cleaning up after the surf

[rycher]

This may seem an odd question but when I bought my car 4 months back I wasnt insane on catching my first striper as I am now.

My car is new so I'm looking for any advice/tips/tricks to keeping it as such after coming off the beach @ night all sandy + smelling like bunker.

I've yet to invest in waders, but will soon with cold weather coming so after i strip outside the car, i'm guessin ill throw em in a plastic bag + toss em in the trunk.

I figure hand sanitizer so steering wheel wont remind me of my trip for days to come.

Just wondering what the pro's do.

[SurfJockey]

I used to vacuum the truck after every outing, now it goes for a week or month or so all sandy.  I noticed my buddy (ChrisL) keeps a shallow rubbermaid type bin in the back of his SUV for his waders to keep the sand at bay.  (Good idea  )  Main thing I try and do after every outing, is at least hose down the truck, undercarriage, and behind the wheels.  Salt is bad.  The beach will put your truck through hell.  And rinse your rods/reel/gear under light pressure.  Don't force sand into the works.

Good luck. 

[Offshore Madness]

 

[ped579]

All great advise.  I have a 2000 Expedition and I have cleaned and washed it after every outing and it is still in great shape.  I also use a rubbermaid which measures around 18" X 24" and I keep anything that gets sand on it in there till I get home and then clean it all out.

I also have used a set of rubber floor mats that have deep ridges to catch and hold the sand till I get off the beach and just shake them off and am good to go again.

Happy Catching

Paul

[ChrisL]

I have heavy duty rubber mats throughout the truck.
As Jay said, the waders go in a rubbermaid tote.
All the seats have Cabelas trail gear waterproof seat covers.

That's about the extent of it.  The first year or two I spent hours after each trip with the hose, soap, vacum, etc.  Now.....maybe once a month the truck gets washed.  There is typically 10lbs of sand in the floormats of my truck. 
I like to think of my truck as a 4 wheel drive tacklebox.

[SurfJockey]

I was doing the soap and water thing each time as well but that got old.  You don't at least rinse after each trip, Chris?

[ChrisL]

Not every trip.  With 4-5 trips per week during the run, it gets old. 

[rycher]

"Cabelas trail gear waterproof seat covers."

Thanks for all the info, as always.

I don't drive onto the beach, i was unclear in opening. I am more concerned with interior.

 I will look for seat covers for sure.
 Anyony have the WeatherTech mats? I have heard some good things about them.

[FishOn]

I drive a wrangler with no carpets or mats and all the drain plugs pulled. I have a small beach building inside there now. I need a heavy rain to leak through the soft top and flush it all out again! The under carriage gets washed more than the exterior and inside.

[ChrisL]

I have the Husky mats.  Very similar to Weathertech.  They do the job.