NEW Heavy duty detailing products for 4WD & outdoor adventures!

There are quite a few passionate 4WD enthusiasts and professional detailers among us here at Bowden's Own. The loving pursuit of the perfect 4WD detailing gear has resulted in what we think is an excellent bit of kit, for those fanatics who want the fastest, easiest and safest products to clean and protect their offroad companions after a fun adventure. Whether that's a 4WD, boat, caravan, jet ski, camper or a trusty trailer we have got you covered.

We've spent the last 5 years formulating and testing this range to ensure they meet our (sometimes ridiculous) high expectations. Lots and LOTS of real-world and laboratory testing has been going on behind the scenes on a daily basis, which gives us valuable information as we continue to develop and improve our car care. As an example, the learnings we made from the Dirty Times Wash for boosted corrosion inhibition, have been incorporated into the rest of our wash range, because we know how well it works! Many trips out to the local forestry and beaches with many different vehicles give us absolute confidence in these products delivering on their promises no matter what you throw them at (and a bloody great excuse to get out of the office!).


Small example of the thousands of tests conducted during the making of this range - barely scratching the surface!

We know 4WD enthusiasts encounter some of the toughest jobs, so we went all out with our formulations to devote the focus on cleaning power, mineral removal like red dirt and salt, ease of use and corrosion inhibition, which we think is most important with the conditions those vehicles are used in.

Being a small homegrown Aussie company has allowed us to spend over 5 years on this intensive development, topping 800 formulas and gruelling lab and real-world tests in developing, testing and researching the best combinations of ingredients to create the ultimate lineup and deliver professional, real-world results.

Introducing the results from our last 5 years...

 

Dirty Times Wash: This is the most powerful wash in our range, and it really lives up to its name, for those times when you need a stronger wash to make the job that bit easier. This is so much more than just a heavy-duty wash, as it also incorporates the very latest rust inhibitors which we unearthed through our intensive R&D, offering real world protection for vehicles braving the beach and bush. It’s the ultimate wash on the market for protecting against corrosion, a claim we can prove as you'll see below.

Paired with heavy-duty cleaning agents and a lower pH that helps to eliminate minerals, salt, mud and red dirt, this formula is also awesome for maintenance cleaning of mineral deposits on any ceramic-coated vehicles. We've specifically designed this to be a heavy-duty wash to cut through the grime accumulated from off-road or long adventures, but we have made this in such a way with a carefully selected grouping of ingredients we have tested to be safe, especially with their long term use so they don't degrade exterior surfaces - something very rare in any stronger washes. It's also perfect for dissolving and neutralising heavily salt-coated surfaces like beach-going 4WDs, boats and other watercraft.

On top of this, Dirty Times Wash is a mega lubricating, and sudsy formula to suspend released grime and minimise swirls and micro scratches that can happen when hand washing. Finally, it also leaves a refreshing clean shine to your paint that we all want. 

In point form:

• Perfect for after any off-road or outdoor adventures, especially the extra dirty ones! 
• A special custom blend of powerful cleaning agents effectively breaks down mud & grime for easier washing. 
• Safely uses a lower pH for strong removal of damaging salt, fresh mineral deposits and red dirt. 
• The lower pH pairs perfectly with the higher pH of Mega Snow Job pre-wash foam for a very comprehensive clean.
• Silicone and salt-free with true rust prevention built into the formula, so you protect as you wash.
• It's powerful, yet still safe; won't strip fresh hydrophobic sealants, ceramic coatings, laminated wraps & paint protection films (PPF).
• Also s​​​afe long term for all the exterior finishes on your 4WD, boat, jet ski, bike, ATV and caravan. 
• Thick and lasting, lubricated suds suspend dirt to help prevent paint swirls and micro scratches as you wash.
• Helps maintain hard ABS plastics and soft rubber parts and components as you wash.
• Safe for use in direct sunlight, it rinses off streak-free when doing those bigger outdoor jobs.
• Super concentrated, just 25mLs (one cap) is needed for 10L of water (21 Washes in 500mLs).
• Additives to make it gentler on your hands and skin, for an overall better washing experience.
• This is one of our new-generation wash formulas with no SLS or SLES ingredients used for sudsing. 
• Aussie made & developed and biodegradable because we love our awesome country.

 

Lab testing of "Anti-Rust & Salt Washes"

We're super passionate about long-term caring for our vehicles - it's one of the reasons Bowden's Own began all those years ago! Our testing back then revealed that many of the bigger brands were putting salt into their washes as a cheap and easy foam booster. Sadly, not much has changed since then, and many of the newer brands out there look to be slapping a label on a premade formula and make bold claims about its performance, which they very rarely live up to.

