Vaughn,
I know you are looking for the experts out there, don't claim to be one but i do have alot of experience with cars & trucks and their finishes. I have always had at least one BLACK vehicle since the last 20 years or so. I think they must be the worst to keep looking good.
I don't want to insult you with the small stuff, but will go over it in case someone finds it useful.
Washing-I think this is as much responsible for bad finishes as anything. Never go thru a automatic washer, always start with a clean wash miit and a bucket of clean soapy water. Wet truck and wash from the top down, rinsing often. Dark vehicles do not do well when washed in bright sunlight. I have found that the Mr. Clean Washing system works and works very well. If used properly it will prevent water spots. If you dry your truck, use only 100% cotton cloths, and when finished wash them for the next time along with the wash mitt. By washing top to bottom, the dirt is always falling away from the clean area, the last items to be washed should be the lower rockers, wheels and door sill areas.
Spot cleaning-this just means to clean spots like bird droppings ect as soon as possible. Leave a spray bottle with water or instant detail spray handy in the garage and take care of them as needed. Use clean cotton cloth and allow water to soften the area.
Pre-wax-After a good cleaning I like to use painter clay, sometimes called body clay, to remove some of the deep dirt that has attached itself to the paint. I simply clean as described above, they with a slow stream of flowing water rub the clay in a circular motion cleaning an area of about 2' x 2' at a time. Often I will make a new bucket of hot soapy water and dip the clay in that. Turn the clay over as it gets dirty. This will surprise you if you have never cleaned this way, there is alot of contaminates that are not easily seen. This prepares the surface for waxing, and really makes the difference between a good wax job and a great wax job.
Waxing-Any good quality wax will do, I like Maguires but that's me. After the surface has been deep cleaned and dried apply your wax in small areas, like half the hood at a time. Also most waxes work best when done in the shade. The wax should be applied even and with several strokes. Allow to haze and remove by wiping with a clean cotton cloth, turn the cloth as needed. Be careful to avoid nameplates, molding, some decals and trim, the black molding and trim dodge uses is a bear to get wax off of. Work your way around the truck, don't worry about all the small white dust like particles, you can get that when you finish and come back with another clean cloth.
I do not like to use buffers or polishes, they are far to abrasive for most clear coat finishes. They are ok for older cars that are damaged by abuse, or scratched by auto car washes, but remember they work by removing a portion of the clear coat, you only have about 30/1000's of clear so try and stay away from that option. Buffers should only be used on damaged surfaces also, they will burn thru the clear very fast and really have no place on a new or newer truck. The best results come from good old elbow grease, buffers are for the lazy!
Keep the trucks finish as clean as time permits, wash as often as you can, and spot clean as needed. Bird droppings will eat through your finish, so remove them. Never try and wipe off something with a dirty or dry cloth, it will scratch the clear. Dodge has a reputation of applying very thin base and clear coats, they scratch very easy and don't take well to abuse. If you do end up with a scratch, get it fixed by a body shop or with Duplicolor, don't allow a small scratch to turn into something larger. The faster it's fixed the better and small scratches can be filled with a like color, and waxed over to look pretty good.
Add ons- Anytime you add something aftermarket to your truck that requires you to drill a surface, body, bed, or bumper, use a small amount of clear RTV sealant on the bolt or screw. This will help seal out moisture and protect the area, even more important if you live in the SALT belt areas like me. To many times I have seen two-three year old trucks with rust spot where someone add a light, fender flair, antenna, grill guard, ect.
Hope all this rambling helps, I keep all my vehicles up and the pay off is a nice finish for many years. I average a washing once a week, and a waxing once every 3 months. Sometimes I just hit the top areas that seem to be more affected by the sun and debar then other areas. Wash the door sill area, door jam areas and bottom of the doors. Keep the drain holes open in the doors, this is important so as to allow the water an exit. I'm not sure about you, but i enjoy working and cleaning on the truck, I find it relaxing and peaceful. Oh yell, best thing you can do is get yourself a step to reach over the hood and up on top, I have a aluminum one that is about 36" long and 14" high works great got it at Sams.
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