Big Rig Truck Detail To Do Or Not To Do ?

[SunnyD]

Re: Big Rig Truck Detail To Do Or Not To Do ?

Now I've lowered to 750 all I have is product cost I'll be doing it my self maybe a helper but I'll see I could go with 7 after or 21 but to wax it seems alot more work

[rst08tierney]

Re: Big Rig Truck Detail To Do Or Not To Do ?

105/205 at a minimum followed up by M20 should do the job. M20 is a spay sealant so it will save you time and money. Like Truck said, you need a follow up polish to the 105.


For $750 a rig, buy an extra da, its going to be a big job and BEST case scenario, you can train your helper on how to use it so both of you can knock out the cab in no time.

[SunnyD]

Re: Big Rig Truck Detail To Do Or Not To Do ?

Yeah my d/a went down the other day it's a g110v1 so I'm gonna get it repaired from the megs rep I know and get a v2 from him as well plus the v2 is a upgrade for me and I'm picking up some 205 as well

[Tuck91]

Re: Big Rig Truck Detail To Do Or Not To Do ?

M20 is a traditional wipe on, wipe off cleaner wax.

[rst08tierney]

Re: Big Rig Truck Detail To Do Or Not To Do ?

M20 is a traditional wipe on, wipe off cleaner wax.

I thought it was the same as ultimate quick wax

[Tuck91]

Re: Big Rig Truck Detail To Do Or Not To Do ?

Nope, have used gallons of M20 and it is definitly a light duty cleaner wax with excellent durability.

[Underdawg736]

Re: Big Rig Truck Detail To Do Or Not To Do ?

So what type of rigs are they? Are they over the road (ones with the sleepers) or are they locals (no sleepers)? Over the road rigs will at least double the real estate that you'll have to polish up. It usually takes me at least 2 days to clean and protect the paint on a full size ambulance which I would say has about as much surface as a small over the road rig. Do they want any of the metal work polished up too? Depending on the truck you'll have a mix of chrome and polished aluminum, chrome is fairly easy to polish but polished aluminum can be time consuming depending on how oxidized it is. Did they give you a deadline on when they want them done? 750 is a pretty good deal but like others said here, you'll probably want a least another hand and more da's in case one would quit as you've already stated.Good luck!

[SunnyD]

Re: Big Rig Truck Detail To Do Or Not To Do ?

Yeah they have sleepers all the company wants is too remove paint oxidation the deadline is diffrent for each truck I can probably do a truck a day and I'm not doing the backs because there covered with the trailer anyway

[JoeDirt]

Re: Big Rig Truck Detail To Do Or Not To Do ?

You really need to be careful with the "all I have to do" thing, as this is a BIG job- don't let the simplicity of what they're saying needs to be done give you a false sense of security on the timeline. I've done a lot of rigs, and if you're trying to make an impression and don't have experience with them- I'm not sold that it will be a one day job.

I'd honestly step back and have an honest discussion with yourself and your help if a 22 rig semi truck detail is the right job to be tackling at this stage in your experience. I'm not saying you can't, just that you need to look at all the facets of the project- how much material you need, ladders, insurance, everything that Nick and David mentioned, which I think you sort of glossed over. It's all important stuff to worry about, especially with a business. I can't imagine going into a job this size with a G110, some 105, and 'maybe a helper'...

Seriously- no offense intended, but I think you might be thinking that this job isn't as complicated as it will end up being. I do think doing one first is the best idea, then you can evaluate how long it took, how much was used in materials, how much you're paying your other guy in wages, etc., and how the process is going. And don't forget about the insurance. If you're crawling all over ladders and rigs, especially if you have another person working for you- if you're not carrying the proper insurance, you will be buried if something happens. Do you have a business license? All important stuff, especially when dealing with a company that does, because if something happens whether it is safety, something with a rig, or something with the product- rest assured that they will eagerly shove you under the bus.

Also- the 'back of the truck' that was being discussed is the sleeper, not the frame. Are they absolutely clear that you're only working the paint of the body and sleeper, and not touching the frame, or any of the chrome, wheels, glass, etc?

[PursuitSE]

Re: Big Rig Truck Detail To Do Or Not To Do ?

Also- the 'back of the truck' that was being discussed is the sleeper, not the frame. Are they absolutely clear that you're only working the paint of the body and sleeper, and not touching the frame, or any of the chrome, wheels, glass, etc?

I completely agree with your post Joe.
To me, 750$ a rig to only polish the paint seems almost to good to be true. Are you sure they want to wax, no glass cleaning, no chrome polishing ? Those rigs are big and very time consuming to even only wash. Only 1 day on each seems a very little time to do a great job.
Honestly, I am not sure if I would take the job myself. I do have some skills and experiance detailing cars, but I am by no mean a pro and doing 25 rigs would scare myself.

If you feel you can do it, do it ! But be prepared that is it will be a lot of hard work.

[Jossy92]

Re: Big Rig Truck Detail To Do Or Not To Do ?

Since it's your reputaton at stake.....Do just one [?]

That way you can take your time and determine how many a week, proper assembly line technique, logistics and most important determine if what they're asking for is what they really want. [Nothing looks worse than a negected paint that has been cleaned and polished. All the defects pop depending on the angle of the sun.]

At least the oxidation makes it look uniform. It's not how good you can make the first one look, it's how good you can make the last one look when your arms are ready to drop off. A test truck will determine how many a week.

I am not a pro, but I am thinking of your reputation if this doesn't go well. Do a test truck then commit?

[SunnyD]

Re: Big Rig Truck Detail To Do Or Not To Do ?

yeah im doing one first was suppouse to have already started but my supplier isnt at his shop yet so i have to wait ive asked the owner of the company plenty of times what they want and its just the paint but i am thinking now again if i should take it on big truck

[ronniejay]

Re: Big Rig Truck Detail To Do Or Not To Do ?

Where are you located? You might want to rotate two helpers to be sure of one. A session with a good lawyer might produce a working contract and other suggestions.

[Andrew C.]

Re: Big Rig Truck Detail To Do Or Not To Do ?

I say go for it, but plan, plan, plan.

Listen to what the others have said to take into consideration. It is going to be a big and hard task, but if you plan properly and work hard, the results will pay off. You probably won't see many other offers like this, so go ahead, cover your butt and do it right the first time.

I can't emphasive enough how important it is to have a set plan charted out that covers all ends. From what your plan of attack is, to your insurance/license. We aren't talking about on the side detailing here. This is a commercial account, so don't mess it up.

This is an awesome opportunity and I hope you can take full advantage of it!

[Tuck91]

Re: Big Rig Truck Detail To Do Or Not To Do ?

I did not mean to be rude either but Joe's post above kind of sums it up, I think this will be much more work than you think. Yes, even if you are just polishing the paint.

Heck, even when I service some dump trucks a couple times a year for a landscaping company, I plan out the logistics and that takes a little while to make sure everything goes well and a quality product is being produced.

Have you even thought that maybe when they get ran through the truck wash that would even get them totally clean?

I also could not help but notice in your other thread that you started that you have no experience working with single stage paint, I think it would help if you had a couple hundred cars or trucks under your belt before you tackled such a project. I mean you said you just started your business a couple weeks ago.

Heres a a few pics of some bigger trucks I have done and even just cleaning the paint with an AIO ( not correcting it) takes time.














Best of luck on whatever you decide.