Clearance Signs on Self Serve Bays

Do ya'll have clearance signs on your self serve bays? Personally, I have never seen a clearance sign on a self serve bay. Today I had a customer give the A/C unit on their motorhome a haircut and it has me considering adding them.

My main hesitation for not adding them to the self serve bays is that the entrances to the bays is on an arch which lowers the clearance height at the corners 2ft lower than what the top of the arch can accommodate (I did not design/build this wash). The "Exit" side of the bays is not arched, and has more clearance than the entrance. I am more than happy to accommodate tall vehicles through the "Exit" and worry a low clearance sign on the arched entrances will cause them to leave.

If you’re going to put a sign up, I’d use the lower side of the arch clearance number. That way if anyone sees more clearance in the middle and decides to push the posted limit, it’s not on you. If someone wants to enter and exit from the exit side, I’d let them figure out how that works but would not advertise it.

I just added these clearance bars recently. Lots of boom trucks and backhoes with drivers who don’t have a clue. Hopefully these bars will get their attention. I’d rather not have customers who are cutting it real close on the clearance. More likely to do other damage like hang a hose or damage a boom.

Adding a sign is to protect you, the car wash owner.

Add all the signs you like; they still ignore them and smash your building.

I had a 'too-tall' van hit my entry guidepost for my IBA recently. He was about 4" over height. The guidepost is on cables, so no damage to his van. However, my IBA has an entry arch made of heavy steel angle iron. It is designed to stop overheight vehicles from entering and damaging my equipment.

The van in question was ready to pay and enter, but I stopped them.

I have clearance signs , few drivers know their height. Last summer touron damage their camper to $ 12600 and bay door to $ 2800. Can't fix stupid !

It is amazing how many people drive Oversize (height) trucks and have no clue that they cannot fit into a IBA. Guy in a F250 with tall side bed railings drove thru the swinging height warning and into the metal bar. It stopped him after he bent the legs. He then backed up moving the bar again and left as he looked at me coming to see what was happening. Camera’s saved me as did the police who frequent my place.

Contacted him in less than an hour and he immediately said he would cover the repair cost for the new bar. Was a big surprise at how fast we tracked him down. Would have been less upset if he came clean initially instead of racing away from me. Takes all types. Just glad we had the bar as a new Profile would have been costly.