Let's talk about cleaning these beautiful trucks!

Sooperdave · August 12, 2015

Thanks. I had never thought to just take a few wash clothes with me and using those. That could suffice when I'm not able to do the usual 2 bucket wash. I tried the two bucket wash at the car was one time and you spend more money keeping the water running and you spill half the water out of your bucket when trying to fill it with the pressure washer. Couldn't ya just take an extra drying towel, maybe not as good as the adam's drying towel, but a different one to dry it while at the wash?

I may try this and take the truck back to my garage at the apartment and do the class cleaning and some polishing there as well as tire shine and what not. Thanks!!

It really works great and easier than the bucket wash which is why I do it mostly. LOL. I dry the truck at the wash before I hit the road. It's completely dry from the one drying towel after a quick onceover with the squeegee. Yep all that last part is done at the house.

Sooperdave · August 12, 2015

Sorry I misunderstood what you were asking in your reply. Another alternative to the Adams drying towel is the Absorber fake chamois. The main thing I'm after with washing and drying is to keep from any particles scratching the surface. We all know what a crusty scratched up surface looks like. YIKES!! No scratches!! LOL

SULLVERADO · August 12, 2015

turtle wax ice wash, 2 buckets and 2 mits, one for wheels and rocker panels, one for good and a extended scrubber for the roof and tonnue cover and windshield, i then dry with an Absorber, clay bar once already and always use turtle wax ice wax. works unreal

EChavez · August 12, 2015

I've always loved cleaning my truck and have tried learning new and better methods of keeping it clean. I've yet to use a sealer or wax because I've been searching for the "best" one. But anyway, over the years I've exhausted myself. I spend a few hours washing it and cleaning the interior but I live near lots of orchards and dirt. My truck literally gets dirty by sitting in my driveway. Within an hour of washing it I'll take it home and "things" in the air (I call them things cause I have no idea what they are) start landing on my truck. They look like little droplets and yellow smudges. I've gotten used to it but it's such a pain! Just griping though haha, they sure look pretty for the hour they're clean .

Chevor · August 12, 2015

I'm nuts about underbody and preventing rust.

Rymack10 · August 13, 2015

Sorry I misunderstood what you were asking in your reply. Another alternative to the Adams drying towel is the Absorber fake chamois. The main thing I'm after with washing and drying is to keep from any particles scratching the surface. We all know what a crusty scratched up surface looks like. YIKES!! No scratches!! LOL

Ah I'm sorry, I left out a word. I meant take an extra towel to dry the wheels. I believe your post said you didn't dry the wheels and waited until you got home and went over them with a wet MF cloth.

RobZ71LM7 · August 13, 2015

Here's my general preferences, most of these products perform neck and neck with the very best but sell at over the counter prices or cheaper when you consider concentrates. I shop from Autogeek, but I never buy any of their brands unless BOGO-their house brands are way overpriced otherwise. I have many more products than listed below, but these are my go to's that I can do bascically any task with and not break the bank.

Duragloss car wash / Optimum Car Wash

Optimum ONR for waterless wash, clay lube, general purpose cleaner

Clay bar (whatever autogeek housebrand is BOGO)

Ultima Waterless Wash concentrate

Duragloss Aquawax

Duragloss 253 for tires

Meg's APC

GG 6" DA

Hydrotech pads

Megs 101/105

3D Cut

Megs 205

3D Polish

Meg's yellow foam pads for hand application

Microfibertech towels for paint

Generic microfibers color coded for more basic tasks wheels, interior, wheel well lips, etc.

I use CQuartz UK as a paint coating. I use Cquartz DLUX for trim. For sealant and/or wax I use either Duragloss 105 or Collinite 845.

Sooperdave · August 13, 2015

Ah I'm sorry, I left out a word. I meant take an extra towel to dry the wheels. I believe your post said you didn't dry the wheels and waited until you got home and went over them with a wet MF cloth.

Yes but more just barely damp. Works good to finish off the wheels and any chrome.

ghgmi · August 13, 2015

I'm currently looking for a good tire cleaner that doesn't leave them greasy. Even the ArmorAll foam that says it has no/little shine is too glossy for me and ends up collecting dust.

I like Bleche-Wite for tires. It's a pretty harsh chemical, so be careful. It basically etches off the oxidized rubber leaving the tires clean and blacker but not shiny.

Aaron1085 · September 4, 2015

I recently picked up some Chemical Guys Honeydew Snow foam car wash along with a Bunny K (because it was cheaper than the Chemical Guys foam gun). I guess the "foam method" really helps soak time and get the soap into all crevices; input on that?

I am going to apply some chemical Guys Jet Seal sealant on the truck, it's brand new with 200 miles on it this weekend. I will then was with some Chemical Guys Butter Wax that I bought. Hope it comes out nicely. Here's the truck:

Sent from my iPhone

Aaron1085 · September 4, 2015

I'm nuts about underbody and preventing rust.

So do you do like a oil coating under it?

Sent from my iPhone

Chevor · September 4, 2015

Problem with oil is it attracts dirt. I just throw more paint on first sign of rust.

BlueTopaz14 · September 4, 2015

Dry in one direction. Don't just swirl your (chamois, microfiber) in all directions. I start at the top going horizontally on the truck and you'd be surprised after all the washes I barely have swirl marks.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

KMK454 · September 4, 2015

Started a thread in the 2500 section, but here it is reposted:

Link to 2500 section:

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/174166-detailed-my-rainforest-green-2500-with-pictures/?do=findComment&comment=1642125

Spent the weekend doing a detail... here's what I did:

Wash and dry, two bucket method

Decontamination: Tar-X and Iron-X followed by a rinse. Vehicle didn't show too much metal or tar contamination in paint, but I did this just in case.

Pinnacle Clay Bar (clayed everything, including windows and chrome bits)

Klasse AIO Sealant (applied on all metal and chrome/trim)

Meguiars Window Cleaner

Adams VRT on tires and rubber bits

The hardest part was being unable to work in the shade or in a garage due to the vehicle's size. I had to do smaller portions and work more quickly with applying and removing certain products to avoid the sun drying out the clay lubricant and sealant.

I really like how the Klasse sealant worked. Unfortunately, it already rained some (once again, can't fit this thing in a garage!), but the rain left no water spots and simply beaded off the truck, so it's definitely working correctly. I'll probably wash the truck again in a week or two and apply another layer.

The fuzzy fender liners hold grass and straw, but not dirt. Some high pressure water seems to do the trick. The factory wheel weights are prone to weeping rust-colored water. Detailing the roof is a pain; I either stood in the bed for the back half or stood with my foot inside the truck, one hand holding the grab handle, and the other detailing the roof. I don't think a step ladder would help, as it would have to be positioned further away and would reduce your reach. The grooves around the rear window hold water and are hard to dry out.

...and the results:

And a little fun...

Silver ice 6.2 · September 4, 2015

Gas pressure washer, mtm foam cannon,chemical guys gloss works soap,2 bucket method,dry with 2 big azz Chamios. Invisible glass for the windows, mcguire's insane tire shine for the tires, windex for the current chrome rims. Interior I'm just using barely damp microfiber towels.