Anybody Leave Their Truck Parked in the Sun Every Day?

[MMead]

I'd like to get some bigger tires, but if I do my truck won't fit in the garage any more. For those who park in the sun every day, how is the paint and interior holding up to the UV rays?

 

[BHolm]

My '03 dually has never spent the night in a garage, it has been outside since new. It is white so the paint looks fine, not likely to fade The interior still looks good, the dash is holding up fine. Of course it was in Minnesota where UV exposure is limited especially with all the overcast winter months. Now it is in the high altitude Colorado sun but so far so good.

 

[69RoadRunner]

I don't think I could fit my 06 2500 4x4 Mega Cab in the garage. I think the paint they're using now is better than the peel-away stuff they used in the 80s through the early 2000s.

 

[SHyans]

Been sittin in the hot Utah sun at 5000' since day one. I have one of Geno's dash mats covering the dash so it is a bit protected, the rest of the truck looks fine.

 

[BMH95]

The best thing you can do , is to get vent visors for the window. Then leave the windows cracked open to the bottom of the vent visor. That inch and a quarter or so, per window, will lower the interior temps drastically - vs a truck with closed windows. Of course, the vent visors will keep the rain out if it happens.



The paint, who knows, this is my first dodge truck. My tahoe sat in the sun every day for six years and was fine. Keep it washed and conditioned (sealer or wax) regularly, and it will be fine.

 

[CKimball]

desert dweller here!!!

My dually has sat in the sun since november of 03... . so far so good... my tonneu needs to be resquirted but the truck paint (front bumper aside) is doing quite well... . mind you I wax my truck usually every month or at least every six weeks... . usualy when camping weather permitting... it is around 95+- (over 100 during august and sept) for at least 8 months of the year... . for the interior I have a dash cover, I use a window shade and wipe down the interior with WD40... (that stuff is great for plastic... keeps the truck smellin new and does NOT promote cracking like other highly advertized products do!!)... oh my truck is silver... . the best looking color and the quickest to turn to poop in my opinion

cameron

 

[BHaden]

Im in SoCal. My 03 QC Atlantic Blue sat out for 3-1/2 years and looked great when I sold it. During the day it was usually inside a parking garage, but it got waxed maybe once in that time. DO GET a sun visor of some type to keep the heat and UV rays away from the dash, otherwise the interior parts act as huge heat sinks. I always left the windows crack an inch or so unless the the weather was really bad.

 

[starkmr]

My truck stays in AZ. I use a window shade on it when I am gone to AK for extended periods. So far the paint doesn't show any UV effects.

 

[MMeier]

My '03 's been outside since Nov. '02 when I bought it. Paint looks great, I do wax/ polish it at least 3 times a year which helps a bunch.

 

[JVolpe]

Mine has never been in a garage. Bought June 2004. Black and sits in open concrete parking lot or driveway everyday all day. Temp here in Houston are brutal most of the year. I use Aerospace 303 protectant on all non metal surfaces in and out. Seems to do a good job on the UVs. I do have vent shades and always leave all windows cracked 1" or 2". Use Dodge RAM Truck sun screen in front window and have extra tint on all other windows. My interior is fine, can't really tell much if any drying or fading. I use MG's NXT wax about twice a year. I don't really think black will fade, but other than all the swirls and scratches accumulated over the last couple of years it looks good when washed.

 

[driverno8]

My '04 has been sitting in the sun since day 1. We're well over a 100* during the summer months and in the 40* during the winter. She's waxed every few months. Paint and interior still look new.

 

[SDunkle600]

My truck looks just as good as new when she is all cleaned up and detailed inside and out. She has never sat in a garage in 2. 5 years. I detail it twice a year, in the spring and fall. I use Klasse All-In-One sealant under a coat of P21S carnuba wax on the exterior and Armoral on the dash. I always have a sun deflector in the windshield when it is parked. I also have the windows tinted out. I try to wash it once a month (even if it is just going to the carwash and spraying her down) during the summer and more often in the winter with the road salt. I have noticed no fading on the dash or on the paint. I don't have the vent visors though so it sits in the summer heat with the windows up everyday. I also have not had any issues with the headliner. I used to have an older Chevy and it sat in the heat and I think that was the downfall for the headliner coming down.

 

[John - K5AWO]

My 98. 5 is white, has the window visors on the doors. Glass is dark tinted. No dash pad although that is on my list of things to get. Leave the windows cracked down to the bottom of the visors.

Never been garaged, wash it "when it needs it" which is maybe twice a year. Waxed it once in the last three years. Paint still looks the same, in "very good" condition, but not "show room" quality.

It has been in Arizona since 2003 and was in Nevada before that. Belonged to a construction worker who lived in a 5th wheel, so I doubt he ever garaged it.

 

[klenger]

Mine is garaged at night and on weekends, but sits in the sun when I'm at work. It gets hot (140°) inside, but no damage.

 

[CPG]

This 04 has never had a garage. The paint is silver and seems to be of better quality than my old 93 ist gener. I keep the windshield cover on and have a OEM parts dash cover. Twice a year I give it a coat of Meguiar's NXT Tech Wax. This is good stuff. In the Bay Area here it is a hard climate on any finish. So far it looks like the first day. Yes it is helpful to leave the windows cracked a little for heat relief, the only thing is these cabs do take in rain if they are cracked do to no rain gutter.

 

[rbattelle]

Mine has never seen inside a garage. No damage in over 3 years.



Ryan

 

[bcpalmer]

I live in the Mojave desert. My truck has been outside since day one. I have a dash mat and a windshield sun shade. I wax it two to three times a year. So for the truck looks great.

 

[Axekicker]

I'm a self-employed buidling inspector... Mine sits in the hot Las Vegas sun every day. It still looks great after 2 years. I think the key is keep it washed... keep it waxed... keep the dash covered and tint the windows. I find shade wherever I can but it's still in the sun most of the time.

 

[AMink]

My 97 has lived outside since new in the Nevada heat and cold, snow, etc. The interior is still like new, except my seat covers are a little faded. I do use a shade screen religiously in the summer. The paint looks really good except for normal chips etc. Add a little wax and it shines right up. I do crack the windows when possible, but it is still hotter than Hades in there.

 

[JRMora]

I'm a self-employed buidling inspector... Mine sits in the hot Las Vegas sun every day. It still looks great after 2 years. I think the key is keep it washed... keep it waxed... keep the dash covered and tint the windows. I find shade wherever I can but it's still in the sun most of the time.

Gee, you have to wash these trucks?



Never been inside a garage since new (2 1/2 years and 58,000 miles). I do try to wash it once in a while (usually for a TDR get together or else I catch a lot of flack).



I think I waxed it once (actually, I think I waxed the hood once). I do use a little son of a gun once in a while on the dash ( usually when the dust starts piling up).



I have tinted windows all around and use a sun shade in the front window. Never has had any problems.



We have water restrictions here (although several week of rain should fix that). Seriously, we have very hard water so I just get spots anyway and the truck is too big for the drive thru washes (and I have very little free time), so it doesn't get washed nearly enough.



Ah well, it's a truck after all!