Post your BLACK 3rd Gens

I feel like of you're gonna take any vehicle off roaring, chips and scratches and paint imperfections are to be expected. If it a major concern, linex your whole truck.

 

That's the thing. I DIDN'T take if off road... It snowed, that's it. All that was on the truck was your standard winter road grime.

 

For some reason I saw up in the mountains and just assumed off road. I've noticed most cars/trucks these days have cheap paint jobs. Got to try to not be OCD about it.

 

I can understand a few chips if you're driving on a road with salt put down, last year I had a chipped windshield from a piece of salt hitting it. But swirls don't come from driving even a dirt road or even one with loose stones. Swirls come from improper washing, quick detailing, drying with a bath towel, etc.

 

I feel like you might have watched a junkman video or two.

 

No.. just have been a OCD car guy for over a decade.

12 years ago, I was using one bucket and a sponge to wash my cars. Now, I have a r/o buffer, three sets of Lake County pads, 8 levels of polish, several types of wax, and more microfiber towels than I can fit in my washing machine.

 

Ah. Well I've never really worried about it too much but when I decided I wanted black I knew I had to do some research and his videos have been a great resource.

 

I learned by watching videos back 10-12 years ago when I was really learning how to maintain paint. My sources of info: Griot's Garage and Show Car Detailing.

 

I've only ever hand washed it, with a proper sponge, dry with a microfiber towel, and I used a good caranauba wax ... I realize it's just a truck and not a high performance sports car. I'm just not at the "fuck it" point yet. It only has 4k miles on it, I was hoping it would look good longer.

 

Foam gun and a 2 bucket wash. I just posted the link but I'll do it again because it gave me so much information. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w09r6m6sRCA

 

Washed mine for the first time today, 42 degrees and sunny. Two bucket system, sprayed it off at a car was first with water. Bought grit guards, a good microfiber wash mitt, and some good, waffle weave drying towels. Used a Ortho hose end sprayer (new read one from Lowes $10) to spray suds on truck first which I learned from this forum. This truck is so high had to use a two step ladder.

 

Good video series, never thought about using a leaf blower to blow water off.

 

No kidding. And last time when I didn't use the leaf blower I had a ridiculous amount of water spots. I thought the "drying" it with water was pretty genius too.

 

I would wrap it, after 5 years pull all the wrap and you have brand new paint underneath. My friend owns a shop that they wrap cars and I believe they charge about $1,000 to 1,200 for small sedan or coupe. Shouldn't be much more for truck. Flat wrap should be easy to work with, I know they charge extra for mirror wrap

 

I learned long ago, the best way to make the job of drying the vehicle easier is to sheet the water when you're done washing. Take the nozzle off the hose, and and hold the hose end very close to the vehicle and move it around so that the water sheets off of every body panel. Sheeting water rolls off the vehicle where as sprayed water beads up and stays on the vehicle. Much less water to remove when you're done.

 

Genius. I had to learn it from a youtube video but that's what I do too. Followed by the leaf blower.

 

800x480 fit like a glove?

 

Sure did

 

Just bought me a gas powered leaf blower for this reason and to blow snow off instead of brush it off.
Question for those with black. Ive been planning to put a clear bra on my truck, second thoughts now. Ive seen black vehicles with it and it doesn't look that good. Any of you with a few miles on your truck, have you noticed the paint holds up good? chips? I feel I'm going to regret both doing it and not doing it.. one is cheaper than the other lol

 

I would like to protect my front also but afraid of the AVS guard now, have one unopened in the garage that came in yesterday.