Building A Home Car Wash

[txdon]

I'm in the research and planing stage of my carwash project. A gas powered pressure washer is good enough for me BUT building the car wash was in the deal in the move from the city to the country and my wife has not forgotten.

I found this link: Build your own car wash by Jeffrey Yago, P.E., CEM and it is similar to what I had envisioned. The boom to support the hose is made from two heavy-duty barn door hinges, and two 2x2x1/4-inch aluminum angles that were 10 feet long" - see picture.

I can not figure out where to buy these at.

Has anyone built a similar carwash.
Any suggestions - (a new wife is not an option) Help!

 

[CliffordK]

Do you have a lot of water?

I remember in the past that the 1" firehose that Mom has at her house was always nice for washing cars, and it certainly is good for cleaning other stuff. Of course using an adjustable spray/stream nozzle.

 

[Stihlrunner]

Do you have a lot of water?

I remember in the past that the 1" firehose that Mom has at her house was always nice for washing cars, and it certainly is good for cleaning other stuff. Of course using an adjustable spray/stream nozzle.

Hi Clifford! Enjoying our nice weather? I'm out near Cheshire.

Love the idea of a home car wash, however I am doubting the effectiveness of the one shown. Probably end up washing it by hand anyway.

 

[txdon]

CliffordK, My water supply is 3/4" PVC - county water. This has to be simple to operate - flip a switch, squeeze a trigger, turn a knob for soap or just water, snap on brush or nozzle.
No rolling or dragging hoses, no buckets, no looking for soap etc. I Know, I know, but it was in the "deal".

Stihlrunner - with the soapy brush it should be just as effective as a regular car wash.

 

[CliffordK]

It is rare that I've used commercial car washes, so most of what I've done is with a bucket, rags, and a hose, so it is hard for me to comment on the benefits of certain in hose soap dispensers and etc.

Since your water is limited, the pressure washer is a nice idea (you may still wish to limit the pressure a bit). A simple supply cabinet inside the garage would be helpful too.

I like to direct the waste water to where it is needed, lawn, orchard, etc.

 

[Dr Dave]

I have also wanted one, winter use would also be nice, in Iowa, a heated bay would probably be required also. Around here salt and liquid deicers are used all winter long. The closest car was is 5 miles away, if you wash and drive home your doors freeze, or gets dirty on the way home.
Thanks for posting the link.

Dave

 

[SanDucerro]

Tractor Supply has the barn door hinges, the aluminum angles - beats me... I like the general idea though. It doesn't appear the angles need to be made from aluminum as the idea is to just hold the hose up. What about just using wood for the boom pole.

 

[riptides]

I'm in the research and planing stage of my carwash project. A gas powered pressure washer is good enough for me BUT building the car wash was in the deal in the move from the city to the country and my wife has not forgotten.

I found this link: Build your own car wash by Jeffrey Yago, P.E., CEM and it is similar to what I had envisioned. The boom to support the hose is made from two heavy-duty barn door hinges, and two 2x2x1/4-inch aluminum angles that were 10 feet long" - see picture.

I can not figure out where to buy these at.

Has anyone built a similar carwash.
Any suggestions - (a new wife is not an option) Help!

Dude! Totally kewl idea!

I did a google search on "car wash boom poles".

Ignore the results from the UK and Africa, although the African page that popped up had a total design guide for car-washes. That was something.

Try this for boom poles.

Car Wash Equipment

 

[aczlan]

I might get a electric 1500 PSI pressure washer ($120 for a new one?), then mount it to the wall, add a longer hose, the boom, etc, mount a tank for the detergent with a shutoff (lever going through the wall to close a valve on the soap line?)
Could probably have it setup for under $400.

Aaron Z

 

[chasemech]

My Wife already has a Car wash "ME"

 

[Lou66]

My Wife already has a Car wash "ME"

My wife has one also she calls him Lou.. Lou

 

[Lou66]

I use my well that out in the pasture,, I run it off a welder/generator,, most of the piping is one and half inch.. I installed a 3/4" valve fitting for a hose off of one of the 90's,, with only the pump running I get around 60 psi and maybe eight gallon a minute flow thru that 50' by3/4" hose,, I use it to wash farm equipment,, it does a nice job,, plus my pasture gets watered at the same time.. but make sure you lay a large rock on it when not holding it,, there is no cut off unless you unplug it.. it will walk like a snake and that brass fitting on the end hurts,,, I know.. Lou

 

[forgeblast]

Just wondering out loud here. But since you have pressure from your well, could you buy a pressure boost. That way the water would come in hit the boost and then you could have your manifold to apply soap or water etc (thinking something like a pex manifold). You could then run it out to the outside. I would think instead of a boom pole what about a self reeling hose assembly like they have for air compressors. That way it could still swivel but would be out of the way. I really like the idea of a home carwash especially since we live on a modified stone road, with a modified stone driveway.

 

[txdon]

Riptides - those booms start at $900 very nice, but I like the economy setup in the link better, just a need to find a swivel pole to hold the hose.

aclan - I was thinking along those lines until I saw the setup in the link. What would be the advantages or disadvantages of a simple $120 electric pressure washer instead of the $1000 wall mounted 220v washer? Volume? Longevity? Pressure control? Soap siphon? I'll have to look at some specs.

Chasemech and Lou- That is the best benefit of the car wash it will no longer be ME. (Well, that's the game plan anyway.)

Kieth - I will try find aluminum first and steel second, I don't want a wooden boom. I really need to find that 10' Aluminum L - that's the hold up right now.

Forgeblast - I like the boom instead of a reel because as Yago says: "I strongly recommend having this arm (boom) as it keeps the pressure hose clean and off the ground, and keeps it from getting hung up on bumpers and tires as you move around the vehicle."

 

[aczlan]

aclan - I was thinking along those lines until I saw the setup in the link. What would be the advantages or disadvantages of a simple $120 electric pressure washer instead of the $1000 wall mounted 220v washer? Volume? Longevity? Pressure control? Soap siphon? I'll have to look at some specs.

Benefit? Price.
$20ish will get you a soap injector such as General Pump Quick Connect Pressure Washer Detergent Injector — 3500 PSI | Detergent Injectors| Northern Tool + Equipment
$60ish will get you a 50' hose such as Non-Marking Pressure Washer Hose — 4000 PSI, 50ft. Length | Pressure Washer Hoses| Northern Tool + Equipment
$100ish in parts will get you the boom made
Disadvantages? You will probably never have to replace the pump in a $1000 system, you might have to replace the pump in a $120 system (the $120ish pressure washers are available for $75 or less on Craigslist). The soap injector I linked to might not work as well, but you could also get one like he had in his article.

Aaron Z

 

[CliffordK]

A hot water heater might be nice, especially if you are washing the car in the winter, but probably not necessary.

 

[txdon]

A hot water heater might be nice, especially if you are washing the car in the winter, but probably not necessary.

Probably not, only had 3 or so days of freezing this winter.

 

[/pine]

A hot water heater...

How hot do you want it?

 

[94BULLITT]

You should be able to get the angle at your local metal supplier.

I might get a electric 1500 PSI pressure washer ($120 for a new one?), then mount it to the wall, add a longer hose, the boom, etc, mount a tank for the detergent with a shutoff (lever going through the wall to close a valve on the soap line?)
Could probably have it setup for under $400.

Aaron Z

Stay away from a electric pressure washer they are junk. I had one and it lasted 10 minutes.

 

[forgeblast]

You should be able to get the angle at your local metal supplier. I'm Sure Harv has some sitting around