The "dry application method" that you used works well, especially for people who have hard water and would need to really rush to get the truck done with the "wet application method" before the water left on the surface dries and causes water spots.
The dry method is also good for doing touch-ups, like on the front end before a trip to keep the bugs from sticking.
So, for your question, the towel needs to be wet since the
H2O Guard & Gloss is a water-activated sealant. Without water, the chemicals are not going to react and bond to the paint, to give you lasting protection. To begin with, the towel should be damp, wrung out, and not dripping.
As you apply sealant to the truck by spraying onto the towel, the HGG can build-up on the towel, preventing water from getting to the fresh product as you apply it. For this reason, you should do two things as you apply.
First, reduce the amount of product that you spray on the towel as you get more of the truck covered. About four sprays onto the towel to start, then after applying to a few panels, reduce to just two sprays onto the towel for each panel.
Second, rinse the towel out in clean water after you apply to a third of the truck. This gives a fresher towel surface with adequate water to react with the product. Rinse again at two-thirds done.
Always apply from top down, to avoid picking up any dirt hiding out on the lower areas of the truck. You can break it up and apply to the top third first (windows, roof, hood), then the middle third (doors and fenders down to the top of the rockers, along with the tailgate and headlights), then finish on the bottom third (rockers, lower fenders, and bumpers). For the "dry application method" rinse the towel after the top third, and again after the middle third.
Also, the HGG works good on the running boards, but I use a different towel then the plush ones that I use on the paint, since the running boards always seem to have some dirt hiding out. A utility towel or an older plush towel is good for this.
-Dan
