Alberta north
New member
This is what we did when we built in 2004 works great for the IBAs
But for big trucks it just slows them down
But for big trucks it just slows them down
Car Wash Forum
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Hit and Run
- Thread starter Overachiever
- Start date
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Overachiever
Active member
Here's my fun update to this one:
Washworld still hasn't replaced my arm on my razor. My distributor says that they don't have anyone to manufacture them anymore.
My distributor got the machine up and running again with some spare parts he had lying around (like an old style arm) and the parts WashWorld were able to send, after a little over a month of me waiting.
But now he's saying he wants his arm back and is giving me the choice of having just the metal arm without the covers or no arm at all, shutting me down again. What would you do? I find it hard to imagine wash world hasn't been installing any new machines cuz they have no arms.
Washworld still hasn't replaced my arm on my razor. My distributor says that they don't have anyone to manufacture them anymore.
My distributor got the machine up and running again with some spare parts he had lying around (like an old style arm) and the parts WashWorld were able to send, after a little over a month of me waiting.
But now he's saying he wants his arm back and is giving me the choice of having just the metal arm without the covers or no arm at all, shutting me down again. What would you do? I find it hard to imagine wash world hasn't been installing any new machines cuz they have no arms.
Waxman
Super Moderator
I would go with just a metal arm and no covers at all and run like that till you can get the covers.
I would also install something like this. This is not finished yet. it will have a much different look once I add the signs to this framework but it will have a hard stop across the framework to keep people from entering if they are over height.
I would also install something like this. This is not finished yet. it will have a much different look once I add the signs to this framework but it will have a hard stop across the framework to keep people from entering if they are over height.
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Earl Weiss
Well-known member
Back to the OP. For all intents and purposes it is a civil matter. Had he stopped and given information, unless his insurance voluntarily paid you would have to sue him to collect. In Illinois I recently read the hit and run statute and it applies to injury or vehicle damage. Nothing about other damage. Cops have helped get me owner info - but they don't collect for the damage. I had to do that with the owner and / or their insurance.
DiamondWash
Well-known member
Overachiever
Active member
I called them up and they said they can't get anything plastic right now but they are working on it, so I guess it's just the covers they can't source.
Buy the bare arm and get some industrial rubber pipe insulation and put that over your arm. Something like this https://www.supplyhouse.com/K-Flex-6RXL038218-2-1-8-Pipe-OD-x-3-8-Wall-Insul-Lock-Pipe-Insulation-6 cut a hole where the nozzles are.
I hate to say that the 'hard stop' plan doesn't work, but it doesn't. Just is another expensive thing to fix. Turns out, there's simply nothing you can do to prevent drivers from screwing up. But there's a lot you can do to make sure you catch them. And you really need to make sure you know the law, as a lazy cop can interrupt due process with even less effort. Here's one of our own locations that just got hit today actually. Building is over 14 feet tall. Not a match for a class 8 bucket truck though.
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Overachiever
Active member
I'll look into wrapping my new arm in something, guess I can probably invoice insurance for the effort.
I already had a clearance bar lying around in my equipment room and installed that, not a hard stop but better than nothing. Also installed 2 license plate reading cameras to catch my entrances so if they have plates I should get them now no matter what.
I already had a clearance bar lying around in my equipment room and installed that, not a hard stop but better than nothing. Also installed 2 license plate reading cameras to catch my entrances so if they have plates I should get them now no matter what.
OurTown
Well-known member
Self serve is about impossible to prevent some idiot from tearing it up but the vast majority of automatic customers would know they can't drive a giant commercial truck through it. I think what we are talking about here is something after the swinging clearance pipe or sign. Something rigid (8" I-beam?) but yes it is possible for a determined driver to tear it up also. Hopefully a dumba$$ or drunk would notice and back away after they hit it. It might be damaged and need replaced but the $150K auto is (hopefully) saved. Then you go after them for a $5k claim on the damaged arch and all the meanwhile you are still washing cars after the incident.
mjwalsh
6 bay SS w/laundromat
Greg & others,
FWIW ... to add maybe a glass breakage sensor could get an immediate loud siren alarm to go off??? That would increase the chance of besides the cameras another customer might help with the identification.
We have a glass breakage sensor close to the large thermopane windows on our laundromat but so far a potential shattering sound has not been 100% tested ... by us ... at this point in time..
I had when a customer volunteered info on a theft ... it did not get to the "affidavit under pain of perjury needed" stage though. From experience, the volunteer "observer" is less likely to provide &/or sign an affidavit ... "some type of fear" probably the reason. I think subpoenas would tend to be reserved for really "big ticket" damage.
GoBuckeyes
Self-Serve and Automatics
what?!
mjwalsh
6 bay SS w/laundromat
After a bit more thought about Greg's "useful attention point" from glass tubes breaking ... I still think the before entrance (post 35 within this thread) cylinder should have a way to also be an alarm trigger. I am thinking a tube that when hit at any spot it would close alarm contacts. That type of sensor would be better than a glass break sound sensor.
The sound from that specific zone in a car wash owner-operator's alarm system could be unique enough & loud enough so anyone within sight of the sound would look that way ... not to mention to alert the driver which I believe was Greg's intent.
Maybe we could convince some insurance underwriter to give a break on premiums if we could prove it was a good enough preventative measure before the actual much more serious damage occurred from a "sleepy headed" higher vehicle driver or a bucket on a truck.
I actually also had a bucket from a "tree trimming" truck do serious damage. His boss might have fired the guy from the incident ... I am not sure?!
can probably throw up a limit switch with a rod facing down. Have that trigger alarm and some red strobes, that should get their attention if anything will
