GA Tacoma Owners BS Thread

Yes, and he can probably find one for $80 if he just keeps an eye out.

Here ya go. $70
https://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/pts/d/dahlonega-toyota-tacoma-oem-rubber-bed/7376369056.html

This isn't the toyota branded one but still a good option:

 

It has been my experience that any money saved to get something to fit will cost you the same in time.
I have had some luck on older land cruisers, but then again they are a box.

 

Very true. I'll keep an eye out for you. Haha

 

I feel like this thread has been sort of dead lately without much activity. So let's talk about some topics that have come up on Instagram lately. I'm curious for your thoughts and opinions.

I don't think these are instagram trends, but rather stuff that the algorithm that drives IG is throwing my way.


1. Car wash product sponsorships

I've been posting a lot lately about detailing stuff. I've been seeing a lot of posts lately from companies in the auto wash industry that are looking to have sponsored vehicles. I've responded to 2 of them and sent an application to a third more well known brand. The two start ups are @gorilla.carcare and @vvashautocare. Both have offered to do a partial sponsorship where they provide their products at a discount.

My thought is pretty much "Okay, that's nice, but why do I want to try your product when I can get Meguiars or comparable at a local store for the same or less?" I'm more likely to stick with something I know than fork out cash for a "premium" company that has no proven track record. On top of that, the discount isn't even that great. I expect to see equal or greater discounts come black friday.

One of them did say that they would send a $100 gift card every 10th time your code was used. So that is more enticing, but they didn't specify if the GC was for their products (most likely) or like a Visa GC. I kind of feel like they are using IG as a way to get people hooked on their stuff with no real benefit other than an incentive to gain brand awareness via word of mouth (or IG in this case).

The other one accepting applications is Adams. I applied, but I have zero hope that they will actually choose me. My truck isn't exactly a show truck. I just enjoy detailing.

So I guess my questions / topics for conversation here are:

1. Do you think it's worth accepting a partial sponsorship or is that just a marketing ploy?
2. If I were to try one and like / recommend it, would any of you purchase?
3. Is it possible for a startup to have higher quality than the big players? (this seems obvious, but I bet there will be varying opinions)

If any of you care, my public IG is OverlandOutdoor. I don't particularly care of the "overland" branding, but I figured it would be popular since people are gravitating toward that lifestyle. I'm not trying to make that a billboard for sponsoring companies, but I will post reviews and results from stuff that I use.

 

Topic 2: Ceramic Coatings

Ok, so some backstory on this one. I'm out for an evening walk in my neighborhood and one of my neighbors, who I've never spoken with before but noticed his car several times, is taking out his trash. I ask a question about his flag and compliment his car, and next thing I know is that we're in his garage talking detailing, guns, work, etc. Turns out I have a lot in common with this guy everything from hobbies all the way down to the day job.

He drives a black Holden Commodore. Not a rebadged SS (even though all SS models are rebranded Holden), but an actual imported Holden that is Australian spec. I mention that I have a black Expedition and will never buy another black vehicle because it shows EVERYTHING. He pointed at his and said that he hasn't done a paint correction on it since 2016. Said he did a paint correction followed by a ceramic coat and since then he has only done the maintenance on the ceramic coat.

Mind. Blown.

He also mentioned a company that he is an authorized installer for ceramic windshield coatings. I didn't ask many questions because I wasn't really interested in a windshield coating and I was still thinking about how good the black paint on his car that is at least 5 years old looks compared to my 2 year old Expedition. So after a while, my mind goes back to the windshield coating. I didn't get the dudes contact info or anything, so I reached out to the company to get more info on what they do and see if they had any promotions coming up. Turns out they do the windshield coatings as well as full car ceramic and graphene coatings. No upcoming promotions, but they did send me information on becoming an installer to get insider rates. They have a computer based training program that has to be completed before they will consider you as an installer and then there is a startup cost associated.

They told me that an installer typically charges $99 to do a windshield ceramic coat install or $150 to do all the windows on a car. The company offers a 3 year warranty on all windshield coatings.

I'm considering it. If it takes less than an hour to install a windshield ceramic coat and I had enough interest that I could at least cover the cost of the startup kit. Being an authorized installer would also get me 50% off the ceramic and graphene coatings.

So here are my questions / topics for conversation:

1. How many of you care or are curious about ceramic coatings?
2. Would you consider a windshield coating that has a 3 year warranty @ $100? What about at a discounted rate?
3. If you already know about ceramic or graphene coatings, are they worth it?

I'm not talking about the spray on rinse off ceramic hybrid stuff that lasts 3-12 months, but the real-deal supposed-to-last-2-to-5-years full-blown ceramic (or graphene) coatings.

Oh, and this is not that company, but it looks like the Color N Drive real deal ceramic coating is on sale for $60 right now with free shipping. That's one of the better deals on one of the higher rated kits. I decided to give it a go, but I'm not quite ready to install it yet. https://colorndrive.com/en/ceramic-coating I need to get some more buffing pads so that I can do a full paint correction before installing it.

 

My first initial thought is MLM but for dudes. Haha. But seriously, idk if I’m just old school or what, but I’ve always thought like you where it’s like “why would I spend more on a no-name brand when Megs is commonly available and trusted?”

I love the idea of ceramic coating, esp with that gray that you’ve seen on my truck. It’s like black, it’s always swirl city on that sucker. My only reservation is that I’m too lazy to strip all the wax and such off it. Every three months or so I use cleaner wax or that Megs “ceramic hybrid” (which I only like because it doesn’t stain plastic, I know the ceramic bit is a gimmick), so I imagine doing one of those full strips and paint correction is more work than I’m willing to do.