Alarmingly, in our testing of some of the most popular 4WD and Boat "salt removal" and "anti-rust" washes (you may see them all over your Facebook or Instagram feed), they actually do quite the opposite, by causing and accelerating corrosion in most cases!


Our testing of Dirty Times Wash revealed the damage caused after 2 weeks of submersion by other so called "salt washes" - all of them caused more corrosion than plain old water!

Our lab testing was using internationally recognised standardised test strips, using a low carbon content steel which is commonly used in fasteners like bolts, rivets, nuts and nails. It’s easy to recreate this test at home using standard store bought steel nails. We mixed each wash at a 1:200 ratio (so 1mL of wash in 200mL of water) and had our strips sitting in the separate beakers undisturbed for 14 days which would equate to a few months of regular washing of a vehicle. The strips were removed, and the above photo was taken after 6 hours of drying time out of the water.

We've packed the Dirty Times Wash full of advanced chelating agents and some brilliant corrosion inhibitors, which basically means that a surface-level reaction occurs on exposed metal which prevents further corrosion. These chelating agents also keep the reacted metal ions in suspension within the liquid, which is why the Dirty Times beaker is so much darker than the others, which have dropped the oxidised metal to the bottom of the beaker as sediment. Our corrosion inhibitors that are left behind after the wash is gone prevent surface corrosion for a long amount of time, and you can see the effect in the photo below (Dirty Times in the middle). This translates in the real world as a good amount of these corrosion inhibitors being deposited all over your vehicle as you wash, including all the crevices and seams that it will inevitably spread into, giving you real protection for those more rust prone areas like door jams and inner skins, firewalls and footwells.

Pretty major difference between the control (left), Dirty Times Wash (middle) and the other 4WD & Boat "salt" washes on the market.

Anyone who has owned a beach going 4WD knows how important it is to fight the vehicle killing rust that can be caused by these trips, and you definitely do not want to be using washes that accelerate this problem! One of the best reasons why Dirty Times Wash should be a part of your washing arsenal. 

 

The Twisted Mother Sucker: The perfect drying towel for those with a bigger 4WD, truck, van or boat who lust for a faster and easier drying experience. We have been testing different twist pile loop material for years but were never impressed till this epic new version appeared. It's a true water holding champ that sucks up every droplet in its path to leave a lovely, spot & lint-free finish.

We have also given this larger towel two "handy" corner hand pockets that our team found make it more manageable and faster when doing larger 4WD's, work vans and group cuddles. The pockets make light work of tighter areas like weather shields around windows, barwork, sports bars and snorkels. We know you'll love the time and effort it'll save you too.

The big points:

• Sucks water off with amazing speed, to make drying bigger vehicles much easier and faster.
• A BIG 90cm x 60cm size - single-sided material to make it lighter, more manageable, and once it fills up with water it's able to be wrung out, perfect for the bigger drying jobs.
• Uses a premium quality, 800GSM twist pile weave microfibre with amazing absorbency.
• Handy corner pockets to ergonomically hold and use the towel more effectively.
• Soft & long twist pile loop microfibre helps to prevent errant dirt from ever scratching your paint.
• Safe micro-soft suede edges that won't inflict scratches and swirls on delicate surfaces.
• Light coloured, to easily spot dirt in it, so you don't wipe it in and create micro scratches.
• Machine washable and durable, so it can keep on sucking for many years to come. 
• Use with our Boss Gloss spray as a drying aid, for a beautiful drying experience.

 

Down & Dirty: Our very sophisticated, higher pH cleaner for effortlessly dissolving heavy red dirt and tyre browning. It's packed full of super advanced surfactants and cleaning agents to make tackling these tough jobs a breeze, with its super lubricating and foaming formula for a deeper clean when paired with our Little Stiffy brush for tyres and underbodies. It’s perfect for removing old tyre dressings and renewing tyres for longer-lasting protection from Sweet Rubber or Tyre Sheen, and for shifting stubborn built-up grime and red dirt from under your vehicle.

The dirty details:

• Uses the very latest surfactants and cleaning agents for deeper cleaning and renewing tyres by removing browning from anti-ozonant, old tyre shine dressings and any built-up road grime or mud.
• Use before applying our Tyre Sheen or Sweet Rubber, so they last longer as well as leave a better, more even finish.
• Super effective for removing stubborn red dirt, grime, mineral deposits, grease and oil from vehicle underbodies and inner guards. 
• Loves being paired with The Little Stiffy brush for shifting grime, mud and heavier build-up from both tyres and vehicle underbodies.
• Effective grease and grime dissolving properties for safe, deep cleaning of engine bays.
• Impressively safe and non-damaging for all underbody components; rubber, plastic, and non-porous surfaces, even with longer dwell times.
• Ideal to clean underbody areas before applying the Under Armer underbody protection spray for better results.
• For something totally different, this is a great wheel cleaning option for sports cars with carbon ceramic rotors and brakes.
• Non-caustic formula - we DON'T use sodium metasilicate or sodium hydroxide (like other tyre cleaners use) so it's safer for both the user (you) and won't dry out and damage rubber sidewalls with repetitive usage.
• Aussie made and developed and importantly fully biodegradable, as we do love our great land.

