Washing your Ranger during winter in Northern Climates

[Msfitoy]

Having lived in Michigan for most of my life, I do miss the cheap $1 auto wash...it costs at least $7 down here in NC because there's no snow...??

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[Swingpure]

I found it on Amazon in Canada, so I will order it and let you know how it works. I actually have well over 50 microfiber towels, so I will change them often. I can do this in my heated garage.

Other waterless washes were very expensive, like Chemical Guys EcoSmart, at least here In Canada

Thanks

 

[Swingpure]

When I lived in the Phoenix area, you would get a car wash for between $10 and $15, and it was like they detailed your vehicle. It was amazing.

 

[RANGER_MARC]

My hoses are put away for the winter. Just wondering how some of you wash your Ranger during the winter months, other than taking them to a car wash? I was out in the slush twice today and the truck is the dirtiest it ever has been.

To be frank, my strategy for washing the Ranger in the winter is ... to wait for spring!

 

[HenryMac]

Water rights here where we live in Colorado prohibit folks with well water from using it to wash cars.
We go to the car wash and use the pressure wand to wash our vehicles year round.

 

[Johnv1991]

Rinseless wash. Several methods out there so choose the one you like best. I really find a rinseless to be a huge time savings as well as water savings. Several great products out there as well.

But my one piece of advice I guess is, if you were comfortable running it through a car wash or letting the dealer wash it the rinseless is far less of a risk to your paint than those other methods.

 

[mark_anderson_us]

My hoses are put away for the winter. Just wondering how some of you wash your Ranger during the winter months, other than taking them to a car wash? I was out in the slush twice today and the truck is the dirtiest it ever has been.

I use rinseless (optimum). Thinkling of getting the worx power washer though and use with no lance, so i hose down grime from a bucket. When it's really bas, I take to local touchless carwash

 

[Swingpure]

Well, I have to admit I decided I would wait until the morning to order the waterless product. The image of the chemical guys video, where his towel was black after wiping the car, and thinking how can that not scratch the paint, stayed in my mind.

Today it warmed to a balmy 38° F/ 3.5° C and I brought out the hoses. I was just in my sweatshirt it was so nice out. (cloudy, foggy but no wind). At times I thought I could be in my tee shirt.

I just used the spray nozzle on the hose, instead of my pressure washer, but I was able to give it a good clean. I had warm water in the buckets and there was no issue using the wash mitt. I used the leaf blower to dry the truck off, (love the rain-x film on the windows), then brought it into the heated garage, to do the final dry and wipe with the detailer spray.

This winter is suppose to be warmer than normal, so maybe I will just pick the odd warm day to get it clean, while I ponder using the waterless option.

 

[pozi240]

ONR (Optimum No Rinse).... it's a god send during winter maintenance in the garage where you don't (or can't) use your hose. You just need to fill a small bucket and have about 4- 6 mf towels.
Here is a tutorial from Pan that explains:
https:/www.youtube.com/watch?v=RP_BZ-jZBnY

 

[Tim H.]

My hoses are put away for the winter. Just wondering how some of you wash your Ranger during the winter months, other than taking them to a car wash? I was out in the slush twice today and the truck is the dirtiest it ever has been.

Thankfully my home has a hose bib inside my insulated & finished garage. I’ll be using that then bring her in to blow off the water. She is ceramic coated and needs very little soap & rinse.

 

[JimJa]

If this is a concern for all your vehicles, current and future, consider investing in a power washer that heats the water. They work very well, then put it in your heated garage with doors ajar to dry around the weatherstripping. There are lots out there but they are expensive - it's why I said future vehicles just to make the cost easier to take. Northern Tool in MSP is a good place to start.

 

[Swingpure]

I kind of live in an unique situation where I draw my water from the lake, from a submerged pump, through a heated line to my house, which has one outdoor outlet. It is another 100+ feet to where I wash my truck and another 80 feet to my detached heated garage. When the temperatures are below freezing, you really don’t want to use the outdoor outlet, or getting the truck wet, or the parking area too icy.

Going to a car wash doesn’t work well for me as usually the cottage road to my house is slushy and the vehicle usually looks as bad when it gets home, as when it left. Certainly for the days the cottage road is dry, going to the car wash is the best idea.

I checked out ONR and I think like most waterless products, if the truck is really dirty, you should do a pre wash, like it says in the video, “It is just common sense”.

My strategy will be to take advantage of the nice days above freezing. I have everything at the ready for those days.

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