JLG26
New member
I'm interested in building an ATV Self Service wash. Has anyone done this?
Interested in building a self service ATV Wash
- Thread starter JLG26
- Start date
Waxman
Super Moderator
what is that? please explain
JLG26
New member
Something designed and dedicated strictly for the muddy ATV's.
JLG26
New member
Looking for information on how to handle the mud. Also, has anyone been successful catering to this group? When they leave our self service car wash now it's terribly nasty. I can't reasonably expect a customer with a nice car or pickup to stop & wash. This cost us business from people that would be our repeat / local customers. Often times, the mud will be on the walls & a couple of inches thick on the floor. We spend several hours every week cleaning up mud & it can all be trashed again in just a few minutes.
Also, we have a problem with the mud stopping up our catch basins & drainage system.
If they make that big of a mess, why would you even want to deal with them? I can't imagine enough ATV's in one locale to justify the cost of building something specfically for them.
Just run them off and recapture the lost business from regular car washers that left because of ATV mess.
Just run them off and recapture the lost business from regular car washers that left because of ATV mess.
JLG26
New member
I was thinking of building one just for ATV's because there's an ATV park near us. I would have to hire 24 hour security to keep them "run off" from our existing car wash. I'm trying to think of a way to turn a problem into an opportunity.
Twodose
Active member
It will always be a problem, even if you had a bay dedicated to muddy vehicles if there is a line for that bay customers will not wait if the other bays are open.
Couple years ago when they were running a gas pipeline in the area there were several different vehicles that would load a couple bays with mud every day, I tried to run them off, they kept coming back, so I closed all the bays down after 4pm for about a week, that is the only thing that stopped them.
Couple years ago when they were running a gas pipeline in the area there were several different vehicles that would load a couple bays with mud every day, I tried to run them off, they kept coming back, so I closed all the bays down after 4pm for about a week, that is the only thing that stopped them.
MEP001
Well-known member
IMO the best way to do it would be to make it as easy as possible to clean the bay(s). I know some guys in rural areas who built their pits big enough that they can bring in a backhoe and just scoop them out. Of course you still have the mud to get rid of. You might want an extra high pressure washdown setup to make cleanup fast.
I wouldn't consider doing this unless I was sure there's enough business to justify it. What about big trucks? They spend a lot of money.
Keep in mind you'll need a full-time attendant to clean up after almost every vehicle.
I wouldn't consider doing this unless I was sure there's enough business to justify it. What about big trucks? They spend a lot of money.
Keep in mind you'll need a full-time attendant to clean up after almost every vehicle.
It doesn't matter if you have a bay dedicated for muddy vehicles. If a muddy vehicle comes in and sees a bay they don't have to wade through mud they are going to use the clean bay. All bays will end up being mud bays if you allow it.
Greg_T
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Ours is a little 3 bay wash, and we get lots of muddy 4WDs, farm vehicles etc. I have considered trying to get all muddy vehicles to use 1 bay, thus leaving the other 2 bays relatively clean and more attractive to our other customers. Maybe something like that would be an option?
Unfortunately any mud that comes off a vehicle needs to be despatched somehow. For me, that's shovels and buckets.
Unfortunately any mud that comes off a vehicle needs to be despatched somehow. For me, that's shovels and buckets.
I think for an ATV bay you could use grating to allow the majority of the mud to fall through. Basically make the majority of the bay a pit instead of concrete with just a pit in the middle. If you are in an area that attracts ATVs it could be a good idea. Maybe even have a raised platform to clean the atvs on.
David
David
chaz
Active member
Raise your price to account for mud. The slobs will go elsewhere and the good customers won’t mind paying a bit more not to deal with a mess .
Waxman
Super Moderator
I don't think it's ever a sound business practice to cater to a minority of customers who also create a bigger mess and therefore create a lower profit margin for the company.
6t7gto
Member
It works for the democrats.
mjwalsh
6 bay SS w/laundromat
"It works for the democrats." They along with the "deep state swamp leaning" mainstream media ... the way they have been getting worse & worse ... that is a valid analogy!!! I might add some republicans to that statement too!
Back to the specific original topic of "ATV MUD". We would much rather deal with mud than grease or even worse tar! A solution might be to more vigilantly remotely check on your bay cameras often enough & dispatch close by paid help or yourself for a "quick wash down" to prevent loss of all customers who will then refuse to go into mud overwhelmed bay(s).
By "quick wash down" ... our approach for over 25 years now has been to manifold ($$$3 way valves required) several bays into an outside hose reel which makes for 3 or even 4 times the water volume. Amazon sells a remote control that we bought that works well as one goes out farther from ER with the 1/2" hi pressure hose from the hose reel.
We have always had our share of ATVs & 4 wheelers who play around at our local Missouri River Bottoms. If we do catch the "revelers" in the process of leaving mud clumps etc ... we instruct them never to dig with the wand & to help clean up the mess before they drive out. In our more rural setting ... it is surprising how many customers actually do support & comply with our verbal request! Maybe it is our "personality" is what helps in that regard!? "famous last words" ... could apply here though ... trying to avoid overconfidence
.
Back to the specific original topic of "ATV MUD". We would much rather deal with mud than grease or even worse tar! A solution might be to more vigilantly remotely check on your bay cameras often enough & dispatch close by paid help or yourself for a "quick wash down" to prevent loss of all customers who will then refuse to go into mud overwhelmed bay(s).
By "quick wash down" ... our approach for over 25 years now has been to manifold ($$$3 way valves required) several bays into an outside hose reel which makes for 3 or even 4 times the water volume. Amazon sells a remote control that we bought that works well as one goes out farther from ER with the 1/2" hi pressure hose from the hose reel.
We have always had our share of ATVs & 4 wheelers who play around at our local Missouri River Bottoms. If we do catch the "revelers" in the process of leaving mud clumps etc ... we instruct them never to dig with the wand & to help clean up the mess before they drive out. In our more rural setting ... it is surprising how many customers actually do support & comply with our verbal request! Maybe it is our "personality" is what helps in that regard!? "famous last words" ... could apply here though ... trying to avoid overconfidence
.I'm looking to do this same thing. I'm new on the forum, and just saw this subject. Any new info on the ATV wash idea?
traveler17
Well-known member
It’s an idea that won’t work unless you man the place during opening hours