1st Jeep wash

[eureka]

Take that thing off permanently! No self respecting Jeep owner drives around with a spare tire cover! I know, my body Jeep, my choice! :P

Just go to one of those self service spray booths. For $7 you can power wash it including hitting the undercarriage and they usually have one of those heavy duty brushes for tires/wheels and a softer one for the body. The one I go to has a spotless rinse and blow dryer too. Then park and vacuum for $1 and hit your tires with some ArmorAll and you're good to go! I literally do this for about a year until I have a professional detailer do his magic with a buff and wax.

I feel like cover is essay to pr

Cant answer about the spare tire cover, or antenna, my first mod was getting a flexible stubby antenna. I take my Jeep at least once a week through a brushed auto wash. NY loves to put salt on the roads. I check the Jeep for scratches, loose fenders and leaks around the Sunrider all the time. Nothing so far. But cannot wait for warmer weather to start hand washing it again.

Everyone has there own opinion or recommendations, continue to ask and gather info and choose. thats the one thing I enjoy about this forum.

im worry about swirl marks, I believe that going through automatic wash all the time will cause them. I will be looking at eco friendly hand wash as some chemicals might not be good for coat. Still deciding lol ?

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[MrMischief]

I take my Jeep through the car wash pretty much every time I get gas. I try to only use touchless but have pulled up and realized at the last minute that it's going to get beat with brushes. I have a short stubby antenna that so far hasn't had an issue the few times it has happened with it. I went through a time or three with the factory antenna and never had an issue but I think that's because I was lucky so I'd recommend removing it or if you're like me and find yourself traveling to random car washes, carry a wrench in the jeep so you can quickly remove the antenna if you need to.

I suspect a tire cover would be at risk of getting pulled off, but I have no experience with tire covers so I can't say. To my eye they just look like something that'd be easy to grab and pull off.

 

[rickinAZ]

Anna, I think that you'll find your Jeep looks better without the tire cover. The only functional positive that I've seen is that the cover protects your spare from the sun. That's mostly for owners that don't include the spare into the regular tire rotation - leaving the same (spare) tire exposed every day without a break. Tip: do a five tire rotation; not just four.

 

[eureka]

Anna, I think that you'll find your Jeep looks better without the tire cover. The only functional positive that I've seen is that the cover protects your spare from the sun. That's mostly for owners that don't include the spare into the regular tire rotation - leaving the same (spare) tire exposed every day without a break. Tip: do a five tire rotation; not just four.

I live in Nevada sun 365 days a year

 

[rickinAZ]

I live in Nevada sun 365 days a year

I live somewhere hotter.

 

[MrMischief]

I live somewhere hotter.

I suspect UV is a larger concern for tires rather than heat. I think Vegas has more sunny days and a higher elevation than Phoenix which I suspect would mean a tire in Vegas has more UV exposure than a tire in Phoenix. I don't know if either are enough that a tire cover is needed, I have never ran a tire cover myself. Running a 5 tire rotation ensures I use up my spare before the sun will kill it. But I know some people who prefer the look of a tire cover and feel that without it the vehicle looks incomplete. And honestly... once the tires are starting to get pretty worn and the wheels scratched up I can see their point.

 

[TCorgard82]

Havent got my Jeep yet, but my Current Ram 1500 when I get a service, my dealer gives free touchless washes.

 

[entropy]

I only go through touchless car washes. When warm weather I hand wash it. To many things can go wrong in the brush type washes.

Same. I just handwash mine, and do the occasional touchless car wash. Apparently touchless carwash are not bullet proof, as the chemicals used can be harsh on the paint finish.

What's the logic behind carwashing on warm weather only? It is always "warm" in southern cal, but I am just curious.

 

[entropy]

I suspect UV is a larger concern for tires rather than heat. I think Vegas has more sunny days and a higher elevation than Phoenix which I suspect would mean a tire in Vegas has more UV exposure than a tire in Phoenix. I don't know if either are enough that a tire cover is needed, I have never ran a tire cover myself. Running a 5 tire rotation ensures I use up my spare before the sun will kill it. But I know some people who prefer the look of a tire cover and feel that without it the vehicle looks incomplete. And honestly... once the tires are starting to get pretty worn and the wheels scratched up I can see their point.

Or if you have a cheap spare tire.

 

[WhtRubi]

I always take my antenna off and fold in my mirrors. I learned my lesson long ago when a car wash ripped my antenna off and I had to get a whole new wiring harness and mount!

As for the spare tire cover: If it is a soft cover, always check to make sure that the elastic is tight and the straps are fully secured. I have a locking hard cover, and keep that on during the car wash no problem, but it it far more secure than a soft cover

 

[dchemphill1]

Same. I just handwash mine, and do the occasional touchless car wash. Apparently touchless carwash are not bullet proof, as the chemicals used can be harsh on the paint finish.

What's the logic behind carwashing on warm weather only? It is always "warm" in southern cal, but I am just curious.

Well it is hard to hand wash a car when it is 15 degrees outside here in Nebraska. Much less even take it through a touch less wash.

 

[entropy]

Well it is hard to hand wash a car when it is 15 degrees outside here in Nebraska. Much less even take it through a touch less wash.

Lol not sure why I didnt think about that. I lived 10 years in VT and yeah never hand washed my cars in winter

 

[TheBirdie72]

I suspect UV is a larger concern for tires rather than heat. I think Vegas has more sunny days and a higher elevation than Phoenix which I suspect would mean a tire in Vegas has more UV exposure than a tire in Phoenix. I don't know if either are enough that a tire cover is needed, I have never ran a tire cover myself. Running a 5 tire rotation ensures I use up my spare before the sun will kill it. But I know some people who prefer the look of a tire cover and feel that without it the vehicle looks incomplete. And honestly... once the tires are starting to get pretty worn and the wheels scratched up I can see their point.

UV affecting tires is only a thing if you live somewhere that actually gets a lot of hot, sunny days. In New England, we only get about 10 days of sun a year. It is usually either overcast, foggy, raining, or snowing. That’s why the pilgrims named it New England when they got here - same weather as “Old England.” But good for UV, though. ?

 

[eureka]

I always take my antenna off and fold in my mirrors. I learned my lesson long ago when a car wash ripped my antenna off and I had to get a whole new wiring harness and mount!

As for the spare tire cover: If it is a soft cover, always check to make sure that the elastic is tight and the straps are fully secured. I have a locking hard cover, and keep that on during the car wash no problem, but it it far more secure than a soft cover

I will remove the cover because it will get wet inside I would rather wait for tire to fully dry then put the cover back next day. The cover is thick and has soft padding inside. I am looking now at some good hand wash options around town. We shall see.

 

[Mike_1]

I personally will never go through a car wash. I wash/full detail my vehicles. It takes time but I love doing it.

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