New 2020 2500

[1sttimeRamowner]

I have asked a few questions on here, and have gotten some great help. I am posting now, in my correct forum, so as to start getting more relevant advice.

What I bought is a 2020, 2500 6.4L. 8' bed, Crew Cab. White exterior, and a grey color interior. Everything is tight and seems to be well built. I have remarked it seems to be fitted better than my previous truck which was a Tundra.

Now to the exterior. There are a couple of rust areas, and a few sticky places that needs to be cleaned. Here are my questions:

1. I have always been warned about going into automatic car washes. Is that still good advice or should I go back to old school and use my rag and bucket?
2. I want to use this (Metal polish and rust remover) because on many other metal things I have used, this stuff is fantastic if it is surface to just below rust. The rust I am looking at seems to be right on the surface of the paint, right in the engine bay where their is a bar that comes from the back of the bay, diagnally toward the front, on both sides. There is just a little rust there. Will this hurt the paint?
3. I also am wanting to use a good wax but not have to use a buffer machine as I do not have one. This is the nicest truck I have ever owned, and I want to preserve it as long as I can. What do you recommend for waxing (and preferably after the wash from #1)?

Thank you all for your help and I look forward to hearing your advice. Thanks.

 

[flan]

1-car wash probably no problem. I’m a hand wash guy but that’s cause I’m cheap.

2-care to share some pics of rust area? Can’t really imagine the issue at hand.

3- any wax is better than no wax. Something like meguiars or mothers carnuba is readily available and won’t wreck your shoulder. I’d clay bar first then wax. The crazy’s will chime in and say you need xyz ceramic but carnubas have proven themselves and are cheap and diy. Buy em at Walmart. Let’s be realistic it’s a truck. It’s lucky it’s getting waxed at all.

 

[1sttimeRamowner]

1-car wash probably no problem. I’m a hand wash guy but that’s cause I’m cheap.

2-care to share some pics of rust area? Can’t really imagine the issue at hand.

3- any wax is better than no wax. Something like meguiars or mothers carnuba is readily available and won’t wreck your shoulder. I’d clay bar first then wax. The crazy’s will chime in and say you need xyz ceramic but carnubas have proven themselves and are cheap and diy. Buy em at Walmart. Let’s be realistic it’s a truck. It’s lucky it’s getting waxed at all.

Thank you. I was not sure about the automatics. On the last forum, everyone was absolutely against it because it would scratch up the paint. The last truck had a lot of scratches anyway. This one does not. So I want to start right.

As soon as I am able to upload the pictures

 

[flan]

So I’d probably unbolt that bar, scuff up the rust and mask the area and respray with rustoleum or similar spray paint. Should be able to get a color close enough, it’s not in a usually visible spot. As far as by the back bumper that looks like a once repaired area and the paint did not adhere properly and is now lifting. Short of sand down and base coat/clear coat there’s not much else that can be done there.

 

[1sttimeRamowner]

So I’d probably unbolt that bar, scuff up the rust and mask the area and respray with rustoleum or similar spray paint. Should be able to get a color close enough, it’s not in a usually visible spot. As far as by the back bumper that looks like a once repaired area and the paint did not adhere properly and is now lifting. Short of sand down and base coat/clear coat there’s not much else that can be done there.

@flan Thanks for the tips. I have been working on several aspects of the truck for a while now, and the rust is really the biggest thing I need to get ahead of. I did find four more spots along that same side of the truck, so there is about six or seven spots total. I am thinking of doing the sanding down, base coat, clear coat the areas.

But, I have not done this, and have no experience. I am asking a few friends if they would be willing to help me (I will pay them, of course), but even better, if they walk me through it. I know it does not seem hard but I also know my propensity to make a mess of something simple.

My key venture right now is watching a lot of videos. It seems pretty straight forward, but none of the videos really have the paint coming out right, or comments counter what is done and the video maker agrees with the comments, so I am not sure what is right or wrong.

I have looked at these videos:

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I have also started several, but they were putting body putty and some kind of mesh net, and I don't need that so I didn't finish the video.

 

[flan]

Blending base/clear into an existing panel CORRECTLY is an art in itself. The reason you’re going after this now is because someone initially failed at it. May be worth it to buy once, cry once. Aka pay someone to do it so your truck does not look like one of the ****boxes in the contractor parking spaces at Home Depot.

 

[1sttimeRamowner]

Blending base/clear into an existing panel CORRECTLY is an art in itself. The reason you’re going after this now is because someone initially failed at it. May be worth it to buy once, cry once. Aka pay someone to do it so your truck does not look like one of the ****boxes in the contractor parking spaces at Home Depot.

Thanks. That is what I was thinking. I am looking at a local MAACO. They are going to just do the paint and rust aspect, but leaving the dents. I am fine with that because I am going to end up putting dents in it myself because of how I am using the truck.

