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Let's set the record straight right away...I am not here to bash my own truck or raise concern over aluminum in the Ford trucks.
This June I went for a $5.00 car wash and left with $6K in damages with the owner telling me it isn't his problem (I was impressed my gun stayed in the holster, I was PISSED). Long and short is I hadn't ever been to his car wash, just wanted a quick cheap wash to knock some dust off. The employee didn't take my antenna off, I didn't know to ask or tell him (no signs anywhere to remove antenna). First set of spinning brushes grabbed my antenna and wrapped it into the motor, next thing I see is the antenna pulled right off. It than continued down the side of my truck beating it all the way down the entire truck causing dents and scratches to the tail gate.
As you can imagine I was tripping out! There was nothing I could do at the moment, I assumed it pulled the antenna off but didn't expect to see what I saw when I got out of the truck.
After weeks of him not excepting responsibility (he didn't have insurance or didn't want to use it) I involved Geico who took care of it less my $501 deductible. Three weeks in the body shop and $6K later it looks like new. Now Geico is going after him with collections and once I have time I will be filling a small claims suit against him for my deductible. All this over a $5.00 car wash.
I have no idea if a steel fender would have done this or not, I will say the Ford dealer body shop and 2 others places I took it to have never seen anything like it.
My truck is now sporting a stubby antenna for daily driving and it will never go to another car wash again!
Beware guys! Take the damn antenna off your truck!
I will never know but Ford needs to get rid of the damn antenna!
^agreed. Why any new vehicles today still have a tall cb-like antenna is beyond me. The should all be the shark fin antennas or built into your windshield.
I am really surprised geico is actually pursuing that with the car wash. Most (if not all) car washes have signs and warnings all over about antennas, wipers, etc. "Enter at your own risk."
I am really surprised geico is actually pursuing that with the car wash. Most (if not all) car washes have signs and warnings all over about antennas, wipers, etc. "Enter at your own risk."
Well it wasn't a $200 repair and as I stated there are no signs. I sent them very detailed pictures of his entire property and my truck.
Well it wasn't a $200 repair and as I stated there are no signs. I sent them very detailed pictures of his entire property and my truck.
If there truly are no signs, then I suppose you may have a case. Lesson learned anyways to not go thru "touch" car washes. That's how you get swirl marks.
Ouch, yeah whenever Ive had to go into a carwash (winter). I always remove my antenna!
That sucks, bro...
Funny thing is before I moved to TX I had a car wash monthly deal and went probably 4 times a week, never had to take an antenna off and had no clue this could happen. Lesson learned for sure!
I can't believe how it sheared the aluminum right off. It seriously does look like a beer can
Yes it does! The dude grabbed it trying to bend it and it wasn't happening. It is thicker than it looks but I do wonder if a steel fender would have ripped open like this? I will never know but Ford needs to get rid of the damn antenna!
10-10-2016, 08:31 PM
Aluminum vs Steel? Well IDK after this happened!
