Best ceramic for durability/value/ease of application?

[jrtf83]

Hi all,

I`ve just bought a new black heavy duty truck that I`ll be using to tow a fifth wheel full time around the country.

While traveling, I won`t be able to do much if anything to take care of my paint, and I`m thinking it`s probably best to apply a ceramic to protect it while on the road.

Ideally, I`d be able to apply something once (this month, in my garage), and have it last all the way through next summer through a variety of conditions through the east coast, south, and west.

Mildly sensitive to price, but open to paying more if it is a strong value.

Am basically a newbie to this, have experience using the Zaino system back in the day, but definitely not a pro. I`ll have a climate controlled garage to apply in.

The truck in question:


Thanks in advance for any advice,
Ross

[acuRAS82]

Nice truck. You’ll probably get a lot of votes for CarPro CQuartz UK 3.0. It should have no problem lasting a year from what I read. There are numerous others as well, but I just wanted to get this party started.

[Coatings=crack]

I have CqUk3 on my car and like it but found it hard to do with out proper lighting. Ended up with a few high spots i had to polish out and remove.

Recommend getting a hand held light with a diffuser (gyeon and scangrip have them) if you dont have proper lighting.

I’ve heard Adams, Blackfire and Wolfgang coatings are nice and easy to use.


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[tom p.]

Guys, what about Cquartz Lite if Ross prefers to tend to the truck more often?

Ross, welcome aboard!!

[acuRAS82]

Guys, what about Cquartz Lite if Ross prefers to tend to the truck more often?

Ross, welcome aboard!!

Based on talk from The Guz, seems like CQ Lite may also last a year.

Similar to coatings=crack, I used CQ UK (2.0 though) and ended up polishing numerous panels and reapplying because of poor lighting in my garage. When I reapplied I made sure it was a calm, overcast day and pulled the car out of the garage after each panel. Was moderately easy when lighting was taken seriously. Was pretty hard when I thought I could wipe off blindly.

[rotts4u]

I drive a Ram also and have experience with Zanio as well as many of the more modern coatings too. I am not a pro just a guy like you that wants my stuff to look nice. I suggest you get Optimum Gloss Coat and find a video on YouTube and follow it with all the prep. Or if you dont mind a two stage coating then use CarPro UK with Gliss on Top. Its super hydrophobic and will easily last a year.

I would also suggest you find a good SIO2 topper spray and use it as a drying aid about once a month. CarPro Reload is really easy to use even though its not the longest lasting but if you do it monthly it doesn`t matter as they all last that long.

[rand0m]

My vote is for cquartz uk 3.0. I do like gtechniq csl because it’s noticeable easier to apply but I feel like cquartz is more durable and also cost less. I’ve also had good experience with McKee’s paint coating v2 which was the price of cquart for 3-4 applications but it looks like it’s more expensive now.

Guys, what about Cquartz Lite if Ross prefers to tend to the truck more often?

Ross, welcome aboard!!

I think the only downside of lite is that the bottle probably won’t be any good about a year later. I don’t see the value unless you’re doing multiple cars.



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[Coatings=crack]

My vote is for cquartz uk 3.0. I do like gtechniq csl because it’s noticeable easier to apply but I feel like cquartz is more durable and also cost less. I’ve also had good experience with McKee’s paint coating v2 which was the price of cquart for 3-4 applications but it looks like it’s more expensive now.



I think the only downside of lite is that the bottle probably won’t be any good about a year later. I don’t see the value unless you’re doing multiple cars.



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Yeah agreed. If i had just Cancoated my car woulda probably applied every 6 months and got the same. I would say value wise light coatings are good for pro’s..... not so much for hobbyists.


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[acuRAS82]

Yeah agreed. If i had just Cancoated my car woulda probably applied every 6 months and got the same. I would say value wise light coatings are good for pro’s..... not so much for hobbyists.

Gotta hook up the family, friends, babysitter, mailman, whoever.

In all honesty though, I’m about to finish off my bottle (I opened last December) after doing some trim and a second coat on the wife’s wheels. I been using it everywhere I can think off just to not waste it. It’s gone as a topper on in my coated wheels, on Acura windows, trim on all 3 cars, three coats on the Q5 ski racks, door jambs, bottom panels before winter, everywhere. It never seems to end.

