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Introduction
Car wash height clearance is a critical metric for drivers to consider before entering an automatic car wash. Knowing and adhering to the correct car width and height clearance can reduce the chances of accidents occurring during your visit. In fact, statistics show that incorrect car wash height clearances are among the most common reasons for vehicles sustaining damage while using an automatic car wash. By paying attention to these safety parameters, drivers can ensure their cars receive a safe and effective clean without suffering any avoidable damage.
What is Car Wash Height Clearance?
Car wash height clearance is the specific measurement of vehicle height in relation to the entrance posts of a car wash. The posts often act as guide rails for the vehicle, but also help protect the machinery from taller vehicles such as trucks and SUVs. This clearance is crucial for safety, as smaller vehicles may become damaged or even stuck if they enter the car wash at an incorrect height.
The exact measurements of car wash heights vary depending on location, with lower posts typically being set up in colder climates where snowfall can be expected. Generally speaking, standard heights are normally between 7-10 feet (2.1–3 m) in North America – any higher and larger vehicles may not be able to fit into the car wash tunnel due to ceiling restrictions.
For visual reference, here’s an example picture (see below graphic) of a typical car wash height clearance entrance setup, with conical showing posts pointing outwards from the entry gates highlighting the maximum allowable size for a vehicle:
– +——————————————————————+ | | | |max allowed | * | |vehicle | * * <-- Car Wash Entrance | |height | * /| +--------------+ * / || * / / || \/ Car Wash Height Clearance \/ || +------------------------------------------------------------------+
Average Height Clearance for Car Washes
The average height clearance for a car wash typically ranges between 7 to 8.5 feet in the US, but may be slightly higher or lower depending on your location. This means that all types of vehicles can pass through a car wash tunnel whether it’s an SUV, truck, or sedan. If you have any concerns about taking your vehicle to a certain type of car wash due to its height clearance, then you should check out our interactive map below.
We’ve organized the different kinds of car washes available for drivers with their respective height clearance information. Touchless Wash systems such as LaserWash and Airpuff are among some of the highest car wash heights at 8.3-8.5 feet – perfect for taller SUVs and trucks – while rollover systems can range from 6.5-7 feet depending on your area’s specifications.
Not only that, but you can find wand and brushless systems which might work better for vehicles with lower profiles such as sedans and hatchbacks ranging around 7-7.2 feet in height clearance respectively. This way, you can get all the same cleaning benefits without having to worry about your vehicle not fitting in the tunnel or accidentally getting bumped against one of the walls!
Tips for Drivers
Measuring Height Requirement for a Car Wash:
1. To measure the height of your car, measure from the ground to the highest point on top of the vehicle, including any luggage racks, bike racks or other protruding objects.
2. Measure any individual clearance requirements that may be posted in and around the car wash facility. Most places will advertise the minimum clearance needed before you enter the wash.
3. Have someone stand outside at a safe distance (at least six feet away) with a yardstick or measure tape to make sure you’re within acceptable limits in terms of height before entering the car wash tunnel. This helps guard against potential damage to your vehicle and any property belonging to the carwash operator.
4. Consider removing excess cargo from your vehicle if it extends more than two inches above normal height measurements from Step 1.
5. If unsure about clearance restrictions, contact an employee at the car wash site who can tell you exactly what vehicles are allowed through its system and what modifications (if any) should be made ahead of time for successful completion of your visit/vehicle cleanliness experience!
Safety Concerns
Most carwashing facilities set a certain height clearance they expect cars to meet. This is in part due to the automated mechanism and equipment located both inside and outside of the facility, which lacks the ability to differentiate a car’s size and shape. Attempting to drive a vehicle into a wash that is either too tall or too short for the facility can result in serious safety concerns.
Carwash collisions seems to be an ongoing issue, with numerous cases being reported in recent years. For example, in 2013 a Los Angeles woman drove her 6-foot tall BMW X3 SUV into a 4-foot 10-inch high façade of an automated car wash, damaging her vehicle as well as shattering glass doors on two bays underneath it. In Australia, other lack of carwash inspection height issues were addressed by public awareness campaigns such as ‘Measure Before Entering Car Washes’ with callouts for drivers to always check their vehicles before entering any automated wash facilities.
Ensuring that the proper safety measures are taken when entering into a car wash is essential; failure to do so can have disastrous consequences. If a customer encounters height clearance complications while attempting to take advantage of certain automated washes, they should first contact local car repair shops or dealerships for assistance or any further information on road /wash size regulations given by their state before embarking on other available services from third parties or potentially doing their own trial test run and observation attempts -all with clear consciousness about potential consequences for potentially not having needed resources for appropriate repair works if deemed necessary based upon pre-assessment of comparative data between vehicle sizes in relation to entering automatedcar washes under different heights restrictions provided at local washing facilities.
Conclusion
The height clearance of a car wash is an important consideration for drivers. When entering a car wash, it is important to pay close attention and make sure the height clearance is appropriate for your vehicle. Not doing so can cause damage both to your vehicle as well as the car wash components. To avoid this and keep both you and your vehicle safe, resources such as online measurements and posted signs should be consulted for accurate information about the car wash’s height clearance. Many websites can provide estimates on a particular car wash’s height allowance such as Overpass Mania and Car Washes Online. Additionally, if you are hesitant about the size of your vehicle relative to the size of the car wash entrance, it is best to consult with the attendant of the wash before entering the facility itself.
