Post trip care?

[rzims]

Hey all,
So, just spent a week getting the truck filthy and slightly scratched....wondering what tips/products everyone uses for their post-trip car care?
My jeep has quite a few long fine scratches down the sides from the manzanita, nothing too deep but their still obvious after a good wash.
I've always just used rubbing compound and Mequiars gold car wax but wondering if there's anything people like better?

If this is in the wrong forum I apologize...

 

[Logan_Gibson]

When you bring up car care products, you're going to get a million opinions.
Sites like autopia and autogeek have forums where you can do some quick and easy research on products.

Personally I hit my rig with some sort of all-in-one product and call it a day. Its going to get beat-up so I don't try and perfect it. Usually Megs D151 or Right now I still have a bottle of griots that I haven't finished.
I do take care to not wash it with a brush or something that is going to scratch the paint up.

When I first bought it I did do a full correction on it and had a nice blank slate to start from.

My wifes car, it gets a proper wash and care year round.

 

[TOMB]

Funny you mention this. I was going to rub out the pin stripping on my Jeep (scratches) with polishing compound then Meguiars and my wife, of all people said leave like it is so people know it gets used for what it's designed for. I always touch up the bumpers, sliders, and skid plates with black paint to stop rust.


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[Louie559]

i have used scratch doctor and it works so good! i recommend that

 

[4xFar Adventures]

I leave the pin striping on the truck. I'll only wash the underside if the truck has been through a lot of mud.

It's always good to do a post trip inspection. Check in, on and under the vehicle. Look for things that are damaged, leaking or aren't how they should be. This is something that should be done at the end of the day, or before you roll out in the morning too. These should only take about 5-10 minutes. The pre and post trip inspections should take longer as you're really looking for trouble spots. Some things may not be readily noticeable, like a cracked spring, while others are more obvious, like a puddle of power steering fluid (my most recent issue). Make a mental note, or write down issues you see. It's a good way to keep track and see how things develop over the trip.

 

[rzims]

my buddy also said to leave the pin striping, but that's just not me. I work hard to pay for my toys and like to keep them nice.
My riding buddies all tease me because I always have the cleanest mt bike at the trailhead too....it's just the way I was brought up. I can still here my dad telling me "If you want to have nice stuff you have to take care of it"
( I may be a bit OCD too )

 

[Jeepney]

I'm fine with deep scratches but don't care for the fine scratches/swirls. It just shows easily on black paint. Thankfully those buff out easily. I don't sweat the deeper ones since taking them out will thin out the clear. Once it's all waxed you can barely see the deep ones unless you really look for them.

I use meguar 205 and 105

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[NightCrawler]

I second what @Logan_Gibson said...you will get a million opinions on products to use...you have a few already. I am with you on keeping you hard earned toys looking nice...I was raised the same way but then after awhile I started letting some of it go because I would start and three hours later I was still working on detailing. Now it gets a once over at the local DIY car wash to knock of the big stuff after a run and some touch up washes/wax at home to keep it respectable for Meetups. It's only gonna get dirty in a couple weeks again.
Hope you find that happy medium.


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[Logan_Gibson]

Yup.

We got back from 400 miles in Ga two weekends ago. I'll wash the Land Rover this weekend.
I have a Ryobi Electric pressure washer, Porter Cable 7424, and a nice shop vac.

Ill hose it down with the pressure washer, getting all of the mud and gunk out from any seams.
Use the foam cannon on the washer, foam the entire truck with Chemical Guys Maxi Suds.
Wash the truck with a mitt and some Griots car wash soap.
Rinse.
Dry.
Clay the truck quickly with a nanoskin mitt.
Make sure my paint is clean, then hit it with Griots All-In-One Sealant on the PC.
Clean up, wipe the car down with a quick detailer.
Park it for the next adventure.

This generally takes care of all the small swirls/scratches that have accumulated over a few months.

I've used several different waxes and sealants, it all came down to personal preference on how they applied and how long they held up.
Most people are going to see different results because some wash more than others, and you may live in different climates.

If you Like what you have now, keep it.
If you're wanting to up the game a bit, do some checking around on Autopia and Autogeek, look at a few of the Showoff Threads and see what steps and products they used. Compare with your budget and grab a few sample sizes to try out.

 

[The other Sean]

Mechanical visual and hand shake once over.
Pressure wash the topside then the under side.
Hit it with the soap nozzle on the pressure washer, rinse.
If I'm feeling froggy, I'll hand wash.
If I'm feeling extra froggy, I'll vacuum and wipe out the interior.
Check all fluids for level and water intrusion.

I gave up chasing trail striping. I have black paint and bad arms, so running any kind of buffing machine and or hand buffing is too much for me plus, I kind of dig the scratches. Shows I use my rig.