Old age and detailing.

Socalramfan · Dec 27, 2021

steveTS said:
LOL pay 150.00 to a good detailer and get a life... whats 2 days of your life worth to ya?

$150 for a good detailer? That won't even cover the cost of good supplies for the detail, let alone quality. If you want a serious professional detail.... dig a lot deeper. If it takes less than 3 full days and less than $850...... your not even in the same, let alone close arena.

This is definitely you get what you pay for, or what you put into it.

Good for everyone who takes this upon themselves. It is a love of labor, dedication, therapeutic, and most definitely pride of ownership and accomplishment and I can attest to will stand out.

After that initial set-up, to maintain it you can squeak by with @ $400 for a 1 1/2 day touch up.

Socalramfan · Dec 27, 2021

mudrockatc said:
Agree with Irishthreeper, have a 42 ft fifth wheel that is tough to keep clean!!! I am 75, just got my special ordered 2022 Ram 3500 dually, black no less, took it right from dealer to detailer and had it ceramic coated, try to give it the foam gun, two bucket wash every two weeks!!

Two bucket system makes a huge difference :waytogo:

tron67j · Dec 29, 2021

My 95 1509, 03 2500, and now my 18 2500 - never clay bar, never touch wash, spray off at local touch less whenever I think about it and once a month use separate buckets for hood/roof/windows, front/rear, and two for each side for upper paint and lower boards and wheel wells. No swirls, use McGuire's polish for any areas needing it and spray wax. Looks like it is in the showroom floor and I spend about an hour a month total including sitting in car wash, but not including the hour a month vaccuming and wet cloth wipe down. Keep my trucks looking great, and looks as good as when I spent hours doing detailing on my Porsche and other like cars.

slickracer · Dec 30, 2021

Since I found Turtle Wax Seal & Shine and their spray ceramic coating it's all I use. Results are pretty good and quick. At this point, I'd rather do other things than detail vehicles for hours.

Corey Adams · Dec 30, 2021

slickracer said:
Since I found Turtle Wax Seal & Shine and their spray ceramic coating it's all I use. Results are pretty good and quick. At this point, I'd rather do other things than detail vehicles for hours.

Unless you make money doing it like I do lol. I’m 52yo and when I bought my black 2020 Laramie I developed a passion for detailing it. I learned everything I could from Utube and trial and error. I use professional products and techniques, spend a good bit of money on all my arsenal. I told my wife I love doing it so much I will open a business, so I did. Adams Premier Auto Detail is now my side hustle. Neighbors, family and word of mouth is how I’m developing my business. Became certified by a company to apply their top of the line ceramic coating. Put Adams Graphene on my 2020 and it looks amazing but can’t wait for my 2022 to come in, it’s gonna get a heck of a paint correction and coating!

Phillyrube · Dec 30, 2021

Wash what?

Corey Adams · Dec 30, 2021

Socalramfan said:
$150 for a good detailer? That won't even cover the cost of good supplies for the detail, let alone quality. If you want a serious professional detail.... dig a lot deeper. If it takes less than 3 full days and less than $850...... your not even in the same, let alone close arena.

This is definitely you get what you pay for, or what you put into it.

Good for everyone who takes this upon themselves. It is a love of labor, dedication, therapeutic, and most definitely pride of ownership and accomplishment and I can attest to will stand out.

After that initial set-up, to maintain it you can squeak by with @ $400 for a 1 1/2 day touch up.

I charge &1000 for a paint correction and ceramic coating. I just do it partime so I don’t have the overhead a full time shop does. You are right, you pay for what you get but I am the exception. I put a 5 year coating for my customers and educate them on how to maintain their coating. $1000 is plenty for me.

Tom McClellan · Dec 30, 2021

Yah, sorry I have a truck to use it. Not look at.

KKBB · Dec 30, 2021

Tom McClellan said:
Yah, sorry I have a truck to use it. Not look at.

I have a truck to use also, but like it to look good while doing it. Keeping it clean is just part of ownership for me.

Rzrbrn · Dec 30, 2021

I'm 75. Bought my 2019 Ram 2500 4x4 crew cab, new. I drive through one of those fancy tunnel type car washes with the swirling brushes, buy the most expensive level of wash because it sprays underneath, spring and fall. In between I used Turtle wash & wax, and maybe hand apply a wax now and again. I did have LineX spray undercoating within a couple of weeks after purchase, installed a dash mat on the dashboard, have seat covers over the leather seats, and weathered floor mats. The turtle auto soap/wax left hardware deposits on my windshield...again. I really hate that. I will use Meguiars waterless wash & wax next and see if it leaves water spots. If it does I will probably just use Johnson and Johnson baby soap then MAYBE apply one of the Meguiars waxes. I also have an ARE shell on the back. I expect this may be my last truck.

