How do you safely detail the roof of taller vehicles?

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04lss

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Hi all, this is something I tend to have a hard time with. I’m a taller guy 6’1 but there is no way I’m washing the roof of my atlas, or any other similar vehicle without a step stool.

When I have the step stool I tend to lean and use the car to brace myself. How do you clean the roofs without risking marring the paint, or falling for that matter?

On my GTi it’s easy as I can comfortably reach all of the roof.
 
I have a 2 step Warner ladder that is roughly 2 ft high x 3 ft long. It different from the platform i see folks using as it has the extra step.
I see several guys using a mitt on a stick type tool which looks great for washing but does nothing for drying or applying products by hand.
 
I use this.
 

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At one time I had a microfiber apron, but it got dirty so fast It became useless.
 
I have one of those harnesses like Tom Cruise had in the first Mission: Impossible movie.

To paraphrase something an orthopedic surgeon once said to me, "SUV's are God's little joke on detailers"

Contrary to what BLM said AutoFiber does have a drying cover for the Mitt-on-a-Stick, but last I checked it was out of stock.

And coincidentally AutoFiber just sent out an email about their MEGAnought XXXL towel for drying the roofs of SUV's.
 
04lss said:
When I have the step stool I tend to lean and use the car to brace myself. How do you clean the roofs without risking marring the paint, or falling for that matter?
Click to expand...

Your upper body should be on the glass, right? No biggie there. Your lower half may be slightly touching the door panels. Wear something that isn't denim and you'll be just fine. Don't over think it.

You could also pick up a generic microfiber mitt/mop head on a extension pole. That would alleviate you having to lean on the vehicle.
 
I have a platform similar to the one 2 posts above, but I don't use it on our sloping driveway, it does say to use it on flat surfaces, and I don't want to become a statistic. I use a plastic tub I've reinforced out on the driveway, and for extra height I stand on the rear tyres or on the door sills with the doors open, this is for the FJ only.
 
I stand on the back tire of most SUVs. Vans are a step stool, but I haven't touched a van in ages.
 
I use a milk crate with some wood on top.
 
I have some of the cheap Werner platforms from Lowe's on Black Friday sale. It is very basic. I wish it was wider (short dimension) and felt more stable. Cheap. (Ha I noticed the leg is not fully extended in the photo.. Our Subaru has roof rails and are a real pain.


Screenshot 2026-08-04 075111.png
 
Have a chance to buy a new Autofiber Mitt On A Stick Pro Plus for just a couple $$. Less than $10.00 so I'm weighing the pluses and minuses. My take is while it is good for washing ( what it is designed for ) it is a little less great for drying those same hard to reach areas. Then if one uses a drying aid or some protection product the MOAS is most likely useless.
I'm 5' 10" so as i stand next to my Tacoma although it would be easy to reach I cannot see the roof surface so I would be washing it blind. At this point think I'm going to take a pass even at such a rediculous cheap cost.
Below is the ladder I use for washing. My driveway is slightly sloped but no problem as the ladder collapses opposite of the slope. I'll bet I've had the Werner for 20/30 years. It's seen plenty of use both for vehicle washes but countless projects inside the house with 8 ft ceilings.

https://www.homedepot.com/pep/Werner-2-ft-Aluminum-Extra-Wide-Work-Stand-Step-Ladder-with-300-lb-Load-Capacity-Type-IA-Duty-Rating-TW372-30/202038807?g_store=&source=shoppingads&locale=en-US&fp=ggl&pla&utm_source=google&utm_medium=vantage&utm_campaign=122143&utm_content=125071&mtc=SHOPPING-RM-RMP-GGL-D22-022_008_LADDERS-NA-WERNER-NA-PMAX-NA-NA-FR26A222D378-122143-NBR-3096-NA-VNT-FY26_Q1_Q4_Werner_D22_OAM_GrowCategoryShareAON_BAU_Opportunity&cm_mmc=SHOPPING-RM-RMP-GGL-D22-022_008_LADDERS-NA-WERNER-NA-PMAX-NA-NA-FR26A222D378-122143-NBR-3096-NA-VNT-FY26_Q1_Q4_Werner_D22_OAM_GrowCategoryShareAON_BAU_Opportunity-23539999384--&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23530293012&gbraid=0AAAAAolLu986FMQmg5M0GzCU0DliYqHPo&gclid=CjwKCAjw1vXTBhB-EiwAEKr_kx9iXrZwMFvs_rt0eoP40c2yB3M2zB9Hs0xTbR4R0SKiLCkzTu8R0xoCYzkQAvD_BwE
 
I use this on trucks that are raised and vans. I use the shorter ones already posted as well. Also makes a great seat for when I'm using the buffer. The scaffold folds really easy and lays flat in my truck. They are very reasonable at Home Depot $105
 

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