Maybe if I ever find a good shop to paint the Corvette for a reasonable cost I’d do a ceramic coating since it’d be a fresh coat with no existing product on it.

 

I think very highly of Meguiars when it comes to detailing products. Good quality, affordable and readily available.

What is MLM but for dudes?

Google search:


I pretty much told both of them that I'd be willing to try, but I saw no incentive to spend money on their stuff when I have a cabinet full of detailing stuff already. That is likely the end of the conversations with them.

I figure I'm willing to try it. The black shows every swirl mark possible. I know a ceramic coating isn't going to be the end-all-be-all, but adding a layer of hard protection after doing a paint correction seems like it would be worth it. Even if I spend an entire afternoon doing it, it's worth it to not have to worry about another paint correction for a while.

What about the windshield ceramic? Seems like a good "intro" into whether the ceramic works or not for a fraction of the cost. I think of that one as rain-x on crack. I prefer a windshield coated with rain-x, but I'm not sure how long it lasts. Maybe a week or two? I don't put it on very often, but I feel like I applied it to my windshield about 2 weeks ago and the effect is already wearing off. It would be kind of cool to have a set it and forget it application (you know, like those old rotisserie chicken oven infomercials).



$100 is a whole lot better than $1500!

 

I need a paint job on the Supra before I’d consider ceramic coating. So it’s a few years off for me

 

I love Ceramic and Graphene coatings. I personally use Adam's Polishes products. Ceramic/Graphene coatings are worth the time and prep work to apply. They make washing and maintaining a vehicle exterior so much easier. I've tried all the "hybrid SI02 infused yadda yadda yadda" products and they don't hold a candle to a real ceramic or graphene coating. The only product that isn't a full on coating that I like is Adam's Graphene Spray. It's a 12 month-ish coating but it's much easier to work with. I usually use it on glass, wheels and plastics. Hold's up quite well on wheels surprisingly. All that being said, the real work is in the prep prior to coating.

 

Supra?....pics and specs? I'll gladly stop what I am doing at work to look at some Supra stuff

 

This is awesome to hear. Outside of my neighbor, you might be the only person I know of who has actually had a real ceramic coat. And yes, the prep work is what I'm not looking forward to on the expedition.

It's an MKIII Supra (think 86.5 - 92 body style). Still a dream car of mine though....maybe he'll get it painted and ceramic coat it.

 

Let me know what you end up doing for that. I’m in the same boat. The DIY wrap I did is okay for the time being, but ultimately I want to do a proper paint job.

Hahaha, yeah, the multi level marketing or whatever. They’re typically labeled as pyramid schemes with mostly women (think the essential oils craze or those “health shakes” and such) with the way that most of them work. The Investopedia definition you found is much kinder than most people would define a MLM. Haha.

But yes, I’m a huge fan of Megs. As far as wax and polish, they’re all I use. Again, I’m no pro though, just an average guy.

The windshield coating does sound enticing, depending on final cost. I absolutely love a good Rain-X’d windshield, but it wears out fairly quickly, so I’ve gotten really lazy about applying it to my cars.

The prep being so intimidating is what’s keeping me from trying a full vehicle ceramic coat.

 

It's not too bad and by no means am I a professional, this is just what I usually do in my prep for a ceramic coating. If you can split it between two days it won't be so bad. I usually wash with a strip wash that helps remove old waxes and other road crap. Usually I'll foam it, spray it off, wash it with a mitt, spray it off, then do it again with the mitt (2 bucket), the spray it off. Also, make sure you clean really well around emblems and where panels meet. Crap loves to hide in those little spaces. Then hit it with Iron Remover. This stuff makes your paint look like it is bleeding red/purple stuff. Then wipe that stuff off. Next is clay bar. Then 3D Polishes 1-Step compound/polish with a orbital. Polish a panel, then buff off, repeat until all panels are done. This is usually a good place to stop because you're gonna be tired, park in garage over night. Next day, wipe down whole vehicle with Surface Prep spray (it's an alcohol based cleaner than removes any missed polish and/or other products before you start applying the ceramic coat). You really want to make sure everything is how you want it before you start because you don't want to seal in anything other than your shiny surface. Then start applying your ceramic. You want to take your time and make sure you cross-hatch (up down left right) to insure you got everything. Let it sit for a minute or so then buff off. Buffing it off can be a PITA so really take your time and make sure you got it all removed. Once it cures you'll be seeing it for years or until your have to use cutting compound to buff it off and redo the panel. You can do glass and plastics with ceramic coatings but you really gotta buff them out after application because it will show up worse on black plastics and glass. For those I like Adam's Graphene Spray. It's more forgiving and last around 12 months. It's beads water like crazy too.


That's basically everything in a nut shell. Lots of good info on Youtube as well.

 

Yup MK3 Supra so pop up headlights and more boxy. Check my link in my signature for the build.

I’m thinking of having my buddy paint it but he’s always traveling and what not. Need to reach out to him and get a price

 

Let me know what you find out he charges. I’d imagine your Supra is about the same size as a C4 Vette.

 

Yeah a tad bit smaller but not much smaller

 

You guys lost me at cleaning. Couldn’t tell you the last time I wash my truck if I tried

 

I washed mine for the 2nd time this weekend since I got it in 2018 haha

 

Damn, I wash mine vehicles every other week.

 

My truck stays outside, so washing it feels like a losing battle. I still wash from time to time, but it is less focused on. The family hauler on the other hand stays clean.