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Mini tunnel

Ultra Shine

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I’m considering installing a mini tunnel. I know not about them as I have touch free washes.

can anyone provide me with some info on why they like the machine they have or why they don’t

please no salesman, I want the view from the owner/operators

thanks
 

Earl Weiss

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I think there re too many variables for a god answer. How long will the conveyor be? How long will the building be? (Load outside the door) What is the climate like. Over / under conveyor or belt? Mini Tunnel equipment is just tunnel equipment. Depends how much you can fit in the length you have and how deep your wallet is.
 

OurTown

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Also would this be a 24/7 attendant-less location or one with hours and an attendant?
 

Ultra Shine

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Understood, the potential building I’m looking at has a bay that’s roughly 42 feet long and about 16 1/2 feet wide with extremely high ceilings. So obviously I’ve got to go with a 35 footer or mount my dryers outside. As far as the conveying system if I can do it above ground I would like to for cost.

I’m in Northeast Ohio. This is an existing touch free wash with floor heat

my pockets have holes in them but hoping to do something different as there are a lot of touch free washes in the area
 

OurTown

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Try some mini tunnels to see what you think.
 

Legends

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I’m considering installing a mini tunnel. I know not about them as I have touch free washes.

can anyone provide me with some info on why they like the machine they have or why they don’t

please no salesman, I want the view from the owner/operators

thanks
Ever think about going w a "friction" unit? I have a Tandem by PDQ and it is the busiest of my 3 bays. 2 other bays are touchless. What I've always heard is the longer the tunnel, more efficient the wash. Cost effectiveness with a machine vs mini tunnel would be completely in your favor on a machine install. Would say that you should be able to get a complete setup for under 200k..less if you look into other brands like the WW comparable unit...good luck.

Also wash quality on my Tandem..is hard to beat..use half the chemical a month than same volume as touchless..chemical and water efficient.
 

Axxlrod

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Biggest difference is the fact that a conveyor requires an employee to run. Having employees is whole different kind of operation. Employment laws, OSHA, hiring/firing practices, etc. plus the added expense of payroll.

Maybe I'm just jaded because I'm in CA.
 

Greg Pack

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Champion car wash in Nashville has several IBA sites with one side converted to mini-tunnels. Might be worth a road trip
 

OurTown

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Champion car wash in Nashville has several IBA sites with one side converted to mini-tunnels. Might be worth a road trip

Although they may be mini tunnels I think the buildings are more like 60+ foot long. He is talking more of a micro tunnel and might have less pieces of equipment.
 

Earl Weiss

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I’m in Northeast Ohio. This is an existing touch free wash with floor heat
1. I think you are going to have issues mounting equipment to the floor without destroying the floor heat. (Will this affect any other bays?) Then you need to install heat and possibly auto doors to compensate.
2. If you have room you may be able to extend the conveyor out the front door and load outside like many older tunnels do.
3. Doe to climate I would say that you would need 5-10 feet inside each door unless you want to be closed whenever it gets below 20 degrees.
 

Ultra Shine

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I am worried about the track on the floor, was not sure if that was Embedded in the floor or if it just sat on top.

I already have doors so I’m not concerned about that.

Why do you feel that the equipment needs to be 5 to 10 feet inside the door? Currently in this Whether our undercarriage is within 18 inches of our entrance and we don’t have issues with it freezing.

Also would this be a 24/7 attendant-less location or one with hours and an attendant?
still an unanswered question, I guess if we have to we will have an attendant
1. I think you are going to have issues mounting equipment to the floor without destroying the floor heat. (Will this affect any other bays?) Then you need to install heat and possibly auto doors to compensate.
2. If you have room you may be able to extend the conveyor out the front door and load outside like many older tunnels do.
3. Doe to climate I would say that you would need 5-10 feet inside each door unless you want to be closed whenever it gets below 20 degrees.
 

Earl Weiss

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I already have doors so I’m not concerned about that.

Why do you feel that the equipment needs to be 5 to 10 feet inside the door? Currently in this Whether our undercarriage is within 18 inches of our entrance and we don’t have issues with it freezing.
Obviously I am not familiar with your operation but my thought is since you have doors the water is only on when doors are closed. You also have floor heat which keeps stuff on the floor thawed even if there are no doors. I expect mounting the conveyor and equipment will destroy the floor heat which makes it more difficult to get heat to floor level, plus if you are processing a line of cars the doors may not close at all or for only short burst between cars so both doors will be open with the water running. I speak from experience of having tunnels 3-400K BTU Gas forced air heaters at both ends of a 100 foot tunnel - Plastic Strip door at the exit end. and the other day when it was around 15 degrees having some cloth 25 feet in freezing at the bottom.
 
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