 

What's the difference between Orange Agent and Down & Dirty?

Unlike Orange Agent, Down & Dirty is not pH neutral. This enhances Down & Dirty’s cleaning power, making it effective for tougher jobs while still being safe for most surfaces.

However, Down & Dirty is not intended for use on interior surfaces. In contrast, Orange Agent is a pH-neutral all-purpose cleaner that works well on a variety of interior materials, including leather, vinyl, and plastic. It excels at removing silicone based products and deep cleaning leather. Down & Dirty, on the other hand, is not suitable for these interior materials.

Down & Dirty is excellent at removing minerals, making it superior to Orange Agent for cleaning tyres and tackling red dirt. It's also safe to use on engine bays and underbody chassis rails for deep cleaning.

In summary,

Orange Agent is a gentle, pH-neutral cleaner ideal for light to moderate cleaning tasks on interior and exterior surfaces.

Down & Dirty, with its higher pH level, is better suited for dissolving heavy dirt, grime, red dirt, and cleaning off tyre browning.

 

Little Stiffy: Anything that gives you a great result with less effort is our biggest mission and we've done a lot of work with this in mind when developing the Little Stiffy - a tyre and underbody cleaning brush that can get into most spots with ease, utilising what we think is the perfect 45-degree angle for keeping effective contact of the stiff, chemical resistant bristles to the surface you're trying to clean. The handle also has a subtle bulge and deep finger grooves to create a nice natural grip, making it a true ergonomic design that we find helps reduce fatigue on any bigger jobs. For extra protection, it has a durable soft rubber bumper around the brush head to help prevent accidental damage to your wheels and guards when you're really getting into it.

The stiff details: 

• Makes deep cleaning tyres, rubber mats, underbody grime and red dirt faster and easier.
• Compact size to access tighter areas with ease.
• Less hand fatigue with its angled ergonomic, comfy to grip non-slip handle.
• Suits both left and right-handed car fanatics.
• Uses chemical resistant, short and stiff synthetic bristles.
• Heavy duty construction, for tougher scrubbing jobs.
• The brush head is ideal for both high and lower profile tyres.
• Soft rubber bumper head prevents accidental damage.
• Best used with our Down & Dirty tyre and underbody deep cleaner for removing browning, old dressings and underbody grime.

 

Under Armer: We meticulously crafted this for ultimate corrosion protection down under. Over 5 years of development and 400 formulas went into making the unique water based formula that’s free of harsh solvents, sticky lanolin, oil, or wax which LOVE attracting sand and dust. We’ve incorporated the absolute best corrosion inhibitors that we can get into this state-of-the-art formula, and our rigorous testing against all other offerings show how far ahead this formula is - there’s simply nothing that even comes close! It's a simple spray on, rinse off application that cures to a clear, non-sticky new look finish and is suitable for all underbody metals, rubbers and plastics. Under Armer has been built from scratch with love, care and attention for the ultimate in easy-to-use underbody protection.

Why it's so special:

• Uses Modern anti-rust additives create a durable corrosion barrier that doesn't wash off.
• Easy application - spray on and rinse off for super hydrophobic protection that won’t attract dirt, dust, or sand.
• Fast curing formula gets you out into the bush and beach faster than the rest.
• Prevents corrosive salt and sand from bonding to your car's underbody, perfect for extended beach trips.
• Helps repel and prevent mud and grime bonding, for much easier cleaning after a dirty weekend.
• Up to 2-3 months of genuine durability in our real-world testing with lots of beach days and creek crossings.
• One bottle is enough to treat a larger SUV or Ute.
• Market-leading water-based formula that is safe on metals, rubber, plastic and all underbody components.
• Solvent-free for safer and easier spraying and not feeling like chemical death in confined spaces under your vehicle.
• Best used after a deep clean with our Down & Dirty and the Little Stiffy brush for the best results.
• Proudly Aussie made and developed formula that’s biodegradable because it's good for Australia.

Our relentless, obsessive pursuit of protection

The intensive trials that we've done throughout the development of this range makes clear to us that many so called "salt wash" type brands don't spend enough (if ANY time at all) testing to back up and confirm the claims made on packaging, and this just doesn't sit right with us. The Under Armer in particular had over 400 formula revisions with three complete restarts (and two totally burnt out chemists) to finally reach this final formula.


