1flyfisher
01-01-2010, 10:10 PM
Hello, I just joined up here and I am hoping to get some help and ideas on waxing a vehicle.
I am ordering a 2010 GMC Savana AWD Cargo Van in Silver in the next week or so and I want to protect the paint. I will be driving this vehicle off road every weekend in rough conditions. I will be driving on wash board roads with the gray dust, and in dirt, mud, sand and snow(and salt crud) when I go flyfishing and skiing in the CA Sierra`s/Tahoe.
I have a few hurdles to overcome as I use a wheelchair and I will not be able to reach up high enough or do the roof.
First off I need a telescoping rod with a wax applicator on it that I can apply wax and buff off the wax. Anyone know of a product? Maybe they make a good one for RV`s or boats? I need to reach about a foot, foot and a half from the top of my hand to reach the top of the sides of the van. I have found a decent telescoping wash brush at WALMART that has microfiber wash strand thingies on it. You`ve seen them. Those dangling strands that are made of microfiber. They come on wash brushes at Walmart, Pepboys, Autozone etc. Now that is fine for washing up high and the telescoping feature is perfect but those microfiber strands do not seem good for applying wax(I could cut them off?). I figure they would be fine for removing the wax. All I`ll need is to buy two of them one for washing and one for removing waxing. $7 at WALMART. So I may be able to use them to APPLY wax with a microfiber bonnet. I was thinking of putting a microfiber bonnet over them. These right here Amazon.com: Rejuvenate Microfiber Bonnet Applicator: Health & Personal Care (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BZ4QGS/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_3?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B0008F69V6&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1SARZQ434HN5JZHWSQY8) These are microfiber as good as any microfiber, and I imagine they should work. I could use those telescoping wash poles from Walmart or just put these bonnets over a cheapo sponge mop. Maybe put a plastic bag over the sponge mop first and then these MF bonnets so the wax doesn`t soak into the sponge too much????? Will this work OK for applying KAIO or FK1-#1000P? I was thinking I could buff off the wax by wrapping a nice plush micro fiber towel around a mop or perhaps use this product. Carrand Microfiber MAX Pure Shine Car Duster, auto duster, microfiber duster (http://www.autogeek.net/microfiber-duster.html)
ANY Thoughts, ideas, opinions welcome.
Second. I want to detail and wax twice or three times a year once right before winter to protect the paint from road grime and salts and then again in the spring with fresh water wash rinses in between. Maybe 3 times a year wax detailing. WHAT is a good wax that goes on easy and comes off easy. Most importantly I need a wax that LASTS long and protects. I was thinking KLASSE AIO and KSG or perhaps KAIO and FKI-1000P. I DO NOT care about perfect shine at all. All I want is PAINT PROTECTION. Is Nu Finish good? I used it a bit on my Jeep and thought it was OK but I never really thought if it was the BEST. I tried Zymol and that went on and off easy but didn`t seem to last more than 2-3 months. I want the best longest lasting protection as I only want to wax detail 2-3 times a year. What wax would you recommend for twice a year detail job to protect the paint. I used Zymol on my Jeep Grand Cherokee and that worked ok it was easy on and off but I don`t think it lasts that long and I want long lasting protection of at least 4 months, 6 months would be better. Right now I am think KAIO and either KSG or FK1-1000P.
Third, The ROOF. I can`t reach it. I was thinking about paying an 18 year old kid I know a few bucks for two hours of applying wax on/off to the roof. WHAT would a detail shop charge to do this? What would be a fair price for that amount of area? I figure I am better off doing it with a neighborhood kid. I flyfish/duck hunt with an 18 year old kid and he would do it for free but I would slip him a few bucks. Detail shop might want a lot of $$$ and do half as good a job with crappy wax. I do it with a friend I can buy the best wax and can supervise and see that it gets done right.
Any advice greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
I am ordering a 2010 GMC Savana AWD Cargo Van in Silver in the next week or so and I want to protect the paint. I will be driving this vehicle off road every weekend in rough conditions. I will be driving on wash board roads with the gray dust, and in dirt, mud, sand and snow(and salt crud) when I go flyfishing and skiing in the CA Sierra`s/Tahoe.
I have a few hurdles to overcome as I use a wheelchair and I will not be able to reach up high enough or do the roof.
First off I need a telescoping rod with a wax applicator on it that I can apply wax and buff off the wax. Anyone know of a product? Maybe they make a good one for RV`s or boats? I need to reach about a foot, foot and a half from the top of my hand to reach the top of the sides of the van. I have found a decent telescoping wash brush at WALMART that has microfiber wash strand thingies on it. You`ve seen them. Those dangling strands that are made of microfiber. They come on wash brushes at Walmart, Pepboys, Autozone etc. Now that is fine for washing up high and the telescoping feature is perfect but those microfiber strands do not seem good for applying wax(I could cut them off?). I figure they would be fine for removing the wax. All I`ll need is to buy two of them one for washing and one for removing waxing. $7 at WALMART. So I may be able to use them to APPLY wax with a microfiber bonnet. I was thinking of putting a microfiber bonnet over them. These right here Amazon.com: Rejuvenate Microfiber Bonnet Applicator: Health & Personal Care (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BZ4QGS/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_3?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B0008F69V6&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1SARZQ434HN5JZHWSQY8) These are microfiber as good as any microfiber, and I imagine they should work. I could use those telescoping wash poles from Walmart or just put these bonnets over a cheapo sponge mop. Maybe put a plastic bag over the sponge mop first and then these MF bonnets so the wax doesn`t soak into the sponge too much????? Will this work OK for applying KAIO or FK1-#1000P? I was thinking I could buff off the wax by wrapping a nice plush micro fiber towel around a mop or perhaps use this product. Carrand Microfiber MAX Pure Shine Car Duster, auto duster, microfiber duster (http://www.autogeek.net/microfiber-duster.html)
ANY Thoughts, ideas, opinions welcome.
Second. I want to detail and wax twice or three times a year once right before winter to protect the paint from road grime and salts and then again in the spring with fresh water wash rinses in between. Maybe 3 times a year wax detailing. WHAT is a good wax that goes on easy and comes off easy. Most importantly I need a wax that LASTS long and protects. I was thinking KLASSE AIO and KSG or perhaps KAIO and FKI-1000P. I DO NOT care about perfect shine at all. All I want is PAINT PROTECTION. Is Nu Finish good? I used it a bit on my Jeep and thought it was OK but I never really thought if it was the BEST. I tried Zymol and that went on and off easy but didn`t seem to last more than 2-3 months. I want the best longest lasting protection as I only want to wax detail 2-3 times a year. What wax would you recommend for twice a year detail job to protect the paint. I used Zymol on my Jeep Grand Cherokee and that worked ok it was easy on and off but I don`t think it lasts that long and I want long lasting protection of at least 4 months, 6 months would be better. Right now I am think KAIO and either KSG or FK1-1000P.
Third, The ROOF. I can`t reach it. I was thinking about paying an 18 year old kid I know a few bucks for two hours of applying wax on/off to the roof. WHAT would a detail shop charge to do this? What would be a fair price for that amount of area? I figure I am better off doing it with a neighborhood kid. I flyfish/duck hunt with an 18 year old kid and he would do it for free but I would slip him a few bucks. Detail shop might want a lot of $$$ and do half as good a job with crappy wax. I do it with a friend I can buy the best wax and can supervise and see that it gets done right.
Any advice greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.