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Converting McNeil Tunnel to TouchFree Tunnel

C

CW_GUS

New member
Hi everyone,


I’m exploring the possibility of converting an existing McNeil brush tunnel into a touch-free tunnel setup.


Has anyone here done this before or looked into it?


  • Is it technically feasible with the current McNeil tunnel framework?
  • What kind of modifications (equipment, controls, plumbing) would be required?
  • Are there manufacturers or retrofit kits that support this type of conversion?
  • Any cost ballpark or lessons learned from someone who’s actually done it?

I’d appreciate any advice, experiences, or recommendations you might have.


Thanks in advance!
 
You mention McNeil framework - if you have a friction system, there won’t be much in the framework you will keep, unless you have some hp components already. I would imagine your conveyor, blowers , and many, if not all of your solution applicators - sealants, waxes, ceramic , DA, rinses SF and undercarriage could stay.

A guy by the name of Glen Sheeley does the setups and installations for Splash Car Washes. He usually uses the Petit 360T in each location as an auto prep in addition to a McNeil friction system. You’d probably need two of the 360 T’s to function as the primary hp in a touch free tunnel that has no friction. There are plenty of frictionless equipment manufacturers out there - I’m not saying you should use Petit. You just need something that covers the whole car with pressure - probably twice. Prior to that you need to get the whole car covered in 1 -2 steps of presoak- again - lots of equipment manufacturers can do this. . Are your customers unhappy with your current process?
 
i have a macneil tunnel where customers can select a touch free option for the top package. we have an extra presoak foamer that turns on only for that wash and we turn off all the wrap lube foamer. customers are notified touch free washes are generally for maintaining a good looking car by regularly washing (through membership), that' it's like washing your hair without scrubbing your scalps.

if you want to go full touch-free just be aware your chemical concentration needs to be higher and you will use a lot more water because you will be using high pressure rinse in lieu of brushes to get dirt and grime off -- so most of your money will be for pumping stations and reclaim systems. other than that you're just taking out all the brushes.

here's a pretty neat little setup:
 
You should call or email Petit about it. IMO, just need enough conveyor space / time to apply presoak and allow them to dwell before the HP rinse.
 
It's hard enough getting a car clean on a 3-5 minute touchless IBA wash with dwells. Good luck getting one done on a tunnel line in less than a minute.
 
Blanco said:
It's hard enough getting a car clean on a 3-5 minute touchless IBA wash with dwells. Good luck getting one done on a tunnel line in less than a minute.
Click to expand...
I’ve always heard that in the reason there are not many touch free tunnels - the dwell time is not there. Plus, an IBA can always add a pass of presoak or a pass of high pressure. A tunnel has whatever is installed.
 
washnshine said:
I’ve always heard that in the reason there are not many touch free tunnels - the dwell time is not there. Plus, an IBA can always add a pass of presoak or a pass of high pressure. A tunnel has whatever is installed.
Click to expand...
Yup exactly. Conveyor would have to be really long (200ft) and also completely slowed down to work. It's more practical to just put in a IBA because of CPH. Manufactures never sell them anymore. It's not that they dont sell them because a manufacture will sell you anything but no one buys them. It was tried years and years ago but they almost all failed miserably.

Modern chemical and equipment is greatly improved though. It would be interesting to see how cars can come out of a longer tunnel with a few petits, arches, and good chemical. I just wouldn't want to be the guinea pig and spend 1M to to test it.

Im a touchless guy all day but one thing I love about friction is i never worry about a car coming out dirty from my tunnel or friction IBA. I dont worry about soft water or using a lot of chemical and water. The cars just come out clean.
 
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