How often do you clean after off-roading?

I just got back from my first 4-wheelin' trip in my black 1st Gen. I pressure washed the exterior as always and that's fine, but the motor and undersides are just caked in mud, as you'd expect.

I hope to go off-road maybe 4 or 5 times a year and I'm wondering how often should I be thoroughly cleaning under the hood and the underframe. Will that caked on layer of mud underneath cause any harm or should I be washing it down completely after each trip?

If it's just for the sake of appearance I'm not particularly worried, but if I'm risking any significant damage or faster degradation then that's a different story.

Thanks in advance.

 

After every wheeling trip, pressure wash the underside, frame rails, etc. Dirt holds pockets of moisture and accelerates rust.

 

I powerwash afterwards all the time, especially after going to the beach. I wash depending how bad it is.

 

after each run.

 

After it dries up I take the additional crap that was difficult to remove the first wash around. It tends to come off easier.

 

Every single time. Even if it rains I power wash my truck. Yes I know I'm OCD but it makes it much easier to clean. Every oil change and tire rotation I get under my truck and go from front to back and clean everything. This allows me to:

1. Clean everything
2. Make sure everything is okay underneath the truck and to catch problems before they become a problem.

What my 2011 looked like at 30k miles






What my 2013 looks like at 10k miles








And yes, I do take it off road













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^^Damn that is one clean underbody. Im not that anal but i do clean well especially underneath. Just a good spray and its good. I also recommend using wd40 to spray your shocks or anything you dont want mud or water to get on, makes cleaning it off a breeze.

 

I use Diesel fuel mixed with motor oil. Last longer than DW40 and it keeps the under side of the truck looking like new and when it comes to clean it, it's very easy.

 

I clean after EVERY trail run, concentrating mostly on under carriage

 

From the pump?? I never knew that. Any specific ratio or motor oil?

 

Usually the day after a run. I cleaned this morning. But I didn't get into too much detail since we had plans. Will probably finish tomorrow depending on weather.

 

wow man clean trucks I hat all the salt they put on the roads not to mention trail mud and dirt lol

 

After every trip, I have a good nozzle on the hose and get under the truck.

 

How well does this work? I always have to take of skid plates because mud is just caked to bad and wont come out. But if I could just spray some WD40 and it slides off that would be great.

 

How do you get this so clean? Do you have a car lift? I just got back from my first big off road outing with my new truck and it seems nearly impossible to get it looking new again, like yours...

 

And you dispose of it in an environmentally responsible manner? Right, guys? Right...?

 

I pressure wash my undercarriage at least once a month I live on a farm so there's always dirt and mud on everything and im pretty anal about keeping my truck clean

 

what paint do you use or is that a coating? under

 

I wash it. Pressure wash underneath then go to town with 303Aerospace protectant from front to back. It's about a 5-6 hr job

 

sweet man thanks! I need to do this bad