If You Don't Have a Garage, What Would You Do?

@Benzdriver81 It's for my next truck.

I just did a quick search, and it seems there are only places with the big cloth.

I was checking out some apartments over the last weekend and am debating if it's worth it that I pay an extra $100/month to get a garage.

 

Where do you live? If you're in the Bay Area (like your profile pic suggests), then there are a ton of touchless washes there. I can help you find one, or recommend a few good ones in the South Bay.

Otherwise, take it to a detail shop and have them detail it for you, which will be your starting point for maintaining the paint. Once it's detailed, put a few coats of sealant on right away. From there, just use a "quick wash" or a "waterless wash" like what others have mentioned earlier (I like Meg's Ultimate Wash and Wax Anywhere). Again, it's a new vehicle so the paint will be in top shape and will last you until you find a new place to live that comes with a garage and a garden hose.

 

Hot Damn my favorite thread lives! @kuffer14

 

Wish I had mine Line-X Body Armored now. A glossy battleship gray...

 

I would get a place with a garage if we are talking about what I would do. I'd live in a pile of crap before I'd let my truck live outside haha. Plus like, If I didn't have a garage, where would I keep all my beer?

A vehicle sitting outside is just going to require a lot more work than one that is garaged a majority of the time. You will need to wash the vehicle regularly, polish yearly, use quality sealers and maybe wax more often. Also need to keep it out of the sun, not park it under any trees, make sure you clean off any bugs, leaves, berries, bird shit etc. Also make sure you polish and seal the roof of the truck. Make sure all your rubber and tires get extra UV coating.

Basically everything a normal car requires just more often because the elements lower the life of most products and expose them to more contaminants.

 

Not that much more work really. Get a good sealant and you can seal twice a year. Managed it with 2 cars for several years. A coating will really minimize work (which I have switched to).