Information on King Ranch Interior Materials

[2AActuary]

Good work Roger!

This is going to be waaaay more than you asked for but I'm board and you hit a subject near and dear to me. I'm no expert, just, afraid to say, been around for awhile now.

I am anal with the care of my vehicles, inside and out.

The drive I went to in Atlanta did not have a KR so I was not sure it was similar to my 2018, so Roger confirms that now. It is a very good leather but does require cleaning and conditioning to last as you all know.

I have gone through many different products with the leather and wax I use and find many work well but have settled into my favorites. First priority for me of course is how well they do the job I purchased them for. Second would be ease of application and use, Last is price.

Fortuity the good stuff does not have to break your wallet. I don't really consider longevity very much for I don't mind a wax that needs to applied often, as long as it is easy to apply and performs well. There many out there that I have used that meet this criteria.

Even though I don't usually keep my vehicles very long, I take care of them as if I do, till they turn to dust. Makes them desirable used and I like driving a vehicle that looks new all the time.

Lexol is good and I have used it in the past and liked it. Now I'm using Leather Milk, just liking it better. Never use a product with petroleum in it.

You can see the products I'm currently using, most for awhile now but I try new stuff here and there. If its better, I start using it, if not, I don't of course. No telling how much money I have spent on such products. Lol

I use a boar hair wash brush, nothing better.

I air blow my vehicles after washing, I don't wipe dry and never, ever, let it sit to dry. This is an 8hp blower and you can dry a big truck, spot free in 5 to 6 minutes, including the tires and wheels. Wash in shade of course.

The Final Touch wax has been with me for a long time now, found it when we had Harley bikes. I have tried many of this type and most do well to very well but I keep coming back to my Final Touch. I have recently been also using the Adams spray wax in conjunction with Final Touch. I'm really liking both so rather than dropping one for the other, I alternate. In some way they seem to enhance the other.

When I get a new car I like to put a good paste wax base coat down and then use my spray waxes on top of that.

Nu Finish, believe it or not, has the longest lasting formula of any I have tried and of an extensive test done by someone I know on You Tube. Best test I had seen and he used all the latest waxes, over the counter ceramics, etc. 30 in all I believe. He taped off a car hood, applied the products and then set it out in the yard on saw horses or something. Almost weekly, he would wash the hood and check water run off and beading. He did this for about a year and was still going last time I checked. The Nu Finish beat them all.

I don't want a cleaner with my spray wax, just the wax. If I need to clean a spot after my wash I use the Nu Finish and then spray.

The black plastics/trim pieces, I use Trim Serum, haven't been using it long but it is way better than the others I had been using. Has UV shield and many don't and it doesn't leave greasy film that dust can stick to.

I like to use Shout on the black rubber wheels. Spray on, wait a few minutes, brush it and spray off. Don't let it dry. If you have a pressure washer out, you don't have to brush it, just spray. I don't do this every time I wash, just when the tires start needing a cleaning. I don't use any tire dressing, most of them just attract and hold dirt.

I have chrome wheels but even if I didn't, I like using Wheel Repellent, makes it easier to clean the wheels, it's like a wax for wheels. I also like how it is just wash wheels, dry and then just spray a light coat. I do this about every month or so.

There you have it, I told you, you hit a tic spot for me and you paid the price.

As mentioned, no expert, just a novice and still learning, very sorry for going overboard...??

Whoever buys a used truck from you is buying the equivalent of a showroom condition car. Based on how you take care of it and your comments in other threads about maintenance, your trucks are very well taken care of. I thought I took care of mine, but you’re on a whole ’nother level. Just thought I’d throw the compliment out there.

Sponsored

 

[currybob]

CurryBob,

Like you I use a blower to dry my truck. I can get the jams, tailgate step, mirrors, etc. and best of all, no drips. And it only takes 5 minutes to completely dry with my 900 cfm backpack blower.

I have also been using Chemical Guys leather cleaner and condition with the horse hair brush to clean my interior.

Yeah I don't like using a sham or towel, forced air is the best. I hate spots on paint, so good wax and keeping it clean is my goal. Lol

You should check out one of those master blasters (8 hp), they are pretty impressive. I had to put heat shrink around my hose extension connection because it kept blowing it off with so much pressure.

