Suggestions for the height-impaired

imacarnut said:
hmmm... i may have to take a trip over there (i think my membership expired :( ). anyone know if sams club has something similiar?
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Nope, unless they began stocking them sometime this week. I've usually made it a habit to go straight to the automotive section as soon as I walk in there, and I don't recall seeing anything along the lines of a work platform. :doh
 
It's probably in hardware, rather than the automotive section. I bet most people that have one would use it more around the house than in the driveway.
 
White95Max said:
Mine has a grooved surface on top, which offers a decent amount of grip. I've still thought about adding some kind of material to it though. A little more grip wouldn't hurt anything.
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The adhesive-backed friction strips are just *so* inexpensive (Lowe's/DIY places) and easy to apply that you really oughta do it. I'd clean the surface with some solvent first, but the glue on those things is pretty good. A few bucks and a few minutes to avoid the unthinkable ;)



I bet I sound like I'm getting all overly-safey-conscious in my old age, but I know *so* many people who were never the same after falls that they never saw coming :(
 
Accumulator said:
I bet I sound like I'm getting all overly-safey-conscious in my old age, but I know *so* many people who were never the same after falls that they never saw coming :(
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Nah, it's one of those things where you have to ask yourself - How much time/money would you be willing to invest AFTER you fell and broke your hip? $5 now, or a whole lot more plus pain+suffering later.
 
White95Max said:
Nah, it's one of those things where you have to ask yourself - How much time/money would you be willing to invest AFTER ...
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Yeah, the way-back machine is always priceless in retrospect, something we don't always appreciate while we're young and immortal. Accumulatorette (who knows something about serious household accidents) always says something to the effect that "today is the way-back of tomorrow" ;)
 
Titania said:
This is a bit of a stupid question, but what do you guys do when you're detailing a vehicle you can't reach the roof on? Have you found acceptable long-handled tools to work with or are you using step-stools, ladders, cranes? Do I need to invest in scaffolding? ;)



I want to avoid having a dirty streak down the middle of my roof because I can't reach it. I also want to avoid having sneaker marks on the side of my car from me standing on a step stool.
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Open a door, take off my shoes and stand on the door frame. I'm 5'5" and it works every time, but my car is low enough I can reach the middle of the roof without opening the doors.
 
Accumulator said:
The adhesive-backed friction strips are just *so* inexpensive (Lowe's/DIY places) and easy to apply that you really oughta do it. I'd clean the surface with some solvent first, but the glue on those things is pretty good. A few bucks and a few minutes to avoid the unthinkable ;)



I bet I sound like I'm getting all overly-safey-conscious in my old age, but I know *so* many people who were never the same after falls that they never saw coming :(
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That's a great idea. I was looking this weekend at rubber mats that I could use on my aluminum long step and couldn't find anything that I thought would really work. Didn't think of stick-on friction strips.
 
I use a 7' Fiberglass ladder... But I admit, I do feel uneasy leaning over the car with one foot on the ladder... I usually polish the roof of SUV's and Trucks with one hand on the PC, and one hand keeping my balance... I definitly would like to get one of those platforms, but I don't know if they're tall enough??
 
StumpyDetailing said:
I use a 7' Fiberglass ladder... But I admit, I do feel uneasy leaning over the car with one foot on the ladder... I usually polish the roof of SUV's and Trucks with one hand on the PC, and one hand keeping my balance... I definitly would like to get one of those platforms, but I don't know if they're tall enough??
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How high up the ladder do you go? The platforms get you up just under 2', I'd say. (Don't have one here to measure for you).
 
I'm 5' 10" and the Bauer platforms let me do the roofs of stuff like Suburbans, but I do have to reach a little. I sure wouldn't want any less height, but for me the bottom line is more about stability. I could get higher with a stepladder (and I have a very good one in the shop) but I can't really do quality work that way.



Washing with the foamgun/BHB/etc. the way I do it? NO WAY without a stable platform of a decent size. No wash-induced marring on *my* roofs ;)



I always have to move around to check my work (viewing angles and all), and to do *good* work I end up needing both hands on the polisher for major correction, especially with the rotary. It's not like you'd do the hood of your car with one hand while standing on one leg with one eye closed ;) I want to do the roof the same as I do the rest of the vehicle.



Worst case (say a 4' 11" person doing a Suburban)..get two *good* step ladders and put a telescoping work platform (like painters/etc. use) between them. Or maybe some kind of scaffold. A huge hassle? Well, yeah..some stuff just isn't easy for some people.
 
I'm only 4'10" so I have the same problem. I have a full size truck that I can't reach the roof of. The only ways to do it are either get a full-size ladder, or get something sturdy to stand on in the bed of the truck, and use a wash mitt on a long pole. I still haven't figured out how to wax it yet though, even if I'm up high enough, I just can't reach.
 
I prefer to use kiddy toys. Things like a Fisher-Price chair. They are soft plastic with no sharp edges to bonk into car panels creating dents and scrapes.
 
stilts.jpg
 
SpoiledMan said:
I picked up the Cosco bench from Costco for $20.
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can you provide a link? i was at home depot today and they had the husky brand platform stand for around $35 (almost bought it), but if i can find something similiar for cheaper...
 
Carnut, I will likely go to Costco tomorrow:D:D:D and I'll check to see if they have any. I haven't seen them online and they do appear and disappear from time to time.
 
Titania said:
How high up the ladder do you go? The platforms get you up just under 2', I'd say. (Don't have one here to measure for you).
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I'm usually onto the 3rd step of the ladder, sometimes the 4th if I'm doing a fullsize SUV... I'm only 5'6" tall so I need good 2' of height.



I will invest in a good platform before I ever use a ladder again.



Quitting while I haven't fallen is a good thing!!!
 
To do the roof on my dodge ram I need a 6' stepladder. To reach the good I use a 2 step stool. I own 2 pickups and a small suv. I am also a little afraid of hights.
 
I'm 6'2" and still need some height help on some suv's. I use a two step foldable I got at Home Depot for like 15 bucks. Just gotta make sure you keep it away from the paint. :)
 
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