Washing snow, ice, dirt under cars

[89breaker]

Aside from the squat and spray technique, anybody have any ideas?

In an ideal world, I would throw it on a lift and be done but right now I am limited to jackstands and it is a pain in the ass to get the snow, dirt, and ice off the underside.

I thought about a lawn sprayer but the water stream isn't strong enough and is too narrow.

Anything I use had to be portable as I can't wash the truck outside because of subzero temps so I use it in the garage.
:confused:

[krugford]

Do you have a floor drain or another method to get rid of a lot of water on the floor? Are you in a heated garage where it'll dry instead of freeze immediately?

I own a four post lift that is next to a floor drain. I still don't raise it up to spray it off. Of course, simply driving on the lift raises it about 8 inches, I still prefer the squat and spray method, as you put it. Lots of water sprayed into every nook and cranny of the underbody. I usually come away from it wet from the waist down.

[RuggedRadios]

Get a rainsuit, lay down and go to town! :D

Or what Ive seen someone make, is like a 1" pvc pipe, capped at both ends. Tapped one end for a garden hose fitting, and sliced in some little slits down the top of the tube. Make it 5 feet long or so.... basically wide enough to still fit between the tires of the vehicle. Then you can drive over it back and forth, or slide it around under the vehicle and it washes it down.

[jasonmt]

We have something like this but with bigger tyres, a bend in the lance and the nozzles pointing up:

http://www.northerntool.com/images/product/images/222552_lg.jpg

[bronx94]

if your using a powerwasher, the guns with the flexable wands at the carwashes work really well. :smokin:

[Stephenw]

Your local automatic car wash doesn't have an under-carriage wash?

[89breaker]

Nope. Besides, if he did, it would freeze solid the second I drive out of the wash bay. Which is why I am looking for something I can do myself.

[squarewheels]

Try one of these from Staun. http://www.staunproducts.com/bodybuddy.php

You can call Staun USA to finad availability at 949-645-7733.

[NJ]

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200330915_200330915

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200330913_200330913

[ky scrambled]

Hell its warmer in Alaska then it is here in MN. Just go to the car wash and get it done.

[krugford]

Those underbody sprayer are easy for a reaon, they don't wash out all the nook and crannies where salt like to collect. Spraying off a bulk of the material isn't going to do you any good. Panels don't start to rust out in the center. They start to go at the edges, welded seams, pockets, etc. The only way to get those washed out is to take the time and do it by hand. If you're not going to do that, why bother?

[89breaker]

Hell its warmer in Alaska then it is here in MN. Just go to the car wash and get it done.


Did you not read my original post? Or my follow on post?

[89breaker]

Those underbody sprayer are easy for a reaon, they don't wash out all the nook and crannies where salt like to collect. Spraying off a bulk of the material isn't going to do you any good. Panels don't start to rust out in the center. They start to go at the edges, welded seams, pockets, etc. The only way to get those washed out is to take the time and do it by hand. If you're not going to do that, why bother?

What do you think I'm looking for?

[Whitescout]

So, you never answered the question of whether you have a power washer to do this, or are you trying to use a garden hose?

[89breaker]

So, you never answered the question of whether you have a power washer to do this, or are you trying to use a garden hose?

What question? Either way, I'll use either one.

[Blind Driver]

Lawn sprinkler:idea:

Set a timer and walk away :grinpimp:

[89breaker]

Lawn sprinkler:idea:

Set a timer and walk away :grinpimp:

See original post.

[Whitescout]

If you want to use a power washer, you can simply bend the wand like another person suggested, or you could add a couple of elbows to point the spray upwards. There are also adjustable ball fittings, so you can adjust the angle of the nozle you are going to use.

If you wanted to, you could use a branch tee at the bottom of the wand, so you could use more than one nozzle.

I do not think you would ever be able to get enough flow or pressure to clean using a garden hose.

[76scoutman]

The easiest way I've found is to pull one end onto the back end of the gooseneck trailer (deckover) which allows full access to wash the belly off with a pressure washer. You'll get a little wet but not too bad.

Ok, so you have to do this indoors and you can't take it to the carwash... How large is your shop? Is it big enough to pull a trailer and your rig into?

[89breaker]

The easiest way I've found is to pull one end onto the back end of the gooseneck trailer (deckover) which allows full access to wash the belly off with a pressure washer. You'll get a little wet but not too bad.

Ok, so you have to do this indoors and you can't take it to the carwash... How large is your shop? Is it big enough to pull a trailer and your rig into?


The answer was right in front of my face. Thanx.

[76scoutman]

No problem.

[miniyota]

carwash that washes the underside.

easy done. money well spent, it only takes 10 minutes and cleans the whole car.

[GMGuy]

Build your own washmobile (http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l?imgurl=b6c41ca3aa9374c3&q=Auto+Maintenance+source:life&usg=__ZVFTUHCSVuAFBdnz29Kd6PLE4qo=&prev=/images%3Fq%3DAuto%2BMaintenance%2Bsource:life%26hl %3Den%26safe%3Doff)... minus the top and side jets.

http://tbn0.google.com/hosted/images/c?q=b6c41ca3aa9374c3_landing

Alex.

[MT4Runner]

Get a rainsuit, lay down and go to town! :D

I do that, and use my $25 all-plastic SummitRacing creeper!!

The easiest way I've found is to pull one end onto the back end of the gooseneck trailer (deckover) which allows full access to wash the belly off with a pressure washer. You'll get a little wet but not too bad.

:smokin:

Great idea, there!

[dopeassjackson]

i like to see and make sure im getting every thing so i usualy squat.