls, but wondered if the one in West Knoxville was better.

 

West Knox is the best. We have the membership and once a month I have them do inside and out. Only issue I’ve ever had was one time they left some rags in between my roof and rack to stop water from coming down the side and on the way home I started hearing them flap around like crazy. I guess it’s not really an issue since I got free rags lol.

 

Thanks! From what I had read online, it seemed like the one out west might be better, so I'm happy to hear another personal experience to back up that claim.

 

One suggestion I’ve learned the last two trips. They have this trio of younger kids. Don’t let them any where near your truck. They are too about kidding around joking trying acting out that they do a piss poor job. I had to shoo one of the away today because of how much they missed on the last two times. There’s an older guy there semi balding well rounded he’s my favorite. He 100% makes it look brand new every time and will do little extras to make it much better. But avoid the 3 amigos like a plague

 

Hand wash only, car washes suck

 

True but here in New England it's 25 today and we're waiting for more snow tomorrow.

 

Yep I hand wash all my stuff even in winter I am crazy though. In winter I take a few 5 gallon buckets of soapy water with me to the quarter wash about 6:30pm when its not crowded and have some fun. Seems to be fine as long as temp is not below 27. Just take a bunch of towels to dry it down. I am sure when I get older that nonsense will stop though

 

Clear throat (jask!%#)
That's sux YO!

 

You are better off using the coin-operated car wash. Do not use the brushes and bring your microfiber drying towels.

 

Ding, ding, ding!! You hit the nail right on the head winter hand washings will someday stop. I used to do the same thing not any more. Now I'm like "hmmm a little scratch from the carwash?...f it!!"
Difference is I used to pull the hose out of the basement and do it in the driveway then almost kill myself an hour later after it froze and was a skating rink.

 

That's why you stick to touchless washes if you have a roof rack. I heard that guy, or someone else in a similar situation was trying to get the car wash to pay for the repair. Lol, it was his own fault!

 

I think an even better idea is to save for retirement and go to a warmer climate for winter! I am no longer a fan of this winter stuff

 

My daughter took her FJ through a car wash about a month ago. She had the normal FJ rack up there and the bristles from the brush took out three of the plugs without us knowing. That SOB whistled like a train horn once you hit 45 mph and it took me a bit to figure it out...anyways she now realizes what I mean by touch less car wash only.

 

25 ?.......thats a warm day! LOL Its been super cold this winter! and lots of snow

 

Not to change subject but how does that heated defroster for windshields work? Since I dont have mine yet just curious. This will be first vehicle with that feature.

 

It warms the wiper blades so they dont stick to the glass. I've used it a lot. Seems to work fine.