Got roof?

[5.4 Shelby]

i have a wide based and stepped ladder with a large tray on top so i can rest my machine and products there. the wide base allows me to lean and not worry about any tilt, its solid.

something like this

I have one of those that I use for painting, trim and electrical work. I have never tried it for detailing. It is very solid/stable and the tray is handy. I think mine was made by Cosco, iirc. I will go out in my garage and check it tomorrow.

 

[jslym777]

glue some foam down the sides of it or cut those foam noodles up you use for swimming into sections and slice down the side to wrap the aluminum side rails, just in case youre worried about it touching the car.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

What about Mike let's hear how he does his roofs or maybe he skips them like flash lol

Here's how I do them if and when I work on a daily driver... I do like Charles states, use a one-step cleaner/wax by machine as explained and demonstrated in this thread...

For "production" work, I generally just go with an AIO-type product (D151, M66) unless the customer specifically requests otherwise.

KISS Detail - Extreme Makeover - Toyota Highlander

Note the aluminum stand on the driver's side of the Toyota

John buffing out his Toyota using the Porter Cable 7424XP

While John was working below, I tackled the roof which was just as dull and oxidized as the hood... we poured off some XMT 360 from the XMT 360 which is available in larger sizes like a quart bottle into a couple of Autogeek Squeeze Bottles to make it easier to dispense product.

Here you can see the gloss and clarity have been restored...

The lights in the reflection are the overhead florescent lights and now that we've restored a smooth surface the paint will now reflect images again.

As I re-position the camera and take another shot you can see the light reflection completely disappears on the side I have not buffed yet.

I hate tall vehicles.

I'll be a little more specific in that I dislike tall S.U.V.s

Trucks are usually pretty easy because you can jump in the back of the truck bed and usually knock out the roof unless it's some type of extended cab then you're back to using some kind of step stool or scaffolding so you can safely reach the front portions.

Owned a Honda Pilot at one time, loved the vehicle for it's build quality, reliability and functionality but hated washing and waxing it because for the most part just simply washing and waxing it meant getting up and down on a step stool 5 times for each step, 2 times for each side, one time for the back. Multiply that for each step, washing, drying, claying, waxing, wiping wax off.

Don't think I'll ever purchase another S.U.V., at least not a large one.... don't have the waxing the roof problem with my current truck.

 

[HeavyMetal]

Don't think I'll ever purchase another S.U.V., at least not a large one.... don't have the waxing the roof problem with my current truck.

Mike,

I have a RAV4, wich is a pretty small SUV. It's still a PITA to do the roof. I have 2 step stools I use, and it's still up-down-up-down. I'm probably gonna get a 6 foot 2 x 10 and put that btwn the step-stools and it'll still be a PITA. There's no way around it. But, you still can't beat an SUV for hauling your clubs, going on vacation and when your wife decides to buy out every store in the mall .

 

[Da Fats]

Lowes sells a small scaffolding piece that's collapse and sturdy with locking legs that I use when detailing. It's about 4 feet long and 18 inches high.... costs 60 bucks.... just be careful living it around the cars

Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Mike,

I'm probably gonna get a 6 foot 2 x 10 and put that btwn the step-stools and it'll still be a PITA. There's no way around it.

At one of my brick and mortar detail shops I had to sitting benches about 8' long and about 1" side where you would sit. I could put one on one side of a tall vehicle and the other on the other side and often times I was then tall enough to do the roof and I could walk back and forth along the side of the vehicle without getting up and down so many times...

But, you still can't beat an SUV for hauling your clubs, going on vacation and when your wife decides to buy out every store in the mall .

I agree. We chose the Pilot because it can carry 8 people and we hauled cheerleaders to sporting events. And the Mall trips, vacations, etc. pretty handy to have an S.U.V.

 

[ExoticAutoDetai]

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