Truck Washes

[RostyC]

I was curious as to how much you guys spend annually on truck washes.

Reason I ask is, I was plowing the other night and after I plow I spray my truck down, underside and all, to remove the salt and dirt build up from the road. That got me to thinking about the big truck and keeping it clean. Are there self serve washes that you can just blow off the salt or dirt from winter traveling. If so what's the average cost of that?

[mike3fan]

I was curious as to how much you guys spend annually on truck washes.

Reason I ask is, I was plowing the other night and after I plow I spray my truck down, underside and all, to remove the salt and dirt build up from the road. That got me to thinking about the big truck and keeping it clean. Are there self serve washes that you can just blow off the salt or dirt from winter traveling. If so what's the average cost of that?

I have found a self serve one in Detroit that I use from time to time if truck is fairly clean I can do it for $7,I usually try to limit myself to wash once every other week,some months I will do it more(summer) and then in the winter I slow down some.

[no_worries]

There are a few self-serves around, but they're few and far between. Usually runs me around $10. During the winter I wash anytime I come out of an area where the roads have been treated. Last year washes ran me $1220 but that includes washouts. I don't wash the trailer every time either.

[wildkat]

I think it totally depends on where you run, what kind of weather you run in, etc. Myself, I spend anywhere from $75 to $150/wash my tractor only, company I run for looks after their trailers. I run in the Arctic so the road conditions are extremely harsh & instead of salt & sand they use calcium, and that stuff is BRUTAL on paint & chrome, so my truck gets a full bath no less than once/week & in winter sometimes more.

So annually, for me, average $100/week, 52 weeks/year, 2 trucks $10,000/year... YIKES that's alot...

[brian]

I wash mine once a week at home

[enobeenob]

I wash mine myself when I am home, I can do a better job than the truck wash plus save $35.00.

[Double L]

And you know it'll get done RIGHT!!!!!!!!

[Maniac]

There is a self serve one at the ACT truck stop in Hagerstown Md, don't know how much it is though.

I-81 exit 5

[merrick4]

You know this thread has me thinking. I really don't do the truck washes (that's what rain is for ) but I need to do trailer washouts. Is the Blue Beacon considered expensive? I pay like $25. Sometimes I see the competition set up across the road but I just go to the Blue Beacon cause you kind of know what you are going to get.

The only other time I needed a washout and a Blue Beacon wasn't around was in South Carolina at some shop on the I95. He had a big water tank with a hose and wanted to charge me I think a half hour of shop time. I think like $40. I got to talking to him and he asked me what I wanted to pay so I told him I pay $25 at the Blue Beacon and he did it for that.

We don't have any truck washes at all in NH, MA, VT, ME area. The EPA won't allow it unless they have a hazard chemical reclamation process which would make a truck wash cost over $200.

My question is, how do you guys with refers get a wash out when your in my area?

[Red Clay Rambler]

Blue Beacon is priced about like everyone else in this area, I don't consider them expensive. I prefer an acceptable wash job done quickly, rather than a two-hour marathon. I'm guessing some washes take so long because they've had drivers complain that they "missed a spot, I'm not paying".

[wildkat]

Blue Beacon is priced about like everyone else in this area, I don't consider them expensive. I prefer an acceptable wash job done quickly, rather than a two-hour marathon. I'm guessing some washes take so long because they've had drivers complain that they "missed a spot, I'm not paying".

The place where I get mine washed takes about an hour, but they don't stop until you are satisfied with the job, had a rookie wash it once, wasn't happy with the job & they re-washed the whole truck...for free. Well worth the 75$ IMHO.

[RostyC]

Holy Cow Wildcat! :shock: That's a lot of of money on truck washes. I here you on the calcium though, the guy I plow for uses calcium, good stuff but it is hard on vehicles. I don't spread it though, once I get the lot scraped off, I call for the calcium truck and I'm outta there.

By the looks of the posts above I need to come up with an alternative. I can get the truck in the driveway to wash it but not the trailer, that will be on a lot not far from me. Perhaps a small water tank and a power washer. I just need to blow the salt off in the winter.

[no_worries]

Merrick, BB is fine for washouts. Often, you're not going to have a choice. You'll just have to use whatever's closest so you can get to your pickup.

Steve, I don't know what guys do up there. My guess is that most of the shippers aren't real sticklers for how clean it has to be. Unless you've hauled hazmat or something odorous, you can get by with a thorough sweeping to get the dirt out. Besides, I don't know how many reefers are actually picking up reefer loads up there anyway :?

[Dejanh]

Me, water cost..

Bought a Honda pressure washer last year when i did my truck, i washes me a house and a driveways too..

[wildkat]

Holy Cow Wildcat! :shock: That's a lot of of money on truck washes. I here you on the calcium though, the guy I plow for uses calcium, good stuff but it is hard on vehicles. I don't spread it though, once I get the lot scraped off, I call for the calcium truck and I'm outta there.

By the looks of the posts above I need to come up with an alternative. I can get the truck in the driveway to wash it but not the trailer, that will be on a lot not far from me. Perhaps a small water tank and a power washer. I just need to blow the salt off in the winter.

That's about normal price for up here Rosty...we will eventually have a washbay set up at home (2 trucks), but till we get our new shop built next summer it has to wait. We are on an acreage so space is a non-issue, but water is...we are on a cistern, so we have to get another tank that is dedicated to the shop...kind of a hassle, but well worth the effort in the end. :wink:

[RostyC]

Wildkat, have you thought about setting up a small truck wash business once you have the wash bay in?

[wildkat]

Wildkat, have you thought about setting up a small truck wash business once you have the wash bay in?

Good God :!: :!:


Please tell me where I would find the time :?: :?: :?: :?:

I already work 8 days/week...Do you mean someone went & added another one while I wasn't looking :?: :?: :?:

[RostyC]

Do it at night, you don't need sleep do ya? Geez, some people are so lazy!

[wildkat]

Do it at night, you don't need sleep do ya? Geez, some people are so lazy!

ROFLMAO!!!!