Thanks I'm going to buy the 4 3/4 backing plate with the 5.5 inch pads and some spacers.
Any recommendation on which pads to purchase initially?
I am going to be working on my 2010 Highlander that I just bought used and it has significant swirls and scratching. I don't think the previous owner ever detailed it.
I hope I have a good a result as you.
Priya
If you have experience with a Rotary that will help - if not, you will get it from this SUV..

I Detailed a black one awhile back that had never been done either.. It was severely trashed..
And the girl had 5 dogs in there all the time..
When I finished it, the Mom of the girl, could not believe it, and took it away from her daughter, so she wouldn't trash it again..

It looked so darn good, the Mom decided that she should be driving it anyway..
These SUV's have good paint, easy to work on...
Assume you are going for foam pads, and if so, you have a couple great choices at the Autopia Store here...
Lake Country or Buff and Shine..
I have had great success with Lake Country flat pads.. The Blue Cyan Hydro-Tech works great with a rotary and compound to remove defects and finish down pretty darn great every time...
They also make a Tangernine Orange pad that cuts less, but finishes down ever better..
So there are 2 choices and they come in all sizes...
I dont care for any pads with dimples, etc., in them, I want all the pad working all the time on that spot on the panel...
Buff and Shine at the store here sells a really nice spacer and that will be all you need if you want to space the machine out away from the work..
I have been using that configuration for years and it works just fine on everything...
I don't want the head of the machine or the body of it in the sightline when Im working on the vehicle, so I like the spacer for giving me the ability to see the entire work surface all the time..
There are and will always be a zillion ways to do any of this; your process may be entirely different and it will be customized for your needs by you..
There are a great bunch of people here that will also be very happy to help you and who knows, someone on here may even live close by !
Good luck,
Dan F