Best way to clean "gaps" on our trucks

[RedlandRanger]

I spent a few hours yesterday doing my trucks annual "clean up", including waxing it. One thing I've never found a good method for is to clean out the "gaps" - like around the rear window, around the front window, around the rails on the roof. The rails on the roof on mine accumulate needles - I spray them out with the hose but never can get everything. Even a toothbrush for those doesn't work.

Anyone have a good solution for cleaning areas like these?

Sponsored

 

[db_tanker]

I'm curious about an easy way to get rid of leaves that accumulate between the cab and box.

I'm thinking about getting a long piece of tubing and attach it to a blow gun.

Using a garden hose with a spray nozzle is only about 20-30% effective.

There isn't much gap there for a proper spray wand from a pressure washer.

And I've seen what leaves can do.

D

 

[AzScorpion]

I spent a few hours yesterday doing my trucks annual "clean up", including waxing it. One thing I've never found a good method for is to clean out the "gaps" - like around the rear window, around the front window, around the rails on the roof. The rails on the roof on mine accumulate needles - I spray them out with the hose but never can get everything. Even a toothbrush for those doesn't work.

Anyone have a good solution for cleaning areas like these?

I've been using a pressure washer along with a foam cannon for years. This seems to get all the junk out of those tight areas and get them clean. They key is to foam the truck, let it soak for 5 minutes or so then wash and rinse. Having a white truck you'll notice the grime more but using this method it stay clean. Plus doing it more often helps too. ?

 

[AzScorpion]

I'm curious about an easy way to get rid of leaves that accumulate between the cab and box.

I'm thinking about getting a long piece of tubing and attach it to a blow gun.

Using a garden hose with a spray nozzle is only about 20-30% effective.

There isn't much gap there for a proper spray wand from a pressure washer.

And I've seen what leaves can do.

D

Like you said I'd try an air hose and that should get most everything out of there. A pressure washer would be to strong and could damage the paint. Once you get it cleaned out you can add a piece of foam pipe insulation along the cab and bulkhead. That should keep the leaves and junk from getting back there.

 

[RedlandRanger]

I've been using a pressure washer along with a foam cannon for years. This seems to get all the junk out of those tight areas and get them clean. They key is to foam the truck, let it soak for 5 minutes or so then wash and rinse. Having a white truck you'll notice the grime more but using this method it stay clean. Plus doing it more often helps too. ?

I will have to experiment with that - I'm not worried about it being squeaky clean - I just want to remove all that crap periodically. My truck only gets really clean once or twice a year..... The rest of the year it is a quick wash and maybe vacuuming out the interior.

Yesterday I also buffed out some of the brush scratches I'd accumulated - if you look REALLY, REALLY close you can still see some but it looks way better than it did.

 

[dapakattack]

I'm curious about an easy way to get rid of leaves that accumulate between the cab and box.
...

Darrell,
Once you get that cleaned out, some of us have used foam pipe insulation to fill that bed/cab gap

 

[AzScorpion]

I will have to experiment with that - I'm not worried about it being squeaky clean - I just want to remove all that crap periodically. My truck only gets really clean once or twice a year..... The rest of the year it is a quick wash and maybe vacuuming out the interior.

Yesterday I also buffed out some of the brush scratches I'd accumulated - if you look REALLY, REALLY close you can still see some but it looks way better than it did.

The roof rails will be tricky with pine needles as they get lodged in there and (as you know) are a pain to get out. But general dirt and grime should come off easier if it's waxed good and washed. Sometimes if mine is really dirty or I was off road I'll foam it up, let it sit (out of the sun) for a good 10 minutes to let the dirt/grime break down then rinse it off. Then foam it again and wash as usual.

For stubborn dirty areas you could take something like a thin plastic pry tool (or a popsicle stick) and wrap it with a microfiber cloth and spray it with a cleaner to clean out those areas. Plus whatever wax/sealer you use will be crucial to how well the paint gets sealed. The Graphene really does seal the paint to where there's minimal effort used to clean it.

 

[SilverRanger]

Funny this came up.

I was converting my truck from one messy project to the glorified passenger hauler it mostly is used for. Climbed up into the bed and was cleaning the deck, when I looked between the cab and bed.

Totally crammed with leaves.

I used a simple yard stick and just pushed the leaves to the holes on each side:

They were packed in there pretty tight. It took a good 15 minutes to work them out. Probably 2 years worth. Will need to pay attention to that more in the future.

As for the roof trim rails, I use compressed air to blow them out.

 

[Friday yet?]

What about the bed? Specifically that seam between the floor and the front wall? How do you get the crap out of that?

Sponsored