Bedside protection

I’m in construction but I also like keeping my vehicles as mint as possible so I have drop clothes in the bed and rear seats during the week. I’ve notice some very minor scratches on the side of the bed from my clothes reaching over into the bed to get our tools/materials. I was gonna drop painter drop clothes over the side while at work but not sure if the canvas while scratch. Anybody out there have a little OCD in them as well? Ideas?

 

Yup! I hate being so meticulous sometimes because I notice even the tiniest of scratches on my truck. At the end of the day I keep telling myself that it's a truck and is meant to get banged up a bit... doesn't make it any easier...

 

Ugh I know. I have two drop clothes (one to protect the first) over a bedliner that protects the bed. Ugh.

 

Well BSFORD you did get a 4x4... for a reason? It’s gonna get more than a few scratch bro. When I get my next one it will be the 4x4 and then I won’t care.. I hope

 

True but it's also my first brand new truck. Wife thinks I'm crazy when I park at the end of the parking lot I tell her it's for the exercise but really it's just me trying to stave off that inevitable door ding. For your scenario though have you looked into liners like the mechanics use at dealerships? Dont really know what they're called but I've seen them used and imagine that's what they're for..
?

 

you can always get some fender mats

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...MIsZ74u6nt2wIVQh2BCh00vwClEAQYAyABEgLgzvD_BwE

 

It does not matter if it's your first or fiftieth new truck... they will get scratched and dented.
#1 rule is to be careful around your truck. Don't wear bedazzled pants or a big belt buckle or loose clothing with big zippers. Drive defensively. Never park downhill from a store that uses shopping carts. Other than that... shit just happens and your truck gets scratched no matter what you do.

 

Oh good idea!
And ya I get it. This is my second new vehicle. And I’m that way too. My accord had floor mats to protect my floor mats to protect the carpet. I detailed it everyweekend and waxed it every 3 months. That’s how when it got wrecked I got over 16k on a 4 year old car. Don’t park far you’ll get a hater that will see your trying to be careful and key your truck. Just park in a spot that only has a spot next to it and a curb on the other. 50% door ding reduced. Also do you have tube steps? That’s another less chance.

 

Shit happens like his said. I’ve been behind those stupid rock trucks and moved over 3 lanes to see a rock bounce out and play q-Bert and bounce over all 3 lanes just for lil ole me. Just wax it 4 x a year. Drive 60 mph ( an impact hitting your truck at 80 vs 60 makes a huge difference. Don’t park under trees that produce sap and bird shit. Lock your tailgate always. And only park far away at home improvement centers like homedepo

 

The only thing that may cause a problem with drop clothes, and fender covers is if there is dirt/road debris on bed side. That will get on items and grind into paint also and collect on them for the next time you use them. I'm as OCD as they get.

 

wax, a good one too.

Make sure its waxed a lot and those little scuffs should buff out pretty easily, at least they do on mine.

But its a truck and you're using it in construction (I know I am in it too) but its going to be next to impossible to keep it perfect with our work.

Keep the interior good I do the same but the outside will get scuffed up nothingyou can really do about it without never driving it, doesn't help toyota paint is like tissue paper

 

Just try and enter from tailgate with it down only. It will be a pain in the ass, but scratchless.

 

PPF

 

Good advice on the parking I must say.

 

Good point, found my first minor scratches a couple weeks ago. I'm ok with it though because I've had the truck coming up on 2 years.

My GF thought I was crazy with the not parking downhill thing, until a trip to Lowe's. We were walking out and an employee was loading some stuff into a lady's car, took the last item off and the push cart rolled 2 spaces over and nailed a Nissan with the metal handle. I turned and said "see that's why I park uphill hahaha"

The Nissan in question was pretty beat up so they probably didn't even notice the new gouge but it proved my point

 

And that's why I traded my black tacoma for blue, much less visibility of scratches, for myself. A good wax cleans her up nicely. I'm goin on 7 months on my 18 and haven't had a door ding yet thankfully.

 

Ok Bro’s here where I’ll get tweeky on you.

I’ve exited the freeway to get hit by sprinkler over spray which is horrible for water spots( non potable water/irrigation. So when I got off I went to the drive through for some grumb and since the line was taking for ever I got out my lil detail kit and wiped it down in the line. Yes my girl was yelling get your ass back in the car. I am OCD on certain things. So here’s some tips with proof
1991 Accord 320,000 miles and 2014 Accord 3,000 miles. See a quality difference as far as detail.

How’d I do that?

One of you live in hot or dusty climate by a white vehicle. White is very forgiving on scratches dents and dust. White is also 30degress surface temp on the car vs black which actually makes a difference (I used a thermo gun)
Black is the best when shined up BUT shows dust within minutes after a wipe down and leaves finger prints everytime you shut the door unless you use a cloth or your elbow. Also black is unforgiving with scratches and dents. It shows everything so by white.

Buy a white vehicle

Buy rubber floor mats to cover your factory mats. They rinse off easy.

Wash weekly with mild dish soap. Grease busting soap removes wax, but dust daily with a California duster or similar product.

Wax every 3 months but alternate. Wax 1st Time entire vehicle. 2nd time just the top (hood, roof, bed/trunk bumpers and lights. 3rd Time entire. 4th just the top again. The reason is the top receives sun 12 hrs day where the sides get 6morning one side and 6afternoon other side so top gets twice as much sun that’s why you always see clear coat damage on tops never the sides.

I have tons of info how I protect my vehicles inside and out if anyone who OCD on there vehicle I’m that guy you wanna talk to. And although my new honda was wrecked and one could argue I did all that work for nothing I will rebuttal with that’s why I got $4,000 over what I owed on it due to “above excellent condition.

 

A painters drop cloth will scratch the paint if it is canvas type. I'd look into a professional line ceramic coating like modesta, ceramic pro, or even cquartz reserve or finest. That will give you some extra protection since those are rated at 9h hardness. Personally if it were me, I'd wrap the bedside in xpel ultimate ppf pr something similar with self corrective properties.

 

Movers blankets from harbor freight and drape then over so they hang on both sides of the bed...or mechanic mats that mechanics drap along side the engine bay when servicing an engine...

 

Try using what movers use when they pack someones home, moving cover quilt. You can find them at Home Depot I think.