Car washing the Gladiator and transfer case

[ShadowsPapa]

Then maybe you should listen instead of spouting absolutes. Touchless car washes do not touch your vehicle. They’re less dangerous to your paint than driving the vehicle.

Amen to that. I was driving my Eagle a couple of years ago, no, not following anything or anyone close, and a vehicle in another lane kicked up a rock that hit the front of the hood and DENTED the hood. An actual dent in the steel, not just a chip.
I've redone and repainted panels 3 times now - I figure from this point don't worry so much about it as one of these days I'll strip it totally down and repaint it again anyway.
I expect minor rock chips but a DENT in that part of the hood where it's the strongest just blew me away.

So I wonder - is any of this a problem? (and people wonder why I get concerned about the fog light wiring in the bumper and the rear of the front bumper being open)->

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[JET_83]

Huh. Is the Jeep paint softer than Tacoma’s? I’ve used a car wash for years and never seen scratches. It will remove wax over time.

The ones that touch the paint is what I’m talking about

 

[Geoarch]

Compared to the desert scrub brush a car wash isn’t even a blip on my radar when it comes to worrying about scratches. Around here they call it New Mexico pin-striping.

You got it George. Pinstripes are a badge of NM honor?

 

[SnazzGlad]

I must have crappy touch washes by me. The 2 times I’ve used them I got scratches on my fenders and around my windshield. It’s basically a brick getting slapped with brushes and hanging towels lol. Self wash in the bay is all I do now. Since the weather seems to be getting better I’ll go back to bucket washing. I’ve got some pin stripes from a trail but I’d rather get those than pay to get scratched up in a car wash.

 

[Dryfly24]

You got it George. Pinstripes are a badge of NM honor?

LOL, in that case I feel more than honored enough… ?

 

[joeym7]

Thanks for all the comments folks, who would have thought washing our Beloved Gladiators would invoke so much passions...

The car wash I use is brushless, but the main reason I would use a car wash vs doing it myself is the undercarriage. Don't have a pressure washer, but we have some very-good water pressure where I live and with a good nozzle with a "jet" option on it it is fairly powerful (relatively), so I think it will work at home.

Are there any areas in the undercarriage that I should pay special attention to cleaning? Alternatively, any areas that I would not want to hit with a "jet" stream?

I never had to clean the undercarriage of my STS lol, so this is new to me.

Thanks in Advance

 

[Jeeperjamie]

@JET_83 no way a touchless carwash is going to scratch paint or remove clear coat. There are no brushes, just jet sprayers, jets that soap and then jets that dry. Touchless, am I missing something?

 

[JET_83]

@JET_83 no way a touchless carwash is going to scratch paint or remove clear coat. There are no brushes, just jet sprayers, jets that soap and then jets that dry. Touchless, am I missing something?

I’m talking about that compound removes clear coat, the M204 stuff

 

[jac04]

...
Don't have a pressure washer, but we have some very-good water pressure where I live and with a good nozzle with a "jet" option on it it is fairly powerful (relatively), so I think it will work at home.

Are there any areas in the undercarriage that I should pay special attention to cleaning? Alternatively, any areas that I would not want to hit with a "jet" stream?

I never had to clean the undercarriage of my STS lol, so this is new to me.

Thanks in Advance

A garden hose with decent pressure & a garden extension is probably the best way to clean the undercarriage. Keep the 'jet' stream away from electrical connections, diff pinion areas, and the brakes.

I use a garden extension with a multi-pattern spray head (see picture below) I use the flat spray for inner fenders, wheels and most undercarriage areas. I use the small jet for mud that is packed into the LCA mounts & shock mounts. I use the shower setting for the final flush of everything. I use the larger jet at a lower flow setting (or just the hose end) for flushing out the brake caliper areas.

 

[joeym7]

A garden hose with decent pressure & a garden extension is probably the best way to clean the undercarriage. Keep the 'jet' stream away from electrical connections, diff pinion areas, and the brakes.

I use a garden extension with a multi-pattern spray head (see picture below) I use the flat spray for inner fenders, wheels and most undercarriage areas. I use the small jet for mud that is packed into the LCA mounts & shock mounts. I use the shower setting for the final flush of everything. I use the larger jet at a lower flow setting (or just the hose end) for flushing out the brake caliper areas.

Thanks, I have a similar nozzle, but I got to get one with that extension - 2 thumbs up! ? ?

 

[joeym7]

A garden hose with decent pressure & a garden extension is probably the best way to clean the undercarriage. Keep the 'jet' stream away from electrical connections, diff pinion areas, and the brakes.

I use a garden extension with a multi-pattern spray head (see picture below) I use the flat spray for inner fenders, wheels and most undercarriage areas. I use the small jet for mud that is packed into the LCA mounts & shock mounts. I use the shower setting for the final flush of everything. I use the larger jet at a lower flow setting (or just the hose end) for flushing out the brake caliper areas.

Do you happen to remember where you got that? Maybe a link?

Amazon doesn't seem to carry it, and no luck googling.

thanks,

 

[Fouts]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M72EB75/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=Tyche-4194-im-20&th=1

 

[WILDHOBO]

Amen to that. I was driving my Eagle a couple of years ago, no, not following anything or anyone close, and a vehicle in another lane kicked up a rock that hit the front of the hood and DENTED the hood. An actual dent in the steel, not just a chip.
I've redone and repainted panels 3 times now - I figure from this point don't worry so much about it as one of these days I'll strip it totally down and repaint it again anyway.
I expect minor rock chips but a DENT in that part of the hood where it's the strongest just blew me away.

So I wonder - is any of this a problem? (and people wonder why I get concerned about the fog light wiring in the bumper and the rear of the front bumper being open)->

I bet this was the same day mine looked like that. It froze my RSE steps shut. It took me a long time and many plastic quarters to get the bumper, fenders, and steps cleared. Only then could I consider washing it.

 

[jac04]

Do you happen to remember where you got that? Maybe a link?

This is the one I got for $8:
https://www.oceanstatejoblot.com/ti...MYbbJI7i4XwTWR-crfdr69mHgXPmoqmhoC3rkQAvD_BwE

They usually have similar ones at Home Depot or Lowes. IMO, don't get the ones that you have to squeeze the trigger, get one with the flip-valve.

 

[joeym7]

This is the one I got for $8:
https://www.oceanstatejoblot.com/ti...MYbbJI7i4XwTWR-crfdr69mHgXPmoqmhoC3rkQAvD_BwE

They usually have similar ones at Home Depot or Lowes. IMO, don't get the ones that you have to squeeze the trigger, get one with the flip-valve.

Thanks!

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