Sweet ride!

 

[currybob]

Whoever buys a used truck from you is buying the equivalent of a showroom condition car. Based on how you take care of it and your comments in other threads about maintenance, your trucks are very well taken care of. I thought I took care of mine, but you’re on a whole ’nother level. Just thought I’d throw the compliment out there.

Lol, thanks for the compliment and yes they do. I have sold several of my past vehicles to friends or family for that exact reason. If I trade in my vehicle they don't even have to wash them.

It's a tick and has only gotten worse, or better I guess, sense I've retired and have even more time on my hands.

 

[currybob]

I'm about to test a new easy wax spray that has the internet and reviews buzzing. I just received it so will be awhile to tell more about it's longevity.

All the easy spray waxes that I have tried work well enough, they just don't have much of a longevity to them. This is not really an issue for me for I like doing it often for they are so easy to apply.

It's called The Last Coat, here is a link. I also ordered their clay mitt to check it out.
https://thelastcoat.com/pages/how-t...6pW)&utm_medium=flow-email&utm_source=Klaviyo

Anyway, will be some time for those results but I can still give a review on how it goes on, feel and how well it beads after it''s first couple of washes etc.

I have been searching for a easy spay wax that last longer for some time now with no luck.

Wish me luck...Lol

 

[mnstang]

I'm about to test a new easy wax spray that has the internet and reviews buzzing. I just received it so will be awhile to tell more about it's longevity.

All the easy spray waxes that I have tried work well enough, they just don't have much of a longevity to them. This is not really an issue for me for I like doing it often for they are so easy to apply.

It's called The Last Coat, here is a link. I also ordered their clay mitt to check it out.
https://thelastcoat.com/pages/how-to-apply-our-products-for-best-results?_ke=eyJrbF9jb21wYW55X2lkIjogIlBMU3NMMiIsICJrbF9lbWFpbCI6ICJjdXJyeWJvYkBjYWJsZW9uZS5uZXQifQ==&utm_campaign=ZM | Placed Order - New Customer #2 (UrK6pW)&utm_medium=flow-email&utm_source=Klaviyo

Anyway, will be some time for those results but I can still give a review on how it goes on, feel and how well it beads after it''s first couple of washes etc.

I have been searching for a easy spay wax that last longer for some time now with no luck.

Wish me luck...Lol

Good luck! Was also looking at this exact product. Make sure you update us!

 

[currybob]

Good luck! Was also looking at this exact product. Make sure you update us!

Just got through washing and clay baring the truck.

I followed the instructions to the letter, it goes on just like the other spray waxes I have used and was a breeze to apply. Now just wait and see how it beads and bug sticking prevention.

I will say this, I had a few water spots on the truck and even on the windshield, this stuff cut right through it. Water spots are very hard to get off a windshield without washing it, I just used what was on my application towel and it just took it right off. Left no streaking on the glass either, I like that part of it real well. My other spray waxes don't do that. I also had a few bug parts and some small tar spots that I missed while doing the clay bar, this stuff just took it right off.

Even if it doesn't last as long as advertised, I will more than likely start using this for it's better cleaning ability.

update to follow down the road...Lol

 

[PungoteagueDave]

It is my understanding that all of the automotive leather seating treatment products being sold now are essentially over-hyped wastes of money, especially on Ford truck products, for one simple reason - we never touch actual leather. I had a 2006 KR that had untreated leather, and it was a disaster, had stains and looked like an old baseball mitt after a few months. Its interior required a LOT of leather treatment and hand work to maintain, and never looked like new. But that does not happen today.

The thing we need to know is that car leather found in virtually any car or truck built today, regardless of cost, is coated leather - it has been coated with a clear protective coating - normally a thin film of vinyl. When we clean "leather" car seats, we are working on a synthetic coating, not the natural leather. This also means that maintenance of leather car seats is easier than ever -

• Cleaning leather car seats should actually be called cleaning a clear coating, not leather
• A true leather cleaner that works on coats, shoes, boots, etc. will be ineffective at cleaning car leather seats
• Using regular cleaners like diluted Simple Green gives better results for cleaning than dedicated leather products
• A coat of detailing wax for protection is appropriate after cleaning - the same spray-on stuff stuff we use on paint is what I use on my modern leather interiors - from my Tesla to the Porsche and our Ford trucks - spray-on, wipe off. We use Meguiar's Quick Detailer in our shop, but any of the fast waxes should work fine. We do use real leather treatments (Griots) on our older classic/antique cars with leather interiors. But they are a waste on a new F-150.

