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Rock Guards

Geerhed

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#1
Has anyone on here found any small rock guards that isn't as big as Texas that will stop small rocks from nicking the bottom panel on side of the wide body that looks nice? I got one small nick that just pisses me off to no end...lol.
 


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Geerhed

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Thread Starter #3

Paladin06

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#4
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Geerhed

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Ronin

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#6
Ronin....wonder if one could add a push pin or two and they hold up under a car wash much better than the stick tape? I use a carwash with soft brushes a good bit. Hate to give up that capability, but I suppose its may be a better trade off for the nicks. lol.
Hand wash or NO wash…automated car washes use extremely alkaline detergents to get your car “clean” and in the process incrementally wreck your finish. Ask any professional detailer (that does it for a living, not just a side hustle…) and they’ll tell you that using an automated car wash just once mars your finish.

Protecting your paint from errant rock damage is one thing and completely understandable, but it’s easy and cheap enough to get a quality car wash and foam cannon with a variety of sponges, brushes, etc. to keep it clean in the interim while you figure out how to polish, wax, etc.

Griots is a good place to start and they’re definitely a one and done place to set up everyone from a complete novice to professional detailer or car collector.

For me personally outside of getting my System-X ceramic coating professionally done I’m all about taking the time I need to keep it clean! I’m retired so it’s a lot easier for me than someone who works for a living! 🤣
 


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#7
Hand wash or NO wash…automated car washes use extremely alkaline detergents to get your car “clean” and in the process incrementally wreck your finish. Ask any professional detailer (that does it for a living, not just a side hustle…) and they’ll tell you that using an automated car wash just once mars your finish.

Protecting your paint from errant rock damage is one thing and completely understandable, but it’s easy and cheap enough to get a quality car wash and foam cannon with a variety of sponges, brushes, etc. to keep it clean in the interim while you figure out how to polish, wax, etc.

Griots is a good place to start and they’re definitely a one and done place to set up everyone from a complete novice to professional detailer or car collector.

For me personally outside of getting my System-X ceramic coating professionally done I’m all about taking the time I need to keep it clean! I’m retired so it’s a lot easier for me than someone who works for a living! 🤣
I was having heart palpitations just thinking about those automatic car washes beating the crap out of the car. Thanks for setting the record straight 😂
 


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#8
They use all the buzzwords like “brushless”, “soft touch” etc. but you’re better off leaving your car filthy until you can hand wash it yourself or have a professional detailer have at it. Even where I am in extreme rural SW AZ there’s more than you can shake a stick at and they normally do an exceptional job because (1) it’s competitive and (2) they want your referrals and repeat business…
 


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#9
They also use a buzzword called “Touchless”……that’s where nothing but water spray touches your car. It works pretty well, but I’m sure they still use the cheaper harsher soaps which is why I always keep my car detailed/waxed. I actually use the manual spray wand washes for mine - and I agree with the above….stay away from the “whirling brushes of damage” type car washes.

- But most rock guards won’t come off easily…you should be fine in any type of car wash.
 


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Geerhed

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Thread Starter #10
With white finish you see no swirl marks on the finish like you would dark colors. I do not know if F-11 works well with swirls as claimed. The cannons at home use very harsh cleaners just like car washes use with some having even more harsh chemical due to using no high pressure cleaning. Google F-11 sealer and you will find it protects your finish even from carwash chemicals as well as foam cannons I use both. Some newer car washes are very soft brushed that do not spin at high speeds and are gentle in nature with copious amount of rinseate before, during and after washing units . I prefer this type of car wash and if you observe some ( Not all) newer car washes last 10 years or less they are no harder on the finish over other walk away foams. I traded in a Scat Pack with 48k and 4 years old with Knuckle White finish and had comments all the time with people telling me it looked like a new model and thought it was. It was car washed 90% of the time by the same wash I always go to. It depends on the type of wash. I also agree with you there is some I know where they will flat out destroy the finish as you described too. I use F-11 at least once a month!! The most awesome sealer ever. Yes! Griots is very good used their products for many years. The muscle cars and past new vehicle and trucks I have owned, I would never dreamed of taking to car washes 10 years ago (and some never would I today) and before F-11. Some of the new wash type strips and wipers are "Soft" and not just a "buzz: word if you take the time to check some of them out.
 


