Questions about what to use for car wash, wax, ect for a brand new 2023 trd offroad?

I would always use soap. The purpose of soap is to provide a medium for the substances you are removing from the truck to move about above the paint surface. This is the lubrication that avoids scratching by dragging things across the paint.

 

Don't use dish soap as it will pull the oils out of your paint and shorten the paint's lifespan. Also anything off the shelfs will work fine and as good as the expensive stuff if you keep up on it from day one. All your big brands will work. Try a few because some cars finishes react to different products. I have stuff for my own personal cars and a huge assortment of other products for my customer's cars. Been professionally detailing cars for almost 40 years mostly as a part time side business. I have some high end stuff that people never even heard of. Enjoy your new truck.

 

I got the same attitude, was contemplating washing it this morning then said fuck it when I read it might rain next week

 

100% correct. The modern paints are not nearly as good as they used to be and Thin in almost an understatement. Its so easy to burn right through the clearcoat trying to remove scratches.

 

That makes sense. I appreciate the explanation.

 

Well, what's the budget and what kind of results do you want?

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/detailing-stations.757842/

 

I agree 100%. I was cringing and thought folks were joking when the dish soap comments were brought up.

 

I tend to use Meguiars stuff mainly because I can get it for close to free from work. I just bought Avalon King ceramic coating. Though I probably won't get to use it for a couple more months when it warms up here.
https://avalonking.com/products/armor-shield-ix-diy-kit

 

What I use...

Gtechniq's Crystal Serum Light (CSL) topped with Exo V4
Adams blue/purple shampoo and dried with P&S Beadmaker
P&S leather and interior cleaner followed with Adam's interior detail spray.
Sprayway glass cleaner with the rag company's FTW glass towels.
Adam's eco wheel cleaner/tire and rubber cleaner/detail factory tire brush
Adam's undercarriage spray
303 Protectant for the tonneau cover/exterior plastics
Various detail factory and the rag company brushes and microfibers all bought from the rag company.
I recommend Adam's 20x30 white or the rag companies Gauntlet 20x30 drying towels (3 total for a tacoma)
Cheap microfibers from Costco are fine for interior panels

DI Rinse Pro 100 Deionized tank, Kranzle 1322TS, PF22.2 foam cannon, 75ft MTM Hydro Kobrajet blue pressure washer hose, EGO 650 blower with stubby nozzle

 

^^^ This

Water just beads up and carries the dirt away with it.

And for gods sake if you're going to ceramic coat it do it right away. Don't screw around with other crap for a year and then do it. So much easier when it's new and as good as it's gonna get.

 

If you have garage. Use it for your truck instead of storage. It can really protect your truck from many things. Otherwise, you will need to buy all those fancy car care chemicals. I just simply wash it, spray on wax and mine shines.

 

The wife bought this ceramic turtle wash stuff for the prius which seems to work fairly well. Before that I used this areolon tech shine on it once a year that was better I thought.

 

If you have or are gonna get your truck ceramic coated, you should be using a ph neutral soap. I use adams