 

[BigTex22]

I can’t verify whether the leather is coated, but I can tell you that my 2011 King Ranch leather started cracking like crazy on the passenger side of the vehicle after about two years. This was a truck that spent almost every week parked in an airport parking lot, as I was a road warrior for many years, so this was not due to sun damage. If it was coated, then the coating was s**t.

 

[currybob]

Dave is right that modern leathers are sealed but not with a clear coat like the paint. Leather still breathes, can still dry out and needs cleaning and conditioning.

From 2001-2008 the Ford King Ranch trucks came with Castano leather. In 2009, Ford switched to Chaparral leather. Both are aniline leathers. Ford starting using a more robust sealer after that.

There are many types of synthetic leathers used in the automotive industry. There are also just as many types of stains and sealers used on real leather hides for the higher end automotive seating.

The King Ranch seats are more of the high end leather and less of the leather-like products, that is one reason and KR can cost as much or same as Platinum or Limited.

Never use high-octane cleaners, petroleum and distillates to clean real leather. Same with the leather conditioning you use.

Just my 2 cents

 

[SonnyDigs]

I found a very reliable source close to Ford that answered some questions I had about the King Ranch Interior, so here is what I've got:

The Leather does have a light topcoat on it like most automotive grade leather, so it should not be as big of a chore to maintain as the original early model King Ranch trucks that used aniline died uncoated leather that required frequent cleaning and conditioning. Any automotive grade leather cleaning and conditioning products will work well on the King Ranch seats. I believe this type of leather has been used in the KR trucks since about 2012, or so, so someone like Bob can probably confirm how well the current leather holds up, and what products if any they used to keep them looking good.

The real Sapelle wood trim also has a matte / semi-gloss topcoat as well, so no oil needs to be applied to keep it looking good. It really looked like an oil finish in person, so I wondered if we needed to keep it oiled so it wouldn't dry out.

Finally, I got confirmation that the Max Recline Seats come both with and without the massage function. So for people like me that ordered a 600A Base King Ranch with the Max Recline Seats, our seats will not have the multi-contour massage function. Kind of bummed, but not that surprised.

The KR 601A and up will have the massage function in their Max Recline Seats.

Most of these things are questions no one else probably would have cared much to ask, so I know they are not particularly useful to the forum, but I thought I'd pass them along anyway.

Cheers!

I appreciate this post..
Good info I was looking for.
Thanks..

 

[SonnyDigs]

I would be one that definitely does care! My truck is going to be spoiled just like my previous vehicles. Leathers get a top grade cleaner and conditioner. Plastics, vinyls, and rubbers also get cleaned. Don’t event get me started on the outside! ? Looking at doing a ceramic coat for the first time with this truck.

Just had a Graphene Ceramic applied yesterday.
Unbelievable results, could not be happier.
All the glass chrome and wheels included.

 

[SonnyDigs]

Good work Roger!

This is going to be waaaay more than you asked for but I'm board and you hit a subject near and dear to me. I'm no expert, just, afraid to say, been around for awhile now.

I am anal with the care of my vehicles, inside and out.

The drive I went to in Atlanta did not have a KR so I was not sure it was similar to my 2018, so Roger confirms that now. It is a very good leather but does require cleaning and conditioning to last as you all know.

I have gone through many different products with the leather and wax I use and find many work well but have settled into my favorites. First priority for me of course is how well they do the job I purchased them for. Second would be ease of application and use, Last is price.

Fortuity the good stuff does not have to break your wallet. I don't really consider longevity very much for I don't mind a wax that needs to applied often, as long as it is easy to apply and performs well. There many out there that I have used that meet this criteria.

Even though I don't usually keep my vehicles very long, I take care of them as if I do, till they turn to dust. Makes them desirable used and I like driving a vehicle that looks new all the time.

Lexol is good and I have used it in the past and liked it. Now I'm using Leather Milk, just liking it better. Never use a product with petroleum in it.

