need suggestions

[1carwash1]

I have a 7 & 1 with an old laser wash. The laser wash is becoming dated and needs to be replaced. I'm willing to consider a soft cloth or touch free, but leaning to soft cloth. The problem is that the in bay dimensions are 14' 7" wide and 29' long. Is there anything out there that might fit in such a small space?
The market for touch free in my area has virtually dried up and I need to offer something new. Additionally, my market is saturated with express washes. Can a soft cloth attract any customers in a market populated with express washes?

 

[Waxman]

If the touchfree demand is drying up why would you consider touchfree?

Lots here like The Softgloss. Ryko and Autec are friction machines I would check out.

Do you have room for a mini tunnel? There's experts here on that concept, too; maybe post in conveyorized section as well.

Friction is faster and gets the car clean and uses less electricity water and soap and washes faster.

But IMO you should run attended and payroll tops many p&l's in operating expenses. W/out an attendant I'd feel too exposed to risk with anything touching the car. I don't like leaving my touchfree unattended, so I have more labor expense than alot of SS/IBA carwashes.

 

[borumrm]

The D&S I 5000 should fit the small bays....their touchless machine..

 

[Bill Manke]

How about a Mark VII Choice Wash XT. That way you have either touch or touchless. I have 2 they work good.

 

[I.B. Washincars]

How about a Mark VII Choice Wash XT. That way you have either touch or touchless. I have 2 they work good.

I'm curious. Why did you buy two combos instead of one of each? In my mind, most customers who see the brushes are going to assume it is a "friction only" machine, regardless of how much signage to the contrary you have.

 

[Bill Manke]

I'm curious. Why did you buy two combos instead of one of each? In my mind, most customers who see the brushes are going to assume it is a "friction only" machine, regardless of how much signage to the contrary you have.

When I started out everyone tried to sell me one of each. Well that puts me back where I am at my other 2 washes. A single machine that if it goes down you have no backup. I have been doing carwashes for over 20 years and in that time my machines have broke several times but I pretty much do what ever it takes to keep them up and running. I have even overnight air a cat 3535 pump. Max # days down at 1 time has been 3. Then also I think the trend is towards touch right now. Yes I have had a few people think it is friction only but not as bad as I thought it would be. I have standard changer paystation XP that have 8 selections. I only use 6 so one set of buttons is touchless and the other set is soft touch. If I had the chance I would probably change my other 2 locations to combo washes. But the building is too tight on one and the other cleans so well can't justify replacing it.

 

[Jimmy Buffett]

If you decide to look at a softgloss I have seen a number of them with VERY low wash counts at carwashconsignment.com. Those things are good for hundreds of thousands of washes. Dont know if it would fit though.