How do you wash underneath your truck?

[Kermit power]

I couldn't really care less what my Shogun looks like, but mud everywhere underneath is annoying. Question is, how do you clean it out?

I've tried getting the jetwash under there, and despite delighting my neighbours by creating a mud slick down the middle of the shared drive, I've still clearly not got more than a fraction of it off.

Will running it through a car wash with an underbody cycle have any effect at all? Or do I just need to try and find some other way of getting more thorough underneath it with the jetwash?

[signia]

I have the same problem. Except as I keep the disco on my parents' drive (no room at mine) it's their drive that gets muddy.

The only solution I've found is to get low and very close with the karcher. You end up getting soaked and very muddy yourself though, and its not comfortable.
I've also put two wheels at a time up on metal ramps so I can get closer. Just take it easy getting it up on those ramps. My biggest driving faux pas to date was caused by using low range to get up the ramps easier and wet trainers on the pedals, whilst at the same time being too close to my mum's car...

The only thing is, it still takes ages because of all the areas mud builds up. Last time I went to Aldermaston, I played for about 2 1/2 hours. I then spend nearly three hours cleaning the car AND trying to shift the mud off the driveway. Has to be done though with a Land Rover - can't leave moist mud up against steel for too long!

[robwales]

I guess it applies more if the mud's dried on, but I read somewhere that putting a garden water sprinkler underneath helps loosen it up.

When I get my car really muddy, I put it up on ramps and pressurewash.

Maybe also try a deep ford if there are any near you?

[sclayto2]

TBH the best time to get underneath is ASAP after you've been out playing, i.e. whilst you're still dressed for getting covered too.

I found the best place to go is the local supermarket jet wash. Their facility will have a large drain underneath which is good for collecting all the crap that falls off, which saves having to clean up afterwards, too.

[mantaray]

Yep always clean as much as poss from under my truck , its put on axle stands front and rear , wheels off , steam away , nothing worse than later on working on the truck and getting clods of mud falling on your head !!

[jobbit]

We usually go for a play at Whaddon near Milton Keynes. I don't know how common it is, but they provide a pressure washer on site so you can blast the worst off in the field before you leave. Seems like a good idea because you can get the lights and plates cleaned off properly and the worst of the mud off from underneath so you're not dropping great clods of it at other vehicles on the motorway home... head straight down to an unsuspecting supermarket jetwash afterwards.

[Kermit power]

There used to be a jetwash at Sainsburys in Epsom, but it is no more.

I guess I'll just need to go on a supermarket crawl to find another!

[BigLepton]

I was taught the easy way to clean all the packed on mud from the chassis the easy way many years ago.

You go and buy one of those rotating lawn sprinklers, attach a hose and put it under the vehicle and leave it for an hour while you have your dinner. Every so often you will hear a big 'clump' sound as large lumps of sodden mud drop off. After about an hour the chassis will be clean. Just back the vehicle up and shovel the mud onto your rose bed. Even the most hardened, baked on mud just softens and drops off after a while. Zero effort solution.

[laser_jock99]

Muddy 4x4's got banned from using the local jet wash after offroading. Even though I was always carefull to hose away all the crud on ground afterwards. I guess some inconsiderate 4x4 driver got everyone else a bad name by driving away and leaving a heap of mud at the garage?

I sometimes give the underside a 'prewash' in the local ford if I'm passing. But a jet wash with a long, angled lance is best.

[normalbloke]

laser_jock99 said:

Muddy 4x4's got banned from using the local jet wash after offroading. Even though I was always carefull to hose away all the crud on ground afterwards. I guess some inconsiderate 4x4 driver got everyone else a bad name by driving away and leaving a heap of mud at the garage?

I sometimes give the underside a 'prewash' in the local ford if I'm passing. But a jet wash with a long, angled lance is best.

And where did you hose the mud to?

[Kermit power]

normalbloke said:

laser_jock99 said:

Muddy 4x4's got banned from using the local jet wash after offroading. Even though I was always carefull to hose away all the crud on ground afterwards. I guess some inconsiderate 4x4 driver got everyone else a bad name by driving away and leaving a heap of mud at the garage?

I sometimes give the underside a 'prewash' in the local ford if I'm passing. But a jet wash with a long, angled lance is best.

And where did you hose the mud to?

That's the problem with the one remaining place I know has a jetwash in Epsom. They don't have sufficient drainage to cope with half of Slab Common trying to escape down it.

[pits]

Well my mate uses his forking lift, stick it under the 50x30 boxsection bumpers, lift...pressure wash, job done