How do you do the roof on trucks, SUVs, Vans?

[ziggo99]

What is your way of washing, cleaning, polish (if you do) and waxing the drop of tall vehicles? I assume most use a latter, but how tall of one do you go for? Do you bring the PC/Rotary with you when you work up top? How easy is it to manage the latter, PC/Rotary, changing pads, etc?

[james0509]

Re: How do you do the roof on trucks, SUVs, Vans?

When I wash + detail my mother's jeep, I usually just step on the tires and pull myself up.

(you see this at hand car washes too )

[ajb39oh]

Re: How do you do the roof on trucks, SUVs, Vans?

Step on the tires or use a ladder. That's what i do to my Explorer.

[boiler7904]

Re: How do you do the roof on trucks, SUVs, Vans?

Standing on a Werner 20" tall work platform puts the roof of my Chevy Colorado 4x4 and wife's Ford Escape just above waist height and gives me the ability to work back and forth a little without getting down and repositioning a bunch of times. Can easily reach half way across each vehicle. It isn't hard to handle the PC - just make sure you have enough slack in the cord. I'm thinking about a tall service cart of some sort to work with when doing my vehicles to set chemicals and pads on.

[JohanD]

Re: How do you do the roof on trucks, SUVs, Vans?

I bought the werner 20" work platform too. It was on sale at home depot. Either 35 or 39. Makes it easy to get to the roof.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: How do you do the roof on trucks, SUVs, Vans?

Here is another vote for the Werner platform ladder. Works great. You can do a fairly large area, before you have to get down and move everything.

[HCAD]

Re: How do you do the roof on trucks, SUVs, Vans?

Something that has a brace you can lean against is good too, to keep you off of the vehicle while you're reaching to the middle of the truck. Mine is similar to this ...

[ziggo99]

Re: How do you do the roof on trucks, SUVs, Vans?

Do you the position the ladder parallel to the vehicle or perpendicular?

[geert dr]

Re: How do you do the roof on trucks, SUVs, Vans?

This is what i use ,very handy for vehicles like trucks and SUV's !

[HCAD]

Re: How do you do the roof on trucks, SUVs, Vans?

Do you the position the ladder parallel to the vehicle or perpendicular?

I'd say whichever works best in any given situation but most ladders are at their sturdiest when the steps are parallel to the truck. Using the ladder perpendicular to the truck leaves it with a tendency to turn over as you reach away from the ladder.

[agp56]

Re: How do you do the roof on trucks, SUVs, Vans?

I use a three step ladder similar to the one HCAD showed above. That works well for our 2001 Honda Odyssey EX and was OK on a 2wd Suburban I did a while back. If I need something taller, I can get out the Little Giant ladder & set it up as a scaffold at what ever height the vehicle requires.

[DogParkGuy]

Re: How do you do the roof on trucks, SUVs, Vans?

Use a step ladder to reach the high areas. I also suggest you do the roof first since it will be the hardest (physically) area to finish.

[tcy006]

Re: How do you do the roof on trucks, SUVs, Vans?

I'm going to have to check out one of those work platforms! On my Ranger, I open up both front and back doors and stand on the step bar. One time I lost my balance and picked the DA up off of the roof and splattered compound all over the interior. A zillion little dots all over the place!

[Still Learnin]

Re: How do you do the roof on trucks, SUVs, Vans?

i also use the werner platform its on sale right now at home depot for $39 bucks... then they have a louiseville one. but its adjustable in height, i think that was like 80 bucks. too rich for my blood. i usually get on my tires or open the doors but i dont do that to customers cars...

[Eddie6th]

Re: How do you do the roof on trucks, SUVs, Vans?

When i used to have an HRV,I used hard molded plastic stools. Any of the above are all good. I like geert dr's.