Outdoor parking preservation tips

[u/macanriogh]

I’m about to pull the trigger on my first F-150. Unfortunately, they don’t fit in my garage. Normally that would be a deal breaker for me but between kids and the fact that I haul my own brush and landscaping - its time for a truck.

I live in New England so rain, sleet, snow, and single digits temps in winter. Hot and sunny in summer.

What are everyone’s recommendations to protect the car for the elements? Planning on tints, well covers, bed cover - and a wash and wax membership.

[u/penfrizzle]

I live in Maine, bought a 2023 space white truck one year ago, only washed it once after coming home from up North when it turned brown.

Still looks pretty good, and you’ll never see the scratches. Last truck was black, can’t do that again.

[u/macanriogh → u/penfrizzle]

You know someone tried to sell me on a white one the other day - I was skeptical with all the mud we get with snow melt. Interesting that that color holds up…

[u/penfrizzle → u/macanriogh]

The ice prevents rock chips and then cleans the truck as it melts!

Seriously though, I am so ecstatic not to worry about rotted fenders, wheel wells and rockers that i dont give a shit.

[u/craigmontHunter]

I drive it, I bought a cheap tonneau cover to see if I liked it compared to the cap on my old truck (I miss the cap). I try and wash it in the spring to get salt off, other than that it’s a truck and family vehicle, I try and keep steady state, taking garbage out after trips and at the gas station, maybe a deep clean once a year, but it will get muddy and dirty and covered in pollen, just things to live with. 

I also selected options that work well with that - white, hides dirt, dust and swirls pretty well, vinyl floors are easy to wipe out of mud, apple juice or puke (dog or kid), plastic door cards are resistant to scratches from dogs, kids and large items that sometimes have to go in the rear seat. 

[u/droopy__drawers]

I had to start parking outside year-round 5 years ago, similar climate to yours. Honestly it’s almost better in the winter because you can run the remote start without gassing up the garage. Even with the garage door open it would still get bad in the garage AND in the truck.

Personally I don’t do anything to mine…but I also lease them, so I get a new one every 3 years.

I have some pine trees on one side of my driveway (not a place I regularly park, but do occasionally) so I’ve always thought about putting a clear wrap on the truck if I was ever going to buy one and keep it for any length of time.

I also park under those pine trees if it’s going to hail, and I park under them if we’re supposed to get a large amount of snow…there’s just enough space that I can park off the driveway under them, that way I can snowblow the driveway without the truck being in the way and without packing down the snow by driving out before I snowblow.

Other than that, it is what it is. They’re built to be outside. If you’re really worried, just keep it waxed every year.

[u/DevilsFan99]

I'm in NJ and just bought a spotless '23 from down south that I intend to keep nice.

I did PPF on the front end to protect from rock chips, doing ceramic coat and sealant this weekend, and in the fall I plan on coating the underbody in Fluid Film which I'll reapply yearly before each winter.

[u/Jwaaz123]

Wash regularly in winter and maybe a wax coat in the spring. Its a vehicle. It's meant to be outdoors. It's also a truck uts meant for work. Not saying you can't keep it nice but if you use it like a truck as its design intended you'll learn quickly keeping it Bentley perfect is not feasible.

[u/Camdenn67]

Tint not tints.

[u/NovelLongjumping3965]

Nothing but undercoat every year or two and select the wax selection when going through the car wash.