Do you regret getting a black truck?

[SuperDuper]

I have an 90/10 love/hate relationship with my black AT4. I went with black because in my opinion that was the sharpest color for AT4. I don’t really regret it, but I wasn’t as prepared for all the noticeable imperfections that come with black. Overall I’m getting used to it now and am just trying to ignore the less than 1% blemishes I have. Will I do black again, probably not, but have no regrets as I do love this truck. 

[ShamrockShooter]

So what is the deal with black and carwashes? Touchless only? There is a local carwash chain in the Richie rich part of town I drive by that does unlimited "soft touch" car washes for $25 a month. No towel dry just air jets. I see lots of black Mercedes and BMWs pulling in there so it must not be that bad right?

 

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

 

 

 

 

[FknLeon]

20 minutes ago, ShamrockShooter said:

So what is the deal with black and carwashes? Touchless only? There is a local carwash chain in the Richie rich part of town I drive by that does unlimited "soft touch" car washes for $25 a month. No towel dry just air jets. I see lots of black Mercedes and BMWs pulling in there so it must not be that bad right?

 

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

 

 

 

 

On my 2017 Sierra 1500 All Terrain, I started driving my truck through those but I don't think it helps the paint either. When I wash my truck I do everything by hand. If I knew how to use a power polishing tool I would too. With black I always suggest you learn how clean by hand or get a detailer to do it every month or so.

[muddkatt]

I wouldn't own any other color for a personal truck or car.  For those above that talk about swirl marks and scratches, take about 30 minutes and watch this guys videos. There are 4 videos in this series I think. I bought all the stuff needed and my truck is over 4 years old and luckily only has a couple of rock pecks on the hood, no scratches, no swirls. I just wish I would have known this 40 years ago.

 

 

[ShamrockShooter]

I wouldn't own any other color for a personal truck or car.  For those above that talk about swirl marks and scratches, take about 30 minutes and watch this guys videos. There are 4 videos in this series I think. I bought all the stuff needed and my truck is over 4 years old and luckily only has a couple of rock pecks on the hood, no scratches, no swirls. I just wish I would have known this 40 years ago.
 
 

I usually do a pre rinse with pressure washer, then use the foaming soap adapter on the pressure washer to soap the truck, then wash with the microfiber sponge and blast the sponge with the pressure washer every few minutes to clean it. Seems to do ok on white....

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

[OnTheReel]

Any kind of “touch” automatic wash is a no-no, especially with black. The cars that run through them look okay from 5 feet. But guaranteed when looked at in the right light, they will show some nasty scratches and swirls, especially on the lower parts where the “soft” brushes have accumulated more dirt. I took my blue truck through one ONCE and had to break out the polish out right after.

 

These days, I do the touch free ones a couple times a week and no issues. They don’t do quite as good of a job, mainly on the front and back. But I just use some waterless wash and a couple microfibers to clean up whatever the car wash doesn’t. I rarely hand-wash anymore because this method looks 90% as good with almost no effort.

[ShortyMatt]

If you have a means of cleaning it regularly. And by that I mean at least weekly, and don’t rely on plans to wash it yourself. It is a process and a half that matters most on this color. You won’t have time for it.

 

What I would ideally do would be a weekly handwash at a place that does high end cars. What I do in practice, because I live in the sticks, is a montly limitless machine wash card, using it 20 plus times a month, at the place between my house and the office. I wax with collinite 4 times a year.  I factor in a paint correction once every two years.

 

I LOVE my black truck. Imo, it’s worth the effort.

Edited October 12, 2019 by ShortyMatt

[ShortyMatt]

Oh one more thing about black trucks. Nobody but us owners see the inevitable eventual imperfections. The color is that good that your friends and family will just see the shine.

[ShamrockShooter]

The thing that sucks is in NY washing your truck in the driveway is not an option for 3 to 4 months a year below freezing. The touchless washes don't sell memberships so they soak you for $14 a wash. The trail boss is so tall the touchless one sounds like it is going to remove the paint off the roof of my current truck as it's only a few inches from the spray jet arm.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

[dieselfan1]

I've said this many times. 

Black is not a color. It is an occupation. Be prepared for a lot of work if you want to keep it clean .

That being said black is as good as it gets

[K455]

Instead of using a 2 bucket system I rinse off my mitt each time I clean a section and squeeze it real good,then I place it back in my soap bucket.   Keith

[dieselfan1]

1 hour ago, K455 said:

Instead of using a 2 bucket system I rinse off my mitt each time I clean a section and squeeze it real good,then I place it back in my soap bucket.   Keith

I also use the 1 bucket method. But I never put a used mitt in the bucket. I just grab a new one and throw the used one in the laundry. These are what I use. I use about 12-15 of these every wash. About a buck a piece on ebay