[William_Wallace]

If I get a vote it would adams graphene or Cquartz Uk. The Adams graphene has slightly better beading and water clearly. It was easier to apply and Also goes on glass and trim. It preformed slightly better than UK and I have a Very satisfied Cquartz UK customer for a while. The only thing where I noticed Cquartz pulling a head was looks department.

the Adams also has graphene in it so you get to join the graphene crowd.

[William_Wallace]

I have CqUk3 on my car and like it but found it hard to do with out proper lighting. Ended up with a few high spots i had to polish out and remove.

Recommend getting a hand held light with a diffuser (gyeon and scangrip have them) if you dont have proper lighting.

I’ve heard Adams, Blackfire and Wolfgang coatings are nice and easy to use.


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I got a few high spots too with Cquartz they were mostly on a second coat so I stopped during second coat its a not overly PIA it’s average to above average In application difficulty.

[jrtf83]

Well, the more I learn about this stuff, the more I realize I should be really doing some paint correction before sealing, which I don`t currently have time for.

My thought now is a stop-gap until I can take the time it deserves:
1. Good two bucket wash (open to shampoo suggestions, sounds like it`s not super important)
2. Decon with AUTOSCRUB Medium Grade Sponge lubricated by ONR
3. Quick fill/seal with Griot`s Garage 11075 One-Step Sealant

Later, when I have the time (possibly while we`re down in Florida):
1. Probably pay for proper paint correction/polish
2. Wash
3. Decon
4. Seal, probably with Cquartz 3.0

Am I doing anything wrong here?

[rand0m]

Well, the more I learn about this stuff, the more I realize I should be really doing some paint correction before sealing, which I don`t currently have time for.

My thought now is a stop-gap until I can take the time it deserves:
1. Good two bucket wash (open to shampoo suggestions, sounds like it`s not super important)
2. Decon with AUTOSCRUB Medium Grade Sponge lubricated by ONR
3. Quick fill/seal with Griot`s Garage 11075 One-Step Sealant

Later, when I have the time (possibly while we`re down in Florida):
1. Probably pay for proper paint correction/polish
2. Wash
3. Decon
4. Seal, probably with Cquartz 3.0

Am I doing anything wrong here?

How is the condition of the paint? I’d imagine not too bad since the car is new. Unless the car has a ton of contamination the fine autoscrub should work and cause less marring. If you’re not going to be able to maintain the paint for a year then personally I’d put on a coating as is. By the time you get around to a correction, that’ll take off the coating anyway. Also how are you using 11075? Isn’t it a one step polish/sealant?


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[Coatings=crack]

Well, the more I learn about this stuff, the more I realize I should be really doing some paint correction before sealing, which I don`t currently have time for.

My thought now is a stop-gap until I can take the time it deserves:
1. Good two bucket wash (open to shampoo suggestions, sounds like it`s not super important)
2. Decon with AUTOSCRUB Medium Grade Sponge lubricated by ONR
3. Quick fill/seal with Griot`s Garage 11075 One-Step Sealant

Later, when I have the time (possibly while we`re down in Florida):
1. Probably pay for proper paint correction/polish
2. Wash
3. Decon
4. Seal, probably with Cquartz 3.0

Am I doing anything wrong here?

If thats the case give a lite coating a try. You’ll get alot and no problem buffing off while correcting in spring.

Can coat or Cquartz lite....


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[audicoupej]

Nice truck.

You could always try something like Dr Beasley`s 1201.

https://www.autopia-carcare.com/beas...l#.X7URn2hKiUk

If you think you will be able to hand wash the truck at least once every one to two months, something like Gyeon Wetcoat works well and is very easy to use as well. It can be applied to the wheels and glass as well.

https://www.autopia-carcare.com/gyeo...l#.X7USFGhKiUk

Also if you are traveling you can always perform a rinseless wash. There are plenty of products on the market.

https://www.autopia-carcare.com/wolf...l#.X7UUE2hKiUk

Anything you apply is only going to last depending on the care and usage of the vehicle. The true coatings are more durable for sure but they still need to be maintained by a minimum of washing the vehicle regularly. A wash every 2 weeks is the general recommendation.