Getting to the roof of a truck

matts13f150

matts13f150

New member
What have you guys found to be the best methods for getting the roof of a truck while polishing? Standing in the bed? Opening the doors and standing on the door sills? My truck is an extended cab, so the roof is pretty long. I think I can get to it pretty good by standing in the bed and on the door sills. My only concern is pressure on the machine towards the center of the roof, when I'm reaching and a little stretched out.
 
I just stand in the bed. That's the safest way IMO. Roof panels sometimes flex and there's not a lot you can do about it. You just have to use good judgement and try to avoid putting a lot of pressure on those areas when possible.
 
I get to the entire top of a half-ton and larger truck roof from all 3 sides - the driver side door, passenger side door, and if possible, get into the bed and get the back side of the roof there..

Just be sure that if you do this with any of the different types of 2-3 step stools or the Werner ladder platform, that you make sure to put something on the edges that are closest to the paintwork, or space the step out far enough so it does not touch the paint..

Good luck with this -
Dan F
 
I crawl up on it. Sure it pops and dents inward, all you have to do to fix that tho is give a good punch (from the interior/headliner) with the palm of your hand. Customers do have a tendency of freaking out if they are watching me do this. I just smile and continue on

Suburbans I don't even bother polishing the roof. I make the customer aware of this before hand. So far everyone agrees it's not worth the trouble
 
A pic is worth 1000 words

look in reflection

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I have a 20 inch gorilla platform. I"ll have it setup on each side when I am doing the roof. Then if it's just washing I'll use a 2 step plastic step ladder which helps. The top I am more worried abut protection, than it looking swirl free. The rupes does help a lot as said above, don't need much pressure and it will polish and correct!
 
I was on top of a F-250 yesterday. No big deal

Fall off that ladder and you'll wish you'd taken my advice whilst laying in that hospital bed


;)
 
My preferred method is to be hovered in by helicopter. The best part of this is, the rotors blow away all the compound dust...

Here I am getting ready to work on a Tahoe:

uveny9ag.jpg


If all my pilots are busy, I'll usually just slum it and use the Werner Work Platform.
 
Thanks for the replies guys. My real concern was getting it swirl free, buuuut since it's hard to see I might go for "good enough" and just make sure it's well protected. I wish I could get to it this weekend, but it's my girl's birthday, so I can't go out and play.
 
matts13f150 said:
Thanks for the replies guys. My real concern was getting it swirl free, buuuut since it's hard to see I might go for "good enough" and just make sure it's well protected. I wish I could get to it this weekend, but it's my girl's birthday, so I can't go out and play.
Click to expand...

I can knock out about any roof with my Rotary and get it as good as the rest of the vehicle...

All my Details get the Roof done as perfectly as the rest of the vehicle - always -

I want to get the best result on there (since it was almost always, never done), and the best protection up there, so next time I see it, it will be in better shape and that means I will be done faster...


Amazingly, very few Clients ever look up there or think about what goes on up there, until you show them.. :)

Dan F
 
Swanicyouth said:
My preferred method is to be hovered in by helicopter. The best part of this is, the rotors blow away all the compound dust...

Here I am getting ready to work on a Tahoe:

uveny9ag.jpg


If all my pilots are busy, I'll usually just slum it and use the Werner Work Platform.
Click to expand...

I would hate to see how much you charge your clients for that level of service!
 
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