The last 60 development versions of Under Armer that we tested which lead us to the standout formula we have today.

When we started this project back in 2020, those who remember the Mega Snow Job release would also remember we made mention of an underbody product that was coming - it was, it just took us a little longer than we thought to make something up to our standards. When we looked at all the various underbody protection coatings out on the market currently and tested them quite extensively, we found that all of them had some form of compromise which for us made them unappealing for different reasons, and not something we'd want to use on our own vehicles.

Our issues with underbody sprays

• Your more traditional grease-type products (think fish oil or lanolin) were usually quite good at preventing corrosion but were far too sticky. These leave a greasy film across the surface which prevents water from contacting them, but it really is just a grease sitting on the surface which comes with all the downsides of attracting dirt, dust and a whole beach of sand to the treated surfaces. 
• There are a few products out there that offer very temporary protection, using thinner oils that don't hang around underneath your car. In our testing, these would wash off immediately, so can only protect the surface from corrosion ONCE. The first time you drive through a creek or splash through a puddle, it's washing off and leaving your chassis unprotected. It's a very temporary layer that just doesn't last long enough.
• The last category is much closer to a clear paint than anything else, but these were originally designed for use on porous surface like concrete and brick which really suck them in below the surface. On underbody surfaces, they just don't bond well and therefore don't last very long, with average corrosion inhibition. The major downside comes with the heavy aromatic solvents used to carry the active ingredients - they're extremely harmful to humans as they're being applied, with symptoms such as headache, dizziness and nausea as it affects your central nervous system. Not only that, but these solvents are extremely detrimental to underbody plastics and rubbers like wheel well liners, splash guards, suspension bushes, CV boots etc. 

A small slice of the thousands of tests over 4 years conducted during development of this formula.

All this research led us to the conclusion that if we wanted to get something that ticked all our boxes, with zero compromises, we'd be going our own way, starting 100% from scratch. Over the years, we tested hundreds of different ingredients to find ones that would deliver true corrosion protection, nonstick, and durability in a water-based formula. Our in-house chemist (we actually burnt out one in the first two years) was at the end of his tether by the time we settled on this combination, so we thank him for his amazing patience as this one which aced all of our testing and is something we are extremely proud to bring to you as a totally unique world-wide product in this protection space.

All this new gear is safe for everything, new and old.

The 4WD and adventure market is quite unique in that there is a massive spread between old and new vehicles, bikes, boats, jet ski's caravans, trailers etc. We've designed this range to suit the entire grouping, with zero compromises on performance. We've built in important attributes that our testing revealed are critical for the many different materials and surfaces found on these types of vehicles. Be it a boat, van, or car, you know that you'll have the most effective and safe product for your purpose.

Also Earth & human friendly

As many have come to love and expect from our products, they're all built from the ground up to be biodegradable, safe for humans and animals, and don't harm our local landscapes and wildlife. This is something we care deeply about, and we've seen through our testing that many outdoor products don't share this same level of concern, packing their products full of cheap & nasty ingredients that cause long-lasting harm to the people using them, or the environment that we all live in. Part of our ongoing process during the development of this range was ensuring that whatever we put into these formulas wouldn't be at the detriment to our beautiful land. 

How to use?

We've put together a comprehensive guide to help you get the most out of our new 4WD and outdoor fanatics range, (with more guides and video's still to come for other outdoor toys) found below.

 

FAQ

Can I use this range on my regular vehicles that don't go off the road? Yes, absolutely you can, especially if you have a dirtier car and need some extra mineral and grime cleaning oomph, or you just like the feel of a stiff brush or super-sized towel between your fingers!

Does (x product) replace (y product)? No! This range is designed to work alongside our current products and is really for those dirtier jobs for cars that live in harsher environments - be that the bush or the beach. It's all down to personal preference on what you want to use - we have designed this range targeting the problems that mostly 4WD owners will encounter.

Where can I buy it? This range of gear is exclusive to Supercheap Auto and BCF stores, with other retailers coming on board next year. 

Where can I find it? 

This new 4WD range can be found EXCLUSIVELY at your local Supercheap Auto or BCF stores! You can find your closest store by clicking HERE.  

The part codes for each product can be found below:
Dirty Times Wash - BODIRTY
Down and Dirty - BOD&D
Little Stiffy - BOSTIFFY
The Twisted Mother Sucker - BOTMS
Under Armer - BOUNDER

We're very proud to bring you these new purpose-made products that make cleaning your outdoor and off-road vehicles after a long adventure an absolute breeze, no matter where you take them. Built from years of hands-on experience, this range is dedicated to helping you tackle those tougher jobs faster and easier than ever before, so you can spend more time enjoying the outdoor lifestyle.

Keep it clean,
Gareth Bostock