Need help giving a quote on a Peterbilt

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Zee19

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Hi guys,
So I'm giving a quote on a 2016 379-127 Flat top Peterbilt. Same truck as in the picture only the fuel tank and wheel wells are also chrome. The customer wants a wash and wax, all chrome polished, and interior cab detailed (not a sleeper). I have an employee helping who is skilled in metal polishing and myself doing the job (so 2 guys, one skilled one not). I live in the northeast and and usually charge around 35-50 an hour. Any ideas on what I should quote them? Or if anyone just wants to put in their input it would be appreciated. Thanks!
 
The wheels are most likely aluminum. Some trucks have clearcoated aluminum, some are bare aluminum. So do you know what this truck has?
 
GSKR said:
If you know the rims are positively chrome,providing you can get it done in 8 hrs I would shoot for 480 to 500 .
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2 people 8 hrs? I think we could spend 4 on the chrome alone
 
7.3powerstroke said:
The wheels are most likely aluminum. Some trucks have clearcoated aluminum, some are bare aluminum. So do you know what this truck has?
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:iagree:aluminum,If so it changes the whole dynamics of pricing.Those wheels will eat you alive on time.
 
GSKR said:
:iagree:aluminum,If so it changes the whole dynamics of pricing.Those wheels will eat you alive on time.
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Ok, assuming they are aluminum what time frame are we looking at for just the rims?
 
So many variables... What condition are they in, what end result are you shooting for, what tools will you be using, how much experience do yu have?
 
Good point. The rims and the chrome are not in bad shape, just need a good cleaning or polishing. There are very small brown oxidation spots and on the chrome and it is slightly "foggy" but if we can just make it really shine I'm sure the the customer will be more than impressed. I have no experience my employee has years of it. As far as equipment I'll buy whatever is recommended
 
Zee19 said:
Ok, assuming they are aluminum what time frame are we looking at for just the rims?
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If the rims and tanks are un coated aluminum,there maybe a second day involved here.Being that the truck is new and rims are good shape 8 hrs is realistic .The promblem with un coated aluminum is that once you start polishing you will see a dramatic improvement and there is no turning back even if they are new.
 
So let's say worse case scenario. Everything you can think of. Maximum price quote?
 
Zee19 said:
Good point. The rims and the chrome are not in bad shape, just need a good cleaning or polishing. There are very small brown oxidation spots and on the chrome and it is slightly "foggy" but if we can just make it really shine I'm sure the the customer will be more than impressed. I have no experience my employee has years of it. As far as equipment I'll buy whatever is recommended
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Then 8 hrs is realistic with 2 people.If I was to do that job by my self ,I could do the exterior interior and half of truck polishing wheels even if there bad and chrome.so 2 people should be able to do it in 8hrs.
 
I have some experience on this. I did a early 2000s model Peterbilt back in December and again two weeks ago. I washed, clayed, sealant, steamed headliner, door panels, dash, cleaned Windows, vacuumed the cab/didn't go back to the sleeper. cleaned the wheels, stacks, fuel tanks, mirror casing, grab bars, and the chrome piece that's ahead of the door with P12S polishing soap. Dressed the tires. Took 8 or 9 man hours. Included degreasing the frame, but we left the fifth wheel alone. I had a friend helping so it took 4 or 5 hours from the time we started until we left. We did it without a pressure washer (now I have one and I believe it would have cut back on time.

If you don't have a PW, I would recommend you getting one as well as a ladder. I used an 8 foot because that's all that could fit in my Explorer. Just make sure you have plenty of degreaser!! I bought a 2 gallon garden sprayer and filled it with a gallon of degreaser and half a gallon of water, and I used about a third of that.

We charged $380 I believe.

Is the floorboard carpet or vinyl plastic?

Red one is the one I did all of this too, the blue one I just washed, degreased, P21S polishing soap, interior, and scrubbed the floorboard since it was vinyl.
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Also, get a brush with extension handle to get the roof, hood, windows, and siding. A helpful tip is that you can open the hood on the truck to reach it better for waxing. Also, a step stool is a good investment for when you need to reach higher but a ladder would be too cumbersome.
 
Did you hand or machine polish the wheels or just used the p125 ?
 
Thank you for the reply. The floor is carpet to answer your question. So you did all the chrome by hand with p21s soap? You did all that in5 hrs 2 people?
 
GSKR said:
Did you hand or machine polish the wheels or just used the p125 ?
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Just the soap. They did not come out as good as if they were machine polished though, I will admit.

Zee19 said:
Thank you for the reply. The floor is carpet to answer your question. So you did all the chrome by hand with p21s soap? You did all that in5 hrs 2 people?
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I just got off the phone with my friend and he said it took 9 man hours, so 4.5 hours per person. And yes, I did all chrome by hand while he waxed and clayed. P21S will not get it to the level of machine polishing, but it will help considerably. It will get more gunk off than regular soap too.
 
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