I'm Spot Free!!!!

alko

alko

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This is for anyone considering a canopy but haven't pulled the trigger. I used my new canopy today and I absolutely LOVED washing my car under it. It was hot as heck today and the sun was blazing, but I wanted to wash my car. It had been about two weeks since the last time I washed my car.

So I don't have any pics of my setup...sorry. But here is the canopy I got:

Escort Canopy- E-Z Up-Fitness & Sports-Camping & Hiking-Screen Houses & Canopies

If you watch the price, it drops ALL the time, usually about $10. You can also do a google search and find a sears discount code.

So the mistake I made the first time I bought this canopy I tried to put it up by myself. I'm sure its do-able but I ended up bending one of the trusses and from then on I ended up bending all the trusses on one side. Sears actually took the return and I got my money back. Since it was fall I didn't buy another one.

Well...now that summer has approached I had to get another one. This time I learned my lesson and had my fiancee' help set it up. So her house faces south and this was about 3:30 when I setup the canopy and backed my car underneath. Darn...the sun was shining on the right side of the car and I had to back up alittle more because the sun was also hitting the hood. So the rear ended up sticking out. I proceeded to wash the car top down, left to right, front to rear. I ended up getting water spots on the right side. But what I ended up doing was finshed washing the car and then setup my leaf blower to dry. I washed the entire right side again and then hurried up and disconnected the hose from the pressure washer and flooded the entire car. I started off by drying the entire right side first. This is how I was able to be spot free.

Use commone sense when setting up the canopy and anchor by any means necessary. I don't have any canopy weights but what I did was staked down the right side because it was in the grass and the left side I used a 30lb dumbell and a 5 gallon bucket of water. Take your time and do not rush...thats when mistakes happen.

When I brought my car into the garage and applied the spray wax it looked fantastic. Sorry...don't have pics of that either LOL. Yes..I'm lame.

Sorry for this being long "off topic" post, but I thought I'd share that with the folks who are on the fence with buying a canopy. Ain't nothing worse than spending a few hours washing your car to end up having water spots that a QD or spray wax can't get rid of.

Hope all of you had a great weekend and spent some time remembering those that have served past and present and those have paid the ultimate sacrifice so that we can be free.

Memorial Day 2012
 
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just getting around to reading this. super helpful post Alko. Will be heading to sears tonight to see if they have one in stock.
 
I love the canopy I use but sort of wish I had a bigger one like what you have. I have to re-position mine a few times depending on where the sun is at to complete a car.
 
BostonDetails said:
just getting around to reading this. super helpful post Alko. Will be heading to sears tonight to see if they have one in stock.
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Glad I could help out. Sears definitely has some in stock. As far as what size, that's another story. The most common one I've seen is 12x12 and those were more than what I paid for the 12x14. I suggest holding out and ordering one online from sears. It's worth the wait for the larger size. Just an FYI...if you do order one, expect it to be over a week for shipping. It comes straight from a sears warehouse. That is if a local store doesn't have one.

Nicholas@Autowerx said:
I love the canopy I use but sort of wish I had a bigger one like what you have. I have to re-position mine a few times depending on where the sun is at to complete a car.
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Nicholas,

I know what you mean. I did a quick search and I see ez-up has some side wall accessories that you can purchase. Might be worth it to check it out.

E-Z UP Sidewalls, Zipper Sidewalls, Screen Enclosures | International E-Z UP, Inc.
 
Hwy Alex,

I was wondering when you were going to grab one of these!! :props:

Sun and detailing just don't mix especially if you're earning income from it. The sun's tough enough and without one it's very challenging to find shade especially for mobile detailing. Adding a canopy to your inventory provides shade for both you and the vehicle making everyone a happy camper...:props:

Great thread!! :dblthumb2:
 
Thanks Bobby...when I was done washing the ride last weekend, I was so geeked at how clean the car was and how I didn't have to battle water spots. Like I said, ain't nothing like spending a few hours trying to get the car clean and to end up having water spots and then be forced to settle on having them on the car. I'm not the one for quick detailers so my only option was spray wax. But now with the canopy I don't have to worry about it at all. I absolutely love it and highly recommend the investment in one.

Oh and another major perk to a canopy is that you're not racing the sun to start at a certain time since you're under shade! :props:
 
LOL, before I got my canopy I had this crazy idea to rig up some sort of "holder" for the hose so I could mist the car the entire time I am washing so it would never dry in the sun. I did a black H2 with no canopy in 100 degree weather once with no shade and ended up having to go panel by panel drying each one as I go. It must have taken almost 2 hours just to wash the outside.
 
Nicholas@Autowerx said:
LOL, before I got my canopy I had this crazy idea to rig up some sort of "holder" for the hose so I could mist the car the entire time I am washing so it would never dry in the sun. I did a black H2 with no canopy in 100 degree weather once with no shade and ended up having to go panel by panel drying each one as I go. It must have taken almost 2 hours just to wash the outside.
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That idea actually sounds awesome!!! I'm sure you can do something like that. I really hope that the canopy is tall enough for my fiancées Lexus RX350.
 
Working in direct sunlight makes a job 10 times harder

Nice article Alex
 
Thanks Flash...A canopy makes a HUGE difference!
 
Just an FYI the canopy I got is now on sale for $99.99. Also do a google search for sears discount codes.
 
Alko are you able to set this Canopy up by yourself now?... I'm looking for a canopy for my mobile business, and being able to set it up on my own is a must!
 
Jay...sorry for just now seeing this. I don't come on the forum that often these days. It takes a little bit of patience but yes you can set it up yourself. You just have to make sure you do a little at a time as to not bend the legs too far.
 
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