Sure, crazy wheels and body mods are important, too, but how many people would take your truck seriously if it were a rust bucket? Probably none. That's why it's critically important to take care of your truck's finish.

After hearing rave reviews about Lane's detailing products from other custom vehicle enthusiasts, I decided to try them myself.

I set aside an afternoon a few weeks ago to thoroughly test the products. First, I washed my truck with a wash mitt (as usual) with Lane's Wash & Shine. I dried it with an Absorber and dried the wheels with a soft towel. At this point, I was already impressed with how my truck looked. But I wasn't finished yet.

Since I have a black truck, I'm cursed with a common problem: swirl marks. Several friends have suggested ways to remove my truck's swirl marks. None of their suggestions have worked effectively. It was recommended to me that I try Lane's Super Cut compound to help the condition. I applied the compound as directed with a cotton towel. (As a side note, I wished I had an orbital buffer for this portion of the testing.) After a great deal of rubbing, I had completed applying the synthetic compound. After a close inspection of my truck, I noticed a great reduction in the appearance of the swirl marks on my truck. I also noticed that a few blemishes (scratches and scuffs) that I had accumulated over the past 2 years had disappeared. At this point, I noticed that the places where I had removed my stock emblems looked much better than before. The surface scratches were gone and the finish was consistent.

Next, I used the Lane's Gold Edition wax on the entire truck with a wax applicator and soft cotton cloth. The wax didn't have any offensive odors- it smelled great. It also applied very easily and came off just as quickly.

Finally, I applied Lane's Super Seal to the entire truck. This coat of polish protects my truck's finish and gave it an even slicker appearance.

One final step: the tires. One of the greatest compliments I had heard about Lane's products was the durability of the tire shine. I applied a generous amount of Lane's Super Blue Tire Gloss with a sponge and wiped off the excess. The result was an amazing shine, as good or even better than some of the other tire dressing products on the market.

After applying all of the products, I stood back and admired my work (and rested my aching arms). Honestly, I hadn't seen my truck shine like that since I first purchased it back in 1999. It was like my paint was re-born all over again. Every panel had a mirror-like shine and a nice, soft feel to it.

I continued to check my tires over the next few days and I have to admit that I was very impressed with how long the tires stayed clean and shiny. Even after two rain storms and a week and a half later, my tires still looked great this afternoon when I checked them.

I really can't say enough good things about these products. Instead, I'll let you all look at some photographs that I took of the truck after I had finished using the above mentioned products.

Click thumbnail for larger image

Because the owner of Lane's Professional Car Products has a special place in his heart for CustomTacos.com members, they are offering a limited-time 20% discount on products you purchase through their website.

Here's how it works:
Head on over to www.lanescarproducts.com and add the items you want to your shopping cart. When you to checkout, enter the code "twentyoff" (all lowercase and without the quotes) in the coupon field. A 20% discount will be reflected on your total order. At this price, you really can't go wrong. Check them out!