Got any recommendations before I start? I haven't washed my truck since, well... this post: https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...=315775&page=1

So I was thinking of maybe getting 3 washes in this year.. just to keep on top of things.

I plan on thoroughly washing the underbody too....

Should I wash the truck with Dawn soap? Then wash it again with regular car soap?

As I was looking at others' processes... I was thinking if I did it this one particular way...

I was thinking of a process like this:

-Wash underbody and door drains with dish soap
-Remove rims and clean inside (packed with sand giving me a weird ride)
-Wash bed with dish soap
-Wash body with dish soap
-Wash body with carwash
-Claybar entire truck
-Wash with carwash
-Wax with Megs Gold class using the DA
-Wax with NXT Nanowax using the DA
-Tire shine the frame and axle
-Tire shine wheels
-Re-treat windows with Rain-X
-Mothers Back-To-Black black trim
-Clean interior

Sound like a good way to do it?

 

I'm assuming you mean tires. Don't spray that stuff on the wheels.

 

If you are doing it all by hand, just wash it with car wash soap, then clay it, then use NXT 2.0. It should look pretty decent.

 

After I wash a vehicle I move on to detail the interior for some reason. After the interior is cleaned and detailed it can be closed off and kept nice. If you do the interior last, it is possible to rub up against that freshly waxed exterior, or rub some of the hyper dressing off onto your pant leg while cleaning the inside of the vehicle. Not to mention that pesky vacuum cleaner's exhaust seems to blow crap all over the place no matter how clean the filter is.

Just my $0.02

Other than that, it seems like you have the basics covered.

 

Ok, thanks for your input guys... I dunno when I'll get to it, but I am sure it will be sometime this week or possibly next week... there is really no rush on it because I got a lot of work around the house to do.

 

 

Sorry - now I see that you have a DA.

I'd still just wash it then clay it - then use whatever intermediate steps are appropriate (NONE that contain "wax" are appropriate, just correction products), and use the NXT 2.0 as your LSP. I'd do the NXT by hand.

What correction products are necessary depends on what it looks like after claying. I'd have some ScratchX around regardless of what else you use.

 

Again thanks for the input.

glc - I got some Scratch-X... and this Color-RX stuff too. I got a lot of weird detailing stuff..

But I'll pick up a bottle of the NXT 2.0 regardless before I begin.

This week is looking good... might be a good friday project.

 

No problem.

I think you will like Color-X. It is a sort of a one step type product that has some abrasives and such, then leaves a synthetic wax behind. I would guess the swirl removal abilities to be around 25% with one application. It's not a bad product-- I still use it on a wash/wax on cars that need polishing but aren't going to pay for it. Granted, it is not a miracle in a bottle, but it can certainly be a crowd pleaser in terms of the ease of use, speed, and results for time and money invested. Both this and S-X are discussed in the detailing sticky...

Let us know if there are any other questions about the "weird detailing stuff" you picked up.

BTW- I think you will rather enjoy NXT 2.0-- it is a definate improvement over the original.

Now I am getting curious... Dont forget when you post befores/afters to let us know which products you used... I think yours may just turn out pretty dawggone impressive considering the product choice and $ invested...

 

If you post "before" pics, please wash and dry it first........

 

I've been detailing it slowly for the past 3 days... going on 4.

The underbody was packed with sand. I was scooping it out of crevaces with my hand in large gobs. It was gross. Luckily I was wearing shorts and no shirt... and it was like 75F out. But I was covered in sand. What was wicked cool was that I found parts of the yellow line in the road, because during the winter, the plows kinda force you to drive in the center of the road a bit.

I had a lot of industrial fallout and rail dust on my truck. Not to mention a lot of tar. The rims were packed with sand, as were the brakes. The brakes are in great condition.

The underbody was ok... I came by again with some Rustoleum and repainted the entire underbody. It came out alright.

I did the NXT 2.0 stuff... and it came out decent.

Tomorrow I plan on cleaning the interior and such...

Argh... I just wanna sit down and do nothing... been soooooo busy.

 

Here are some in-progress pix:

 

 

very nice...
keep up the good work... the painting of the underbody came out better than i expected

 

Here is the rear axle before and after:
I sanded any rust down before applying the paint... it was really messy process... but it was worth the time. It should keep the frame in good shape for a long time to come.

Before:

After: