Wisconsin Tacomas and bad financial advice

I've been screenshotting yours and Dave's buffing posts for product when it comes time to re-beautify the surface on mine.
You aren't joking about the Kwik Trip wax.
Last wash there I decided to dry the truck off with a microfiber towel and there was this thicker, more oily type, residue that was smearing around the surface until I buffed it dry......gross.
I'm guessing it was that tri-foam crap.

 

After ALF got "the treatment", I finished up with Torque Detail Mirror Shine spray-on ceramic. I had read that a ceramic coating helps keep the vehicle cleaner. ( Yeah, sure it does. Riiight. ) It is way easier to apply than wax, too. Well, I've had the ceramic on for 5 weeks now, and it really seems that my truck does stay cleaner. The Nauti Blue showed all of the dust. It was frustrating spending the time to make it look good, then 20 mins later it is covered in dust. The ceramic somehow repels it. And ALF doesn't need a bath as often.

 

Survived another river trip. The Rogue in Oregon. Lots of class III and IV rapids. Narrow and pushy. No pictures as a phone would not last long with me, but here is a Putin sleepover shot:




And Crater Lake on the drive north. Rental is a Kia Sportage. Won’t be buying one but it does get good mileage

 

Yeah, I don't want to come across as any kind of expert on this stuff. I kinda just watched a bunch of videos and read reviews and went with the Chemical Guys stuff. Looking at the truck again in the sun this morning I can still spot scratches, but the overall look is much better than it was. We'll see how the polish completes the finish tonight.

As @pearing says, it's not a show truck. I don't expect perfection, but I'm pleased with the results so far.

 

It's been a looooong time since I paid any mind to detailing a vehicle (it wasn't even called detailing...I'm that old). Been watching videos and doing some reading since products and procedures have gotten much more sophisticated. I figure that the products these days would play nice with the vinyl graphics I have but want to be sure. Everything I see says I should be good. One more thing I didn't know I needed...

 

Kinda where I'm at and why I ended up ordering a ceramic sealer....plus it was on sale. The wax I always used was really liquefied by the heat we had. Used it anyways and I'm not happy with the short amount of time that protection lasted. My own fault though.

It shouldn't be like making sushi rice where every little aspect of the environment, weather, and products dictate the ends result. But I'm learning the hard way to be more patient.

 

True true real ceramic takes a good two days to apply and a day to cure.

That being said

The short form stuff that we're talking about, I've got it on my silver truck and can confirm, that shit works

Truck repels dirt and muck and cleans up super duper nice.

 

Changed the brakes on a Nissan Rogue, Saturday.
Rear discs with a drum parking.
The rotor has an access window to adjust the star for the parking brake.

"That's cool, wish mine had that."
Got to looking at the back side of the drum and and there it is.
Access window for star adjustment.

 

I have an old couple that wants a ride in my truck!

 

Any of you guys run into a problem installing struts where you can't get it to compress enough to reattach the lower control arm?

 

Nevermind I just had a window licking moment

 

You mean a electric fence licking moment.

 

@Camerasandcoffee

This Saturday the Tacoma goes in for a new windshield. The stone chip repair didn't work.

 

The front suspension is in and I'm going to delete the sway bar because I don't have a spacer for it

 

Ouch!

 

Swaybars are unnecessary on Tacoma's anyway

 

*Tacomas

 

I'm retired, remember?

 

I'm just doing my due diligence.