18 wheeler question

[Show N Tell]

I have a customer who wants his gas tanks and wheels polished on 15 18 wheelers. Has anybody had experience with this sort of job before? What products should I use? I was thinking mag polish for the most part... Help me out!

Also, how much should I charge per truck with just the gas tanks and all of the wheels?

He also would like to know how much it will be to do the gas tank, wheels and cab seperate and then the gas tank, wheels, cab and the trailer itself. Should I give him a discount for the amount of trucks he will be giving us? How much would you charge? THanks!!!

[Murr1525]

Re: 18 wheeler question

Have to talk to Joe about metal polishing.

Probably going to have to invest in some Power-Balls for that one, with the smaller areas. Joe tends to do most metal polishing with a rotary I believe.

Have you seen them?

[Show N Tell]

Re: 18 wheeler question

Does meguiars make a power ball? Yes Ive seen the trucks, very dirty!

[ClearlyCoated]

Re: 18 wheeler question

If he gives you multiple trucks, polish the headlights on one with the cloudiest lamps and charge nothing. Just mention you are throwing it in because the headlights were really cloudy and you cleaned em up as a courtesy. This will put it in the client's mind that this is another service you are offering and he will appreciate you cleaning up the first one for free.

Might be a little more business for you

[Murr1525]

Re: 18 wheeler question

The PowerBalls would be Mothers, though I think Eagle 1 or somebody has another similar product.

[Show N Tell]

Re: 18 wheeler question

If he gives you multiple trucks, polish the headlights on one with the cloudiest lamps and charge nothing. Just mention you are throwing it in because the headlights were really cloudy and you cleaned em up as a courtesy. This will put it in the client's mind that this is another service you are offering and he will appreciate you cleaning up the first one for free.

Might be a little more business for you

Good idea! I know mothers has a power ball but wasnt to happy when I used it in the past

[fzr confused]

Re: 18 wheeler question

i hate my power ball and will never use it again...

that sounds like a rather large task ahead of you, but its also steady business! idk how much i would charge him, but dont cut yourself short. are you doing all 18 rims or just the trucks rims? and on the truck rims will you have to take the outside tire off to get to the inside tire to polish or just polish the outer rim? figure out approx how long it will take you to do it and then calc what you want to make per hour. if it was me i would tell him the truth that i have never taken on a job like this, so i would have to do the first truck at an undisclosed price and you would come up with a price for the next 14. tell them if it takes about 4 hours it will cost approx $$$ if it takes 6 hours it is closer to $$$$. then after you do the first truck clean the headlights like said above and tell him you did it for free since you didnt have a price up front.

[Ringjet]

Re: 18 wheeler question

Hello I drive a cement truck here in Canada and I just got mag & aluminum polish and man did it work great on the rims and the checkered fenders I did it
by hand. I dont know how long you have to do it and if you have much help but if they are in good shape the mags wont take long to do. I know you have 15 of them to do so I can't help you out with how to apply it I am sure somebody will help you out good luck.

[Show N Tell]

Re: 18 wheeler question

Thanks guys! Has anybody had any experience with a job like this??

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: 18 wheeler question

I think a Daniel Snydor, aka stangcrazy has done quite a bit of metal polishing on trucks. Try sending him a pm.

[Tuck91]

Re: 18 wheeler question

This is the closest I have come, this is off an F-650:

[FRS]

Re: 18 wheeler question

This job looks fantastic to me Sir.

[Show N Tell]

Re: 18 wheeler question

Tuck what products and methods did you use? Buffer or hand?

[Tuck91]

Re: 18 wheeler question

Tuck what products and methods did you use? Buffer or hand?

Did it by hand with a combination of Ultimate Compound and HR Mag and Aluminum Polish and terry cloths. Then waxed with A12.

[Andrew C.]

Re: 18 wheeler question

You should definitely pick up Hot Rims Mag and Aluminum Polish, but something else I would HIGHLY suggest is getting M93 Marine and RV Metal Polish. It is much stronger and cleans faster/better than the Hot Rims Mag and Aluminum.

Doing this many trucks, you are going to want to save yourself as much time as possible and make them look the best possible too. There may also be some heavy staining/corrosion that would require a heavier polish like this.