Best way to wash crew cab dually

[f 350 4400]

My New dually is a mess and is need of a wash. I do not want to screw up the paint. I would like suggestions on the best way to do this whether a car wash, or best car soap, best wax etc.

Thanks for your consideration

[Sequoia]

I think most soap is fine. Personally, I use Blue Coral car wash and Zymol wax.
Don't use a brush. I bought one with a long handle that was really soft (or so I thought) to do the roof and hood. I used it on the girlfriends car and it did fine, but on my black F250 it left small scratches everywhere after using it 5 or 6 times, there are tiny scratches all over the paint. So NO BRUSHES, esp. on a black truck.

[goolsbymd]

I just washed my truck, and I always hand wash it I don't put it in a car wash ever esp now with stacks. I used an old rag, RAINX carwash with wax beads, shammie cloth it clean, and use mothers wax and hand buff it out maybe the powerball if im feeling frisky. a high pressure washer works great too, just get a little chair/ladder and clean it I wouldn't suggest brushes.

[38D]

You want to use as little car wash as possible. 2-3 capfulls per large bucket is plenty. It's just supposed to break the surface tension of the dirt. Never, ever use dish soap or the cheap stuff you get at autozone...they will strip the wax right off your car. I like One Grand or P21S. Both can be bought here: Car Care Specialties (there are also some good how-to articles on that site...I would recommend reading them).

Use a good wash mitt and 2 large buckets...one for the soap, and one to rinse you wash mitt. Wash in section, and rinse after each section. Never, ever put the wash mitt on the ground.

For the wheels, again, I like P21S gel cleaner. It sprays on and takes brake dust right off. Use a different sponge or a boars hair brush for the wheels.

A good wax job will last 6-12 months...seriously. I use One grand...great stuff. You can use an orbital (like the ones from griots.com), but by hand works well too...just takes longer. You don't need to "clay" or otherwise clean the paint on a brand new truck.

In care care products, you really do get what you pay for. The stuff at the local Autozone/Napa is just not that good. Do yourself a favor and invest in some good products.

Btw, on Zymol, it produces a great shine but does not last that long. The joke from the concours guys is that is lasts as long as it takes to put on. Another brand in addition to One Grand that some people swear by is Zaino. I've never used it personally, but I've seen several cars that do use it and they looked great. I may end up using a product called Rejex...its a polymer type coating that is super slippery. Does not have the "fill in the scratches" quality of a wax, but can keep a car looking cleaner for longer. I've used it on my Porsche race car for a couple of years and always been happy with the results.

[rossi]

If your really in the mood hand wash it, pick up a clay bar, a good glaze, thermal coat, a porter cable orbital and a few pads and get to town. Tons of advice and ideas offered at autopia.org

Careful, it just might become a small addiction!

[f 350 4400]

Thanks very much, I appreciate the advise and websites

[Bigshow]

Any time you rub the truck with any rag, chamois, wash mitt, brush, etc it will leave tiny scratches in the clearcoat, sometimes visible in the sun or under a street light, etc.

[dieseltool]

I just you your moms panties to wash the truck. LOL

[jam116]

I use McGuire's Gold Car Wash and some professional wax a local detailer gets me..(I'll have to ask him the brand as he just refills a 2 Qt. bottle for me) It is a tan liquid. I wax and buff in same direction. I do not was in circles. I go up and down the hood and across the doors and fenders. I learned a long time ago with a black vehicle if you wax in circles and buff it off in circles you will have scratches in circles!

[Seapig53]

Originally Posted by rossi

If your really in the mood hand wash it, pick up a clay bar, a good glaze, thermal coat, a porter cable orbital and a few pads and get to town. Tons of advice and ideas offered at autopia.org

Careful, it just might become a small addiction!

Boy, Rossi has a great point on that one. This is my first black rig and it does become an addiction.
The three points that really need to be stressed though is using a rinse bucket for your mitt, no liquid dish soap unless you REALLY like to waxand a good quality wax job every six months.
~Mike~

[kghenson]

I had a black car about 30 years ago. It was beautiful when it was clean, people would stop to stare at it, seriously.

It was just a chevy caprice, nothing special, but goodness what a shine. 20 minutes after washing it the dust would sart to show a bit, and by the end of the day it needed another wash. That was without driving it, lol.

I would aviod a black car today. But I would love to see yours all cleaned up.

I work in a construction site in Louisianna where the mud gets everywhere. I will wash and wax the truck in May when the rainy season ends, til then it just doesn't last half a day/

[Harley350]

Love my black truck but it's hard to keep the swirl marks/scratches under control. One thing I have noticed is drying with a shammy causes alot of scratches. What I use now to dry my truck is a leaf blower. It Works great!

[newbie_101]

As suggested, the most important points are a good quality soap, 2 wash buckets, limit the pressure you use when washing and a good quality wax.

You might want to consider the mr. clean washing system or something similar. I was very sceptical at first but let me tell you, it works. I no longer have to wipe the truck dry. The filtered water air dries with zero water marks. It is a little pricey as I can only get two washes per filter but worth it in my mind. The less you have to touch the truck with a cloth the better.

As far as waxes go, I've been very happy with zaino. Again, pricey but pretty incredible stuff.