black truck owners, what do y’all use to keep up with black paint??

[camcamaro1991]

hand wash my truck as needed, machines scratch the hell of clear coats, touchless just doesn't do a  good enough job.  

[Bash74]

I don’t.  I’ve owned black cars and now a black truck.  They look great when they’re clean, but that’s only for a short time after cleaning them.  As you said, it becomes a second job.  When I was thirty, I had a Grand National.  I was willing to put a bit more energy into that vehicle.  Now, in my late 50’s, and retired, there’s no way I’m keeping my truck that clean.
 
However, I did buy a power washer and a foam cannon.  It’s as good as taking it to the coin op wash without leaving home to do it.  Therefore, I do spray it down often.  Hand wash?  Did that once, a month or so ago.  Won’t be doing that again.  I just take it to the automatic wash.  I know, sacrilege, but for less than $10, I don’t have to spend an afternoon to get my truck to look presentable.
 
I do spend I bit more time on the inside keeping that clean because that’s where I’m at and I respect myself and my truck enough to always have the interior up to snuff.  Micro fiber cloth and a mild soap (Dr. Bronners Castile Soap) and it’s good to go.  I also keep the windows pretty clean.  First with a wet rag and finish with Windex and a clean micro fiber cloth.

I am with you. I hit it with a power washer and foam cannon whenever I feel like it and that's about it. Maybe once a year I have a couple of the neighbors kids hit it with a spray wax as I sit back and as payment they get the 4wheelers for the day. Once I leave the drive way it's a little over 10 miles of dirt or muddy roads till I hit some pavement, so I just think it is a waste of time for me to put much work into something that will stay clean for maybe 24hrs.

[CombsL83]

To avoid fine scratches when drying it’s best to wet your microfiber towel, then ring it out and dry. Dry microfiber is not that absorbent but once wet it picks up water much better.

[KARNUT]

Most dark colored vehicles will only look detailed clean for about 1/2 of day if your driving it. I don’t have to worry about scratching my ride it air dries after I leave the car wash. My local national brand car wash has air to blow off the vehicle next to the free vacuums. The car wash I go to keeps water flowing over the vehicle during the wash. Even when it starts blowing air to dry water waves across it. The brushes are cloth just you would use the hand wash. Automated car wash scratches are a thing of the past. I use to spend hours detailing in my youth and wised up. I do an periodic spray detail that’s about it. Nothing wrong with spending an afternoon on your ride, ifs that’s all you have to do. My area it’s too damn hot.

 

 

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[dieselfan1]

2 hours ago, KARNUT said:

 Automated car wash scratches are a thing of the past. 

 

 

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I wouldn't run either one of my trucks thru an automated car wash with brushes or soft cloth. They are full of dirt from everyone else's car. 

Might as well just use a brillo pad to wash it. Same thing .

[KARNUT]

I wouldn't run either one of my trucks thru an automated car wash with brushes or soft cloth. They are full of dirt from everyone else's car. 
Might as well just use a brillo pad to wash it. Same thing .

Another wives tale, they wouldn’t let you through with mud. Clogs their filters. I have an 19 year old expensive classic car, it goes through once a year. Yes it’s black. Our daily goes through 3 times a week. My 27 year old truck once every two weeks. I’m kinda ocd, I check it out first, couldn’t be any cleaner. Like anything else there’s bad ones, you can tell no ones there. I get my gas at one station too. I don’t take this lightly. Same as miss information.


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[bowtiemark]

7 hours ago, Bash74 said:

On 6/28/2019 at 8:51 PM, GN2018 said:

I don’t.  I’ve owned black cars and now a black truck.  They look great when they’re clean, but that’s only for a short time after cleaning them.  As you said, it becomes a second job.  When I was thirty, I had a Grand National.  I was willing to put a bit more energy into that vehicle.  Now, in my late 50’s, and retired, there’s no way I’m keeping my truck that clean.
 
However, I did buy a power washer and a foam cannon.  It’s as good as taking it to the coin op wash without leaving home to do it.  Therefore, I do spray it down often.  Hand wash?  Did that once, a month or so ago.  Won’t be doing that again.  I just take it to the automatic wash.  I know, sacrilege, but for less than $10, I don’t have to spend an afternoon to get my truck to look presentable.
 
I do spend I bit more time on the inside keeping that clean because that’s where I’m at and I respect myself and my truck enough to always have the interior up to snuff.  Micro fiber cloth and a mild soap (Dr. Bronners Castile Soap) and it’s good to go.  I also keep the windows pretty clean.  First with a wet rag and finish with Windex and a clean micro fiber cloth.

I am with you. I hit it with a power washer and foam cannon whenever I feel like it and that's about it. Maybe once a year I have a couple of the neighbors kids hit it with a spray wax as I sit back and as payment they get the 4wheelers for the day. Once I leave the drive way it's a little over 10 miles of dirt or muddy roads till I hit some pavement, so I just think it is a waste of time for me to put much work into something that will stay clean for maybe 24hrs.

what kind of power washer?? been trying forever to find a nice decent one...

[Bash74]

what kind of power washer?? been trying forever to find a nice decent one...

I just use the Trinova Foam Cannon attached to my pressure washer.

[cstmg8]

Yes and no. It scratches like any other color that's about all they have in common. Everything shows on black . Hardly anything shows on white or silver.
I hand wash with two buckets. And lots of microfiber wash mitts. I use Meguires Hyper Wash . Blow dry with leaf blower then hit it with some detail spray wipe down with lots of clean microfiber towels .
I may use ten mitts and twenty towels. Nothing worse than a dirty mitt or towel on black paint. That's where most of your swirls come from. I ceramic coated mine and it makes a huge difference. Not a swirl or mark to be found after 4 months
I've said this before, Black is not a color it's an occupation. It takes a lot of time to keep your black truck looking like mine.  Lots of time.

Second this. Ceramic is the way to go, you'll never go back. You can even do waterless washes with great results. Oh, and eagle edgeless ftw..


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[dieselfan1]

11 hours ago, cstmg8 said:

Second this. Ceramic is the way to go, you'll never go back. You can even do waterless washes with great results. Oh, and eagle edgeless ftw..


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Nice rig . Very sanitary.

[batman900]

I don't do anything special but I do recommend a hand squeegee. I periodically spray the truck while still washing to keep any part from fully drying. When done I use the hand squeegee on it which only takes a couple minutes, gets it dry and prevents water spots.

[Sierra Dan]

Griot's Garage Speed Shine and lots of Praying

[Trail Boss 1]

it rains enough that i can use that as an excuse Oct-June. July-Sept i wear sunglasses. problem solved.

[Darmichar]

On 6/28/2019 at 8:51 PM, GN2018 said:

However, I did buy a power washer and a foam cannon.

Would you mind letting me know which foam cannon you went with?  There's entirely too many options available for me to just randomly pick one and start there.

[bowtiemark]

2 hours ago, Darmichar said:

Would you mind letting me know which foam cannon you went with?  There's entirely too many options available for me to just randomly pick one and start there.

 MTM hydro PF22 foam cannon, i’m looking into buying a power washer and foam cannon and from watching this video this foam cannon seems really good... haven’t yet purchase but most likely will be this one but with all the reviews looks like a good product!