Getting your truck muddy on a weekend camping trip is fun. Cleaning it up is not. When your truck is covered in dirt, an automatic car wash is fast and easy. But if you just installed a new camper shell, you might be nervous.
Is it safe to take a truck with a canopy through an automatic car wash?
Yes, it is completely safe for most hard-shell canopies! However, there are three important rules you need to follow to avoid damaging your truck or flooding your gear.
1. Choose a "Touchless" Car Wash
There are two main types of automatic car washes: brush car washes and touchless car washes.
Try to avoid the ones with giant spinning brushes. Those heavy brushes can catch on your canopy’s window edges or door hinges. They can also leave tiny scratches on the paint of fiberglass or aluminum shells over time.
Instead, look for a "touchless" car wash. These use high-pressure water jets and strong soap to clean your truck without anything actually touching it. This is much safer for the seals and hardware on your canopy.
2. Prepare for the Ultimate Leak Test
Automatic car washes shoot water at very high pressure. This water will hit your truck from every angle, including straight sideways into the gaps of your tailgate.
Because the water pressure is so strong, a few drops of water might sneak into your truck bed. This is completely normal! Even the best leak-proof truck canopies built for PNW rain can let a few drops inside when hit by a car wash jet.
If you notice a lot of water getting in, it means your rubber weather seals might be loose. You can easily fix this by reading our top guide on how to stop a truck cap from leaking.
3. Remove Your Roof Gear
Before you drive into the car wash tunnel, check your roof!
Automatic car washes have height limits. If you have a rooftop tent, recovery boards, or a tall roof rack mounted on your canopy, your truck might be too tall. The machines can easily rip these accessories right off your roof, causing thousands of dollars in damage. Always take off your extra gear before washing your truck.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I take a soft truck topper through an automatic car wash? No, you should never do this. The high-pressure water and heavy air dryers can easily stretch, tear, or ruin the fabric of a soft cover. If you read our breakdown on soft truck toppers vs steel canopies, you will see that soft covers must be washed gently by hand.
Is the car wash soap safe for a heavy-duty steel canopy? Yes. High-quality canopies use special powder-coated paint that easily handles normal car wash chemicals. If you live in an area that uses a lot of road salt, washing your truck regularly is actually very good for it. Check out our steel camper shell winter maintenance tips to keep your canopy looking brand new all year.
Will the big air dryers blow my canopy windows out? No. Hard-shell canopy windows are made of tough tempered glass, just like your truck cab. The blowers at the end of the car wash will not hurt them at all. Just make sure your canopy windows are fully closed and locked before you enter!