What kind of vacuum would you recommend for a car?

zoiks

Lifer
Jan 13, 2000
11,787
3
81
I saw those puny 12volt hand held vacs but I'm not sure if those will do the trick. I'd like to get something with more suction and power. What do you guys use? Home vac suitable for cleaning your car?
 

nwfsnake

Senior member
Feb 28, 2003
697
0
0
For sand, your best bet is to get some of those husky or weathertech liners. Sand and carpet are a no win situation, no matter how powerful a vac you get.
 

zoiks

Lifer
Jan 13, 2000
11,787
3
81
Originally posted by: nwfsnake
For sand, your best bet is to get some of those husky or weathertech liners. Sand and carpet are a no win situation, no matter how powerful a vac you get.

I have a 240sx that I use to haul my kayak. I know it's not the ideal car for such a task but the rack holds the kayak pretty well.
I'll have to look for a good shop vac. Might as well since I have 2 cars to clean.
 

Chunkee

Lifer
Jul 28, 2002
10,391
1
81
rigid shop vac...they make a 5 gallon one..or close to that..i have had it for years...best thing ever..i got one for my dad also.
 

Jugernot

Diamond Member
Oct 12, 1999
6,889
0
0
2 gallon Shop Vac.... still very powerful, but in a package small enough to fit in the back seat of the car and not be bulky.

It is all I use for my trucks!

BTW, Home Depot and Lowes regularly have them on sale for $20-30
 

hanoverphist

Diamond Member
Dec 7, 2006
9,867
23
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Originally posted by: senseamp
one that sucks...

this is one case where that is a good thing :p


i dont vacuum my own car. i take it to a full service car wash and tell them to vacuum the trunk as well, since the rest of the car is covered. only costs me 20 bucks for the whole thing and they pretty much detail it. they even scrub the rims lol. (this is when i drove a car, now i have a truck and i just spray out the bed once in a while)
 

zoiks

Lifer
Jan 13, 2000
11,787
3
81
Originally posted by: hanoverphist
Originally posted by: senseamp
one that sucks...

this is one case where that is a good thing :p


i dont vacuum my own car. i take it to a full service car wash and tell them to vacuum the trunk as well, since the rest of the car is covered. only costs me 20 bucks for the whole thing and they pretty much detail it. they even scrub the rims lol. (this is when i drove a car, now i have a truck and i just spray out the bed once in a while)

I'd be poor if I had to go and spend 20 bucks every time I took my car in after a kayak trip.
 

DVad3r

Diamond Member
Jan 3, 2005
5,340
3
81
Originally posted by: zoiks
Originally posted by: hanoverphist
Originally posted by: senseamp
one that sucks...

this is one case where that is a good thing :p


i dont vacuum my own car. i take it to a full service car wash and tell them to vacuum the trunk as well, since the rest of the car is covered. only costs me 20 bucks for the whole thing and they pretty much detail it. they even scrub the rims lol. (this is when i drove a car, now i have a truck and i just spray out the bed once in a while)

I'd be poor if I had to go and spend 20 bucks every time I took my car in after a kayak trip.

shop vac, go buy one now.
 

Drako

Lifer
Jun 9, 2007
10,697
161
106
Originally posted by: kevman
Was thinking about getting something like this.

Those things don't really have enough suction to do a good job - get a big one with at least 5hp.

 

DVad3r

Diamond Member
Jan 3, 2005
5,340
3
81
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Originally posted by: kevman
Was thinking about getting something like this.

Don't waste your money. Get this.

Yup, don't cheap out and buy a compact. Go for the biggest, baddest, machine you can find. I had a friend once who had a Shop-Vac that required ear muffs to use, it was that loud lol.