CheechDogg.0n37s · Dec 30, 2021

Rzrbrn said:
I'm 75. Bought my 2019 Ram 2500 4x4 crew cab, new. I drive through one of those fancy tunnel type car washes with the swirling brushes, buy the most expensive level of wash because it sprays underneath, spring and fall. In between I used Turtle wash & wax, and maybe hand apply a wax now and again. I did have LineX spray undercoating within a couple of weeks after purchase, installed a dash mat on the dashboard, have seat covers over the leather seats, and weathered floor mats. The turtle auto soap/wax left hardware deposits on my windshield...again. I really hate that. I will use Meguiars waterless wash & wax next and see if it leaves water spots. If it does I will probably just use Johnson and Johnson baby soap then MAYBE apply one of the Meguiars waxes. I also have an ARE shell on the back. I expect this may be my last truck.

Those "car washes" are the culprit when it comes to water spotting .... it's hard for them to keep the resin to filter the water they have at acceptable levels to prevent the water spotting ....

Use a solution of vinegar and distilled water to remove those water spots from the windshield, polish it up then get some ceramic coating and apply it to the windshield and windows, that will help against water spotting and help you see during the rains ....

Stop using "DRIVE TRU" Car washes people !!!!!!

tron67j · Dec 30, 2021

Car washes can be a problem, and hand washing is also just as likely to be problematic. I remember some pretty sketchy car was locations where I wondered about the quality of the water. Water at home, unless someone has a large filter system set up, has contaminates from calcium and magnesium to other things in well and public water. I personally find it easier to avoid spots by using blowers in car wash and then driving right after. But not everyone has access to good wash bays, so following the advice of experienced persons here is recommended. One thing I read before and have tried myself is using one of my leaf blowers to remove standing water. Worked pretty well. For windows I also have a squeegee that is great.

redvetram · Dec 30, 2021

2019 1500 Classic. White with lots of chrome. Had a pro apply ceramic coating once and I run in through a touch less car wash maybe once/month. Live in a state where it’s winter 5 months out of the year and they use salt on the roads, so I definitely get the undercarriage wash. When it’s not winter, I’m pulling my horse trailer down hundreds of mile of unpaved forest service roads. Truck still looks gorgeous. Btw, ditto with my previous 2014 1500 Red with chrome. Just sayin.

Socalramfan · Dec 30, 2021

Corey Adams said:
Unless you make money doing it like I do lol. I’m 52yo and when I bought my black 2020 Laramie I developed a passion for detailing it. I learned everything I could from Utube and trial and error. I use professional products and techniques, spend a good bit of money on all my arsenal. I told my wife I love doing it so much I will open a business, so I did. Adams Premier Auto Detail is now my side hustle. Neighbors, family and word of mouth is how I’m developing my business. Became certified by a company to apply their top of the line ceramic coating. Put Adams Graphene on my 2020 and it looks amazing but can’t wait for my 2022 to come in, it’s gonna get a heck of a paint correction and coating!

You get it. Glad to see a passion turn to a profit :waytogo:

Dave Haddon · Dec 30, 2021

Bunch of youngsters.. I am 73 just got a Warlock and do the full monty on him. Takes two days but love theresults when I can stand back and say AHHHH..I did that!

Irishthreeper · Dec 31, 2021

Dave Haddon said:
Bunch of youngsters.. I am 73 just got a Warlock and do the full monty on him. Takes two days but love theresults when I can stand back and say AHHHH..I did that!

I’m 70 and after recently standing back and saying AHHHH at my results I realized I had just detailed my neighbors truck!
J/K, we older guys can still get it done!

quickster2 · Dec 31, 2021

CAG CheechDogg said:
My truck is a 2018, I have clayed it once since I got it, waxed 2 times and polished or buffed about 4 times .... don't ruin your clear coat thinking you guys are doing something good when in reality you are actually doing the opposite ...

Not sure how you are going to "ruin your clear coat". I agree the OP is a bit OCD doing some facets of paint correction so often. A thorough paint correction and subsequent sealer should last for a long time with proper hand washing. With all of the Si02 and similar coatings available you can have a good looking finish with minimal effort once the finish is brought back to basic conditions.

quickster2 · Dec 31, 2021

Irishthreeper said:
I’m 70 and after recently standing back and saying AHHHH at my results I realized I had just detailed my neighbors truck!
J/K, we older guys can still get it done!

I'm 65 but lucky I live on 10 acres so little risk of doing my neighbor's truck LoL.

cash4acres · Dec 31, 2021

My body is rough, touch up is Walmart black spray paint. 2015 2500 4x4 4door. Camper shell. 480k miles. Rust-Oleum twice underside. Deleted. 27-33 mpgs freeway. Oil is clean and clear till 5000. I change oil 5k & all filters 10k. 25k trans diff & transfer case.
100k power steering & break fluids. Cummins has no black oil. No rust, 6speed stick!

glengarryGR · Dec 31, 2021

Tom McClellan said:
Yah, sorry I have a truck to use it. Not look at.

Old age and detailing.

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