What do you suggest for under carriage? I have heard mixed thoughts of having the underbody coated to protect against rust. Then someone else suggested just washing the truck during the winter at least once a month.

It looks good now, but not sure about long term.

 

[Wanderlust073]

What do you suggest for under carriage? I have heard mixed thoughts of having the underbody coated to protect against rust. Then someone else suggested just washing the truck during the winter at least once a month.

Depends a lot on where you’re at…

 

[flan]

Thanks. That is what I was thinking. I am looking at a local MAACO. They are going to just do the paint and rust aspect, but leaving the dents. I am fine with that because I am going to end up putting dents in it myself because of how I am using the truck.

What do you suggest for under carriage? I have heard mixed thoughts of having the underbody coated to protect against rust. Then someone else suggested just washing the truck during the winter at least once a month.

It looks good now, but not sure about long term.

I’d look elsewhere other than Macco. They would be of use for a beater car you need to make it through the winter but not much more. I suspect the issue you are trying to correct was done at a similar facility. I’d scope out independent auto body shops first.

As far as underbody it depends on the current state it’s in. If it’s rusted out, fluid film applied 2x a year. If it’s still clean something like blaster surface shield or CRC marine corrosion inhibitors.

 

[1sttimeRamowner]

Depends a lot on where you’re at…

I am in the North where there is snow, ice, and they do treat the roads. It is not "bad" winter, like you would find in Chicago, or NY, but we do have Winter.

 

[1sttimeRamowner]

I’d look elsewhere other than Macco. They would be of use for a beater car you need to make it through the winter but not much more. I suspect the issue you are trying to correct was done at a similar facility. I’d scope out independent auto body shops first.

As far as underbody it depends on the current state it’s in. If it’s rusted out, fluid film applied 2x a year. If it’s still clean something like blaster surface shield or CRC marine corrosion inhibitors.

I would love to, but the two body shops I did look at were over $3K. That, is going to be way over my price range no matter how I slice it.

ETA: I should say, I am a single income home so I have to balance everything out between cost and ROI. My priorities must be the family first, so if there is a need, then truck money goes out.

I am trying to find a friend, or a friend of a friend to help me and I can work on the blending myself (as long as we are able to get it done right). But the local shops are out of my range, unfortunately.

Right now it is in great shape. It is a TX truck that was brought up here to my area and I picked it up.

 

[flan]

I would love to, but the two body shops I did look at were over $3K. That, is going to be way over my price range no matter how I slice it.

ETA: I should say, I am a single income home so I have to balance everything out between cost and ROI. My priorities must be the family first, so if there is a need, then truck money goes out.

I am trying to find a friend, or a friend of a friend to help me and I can work on the blending myself (as long as we are able to get it done right). But the local shops are out of my range, unfortunately.

Right now it is in great shape. It is a TX truck that was brought up here to my area and I picked it up.

I get it man, good luck with whatever you decide works best!

 

[Wanderlust073]

I am in the North where there is snow, ice, and they do treat the roads. It is not "bad" winter, like you would find in Chicago, or NY, but we do have Winter.

If they carpet bomb the roads with salt I’d get it fluid filmed. Out here they spray ineffective chemicals, so washing after things melt is enough.

 

[1sttimeRamowner]

I get it man, good luck with whatever you decide works best!

Thanks. And that comment I made was not to attack or criticize. It was simply a statement. Sometimes what is posted online comes across differently than how it was intended. No offense was meant.

 

[1sttimeRamowner]

If they carpet bomb the roads with salt I’d get it fluid filmed. Out here they spray ineffective chemicals, so washing after things melt is enough.

I'm not sure what they use. I do see the road trucks, so I am assuming salt, but then again...I never really see anything being laid but I do see spray at times. I have a friend who may know. I can ask. Thanks for the input.

 

[flan]

Thanks. And that comment I made was not to attack or criticize. It was simply a statement. Sometimes what is posted online comes across differently than how it was intended. No offense was meant.

No issue at all. What you say makes sense.

 

[1sttimeRamowner]

A quick update. I am now scheduled to get a Rhino Liner installed. Jan 7th! They could do it while I wait, but I am going to drop off the truck and get it later in the afternoon. Looking forward to getting that one finished.

Someone also made a suggestion of reaching out to a local auto body school. The teachers used a friend's vehicle as instruction. They were able to get a lot of work done for dirt cheap because it was being used to help instruct the students on what to do.

I may pursue that while leaving the MAACO as a backup until I either find a place to do it, or I save up the money.

 

[1sttimeRamowner]

With a slight delay, I was able to get the Rhino Liner installed yesterday. The truck looks so much better, and then coupled with the tool box, I am ready to do work!

It is a little slick, but that is not that big of an issue for me, but the applicator did an AWESOME job. I was able to wait for the truck, and had it ready to go by noon.