Tips to Keep Your Truck Looking Good as New

Driving a new truck is a great feeling, but without faithful maintenance, 4x4 trucks can quickly loose that new-car look. Here are some helpful tips to help keep your truck looking as good as the day you bought it.

recognise this truck? it's a 1985 Toyota Pickup SR5 featured in Back To The Future

With the harsh treatment characteristic of 4x4 truck use, it is essential to diligently clean and wax them to maintain a good finish on the exterior paintwork. Always clean your truck soon after it becomes dirty as salts and other corrosive substances in mud and grit can ruin that new finish and cause rust to develop over time.


Try to avoid automated car washes because they are less thorough than a hand-wash and can leave shallow scratches in the paintwork. Waxing your truck afterwards will make it look like it did when it came from the dealer. Alternatively, some finishes can benefit from synthetic protective sealers. Ask your dealer for recommendations.

Clean and polish your wheel rims whenever you wash your car. There are a number of cleaning products on the market so find the one best suited to your vehicle. If you’re really serious about that new truck look, clean the tyres as well.

Don’t neglect the underside of your truck as this is where rust will develop first. It is worth getting the chassis and underbody coated with an anti-rust paint, as this will keep it looking great as well as prolonging the life of your vehicle.

A pressure washer is ideal for removing stubborn dirt from hard-to-reach places like the underbody, underneath wheel arches and in between the spokes of your rims.

Use a chamois leather or synthetic equivalent to dry your truck after cleaning it. Make sure that your truck is completely dry before applying polish or wax, as this will help to prevent spots or streaks on the finish.

Where possible, keep your truck in a garage or under a shelter. This will protect it from the elements as well as harmful UV light, which can dull the paintwork and upholstery. A window deflector screen will help to protect your truck’s interior if you can’t park it in the shade.

You’ll want to clean the interior regularly to keep it looking good as new. For leather upholstery, use a lint-free cloth to clean it with a shop-bought leather cleaner before applying a leather conditioner. Try to condition leather upholstery at least every 6 months to keep it looking new.

Vacuum the interior of your truck regularly. Salts can easily build up which, if they become damp, can cause some fabrics and stitching to perish.

For the complete new car finish, use a heavy-duty degreaser to clean the engine before applying a silicone dressing to keep it protected and shiny.

Follow these tips to ensure that your truck looks its best for longest, and you can enjoy the feeling of driving a new truck every day.

Share on Google Plus