i did a search forum on this and didn't see a specific thread covering this subject. i just washed my new XLT crew cab and as the mrs. and i are about to head to Colorado i want to wax the truck for the trip. what is the consensus as to the best wax. i know alot of people do the clay treatment, but i just want to do a good standard wax job. i have always used Meguiar's Wax/cleaner, but is there something out there that will provide a higher level of finish protection. i have a nice orbital polisher and plenty of clean applicator and buffer pads ready to go. so tell me what you use and why.
thanks, and have a great weekend.

 

I'm a fan of Zaino or Klasse
​​​lasts easily through winter. You can do it all by hand. Both arr extremely easy to apply and buff off... And the depth of shine from either is impressive. Gets deeper as you layer more coats


I'm going to give ceramic coatings a try this season

 

Collinite 845 is one of the more popular waxes on this site. It's easy to use and lasts quite a while. It's more of a top coat so you may need to polish out any swirls or fine scratches before applying 845. It's not available locally around here so I buy it online.

 

I use Meguiars Ultimate Paste Wax. It's a thin film so it goes on and dries fast, and polishes out easily. Lasts longer than anything else I've used, and I can buy it locally or online.

 

There is an entire section of the forum covering detailing and cleaning - https://www.f150forum.com/f28/

I second Collinite 845.

 

Collinite 476 super doublecoat
I used to use the collinite 845, but the super doublecoat lasts longer and isn't any harder to apply and buff out.

 

I used some "old" Meguires cleaner wax on my XLT a week or so ago, did a great job IMO, no clay bar or process as the paint was smooth. Wax went on well, removed some water spots with little effort, good shine and will bead up water for 6 months or so. I usually wax 2x's a yr, so..

 

Meguiar's Synthetic Sealant 2.0, from their professional line. The pro stuff is a lot less expensive than buying the consumer stuff in-store.

The synthetic stuff won't get you quite as "deep" a look as a high-end carnuba wax... but it'll last a lot longer. My process is (all Meguiar's products):
Wash with Dawn to strip old wax, starting with a foam lance, then two-bucket
D143 tire/wheel cleaner
Clay bar with Quick Detailer for lubricant
Quick wash/rinse
M02 fine-cut cleaner all over, M03/M04 in problem areas
M07 show car glaze (polish)
M21 synthetic sealant 2.0
D170 hyper dressing on tires (diluted to not be too shiny)

Then, the interior...
D101 all-purpose cleaner
M40 vinyl/rubber cleaner/conditioner
D180 leather cleaner/conditioner
D161 silicone-free dressing
D120 glass cleaner

For the routine washes/touch-ups, D110 Hyper-Wash (foam lance then two-bucket) for normal washes, followed by Quik Detailer and Quik Interior Detailer.

The towels and applicators are just as important. I use a dual-action polisher, and good microfiber towels with a color system to ensure I don't, for instance, use a towel on a wheel, then on my paint. Black = wheels/tires, white = generic, pink = paint (wax, etc.), etc. etc. And proper microfiber cleaner (*not* regular detergent) to clean the towels.

On the 150 with a commercial topper on the back, the entire detail process is a solid day. Half a day for her Explorer Sport.

 

I've used Mequiar's Paint Protect until I saw this. Once it's gone I will switch to Turtle Wax Ice. .