I haven't taken my Ranger through an automated car wash, but for what it's worth I spent 5 years working at a car wash that had that type of equipment, averaged hundreds of cars per day and we never once broke this type of antenna.

The only antenna that is at risk are those power antennas found in 60's and 70's models that would go up and down when you turned the radio on or off. If they weren't all the way down they would snap, because they were rigid. The style of antennas on Rangers is designed to flex and bend and the wash equipment won't damage it.

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'09 Ranger, Reg cab short box, 2.3, manual, RWD