Can you go thru a drive-thru car wash with External Molle Panel - 4Runner 5th Gen?

Hey guys new to the group, just like the title says I just set up my external molle panels on my rear windows and just realized that the drive thru car wash might be a bad idea? Has anybody tried that before and had any issues? I googled it and some car washes do not recommend going thru with any sort of external rack, ladder, or mounts, but I have seen vehicles go in with external ladders. TIA

 

This is something that most people don't think about. It's why car washes have this sign:




If it isn't properly secured to your vehicle, I wouldn't risk it.

 

Would steer clear of a drive thru with your set up.

 

I would definitely not go through anything with brushes with exterior mods of any kind. I won't even go through automated touchless washes with the stuff I've done out of safety

 

around here, I’ve seen those signs say the customer is liable for any damage done to the machinery due to stuff coming off.

Is the external molle panel attached onto the window? Can it flex into the window? If the window breaks, your 4runner is going to get soaked. And that molle panel will hammer it silly if it gets caught in a spinning brush.

 

It’s about a quarter of an inch off the window, and it’s attached to the roof rack, and it also has two large suction cups on the actual window.

 

Suction cups? If it's attached that way I would stay away from any drive-thru car wash. Stick to hand washing it yourself.

 

Gonna assume you also have a roof rack if you have an external molle panel which is already a no for car washes ... unless, maybe a touchless. I still wouldn't try it though

 

Thanks for the feedback guys. Will definitely stay away from drive-thru car washes. I guess I will cancel my monthly unlimited car wash membership asap!

 

I had to do the same when I got my rack ... my 5 year old was super disappointed

 

I find auto car washes to be useless n their effectiveness, this a waste of money. I do wash it my driveway when it’s not cold out, but will use coin operated car washes / bay car washes as a happy medium. I really need scaffolding to wash my truck, one issue of being short … lol.

 

step ladder works for me as I am “under tall” as well

 

Car washes with spinning brushes should be avoided in general, because they leave swirl marks on the clearcoat.

 

I would only go to hand wash places. But now with my pod lights and rear lights as well as my Maxtrax mounts on the roof its a no go. All by hand my self now.

 

Our streets look like the Bonneville Salt Flats in the winter. Auto car washes are absolutely essential to getting the salt off of things.

 

You're not wrong, but I don't see how they are any worse than the pin striping I get off-road.

 

We are lucky around here to have a chain of gas stations that have the best touchless car wash I’ve ever tried. Any location has the exact same equipment, and they are always maintained. The touchless one actually cleans better than the brushed option they sell.

 

I use DIY car wash bays sometimes too. I hate their chemicals though. They strip wax/coatings. I used to do the old bucket wash, using my own soap, in the bays before that was frowned upon.

 

You can't be talking about Kwik Trip...their stuff is good enough to get the big chunks off before you take your car to the place you have the monthly membership to.

Their donut game is on point, as is their bathroom cleanliness though.

 

Man,I work in Racine, I’m set for donuts. Cant even consider donuts from anywhere beside O&H

I’m open to better touch less options if you got em! The underbody is actually really good!

I never take it into a car wash though if it’s got chunks. Waste of time usually. I have a three stage procedure after mud. Hose chunks off of undercarriage and rinse inside of frame rails. Hose off chunks from exterior (water only), then handwash if I have time, or take it to kwik trip. That touch less wash will take mud stains off paint perfectly, and it will clean the wheels almost as good I do washing by hand. I spring for the fancy berry flavored wash though…I like the foam.

 

Touchless didn’t do anything for me after my misadventure in Nicolet.

I actually prefer soft touch myself.

 

Why even take it through one of those paint swirl factories? Self operated bay is the way to go if you don’t have a power washer setup at home or it’s too cold to do at home.

Detail freaks: go at night, no one will bother you for bringing your own wheel cleaners, soaps, etc like they will during the day when everyone is there. Can take your time inside the bay for drying without anyone breathing down your neck too.

 

When it’s zero degrees with 15mph winds, I ain’t getting out of the car to keep the salt crude off my vehicle.

 

Self wash bays have a roof and walls lol it takes like 5 minutes to hit the body with soap, undercarriage with water, and rinse the body with water. Pretty easy, even during our cold new england winters.

I wouldn’t save myself the 5 minutes in the bay to take it through one of those shitty carnival ride washes where dirty ass abrasive brushes wack your paint and swirl everyone else's debris into your clear coat.

 

Exactly! And you never known if those brushes have somebody's molle panel stuck in it! That would really leave some scratches!

 

I had my first pinstripes before I hit 3000 miles. Really not concerned about the brushes.

Midwest winters are pretty brutal. We’ve hit -27F since I’ve been here - and there are spots that are far worse than where I live.