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#11
I say again, automated car washes, HARD pass...

Next time you're at one, notice the guy in front of you with the lifted Wrangler Rubicon that is covered top to bottom in mud? Those "soft" brushes that go all over his Jeep are the same exact ones that are going to gouge (on a microscopic level, but gouge nonetheless) your vehicle's finish when you're next in line.

F-11 snake oil hawked by washed up actor Ted Danson? That's gotta be a joke. Google System-X ceramic. I'll wait. You have to be a trained/certified technician to even buy it and is the same stuff used on jets, yachts and bazillion dollar super/hypercars. The 4 ounce bottle used to treat my car was roughly $500 and even gets a CarFax entry (not that I care personally, but worth mentioning) for finish protection...

You do you though.
 


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Geerhed

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Thread Starter #12
I was having heart palpitations just thinking about those automatic car washes beating the crap out of the car. Thanks for setting the record straight 😂
I say again, automated car washes, HARD pass...

Next time you're at one, notice the guy in front of you with the lifted Wrangler Rubicon that is covered top to bottom in mud? Those "soft" brushes that go all over his Jeep are the same exact ones that are going to gouge (on a microscopic level, but gouge nonetheless) your vehicle's finish when you're next in line.

F-11 snake oil hawked by washed up actor Ted Danson? That's gotta be a joke. Google System-X ceramic. I'll wait. You have to be a trained/certified technician to even buy it and is the same stuff used on jets, yachts and bazillion dollar super/hypercars. The 4 ounce bottle used to treat my car was roughly $500 and even gets a CarFax entry (not that I care personally, but worth mentioning) for finish protection...

You do you though.
Well I have and used F-11 and its not snake oil just like Griots is not snake oil products either. I have and paid to have Ceramic professionally applied to front end its not bad but I would not buy it again! I most certainly never had it on the Scat Pack ..talking about snake oil for sure! The guy who works/owns the Carwash drives a older SRT . Its a nice looking black Charger. To each his own. I don't know Ted Danson or follow hollyweirds but F-11 is a really fine product and works very well for me and many in the family and friend circle around here who use it.
Thanks for the response on the rock guards.
 


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#13
Top search result; the manufacturer's website:

https://topcoatproducts.com/products/topcoat-f11

"As acclaimed on Advancement TV hosted by Ted Danson..."

Literally the first line used by the manufacturer to describe their product.
 


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Geerhed

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Thread Starter #14
Who cares about Ted Danson who ever he is I never took time to view it! I was talking about F-11 Product. Apparently F-11 used this guy for advertising F-11 product at one point. As I said the F-11 product works better than any product I have ever used in my years around muscle cars, Bikes, and automotive in General. I would recommend it to any one that may want to try it. Its an awesome product and comes with a full money back guarantee. If you think its a bad product don' try it by all means I was only suggesting things you may like or want not damage your Cats. It was only a suggestion and friendly referral geez! I'm going to continue using my snake oil F-11, crappy car wash, and not use 500 an once quality stuff from car fax!
 


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#15
…”from CarFax”…

Reading comprehension fail.

You did the ole “Google it!” “Witty” comeback and when you do, the manufacturer comes up with the top search result and the number one thing they have to say is the Ted Danson comment. Comical…

Good luck with your washed up actor (pun intended!) hawked snake oil and have at it with your “soft touch” car washes while you’re at it…

The ZL1 Add Ons products WILL protect your finish…but they don’t have a sexy Hollywood spokesman at the moment…maybe Danny DeVito could weigh in when he’s not doing episodes of “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia “? :ROFLMAO:
 


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Geerhed

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Thread Starter #16
Well I don't need any finish protection now. I went by way of too many Jeeper car washes, where Hang Em High and High Plains Drifters hang out having mud slinger fights! Its all finished up now! (Pun Intended) You can go wash yours now as you might want to take your chair with you, while you wash your car with power the cannon so you have some one to talk to. (Pun Intended). But since you like those respectful folks in Hollywood so well it may pay you take a port-a-potty with you they have a real tough time solving the rest rooms issues where they may be. But you never know they might just hire Kyle Jenner or is that Kylie to give lectures on car hand washing out there? Have a good day and weekend coming up I need to go do something constructive with retired time too.:)
 




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