What's new
By:
Car Wash Forum

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

In Bay Automatic Forecasting.

Yes, we were just talking about connecting the shopping center. We plan on making the truck bay closest to the equipment room an automatic. Can you think of a better place?
 
If the autocashier and entrance to the automatic are going to be on the north side of the bay and if I am looking at things right, won't it be a little akward or difficult to get pulled into the bay if you turn in off of 23rd? It is best if the customers are turning left as they pull to the autocashier as this makes it easier to get lined up in the bay. With all that said, at my site when we converted a bay to an auto we had to do it to where the customers are approaching from the wrong side. It works, but definitely adds to the number of people that can't pull onto the treadle correctly. Not that my opinion is worth a whole lot, but I think I would put it in one of the bays on the west side of the equipment room with the ACW in front. I would definitely keep the ACW out front to at least cut down on the numbers of times it is pried open, ripped out, etc.
 
Have you seen Sonnys new mini extreme express it fits into a 35' bay, they just came out with it for 2011 check it out on sonnys website.
 
There is a short tunnel (35"") from Europe (Ceccato) that actually has the same action (friction rollover) that follows the vehicle while on the conveyor. I haven't seen it in action but I did see a video and talked to an operator that had one. He really liked it.
 
Ghetto Wash said:
If an in-bay rollover type will clean a car in a 35' bay, why wouldn't a conveyer be able to do at least as good a job in the same space?

That short little conveyer has got me interested.
Click to expand...

Because it is a completely different system, that's why I asked.

If a 35' conveyor was fully adequate why would anyone build one 100'?
 
cruth25 said:
We got a six bay self serve car wash that we bought from a bank about 9 months ago. It's been slow, and we just started making our mortgage payment....lol Anyways, we are looking at adding an In Bay Automatic to increase revenue. We get about 13000 cars per day driving by. Conservatively, how many cars can we capture from that amount? Does anyone have any idea? Any information will be helpful.
Click to expand...

I dont know your market or your area or your state....I'm from Canada. My concern is that you said "Its been slow". Have you done an analysis on what your SS should be bringing in with a 13k traffic flow, location, etc? If its not up to par than maybe its another issue and a touchless is just going to increase your debt load.
 
Short conveyor washes or mini-tunnels have been around for decades, mainly in auto dealerships and gas sites.

A mini-tunnel is an alternative to having multiple in-bays on a site because the incremental cost to increase in-bay capacity is greater than a conveyor.

The mini-tunnel has comparative advantages.

Foam brushes spin at a much faster rate than soft-cloth, so more horsepower is applied, accomplishing more work. A five-touch system with fully articulating wrap-around brushes, top brush and side/rockers covers all surfaces and high-pressure wheels penetrate rims. You also have an the full complement of revenue boosting extra services; wheel brightener, rust inhibitor, tri-foam, Rain-X or Double Bond, clear-coat, spot free rinse with mirror attachments and automated tire shine.

Higher volume in-bays like Autec, Broadway, Istobal, etc. basically place a four or five touch system on wheels which means having between a 50’ and 60’ long building.

The best I have been able to accomplish during my career is Bubble Wash Express, Manhattan, Kansas. I mentioned it earlier.

The wash has a 55’ long conveyor in a 40’ long building. It has a 5-touch system with high-pressure wheels and “no-drip space” method of drying. The wash is operated without an attendant and has reached a 32 car hour. By 32 car hour, I am referring to highest recorded hourly volume not average volume. This wash generates more revenue than most 5 + 1’s.

Stretch the building to 50’ and put in a wheel boss and 45 cars an hour or more is very doable.

A mini-tunnel can also be designed with a moving platform instead of a conveyor. The belt is easier for customers to self-load vehicles and would permit more rim/tire combinations like dual wheel vehicles.

Because of the mini-tunnel’s comparative advantages, I believe we will see a lot more innovation in the in-bay equipment segment in the future.
 
robert roman said:
Because of the mini-tunnel’s comparative advantages, I believe we will see a lot more innovation in the in-bay equipment segment in the future.
Click to expand...


The Sonny's 35' mini tunnel is a shot across the bow of every IBA manufacturer. The more complex IBAs have gotten pricey. And I think with an IBA there will always be a speed vs quality issue. I think the Sonny's mini tunnel unit is about 225K as a reload. As Robert mentioned, adding a belt conveyor to this setup and you have a very tempting self loading package that could wash a lot of cars, probably 30 an hour, when needed. This may be a decent deterrent to new express washes, which are now in my town like roaches in a ghetto kitchen.
 
I watched the entire 13 minute video on the Sonny's website and I was practically drooling. Not being a tunnel guy, I can only postulate, but that setup looks to work pretty damn good for being in such a confined space. If it only made sense to spend some more money, that is exactly what I would be going for. I wonder how wide the bay needs to be? Anyone have any ideas?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top