Keeping the Red Dust Off Your Paint

Before you even think about hitting a dirt road, you need a decent sealant or wax on the car. I'm a big fan of Bowden’s Own 'Bead Machine' or a quick hit of Meguiar's Hybrid Ceramic. It creates a slick surface so the dust can't actually 'grab' onto the paint. I once did a run out to Birdsville with a mate; I’d ceramic coated my ute and he hadn't. By the time we hit the pub, I could blow the dust off my bonnet, while his was practically glued on. It makes the wash-down ten times easier, trust me.

This is where most people mess up. If your rubber seals are dry and crusty, that red dust will find its way into your cabin and stay there forever. Get some silicone-based dressing, nothing fancy, just something to keep the rubber supple. If the seals are soft, they actually seal. If they’re dry, they’re just leaf-springs for dirt. (Your missus will thank you when the dash isn't covered in a layer of red silt after five minutes on a track.)

When you get back, do NOT touch the paint with a sponge yet. You need to snow foam it or at least give it a massive rinse with the hose first. That red dust is basically tiny rocks. If you start scrubbing straight away, you're essentially sanding your car. I made this mistake myself on a black Commodore back in the day, left swirl marks so deep I had to spend two days polishing them out. Total nightmare.

Simple one, but keep your AC on recirculate when you're on the dirt. If you’re pulling in fresh air, you’re just vacuuming the outback into your cabin filter. Speaking of which, if you've done a big trip, chuck that cabin filter in the bin and buy a new one. They're cheap as chips at the local parts store and it’ll stop your car smelling like a dusty shed.