4days and countless hours of detailing...

[Casper]

Just got done with a full exterior detail of my 4runner. Only took 4days and that was just for the exterior. It took me a couple of days prior to that to figure out what worked best in combination. I just purchased some new products from a sponsor off my Pontiac GTO forum and used some of those products along with some of the stuff I already had.

x3 Stripped old wax with wash
x2 clayed (using Tropi-care detail spray)
Tropi-care TC-6 wash
Tropi-care TC-8 swirl remover
x2 Tropi-care TC-3 polish and seal
Mother's Polish and Seal (much harder to remove than the Tropi-care but really did bring out the depth)
x2 Mother's Reflections Syn/Poly wax
x2 Meguiars High Tech #26

The photos were taken after the 2nd coat of Mother's Reflections wax. The Meguiars High tech actually added even more shine and depth. In the really bright vegas sun, the color/reflections actually overwhelm the camera and the pictures don't do it justice. the windows on the outside and inside were not done yet either so there are smudges on them.

Natural white is a bitch to create depth, wetness and shine on so I was very happy when it came out just the way I wanted it to.

 

[Thai]

Wow...that's a clean looking 4runner! I can't remember the last time i had my cars detailed, much less me actually lifting a finger to clean my cars!

It does look great!

 

[Jaebster]

R U kidding me? in that heat under the Vegas sun? Do you have an air conditioned garage cuz I would have quit after 10 minutes.

 

[Casper]

no A/C....just the garage.

humidity was in the 20-30% range and it was hovering in the 105-110 range.

 

[<<<<]

Nice work, Casper. Mine needs it, but it takes a lot of motivation for me just to wax twice a year.

 

[tomhaney1]

Kudos man! It's hard to get any shine out of white! What is Tropi-Care? I don't believe I've heard of it...Also, how much crap did the claybar take off? There is so much crap in the air here I am curious because I can already feel buildup on mine and it is covered like 80 percent of the day!

 

[marjnap]

no A/C....just the garage.

humidity was in the 20-30% range and it was hovering in the 105-110 range.

WOW, that is hard core. You did an awesome job.

 

[Casper]

www.tropi-care.com

they are a smaller detail supply company and their stuff is awesome.


The clay took out alot of small crap that was in the paint....when combined with the swirl remover, it was like a night and day difference in the smoothness of the paint. I didnt do the whole truck but those areas that needed it the most. The swirl remover took care of the other areas of light contaminants.

 

[jwyshrek]

you missed a spot...

 

[alpha]

very nice! want to come to sd and help me finish my dad's 4R? haha.. i'm about to finish it this afternoon. I still have to polish and wax it. But I clayed it yesterday, and I cleaned the interior this morning..

The clay bar took so much crap off.. It's nice and smooth again..

 

[Falls]

Casper , it looks fantastic !!

In an opinion from a long time detailer of many cars , boats and RV's . You way overkilled work and $$$ what needed to be done to obtain that shine .

 

[Casper]

Thanks guys....i know im a little OCD and spend a little too much on car wash stuff but hell, at least im offsetting the growing collection of shoes and clothes that my GF has accumulated.

Her Golf sees alot of attention too...as does my GTO. As much as the heat sucks, its a nice break from sitting on my butt all day long in my current position with my company.

I love detailing...maybe not in the direct sun but there is something really satisfying for me when i get done...dripping with sweat, smelling like wax and having it all over my hands and taking a shower and seeing all that nasty dirt melt away.

Used to detail in FL and its just a great job that works with my personallity.


Oh and if you guys think im a little over the top...you should see the guys on the GTO and BMw forums that I also belong to. They think that what I did to the 4runner is a "quick" job.

 

[tkr128]

Nice job! Glad to see there's another 4R owner who is as crazy as I am. Each summer, I spend the better part of a week detailing my 4Runner to get it perfectly clean and swirl free again.

 

[Falls]

Detailing is an addiction to me too. I'm by all means not knockin you for doing it , I know all to well how that goes ...... and the investment in products I have and tried I could buy another 4R for Gods sake.

I can spend all day working on the 4R , and go off roading the next day , and then start all over.

 

[SciRunner]

Excellent work. I want to do the same but I can't even wash my truck due a county wide water ban!

 

[Uneek]

The depth of the reflections is incredible. That would be only possible with darker colors, but your efforts have proved that depth is possible with light colors, especially white. Looks awesome!!!

 

[Casper]

Detailing is an addiction to me too. I'm by all means not knockin you for doing it , I know all to well how that goes ...... and the investment in products I have and tried I could buy another 4R for Gods sake.

I can spend all day working on the 4R , and go off roading the next day , and then start all over.

I was just thinking about that today....would i be willing tomorrow to take her off road, get her dirty and then start all over? sure...it would allow me another opportunity to take additional steps to make her even better.

 

[Jacobzky]

nicely done, i know how much effort is needed to accomplish that shine, it just reminds me when i did mine and just realized that now is that time again.

but again, money and time well spent. Good job!

 

[Falls]

I was just thinking about that today....would i be willing tomorrow to take her off road, get her dirty and then start all over? sure...it would allow me another opportunity to take additional steps to make her even better.

EXACTLY!!!! Thats how us obsessive detailers think. About 5 months ago I started using products call Duragloss. It has given me a finish that is exactly what I want on the 4R , I maintain it , but still think , maybe this would be better or this or that ??? I'm trying to leave well enough alone.

You did a great job ! Also #26 is one of my all time favorite Poly/wax combo products.

 

[Casper]

I've heard of duragloss but never used it...is it a wax or a sealant?

Ive used the #26 before but Ive really fallen for the Mother's Reflections. The reason that I used the #26 was because of the light coloration and zero metalic flake in the Natural White, I needed something with a larger amount of carnuba in it to create the depth I wanted. The mothers is great on medium to darker colored cars where it doesnt have to work at creating the depth that the polish and glaze should have.