Gladiator through a car wash? Experiences?

[Mud Pie]

I noticed the antenna on mine was basically the same setup that was on my wife's 2005 Liberty Renegade. We used to take that to a car wash and the guys would always remove the antenna and stick it in the cargo area. In 2023 we sold it to a friend of mine, I reminded him about the antenna. His first car wash, he forgot; broke it off.

I'm taken mine through an automated wash at Buc-ee's. Beforehand, I've always pulled the antenna off, I wasn't taking chances. I keep the wrench in the little Jeep tool kit for the top/doors. I've never had an issue or a leak. The only problem I had was before I put on a folding hard tonneau cover. When I had an open bed, when I pulled out there was still soapy water in the bed. I'd go home and hose out the bed. Now that it's covered, no problem.

I'll admit, I'm a little anxious every time I go through the wash, but so far so good. The insulation I put on the roof panels and rear top knocked down the noise of the brushes considerably.

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[Smash615]

Only use touchless once a month in the winter. Never any leaks. Hand wash the other 3 seasons every week or so with a simple rope mop and soap mitten. Takes 15 min and can get into any nook and cranny without issue. Way better than any touchless.

 

[SummertimeCarl]

I've got a membership at an autowash 1/4 mile from my house and use it all the time. I mean REALLY often; I use it as a cut-through to avoid the light at a busy intersection.

Not a single issue. It's not touchless, it has the octopus looking things flopping all over the truck etc. You put your wheel on the track and it drags you through the wash.

No scratches, no hang ups, no leaks. Started doing this as soon as I got the truck ~4 months ago.

Since I use this so often it affects some of my mod decisions. (For instance, I like the idea of ditch/pillar lights but don't want them to cause hangups while washing).

Some people say the auto-washes are bad for your vehicle, perhaps some might be. From my experience - I had a Silverado and went through the same wash often times 2-3 times a week, paint looked great after 6+ years.

Find one you like and stick with that one, I don't predict you'll have issues.

 

[Zachanadandy]

I've got a membership at an autowash 1/4 mile from my house and use it all the time. I mean REALLY often; I use it as a cut-through to avoid the light at a busy intersection.

Not a single issue. It's not touchless, it has the octopus looking things flopping all over the truck etc. You put your wheel on the track and it drags you through the wash.

No scratches, no hang ups, no leaks. Started doing this as soon as I got the truck ~4 months ago.

Since I use this so often it affects some of my mod decisions. (For instance, I like the idea of ditch/pillar lights but don't want them to cause hangups while washing).

Some people say the auto-washes are bad for your vehicle, perhaps some might be. From my experience - I had a Silverado and went through the same wash often times 2-3 times a week, paint looked great after 6+ years.

Find one you like and stick with that one, I don't predict you'll have issues.

Those people are the super anal, looking for micro scratches or swirls type. I wouldn't own a jeep if I was worried about keeping the paint show quality. I'm sure after 2 decades of the auto wash you'd really be able to tell the difference in paint finishes, but by then the Jeep would have ~400k miles on it and the trail rash and bush scratches would still have done the bulk of the damage to the paint.

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