You can see the products I'm currently using, most for awhile now but I try new stuff here and there. If its better, I start using it, if not, I don't of course. No telling how much money I have spent on such products. Lol

I use a boar hair wash brush, nothing better.

I air blow my vehicles after washing, I don't wipe dry and never, ever, let it sit to dry. This is an 8hp blower and you can dry a big truck, spot free in 5 to 6 minutes, including the tires and wheels. Wash in shade of course.

The Final Touch wax has been with me for a long time now, found it when we had Harley bikes. I have tried many of this type and most do well to very well but I keep coming back to my Final Touch. I have recently been also using the Adams spray wax in conjunction with Final Touch. I'm really liking both so rather than dropping one for the other, I alternate. In some way they seem to enhance the other.

When I get a new car I like to put a good paste wax base coat down and then use my spray waxes on top of that.

Nu Finish, believe it or not, has the longest lasting formula of any I have tried and of an extensive test done by someone I know on You Tube. Best test I had seen and he used all the latest waxes, over the counter ceramics, etc. 30 in all I believe. He taped off a car hood, applied the products and then set it out in the yard on saw horses or something. Almost weekly, he would wash the hood and check water run off and beading. He did this for about a year and was still going last time I checked. The Nu Finish beat them all.

I don't want a cleaner with my spray wax, just the wax. If I need to clean a spot after my wash I use the Nu Finish and then spray.

The black plastics/trim pieces, I use Trim Serum, haven't been using it long but it is way better than the others I had been using. Has UV shield and many don't and it doesn't leave greasy film that dust can stick to.

I like to use Shout on the black rubber wheels. Spray on, wait a few minutes, brush it and spray off. Don't let it dry. If you have a pressure washer out, you don't have to brush it, just spray. I don't do this every time I wash, just when the tires start needing a cleaning. I don't use any tire dressing, most of them just attract and hold dirt.

I have chrome wheels but even if I didn't, I like using Wheel Repellent, makes it easier to clean the wheels, it's like a wax for wheels. I also like how it is just wash wheels, dry and then just spray a light coat. I do this about every month or so.

There you have it, I told you, you hit a tic spot for me and you paid the price.

As mentioned, no expert, just a novice and still learning, very sorry for going overboard...??

Excellent, great info and will be looking at the master blaster.
I now use a 200 mph, Toro leaf blower.
Thanks Bob.

 

[Dan M.]

Any recommendations on what to use on the KR dash? Looks like it’s vinyl but not sure. My 2018 Lariat looked like it was leather.

 

[SonnyDigs]

Bob I knew you'd have some great information. I'm going to have to check out all those products. Do those Leather Milk products have any "saddle leather" scent added to them. My wife loves that smell, so she was a little bummed when I told her that her new truck was just going to have regular car leather and not the stuff from the KR Saddle Shop that smells "good."

I have that same car dryer. Funny story, my old boss' boss, my director at the time, bought it for his M3. He grew tired of how much space it took up, and when the "new" wore off on the car, he asked me if I'd want it for my EVO. I said sure, since I thought he was giving it to me since he was loaded. Instead he was selling it to me for $100. Once I figured that out, there was no way to back out of it, without looking like an idiot or worse, so $100 later it was mine. I do agree it works really well, but I laugh every time I use it. It does take up a bunch of space, but I like how you have it mounted on the wall. Have to wear ear plugs every time I use it the thing is so loud especially when you get it blowing into a tight crevice, but it sure dries the car well. If that thing was convertible into a high powered vacuum for cleaning the interior it would be incredible. I do use it to blow dust out of the interior, but it would be better if it would suck it all up.

Lol,
Reminds me of a friend that ask if I would go with him to a Ranger game that he had the tickets.
I said yes, got to the game and he ask me for $70.
I just handed it over.

 

[jcaspar]

Anyone use GTECHNIQ products? I’m going to use their ceramic coating on the paint, glass sealer on the glass, and leather guard on the interior.

I tried it for the first time last weekend on my paint. Used Crystal Serum Light with two coats of EXO after. car looks and feels very glossy and the pollen we have in the air just seems to blow off. Wash/Clay bar/buff/Serum/Exo x2 took about 8 hours. Hope it lasts!

Sponsored