Friday the 13th and my Tundra

[Bob77064]

Glad you were not hurt, sorry to hear about this.

 

[Kubotafan]

Well, after spending the week babysitting my granddaughter while my daughter attends a training class for a new job, I packed up and headed home. After driving 3 1/2 hrs, I made it to home town and since I am due to go back Sunday evening, so I decided to gas up my truck (2006 Tundra) before heading back to the country home.

We get "points" from Vons groceries for Chevron gas, and in this case was a $.20 per gallon discount. Well, while filling up I see getting a car wash there gives me another $.10 off for a total of $.30 per gallon discount. My truck was filthy and temps have been down in the 20's at night so I decided why not?

Soooo I gas up, and run the truck over to the wash. It's one of those you drive into and stop, and it moves over the car. Cool. So I pull in and it starts up. About half way in it feels like the big roller brush is "lifting" my truck. What the???? Then I hear wham wham wham, and now I'm worried, then I hear a metallic whack against the rear "power" window, then BOOM, the rear windshield blew inwards in a million pieces. It didn't stop there, it worked it's way over the cab, and then onto my front windshield, drivers side. Sure enough, slam, slam, CRACK! Yup two 12" spiders on the front.

I have gone from shock, to horror to boiling all in about 20 seconds.

The brush rolled over the top of the cab and grabbed a rope that I keep IN THE BOTTOM OF THE BED that I use to tie my lawn mower in the bed to keep it from rolling around. It has a steel quick connect on the end to hook onto a tiedown on the other side of the bed.

If you look in the picture of the front, look just below the wipers and you'll see the quick connect where it left it, clipped to my hood.

View attachment 350233

View attachment 350234

Was it the clip on the rope that took out your rear window and cracked the windshield?

 

[handirifle]

For those that are jumping on me, i never made a claim of blaming the car wash. I went back and looked, there was a sign declairing they have no responsibility. It was one of things just getting off the road after 3hrs of driving, a million things on my mind to catch up on at home and the return trip coming up. Didn't even see the sign. I "knew" the bed was empty, and most likely would not have given the ropes a second thought.
as for their equipment, had it been damaged I would have had to pay. I did warn a lady away from it, that was right behind me until we could get it cleared, which we did.

No one was hurt, except my pride.

It is under comprehensive. The claims adjuster says the damage is all over the truck, which I was afraid of. All this and t cause I didnt want to wash the truck in 35 deg air. Soooo I will be driving my Hunday rental for a couple weeks. I have Geico and they are treating me good.

Yes it was the buckle on the end of the rope. Amazing what a little hunk of steel will do when spun by a huge motor.

 

[Bob77064]

We all make mistakes, I have forgotten about things in the bed of my truck.

 

[DT86]

I worked for a company that built car wash equipment right out of high school. The stories the older guys told would amaze you. I'll just say be glad your dog wasn't tied to that rope in the bed.

 

[Kubotafan]

I worked for a company that built car wash equipment right out of high school. The stories the older guys told would amaze you. I'll just say be glad your dog wasn't tied to that rope in the bed.

I heard of a fellow snow blowing and caught a chain buried in the snow. It wrapped around the auger, which wouldn't have been so bad if the dog in the dog house wasn't attached to it!

 

[jejeosborne]

Glad to hear it was comprehensive and hopefully categorized as no fault.

 

[Dutch445]

that sucks, no matter who's fault it was, it just sucks.
i bet many of us could forget about something like this and end up
with the same result.
i bet it was quite a ride thru the wash! but not in a good way..
sorry for the damage..
maybe you should take your insurance check and upgrade your truck!!!

 

[sixdogs]

Our locate car wash has BIG bold sign saying mirrors,wipers,antennas etc. etc. are fair game.

Good luck if you try getting them to pay for damages.

Generally, that sign is just to discourage people. Of course they are responsible for damages caused by their equipment not operating in the manner to which people have come to expect. Sure, claim it on your insurance but I'll bet your company goes after the car wash.
I'm not sure how your area deals with these things--this is just my personal experience.

 

[3930dave]

For those that are jumping on me, i never made a claim of blaming the car wash. I went back and looked, there was a sign declairing they have no responsibility. It was one of things just getting off the road after 3hrs of driving, a million things on my mind to catch up on at home and the return trip coming up. Didn't even see the sign. I "knew" the bed was empty, and most likely would not have given the ropes a second thought.
as for their equipment, had it been damaged I would have had to pay. I did warn a lady away from it, that was right behind me until we could get it cleared, which we did.

No one was hurt, except my pride.

It is under comprehensive. The claims adjuster says the damage is all over the truck, which I was afraid of. All this and t cause I didnt want to wash the truck in 35 deg air. Soooo I will be driving my Hunday rental for a couple weeks. I have Geico and they are treating me good.

Yes it was the buckle on the end of the rope. Amazing what a little hunk of steel will do when spun by a huge motor.

Good to hear that your Insurance company is covering you.

You shared an embarrassing story, that may help somebody else avoid the same situation. Thank you for posting this account.

That situation is potentially dangerous enough that your story should be cross-posted into the Safety section, if you feel so inclined.

Rgds, D.