2014 Ram QC

**Farmingdales Finest** · 03-27-2016, 08:01 PM

Detailed my 2014 Ram that I bought used in February. It's a daily driver and not garaged. It started out as rental and I am the 3rd owner. It has a 2.5" levling kit and I added the Tube bar steps. Larger tires to come in the fall.

It was dirty as hell after the Noreaster we had last week and was sandblasted pretty good from the beach a block away.

I washed it then clayed it followed by Meguiar's UP and Lake Country Orange pad. The pics show the sand dried on and a few scratches that I thought I wouldn't be able to get out without at least compound and pleasantly surprised when I got most of it out. I will next time try some compound but didn't have any yesterday and this is only my second detail. I have a lot to learn!

Here are some pics after polishing and before Meguiar's Ultimate Wax.

Before washing:

Some scratches before polishing:

After polishing scratches:

Door before showing some swirls:

Nice reflection after polishing:

The front:

Full view:

I have a ton to learn. I made the truck overall much better but I did add swirls to the hood by switching pads and not loading enough polish before polishing. Nothing too serious but will have to fix it the next time. I didn't have enough time after discovering it due to Easter obligations.

**VISITOR** · 03-27-2016, 08:07 PM

nice job, it's probably never looked that good until you got it. btw, hd cut with a microfiber pad may work a bit better on your next go around if needed. here's a vid...

[ame]youtube.com/watch?v=3W8ujyCPT0g[/video]

**custmsprty** · 03-27-2016, 08:10 PM

Looks great.

I'm a little curious about the condition and color of that orange pad in pic 5. Did you use multiple orange pads for the detail? That pad looks like it has a lot of nasty on it.

**Farmingdales Finest** · 03-27-2016, 08:16 PM

Originally Posted by custmsprty

Looks great.

I'm a little curious about the condition and color of that orange pad in pic 5. Did you use multiple orange pads for the detail? That pad looks like it has a lot of nasty on it.

I used two pads. This was taken just a few seconds before I switched to the second pad. How many should I have used for a truck that size?

**LSNAutoDetailing** · 03-27-2016, 08:33 PM

Great work, you should be proud! Nice truck too!

**custmsprty** · 03-27-2016, 08:45 PM

Originally Posted by Farmingdales Finest

I used two pads. This was taken just a few seconds before I switched to the second pad. How many should I have used for a truck that size?

Your results were excellent.

I would suggest a minimum of 4 more like 6 for a LARGE truck that size. I learned this myself through trial and error. It's extremely important and often over looked (by myself in the past included) to have a fresh pad. A number of things are accomplished by this. First and foremost you get the best results with a fresh pad. What I mean by this is that you get the needed aggression of the pad. As it loads up with product that diminishes. Secondly it saves you money as pads heat up and this leads to early pad failure. Also heat is not good for polishing compounds and can lead to dusting. Thirdly is that as crap builds up on the pad that's what you are running across the surface/paint that you are trying to perfect.

Pads, pads, pads. After all, that is what's running across your vehicles finish.

**Farmingdales Finest** · 03-27-2016, 08:50 PM

Originally Posted by custmsprty

Your results were excellent.

I would suggest a minimum of 4 more like 6 for a LARGE truck that size. I learned this myself through trial and error. It's extremely important and often over looked (by myself in the past included) to have a fresh pad. A number of things are accomplished by this. First and foremost you get the best results with a fresh pad. What I mean by this is that you get the needed aggression of the pad. As it loads up with product that diminishes. Secondly it saves you money as pads heat up and this leads to early pad failure. Also heat is not good for polishing compounds and can lead to dusting. Thirdly is that as crap builds up on the pad that's what you are running across the surface/paint that you are trying to perfect.

Pads, pads, pads. After all, that is what's running across your vehicles finish.

Thanks for the suggestion. This shows my lack of experience because I didn't think that the pad was overly dirty.

**custmsprty** · 03-27-2016, 08:58 PM

Originally Posted by Farmingdales Finest

Thanks for the suggestion. This shows my lack of experience because I didn't think that the pad was overly dirty.

We all earn together.

I did a big Chevy 2500 with 3 orange pads and cleaned on the fly a couple years ago. If I were to do it today I'd have used 6 pads and been better off.

Menzerna FG 400 gumming up.

**Farmingdales Finest** · 03-27-2016, 09:05 PM

Originally Posted by custmsprty

We all earn together.

I did a big Chevy 2500 with 3 orange pads and cleaned on the fly a couple years ago. If I were to do it today I'd have used 6 pads and been better off.

Menzerna FG 400 gumming up.

That's about what mine looked like probably a little dirtier.