Diesel truck owners are not average. Partly because diesel trucks are not average. You may use your diesel for work, play, or both, but you probably take care of it. You may have noticed that all diesel vehicles have personalities. They run better when they're clean. OK, so they also attract more attention.
Now we have problems. Dirty problems. Bugs, mud, road grime, tree pitch, bird poop-the more you use your truck, the worse things get. We know this far too well. We've been getting diesel trucks dirty for many years, and being creative, we've discovered some very helpful products to keep our diesel trucks clean.
First, you need to rinse off the chunks. The hose is obvious. Sprayer nozzles help direct the water and concentrate the power. Carrand makes the Water Snake, which attaches to most flow-thru poles and redirects the adjustable spray in any direction, great for getting the mud off under the frame and reaching the cab roof of a lifted 4x4.
Next you need a bucket, but not just any bucket. Check out the Grit Guard bucket. It has a big grate in the bottom that allows sand and grit to fall through, instead of turning your wash mitt or brush into a piece of sandpaper. Great idea! Add soap and water. No worries. If you're into show-'n'-shine events, you can bring your own touch-up water with you-the lid on the Grit Guard bucket seals.
You can use dishwashing detergent to wash your truck, but only if you don't care about the paint on your vehicle. Several companies have better soaps made specifically for washing vehicles. Protect All, Meguiar's, Turtle Wax, Mothers, and Armor All are all excellent.
So you've rinsed the big stuff off of your vehicle and washed thoroughly with a soft brush or mitt. Drying is perhaps one of the most important steps, and a California Original Water Blade is the answer. Trust us, if you're still drying your truck, boat, toy-hauler, or car with an old bath towel, we suspect you may still be playing eight-track tapes. The Water Blade's silicone edge easily removes 90 percent of all water from most surfaces in seconds. It comes in two sizes: regular, and a large, 18-inch model, great for big surfaces like RVs. The 18-inch version comes with an extension handle for a long reach.
For the water a Water Blade leaves, a product like the Absorber is next in line. Made by Clean Tools, the Absorber has replaced all our chamois and most of our towels. It's the perfect tool for final detailing and lint-free windows, and it can be washed and reused forever. Some of ours are more than 10 years old.
 Wash mitts are important tools...  Wash mitts are important tools for removing heavy soil, and at around $5 are worth replacing every other time you wash your truck. |  The Carrand Deluxe 10-inch...  The Carrand Deluxe 10-inch flow-thru brush carries loads of soap and water, and the click-lock handle is easy to adjust with soapy hands. |  The Truck & Cap Window Washer...  The Truck & Cap Window Washer gives us a 48-inch reach to clean between the cab and camper, and the other end has a built-in dual squeegee. |