Can You Go Through a Carwash with a Tonneau Cover?

There’s nothing like a sparkling clean truck. Freshly-waxed paint, streak-free windows, gleaming, brake-dust-free wheels, and shiny, deep-black tires spruce up the exterior of any pickup; unfortunately, washing a full-size truck yourself–and washing it right–can take loads of time and energy.

While you'll be tempted to cruise to the local automated carwash, our experts may recommend otherwise, especially with a tonneau cover clamped to your truck’s bed. This article covers the basics of rolling through a carwash with a tonneau cover, including which, if any, are safe and which we’d recommend steering clear from.

How Can an Automated Carwash Damage My Tonneau Cover?
Which Carwashes Are Safe for Tonneau Covers?
Which Tonneau Cover Styles Best Tolerate Automated Carwashes?
Which Automated Carwashes are Safest for Tonneau Covers?
Avoid Wax Packages
FAQ

How Can an Automated Carwash Damage My Tonneau Cover?

Before discussing our carwash preferences, it’s vital to understand how exactly a carwash can damage your truck’s tonneau cover.

Chemical Contamination

There are several styles of carwashes, though a universal threat among all is chemical use. Whether touchless, brushed, or hand-wash, all automated carwashes employ chemical detergents, conditioners, and spray waxes to leave your truck glossy. While these chemicals are great for auto-grade paint, plastic, and rubber finishes, they can severely degrade vinyl and canvas soft tonneau covers. Some manufacturers explicitly recommend against using harsh cleaners and conditioners, as exposure often leads to premature hardening, cracking, and peeling.

Mechanical

Brush-equipped carwashes feature a series of large, automated roller brushes mounted to mechanical arms. As your vehicle rolls along the motorized tracks, the brushes sweep over your vehicle to remove dirt and debris; however, these brushes don’t always stick to dirt! If you look closely, most automated carwashes, especially those with mechanical brushes, include signage that shirks liability for damaged antennas or aftermarket components–like your tonneau cover! Especially with soft covers, roller brushes can abrade your tonneau’s exterior finish, rip stitches, or even loosen clamp-on rails, damaging your pickup and bed cover.

Which Carwashes Are Safe for Tonneau Covers?

So can you go through a carwash with a tonneau cover? Depending on your cover's construction and the style of carwash, yes. However, there are some basic rules to reduce the risk of damage.

Truck Soft Tonneau Cover

Which Tonneau Cover Styles Best Tolerate Automated Carwashes?

Some tonneau covers are more resilient than others, especially when traveling through a carwash. Typically, automated carwashes pose few threats to hard tonneau covers; the only exception being canvas or vinyl-coated hard folding, or hard roll-up tonneau covers. Most other hard tonneau cover varieties are highly resistant to detergents, waxes, and roller brushes. On the other hand, soft tonneau covers are far more prone to mechanical and chemical damage for numerous reasons. A soft tonneau cover's canvas or vinyl outer shell is highly susceptible to chemical contamination. Additionally, clamp-on track systems can shift and release due to the pressure of a roller brush.

Which Automated Carwashes are Safest for Tonneau Covers?

Our top recommendation for automated carwashes is the touchless car wash, relying purely on detergents, cleaners, and air to clean and dry your vehicle. Touchless carwashes are the safest bet, thoroughly cleaning your vehicle without the risk of brushes damaging your tonneau cover. As a runner-up favorite, we recommend any employee-manned, hand-wash carwash. These carwashes feature physical employees hand-washing your truck as it rides on a motorized track. While typically more expensive, employee-manned carwashes eliminate the risk of damage due to mechanical error or failure.

Truck Soft Tonneau Cover

Avoid Wax Packages

No matter the style of carwash, most offer several packages at varying price points. For instance, an entry-level package usually covers a quick vacuum and exterior cleaning, mid-tier washes may tack on tire shine and plastic conditioners, and top-tier packages typically include a colorful spray wax and window treatment. While the added paint protection and polish may be enticing, we always recommend skipping the pricier packages with a tonneau cover. Waxes and conditioners are a quick way to dry out and stiffen your soft tonneau, resulting in unsightly cracks and premature wear. Waxes also leave a film on soft tonneau covers, resulting in unsightly discoloration. If you're set on waxing your pickup, either apply it by hand or remove the tonneau cover before a wash and reinstall it after! Though this is a general guide, most manufacturers have specific recommendations for maintenance and cleaning. For further instruction, contact our experts, reach out to the manufacturer, or consult your tonneau cover’s manual.