We all love how versatile pickup trucks are. Whether it’s a long drive on the highway, working your way through the deep woods on a dirt road, or traversing muddy terrain, our pickup trucks go through abuse every day. It’s essential for owners to learn how to properly wash and maintain their pickup trucks. It’s not just about how dust free and shiny you want them to look when you’re driving down the street, it’s about preserving the paint and your investment in the truck itself.
There is nothing like a detailed hand wash job done on your vehicle. Commercial car washes are good for getting salt off in the winter when it’s too darn cold to get out the hose and sponge in your driveway, so it is a better alternative that time of than letting that road salt eat away at your paint job, and it will.
Regardless of how dirty or dusty your truck is, wet it down, top to bottom first. Using ample amounts of water when washing is advisable to ensure proper cleaning and rinsing, and to avoid leaving any soap residue to dry up and leave spots. Do not use very high pressure from your hose or pressure washers on painted exterior as this may cause tiny scratches that will eventually damage your truck’s painted surface. Always start from the top of the truck and work down to the bottom.
Not only do you save water by not having to clean the bottom repeatedly, washing from the top will cause draining water and soap to soften and start to wash away dirt or mud that’s stuck in the tires even before you reach cleaning the bottom section of the truck.
Washing your truck on a hot mid-day or while the engine and the vehicle has not completely cooled after using can have adverse effects, not just on your truck’s exterior. Washing from your outdoor hose will subject your truck to cold temperatures and exposing it to both extreme hot and cold is very bad for the finish of your vehicle. You should always wash your truck in a shady spot, using a wide sponge. The only part of your truck you can ever safely use a brush is on your tires. Use of an all-purpose mild spray cleaner and a brush on your tires will help clean the white raised letters if yours have that feature. Use the same spray cleaner on your wheels to remove brake dust and clean with a sponge.
The biggest debate of all times is which is the best soap to clean my truck with? The fact is there is NO SINGLE best truck wash soap. The best soap is whatever gives you the best results for the job and is the most cost effective. For instance is the soap a no-brush type that can just be sprayed on and rinsed off? Or could the soap cause an additional step, like having to apply aluminum brightener, to be required for surfaces dulled by the use of the wash soap or a wax applied? Is the soap a safe finish product that won’t harm poly coats, glass or aluminum? There are many products out there, but my personal preference is any mild liquid dish detergent. For me, it gets the job done.
Just because a product is expensive or inexpensive should not be the biggest factor in what you choose. You can buy an expensive product and end up using only a few ounces, spending a dollar or two a gallon, compared to another inexpensive product that you must use at full strength that ends up costing you many dollars a gallon. Once my truck is all clean, I NEVER let it air dry. I use a chamois or a 100% cotton cloth. Skipping this step will cause a spotty appearance when it dries on its own. I’ll do the interior another day. I’ve worked hard enough on the exterior. Right now, I deserve a hammock and a cold beer.
Do you have a favorite product you recommend, or have any helpful tips? Pay me a visit at truckworldaccessories.com or truckworldaccessories@blogspot.com
Beware Of This When Buying A Used Pickup Truck
Of course a shiny brand new truck is a thrill for any truck lover, but if your wallet can’t deal with a big monthly payment and you still need a pickup for work or just because you want one, use the following tips to prevent getting yourself a lemon or having to sink crazy dollars into the truck right after you buy it because the seller misrepresented the vehicle.
New Year – New Truck? Top Four Best Pickups
If you are like everyone else, you may have made a resolution last New Years that you didn’t keep, which may have been to take better care of your old pickup. The up side to that is that you may be in the market for a new truck to start the New Year. Here is what the manufacturers are claiming to be the top four choices in brand new pickup trucks for 2017.
Plowing Snow With Your Pickup Truck
There is no denying that snow season has arrived. If you’re a truck owner with a snow plow, as much as you may dread all the inches of white stuff, you have to admit there is a certain appeal to the flashing strobe lights, the whine of hydraulics and the sound of steel dragging on the pavement. At times it might feel like you are playing with your favorite toy, but there is no mistaking the price and value of that toy, hence you had better know how to use it wisely and make it last. If you are new to plowing or purchasing a plow for the first time, I think you will find my information regarding features and options valuable.
