Setting up a truck wash bay comes down to three things: the right chemicals, the right gear to apply them, and a wash order your team can follow every time. Here is what a working setup looks like.
The chemicals
| Job | Product | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Regular washing | Green Machine | pH neutral snow foam, roughly $0.79 to $1.31 a truck from the 20L |
| Road film, grease and oil | Blue Punch | Alkaline 2 in 1 truck wash and degreaser, dilutes to suit the job |
| Wheels | Red Bite | Alkaline wheel cleaner with no acid in it |
| Tyres | Tyre Bright | Silicone tyre dressing, around 13c a tyre from the 20L |
| Glass and mirrors | Visionary | Ready to use, streak-free, $3.00 a litre from the 20L |
The gear
- A pressure washer and a foam cannon or foam system
- Chemical resistant triggers for Red Bite and Blue Punch
- A solvent resistant trigger or tyre pad for Tyre Bright
- Clear 1L bottles for decanting from the drums
- Heavy duty nitrile gloves
The Truck Yard kit puts the chemicals in 20L drums with triggers, decant bottles and a tyre pad for $405.00, so the bay is set up in one order.
A wash order that works
- Rinse the truck and trailer to knock off loose dirt.
- Foam with Green Machine at 150 to 250mL per 1L cannon bottle. On heavy road film or grease, use Blue Punch at 1:40 to 1:60 instead.
- Dwell for a few minutes. Keep it out of direct sunlight and do not let it dry.
- Wheels with Red Bite and a brush.
- Chassis and engine with Blue Punch at 1:10 to 1:20 where there is grease.
- Rinse everything thoroughly.
- Finish with Tyre Bright on the sidewalls and Visionary on the glass.
Step 2, foam on the panels
A blanket of pH neutral foam left to dwell does most of the work before anyone touches the paint.
Step 4, the wheels
Red Bite lifting brake dust. A 20L drum does roughly 550 to 1,000 sets of wheels.
Step 7, the finish
Tyre Bright on the sidewall, around 13c a tyre from the 20L drum.
Storage and safety
- Keep a Safety Data Sheet on site for every chemical you use.
- Tyre Bright is highly flammable. Store it away from heat, sparks and open flames.
- Blue Punch is high-alkaline. Avoid aluminium, polished or anodised metals unless compatibility has been confirmed.
- Check your local council and water authority rules on wash water before you set up drainage.
When to buy in bulk
If the bay is going through several 20L drums a month, 200L drums and 1000L IBCs usually work out better, with less handling and fewer deliveries. Ask about bulk supply.
One Sydney truck wash doing 100 to 200 trucks a week runs Green Machine from the 1000L IBC. Read how they set it up.
Common questions
Do I need both Green Machine and Blue Punch?
Most bays do. Green Machine handles the regular washes, and Blue Punch covers the chassis, engines and anything a neutral wash will not shift. See pH neutral vs alkaline for when to use which.
What does it cost per truck?
Green Machine from the 20L works out at roughly $0.79 to $1.31 a truck. See cost per wash by pack size for the full breakdown.