Car Washing (automatic or do it yourself bay) basics:

Always remember that no one wants to follow the last beat up rusted out car that went in just before you. The little rust flakes that came off his car are still on the brushes that are about to swipe your ride. Take pride, do it yourself.

 

I've used the dealership car wash with no probs. It doesn't do a perfect job...
but I didn't expect it to anyway.

 

When I finish riding I spray it off in a car wash bay to get all of the thick mud off, so it isn't all in my driveway. Then we have a brushless car wash that has a really good undercarriage wash on it that I run through. Then I go home and hand wash and wax.

 

I guess I'm the odd one. A Jeep is just a hunk of steel, rubber and plastic. It doesn't care. I use a car wash that has the rotating brushes and gets the Jeep very clean. I've installed 3M film on the sides and up the side of the hood to protect from the AZ pinstripping brush for future resale value, so the car wash is just a massage for the Rubi after a day at work. It costs my $7 and all I have to do is wipe off the windows when done.

 

I go to the spray off car wash but I take a bucket. soap, and a sponge. I pour the soap in the bucket and spray the car wash soap on top of it. Wet the Jeep with the soap and water spray. I then wash one whole side and the hood. Rinse with clear water. Then wash the other side and rear. Rinse the whole Jeep and then dry with a chamois and big towels. It cost me $4.50. I usually do this in the winter only or if I'm at the beach. When it's warm, handwash in the driveway.

 

Simple Green and Wash n Wax and go at it

 

+1 on the pressure washer...especially after wheeling...always amazes me what comes out from under the Jeep.

I have not done a car wash with the soft top, but had no problems with the hard top. I would not recommend any kind of auto wash with the soft top...just seems like a bad idea.

 

Care to elaborate on the 3M Film? I've thought of this idea for a while now but couldn't find anything to put on that isn't noticable.

 

3M FILM

I went to a shop that paints RVs and applys the 3M film to the front of them. The film cost about $300 and I could have put it on myself, but chose to have them install it. It goes on with a 50-50 mix of glycol alcohol and water. The material is cut to fit an area and the backing pealed off and applied the the weted surface. The excess solution is squeegied off. When I want to remove it in the future, it takes a heat gun to warm it up and then peal it off. The residue is easily removed and the finish is like new. I hope it works as well on the Jeep as it does on the front of my motorhome. It has stone chips whereever there isn't any film and none where there is.

 

I just wash mine in the driveway and enjoy every second of it. Get some tunes on and enjoy the sun. It can be relaxing. And Use the power sprayer for the win