I guess I need to wash my truck…

[Jhbryaniv]

I did a little wash today...

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[Kristina]

I did a little wash today...

Nice color. And truck.

 

[Dr_Strangelove]

@Jhbryaniv - with all of your attachments you look a bit bed-phobic. ? Yeah it scratches a bit easily without a lining but it's pretty useful, actually!

 

[YaBoiNewton]

I have been thinking about this for quite long time and a decision is made.
I think I finally have to wash my truck. One day. What I mean is I need pressure washer, foam cannon, cleaning and detailing stuff and who knows what else. I guess it’s time to get my own equipment.

Just a tiny tiny problem - I know basically nothing about pressure washers. Also there are like millions of products available when it comes to car wash and detailing. How do I know what I want or need?! Btw, I finally found graphene on sale here. By Turtle wax. Was surprise as I knew it was not available in here.

Skip the pressure washer dude. Use a garden hose with a nozzle attachment to rinse off any excessive dirt if the truck is muddy, then just do a rinseless wash with Optimum No Rinse. The Rag Company has a ton of videos on how to do an ONR wash and it is as easy as they make it seem. I've just started with ONR myself and I'm VERY happy with the results. Takes ~30 minutes for a maintenance wash and uses <2 gallons of water. I just use the Optimum Big Red Sponge, a few high quality microfiber towels, and a small pump sprayer($6 at Harbor Freight) to apply the ONR solution. No scratches on any of my vehicles so far - and they were quite dirty. I'd recommend buying your sponge and microfiber towels from the Rag Company on their own website or on Amazon.

Definitely follow up the ONR wash with a clay bar, alcohol wipe, compound & polish, and a coating. I'd recommend picking up a cheap polisher like the Bauer dual action from Harbor freight, then picking up some high quality polishing pads like the hex logic or lake country CCS pads. My motto for DIY work is cheap machine + expensive pads = solid results. I leave the expensive machines for the pros. Meguiar's ultimate compound and polish do a decent job for light correction - they don't cut a ton so it'll be low risk while you learn how to do paint correction. Follow up with an alcohol rinse, then apply some 303 graphene and you're golden. The next wash after all of that work will be so much easier if you do a good job with this process.

For the interior, Griots sells a big bottle of interior cleaner available at any autoparts store. Pick one up along with a small detailing brush and some microfiber towels. Spray on the brush -> agitate on plastic panels -> wipe off with a towel. Then apply a coating like Chemical Guys Silk Shine or the 303 vinyl protectant. Recommend vacuuming and dusting before you apply any liquid to the interior surfaces.

 

[Jhbryaniv]

@Jhbryaniv - with all of your attachments you look a bit bed-phobic. ? Yeah it scratches a bit easily without a lining but it's pretty useful, actually!

Ironically, I'm getting quotes to install a spray in liner for the bed because it's all scratched to hell from use... ?

Its gonna be tough to not ask about color matching the bed liner to paint... ?

 

[Kristina]

Winters and salt are rough for vehicles here. Found time to pay more attention to under. I already got loads of dirt washed away from under before but found out the muffler was still totally covered with dry dirt and it’s not removable with pressure wash.
At least exhaust parts are hidden so nicely under the truck, nothing visible outside.

 

[AzScorpion]

Winters and salt are rough for vehicles here. Found time to pay more attention to under. I already got loads of dirt washed away from under before but found out the muffler was still totally covered with dry dirt and it’s not removable with pressure wash.
At least exhaust parts are hidden so nicely under the truck, nothing visible outside.

Better crop out that blue building before you know who sees it.

 

[Kristina]

Better crop out that blue building before you know who sees it.

And the other picture has piece of blue canister on it
I’ll better turn all pictures into black&white before uploading them. If nothing blue in background there is something blue my lovely truck finds to mirror.

 

[IdahoRanger]

And the other picture has piece of blue canister on it
I’ll better turn all pictures into black&white before uploading them. If nothing blue in background there is something blue my lovely truck finds to mirror.

Better stick to rabbit pictures.

 

[Kristina]

Better stick to rabbit pictures.

Can’t. @AzScorpion will find it a reason to cut our deal to not ban me because it’s a truck forum not a bunny club.
In here you even sleep one eye open.

 

[AzScorpion]

Can’t. @AzScorpion will find it a reason to cut our deal to not ban me because it’s a truck forum not a bunny club.
In here you even sleep one eye open.

You might need both. Just sayin' ?

 

[RDJTX]

The problem is if I use water from hose there is no filter, that is definitely needed, water is very hard there. Do all pressure washers have changeable filters?
What pressure to use? On some washers it can be adjusted differently for foam cannon and rinsing.
Of course YT is full of everything. Even I can post there, but do I trust YT more than people with experience who have same truck as I do?

One of the first things I bought when I got my house was a water softener. When they did the install I had them put a spigot in the garage between the house and the water softener. this gave me soft water to wash my cars with.

Be careful about buying a pressure washer on sale. make sure it is not on clearance. first one I bought was gas and a clearance sale. turns out the carburetor is a piece of junk and they don't make them anymore. I replaced it with this https://www.homedepot.com/p/RYOBI-2...d-Electric-Pressure-Washer-RY142300/300405751. I am in the process of run-in a permanent hose from the spigot to the front corner of the garage where the pressure washer will sit.

I also bought an upgraded hose for it that doesn't kink. I use Chemical Guys car wash products.

The comments about not needing a pressure washer are mostly correct. while not really necessary it does make things a bit easier IMHO. One thing I do recommend is that you watch some of the YouTube reviews for whatever it is you want to buy, there are plenty of them out there that will give you a good idea of what you want to look for in what you are looking to buy.

 

[Jhbryaniv]

One of the first things I bought when I got my house was a water softener. When they did the install I had them put a spigot in the garage between the house and the water softener. this gave me soft water to wash my cars with.

Be careful about buying a pressure washer on sale. make sure it is not on clearance. first one I bought was gas and a clearance sale. turns out the carburetor is a piece of junk and they don't make them anymore. I replaced it with this https://www.homedepot.com/p/RYOBI-2...d-Electric-Pressure-Washer-RY142300/300405751. I am in the process of run-in a permanent hose from the spigot to the front corner of the garage where the pressure washer will sit.

I also bought an upgraded hose for it that doesn't kink. I use Chemical Guys car wash products.

The comments about not needing a pressure washer are mostly correct. while not really necessary it does make things a bit easier IMHO. One thing I do recommend is that you watch some of the YouTube reviews for whatever it is you want to buy, there are plenty of them out there that will give you a good idea of what you want to look for in what you are looking to buy.

Another thing to remember is when you buy an amazon special, like I have, repair parts are usually not available. It tends to be use it until it breaks, than replace the whole unit. When you buy the more expensive from name brand or reputable detail supply places they will generally have the ability to be repaired.

It is also easy to sink hundreds into accessories for the pressure washer - not including softening systems . . .

 

[RDJTX]

Another thing to remember is when you buy an amazon special, like I have, repair parts are usually not available. It tends to be use it until it breaks, than replace the whole unit. When you buy the more expensive from name brand or reputable detail supply places they will generally have the ability to be repaired.

It is also easy to sink hundreds into accessories for the pressure washer - not including softening systems . . .

All true ... have to set a budget and work within it.

 

[Kristina]

For a while I’ve been using fully equipped car wash room, but mostly with my own products. Equipment and lights are good, room is closed.
Chemical Guys, Turtle Vax, Meguiar’s, Würth (for bed cover rails maintenance) and few others. As I have one more car, for detailing I got ceramic and graphene both.
Didn’t do clay as I added tar soaking step to washing procedure.

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