New truck.. need advice

[jamesdh]

Just last week I bought a new Ford SVT Raptor. Molten Orange. Beautiful truck!

This weekend I would like to wash it good, clay bar it, polish and then NXT.

I live in Houston where the temp is near 100 everyday and the humidity is 90+%
I'll do the job early in the am to keep the hot sun off of it.

I need something that will protect the finish while I'm gone. I work out of town and sometimes I'm gone for 4 to 6 or even 8 weeks.
I can't put the truck in the garage as it won't fit.
It has to stay in the sun and weather.

My thoughts are to lay down two coats of NXT. One from paste and one from spray bottle (read that it works better like that). Will NXT give me the protection I need for up to 8 weeks? If not.. what will?

What steps would be optimal?

Wash
Clay
Polish
NXT
NXT

What is recommended for the interior? Leather?
I've got a bottle of 303 left over from previous vehicle.

Thanks for any suggestions.
James

[jamesdh]

Re: New truck.. need advice

My truck

[IMG][/IMG]

[Markus Kleis]

Re: New truck.. need advice

First off, welcome to MOL!

Secondly, WOW, I have serious Blue Oval envy! that is one mean truck... very jealous!!!

As for the treatment, I would go with two coats of NXT 2.0 (paste of liquid, not spray), if possible spread about by 12 hours or so to allow for even coverage.

I would then follow that with a pass or Ultimate quik Wax spray.

For the interior, 303 works, or any of the several Meguiar's dedicated leather conditioners - you shouldn't need a cleaner at this point.

That combo should look fantastic and give it great protection.

[Murr1525]

Re: New truck.. need advice

Holy ****.....

Are the stripes decals? You'll want to be carefull working around them if so.

I agree with the above, Nxt 2.0 will be the best wax you can do. Otheriwse, you are looking at some kind of a cover.

My process fora new vehicle would be:

1. Wash
2. Clay
3. ColorX
4. Nxt 2.0

[Murr1525]

Re: New truck.. need advice

First off, welcome to MOL!

Secondly, WOW, I have serious Blue Oval envy! that is one mean truck... very jealous!!!

I dont see any blue ovals....

[SVT Lightning]

Re: New truck.. need advice

Nice truck! I want one!!!!! Your plan is good but use 2 coats of the NXT paste. 303 is a good protectant...might as well use it up.

[boiler7904]

Re: New truck.. need advice

Are the stripes decals? You'll want to be carefull working around them if so.

They are a vinyl graphic, an expensive option at $1075 on Ford's F150 configuration website.

My process for a new vehicle would be:

1. Wash
2. Clay
3. Tape - Lots of Tape for the graphics
4. ColorX
5. Nxt 2.0

Fixed it for you. Would also add a second coat of NXT 12 hours after the first.

[Tuck91]

Re: New truck.. need advice

I dont see any blue ovals....

Most likely on the tailgate.

[BobbyG]

Re: New truck.. need advice

James, welcome to Meguiar's!

That is one hell of a truck!! WOW

Meguiar's make some great products and you'll find lots of suggestions and opinions from the members here.

I hope the graphics tolerate waxes because I don't envy you taping all that off. LOL

Any of the LSP listed below will work for you and for the interior try some Meguiar's M40. I began using this stuff about a year ago and it's my #1 interior dressing. It goes on easily, wipes down nicely, and is never tacky afterwards. Best of all if you like a leather fragrance it's got that too!!

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: New truck.. need advice

Welcome, That is a seriously great looking truck. Follow the above and I am sure it will look fantastic.

[Bill Davidson]

Re: New truck.. need advice

I'd follow the advice above, but seriously consider some way to cover the truck.


I have the same problem in that I can not fit my truck in my garage. I use a garage in a box. I took the front door right off, so it's more like a car port.

Not sure if your neighborhood will allow it, but I really like mine.

[jamesdh]

Re: New truck.. need advice

Thanks for the welcome and the comments on the truck. It's quite a beast with the 6.2L engine and 4.10 gears.

I got out this morning and started on the deed.

The wash revealed right away that it's almost impossible to reach the top of the cab near the windshield. I pulled out the step ladder but still had trouble getting the very middle of the front as well as the middle of the hood near the windshield.

Next came the dry.. uneventful except that it revealed three dents and multiple scratches. One is on the roof and could not have been made by myself. One is where the drivers front and rear doors collided with considerable force, again not done by me, a scratch on the passenger side near the back window and one near the passenger side tail light.
During the dry I was able to inspect the graphics closely. The graphics on the bed are one huge piece! It covers the whole fender from front to rear!

Clay bar went smoothly, pun intended! Really. The clay was very clean with only a few specks in it and I never felt much drag over the whole truck.

I know that colorX was recommended but I could not find any at the autoparts. I found ScratchX but I felt it had more "cut" to it than I wanted at this time. I found some Showcar Glaze #7 and picked it up.
It went on and off smoothly.
About this time it started to rain so I stopped for lunch.
After lunch I got the towel out and dried her off again.

Out came the NXT paste. Application was easy and after about an hour I tried to take it off. Immediately I knew that I had applied it too thick in many places. Where it was applied thinly.. it came off easy. Thicker areas I left for later as I couldn't get it off without a lot of rubbing.
Where it came off I could see a very nice shine, deep and rich.

Now I'm waiting for the thick areas to cure.

Hey Bill.. that's a great idea but I don't think the neighborhood would go for it.
I'll get a carpenter out to look at modifying the garage door. Merge the twin doors into a single door.

I need more info on the graphics.. I've never treated them different in the past but I've never had one so large.
What's the deal?

Thanks

James

[BillyJack]

Re: New truck.. need advice

Factory graphics are quite durable. I would treat them with NXT just the same as the paint, as long as they are a smooth texture. If the NXT shows up white on your vinyl graphics, try some Eagle 1 Gel Wax. It will not haze white on textured surfaces. I use it strictly on areas that have been satin-black painted, such as door frames, as opposed to using protectant on plastic that has been molded in color.

Bill