How do u do the roof of an SUV?

TheSopranos16

TheSopranos16

New member
This may be a stupid question but how do you detail the roof of a big SUV like an Escalade? Ive detailed a thousand cars but never an SUV and I don't know how you would get the top of the car when your washing/buffing/waxing, etc. It seems like it would be a real PITA!
 
I'm 6'5" tall, and I have trouble reaching the top of my Envoy and Explorer. I have to bring out the ladder. I only go up 1 rung though. But it is a pain to haul it around the vehicle.
 
I'm a tall dude so I just stretch. When it comes time ot wax it, then I open the doors and stand in the truck to reach the top. I even popped out through the sunroof on one truck so I could reach the middle. Generally I can stand on the tires or the running boards to reach everything while washing and then I just open the doors to use a PC. I have done way more SUVs than cars and I have to say that I hate them. They are more profitable than cars, so I seek them out. Its definitely not easy money. Give me a nice coupe any day of the week.
 
I picked up a small (3 steps), light, folding aluminum ladder at Home Depot that allows me to do the job and doesn't take up much storage space. One of my better investments, I must say, cost about $30-- or so.

janco
 
Jngrbrdman said:
I'm a tall dude so I just stretch... I open the doors and stand in the truck to reach the top. Generally I can stand on the tires or the running boards to reach everything while washing and then I just open the doors to use a PC.
Click to expand...

:yeah

I also have an old woden milk crate (the kind glass bottles came in) that I stand upon.
 
I guess a ladder is the only way but I'm always affraid to have it hit the paint somehow and scratch it. Maybe I can put felt on the sides or something just in case...
 
They make those step ladder things that fit over the tires. You could always use one of those.

Don't use felt on the step ladder. use rubber or foam if you are going to use anything. Those materials are safer than felt and won't disentigrate when it gets wet.
 
Get large diameter foam pipe insulation and attach it to the ladder legs, and top step. Then get small diameter foam insulators that are cut to length you can "pop on" the metal hinged support. Cheap, way more padding, and easy to attach. I don't feel felt will be enough padding - IMHO.
 
After using a 6 foot ladder for years, I broke down and bought a 4 foot fiberglass step ladder ...
It works perfect for SUVs as it is light and easy to move around .......
Just my opinion!
 
Home Depot sells scaffolding (made by Gorrilla) with locking casters to hold it in place. It folds up flat and has two metal platforms to stand on. With that you can reach just about anything of standard height. Cost about $89 and much easier to use that a ladder. Below is a picture of the scaffolding.
165352_3.jpg
 
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They are not easy to find, but I use a five ft fiberglass ladder. I believe the manufacturers name is Werner. It had to be special ordered at our nearby home supply store at a cost of about $60. Hey, it's a lot safer to use a ladder that's a bit taller than you actually need.
 
a 26'' scaffold. Its about 4 1/2 feet long so I just set it up next to the side of the SUV. Unless its a XL Suburban I rarely need to reposition it to reach other areas of the roof.
 
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