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My 2004 GMC dually served me faithfully since day one, until it left me stranded recently while towing.
I decided it was finally time for a new truck, and across the big 3 brands, it was no contest that it would be a Super Duty. While researching, I got hooked by Ruby Red, convinced myself that I needed the turning circle of an F450, and said why not step up to a Platinum.
I didn’t want to wait for first year problems with the new 2020 trucks to get sorted, so I pulled the trigger and placed the order for a 2019 in September, Ruby on Black, rapid heat, gooseneck prep, spray in liner, upfitter switches. She showed up this week, and I brought her home Friday. 3 step paint correction and sealant happened immediately. This color is awesome, the thread I started here really convinced me to go Ruby:
Beautiful! Congrats on your new dually. We ordered our F350 Lariat yesterday, also set up for towing but just an SRW. We did splurge for the White Platinum paint, though. Hopefully I will be able to post up the results along about the end of February.
My 2004 GMC dually served me faithfully since day one, until it left me stranded recently while towing.
I decided it was finally time for a new truck, and across the big 3 brands, it was no contest that it would be a Super Duty. While researching, I got hooked by Ruby Red, convinced myself that I needed the turning circle of an F450, and said why not step up to a Platinum.
I didn’t want to wait for first year problems with the new 2020 trucks to get sorted, so I pulled the trigger and placed the order for a 2019 in September, Ruby on Black, rapid heat, gooseneck prep, spray in liner, upfitter switches. She showed up this week, and I brought her home Friday. 3 step paint correction and sealant happened immediately. This color is awesome, the thread I started here really convinced me to go Ruby:
Thanks to forum for all the help while I did my research.
Good looking truck you have there and congrats.
It sad that pictures really can`t do Ruby Red justice because in person, it looks so much better and it`s worth the extra cost.
My 2004 GMC dually served me faithfully since day one, until it left me stranded recently while towing.
I decided it was finally time for a new truck, and across the big 3 brands, it was no contest that it would be a Super Duty. While researching, I got hooked by Ruby Red, convinced myself that I needed the turning circle of an F450, and said why not step up to a Platinum.
I didn’t want to wait for first year problems with the new 2020 trucks to get sorted, so I pulled the trigger and placed the order for a 2019 in September, Ruby on Black, rapid heat, gooseneck prep, spray in liner, upfitter switches. She showed up this week, and I brought her home Friday. 3 step paint correction and sealant happened immediately. This color is awesome, the thread I started here really convinced me to go Ruby:
Thanks to forum for all the help while I did my research.
Have not heard of a 3 step paint protection..what is it and is it done at Ford or regular paint shop? Also, what sealant? Is that the Ceramic that has been discussed here? Thanks...
Beautiful! Congrats on your new dually. We ordered our F350 Lariat yesterday, also set up for towing but just an SRW. We did splurge for the White Platinum paint, though. Hopefully I will be able to post up the results along about the end of February.
My GMC is white (just plain white), but I'll order vehicles in color when there is a color they offer that I like. I've even done "paint to order" special colors on cars. I was dead set on Ruby, and then a couple weeks before my F450 was due to arrive I went to another Ford dealership to take one for a test drive to see if I could shake free a PCO. It was a White Platinum F450, with the Marsala interior. I then thought I might have made a mistake ordering Ruby. White Platinum is sharp on the new Super Duties, it makes the angular body lines look even crisper.
Originally Posted by snaproll
Fantastic choice. Looks awesome. Did you tint the rear windows?
Thanks. Nope, that's the factory tint.
Originally Posted by Maiden666
Have not heard of a 3 step paint protection..what is it and is it done at Ford or regular paint shop? Also, what sealant? Is that the Ceramic that has been discussed here? Thanks...
It's something I did myself. I first requested the dealer not to wash the truck, that's typically when surface scratches get introduced on new vehicles.
First step is a ferrous metal removal by spraying down the entire body with a product like made by Nanolex.
Second is a clay bar application. Both first and second steps remove iron and other metal particles left behind on the paint from sources like the rail cars and carrier truck brakes, as well as minerals found in rain water.
Third step is a full body polish using a DA and Meguires 205. There really were no discernable swirls in the paint that I could find, inspecting with a high discharge LED flashlight, so there was no need to use a heavier cutting compound before the Meguires polish.
Finally, after a diluted isopropyl alcohol panel spray down to remove the polishing oils, I sealed the paint with a ceramic based sealant.
Best to do this as soon as possible after delivery to avoid contamination and damage as much as possible. Less work to be done.
My GMC is white (just plain white), but I'll order vehicles in color when there is a color they offer that I like. I've even done "paint to order" special colors on cars. I was dead set on Ruby, and then a couple weeks before my F450 was due to arrive I went to another Ford dealership to take one for a test drive to see if I could shake free a PCO. It was a White Platinum F450, with the Marsala interior. I then thought I might have made a mistake ordering Ruby. White Platinum is sharp on the new Super Duties, it makes the angular body lines look even crisper.
Thanks. Nope, that's the factory tint.
It's something I did myself. I first requested the dealer not to wash the truck, that's typically when surface scratches get introduced on new vehicles.
First step is a ferrous metal removal by spraying down the entire body with a product like made by Nanolex.
Second is a clay bar application. Both first and second steps remove iron and other metal particles left behind on the paint from sources like the rail cars and carrier truck brakes, as well as minerals found in rain water.
Third step is a full body polish using a DA and Meguires 205. There really were no discernable swirls in the paint that I could find, inspecting with a high discharge LED flashlight, so there was no need to use a heavier cutting compound before the Meguires polish.
Finally, after a diluted isopropyl alcohol panel spray down to remove the polishing oils, I sealed the paint with a ceramic based sealant.
Best to do this as soon as possible after delivery to avoid contamination and damage as much as possible. Less work to be done.
How long did all that take? Unfortunately my garage isn’t beg enough for the truck and could be tough doing it ouside here in Utah...
Love that color. I had to settle for Tri coat white. Someone bought the ruby red one off the lot 2 days before I got there. If someone bought it in CO on Oct 29 or so, I'll trade ya?
How long did all that take? Unfortunately my garage isn’t beg enough for the truck and could be tough doing it ouside here in Utah...
Total work time 6-7 hrs, but with a true ceramic coating you will also need to garage the vehicle for 24-48hrs to allow it to fully cure. You also don't want to apply ceramic coating outside in winter temps.
An alternative that doesn't require cure time and isn't so touchy about air temps is using a polymer based sealant, like Sonax Netshield, instead of the ceramic step. It's also more forgiving for first-timers. While a ceramic coating will last years, a polymer sealant only lasts 6 months or so, but the effect of protecting the paint, and the shine it produces, is about the same as the ceramic product during that time. Re-application of the polymer is easy, as it is spray based.
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level
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