Do any of you take your truck to someone and have it detailed? I'm thinking of starting a detailing business part-time for now and will see how it goes. I use to drive a truck years ago and I always kept my truck spotless, everything polished etc. I do a couple of my friends trucks and they are quite pleased, just posting this to get a feel for the need of such services. For those that do have your trucks detailed, what are the prices you pay for certain services. When the warm weather gets here to stay, maybe I can post some before and after pics of my friends Pete 379, if any are interested.

Great forum here, I enjoy reading all of your experiences and sometimes takes me back when I use to drive.

Thanks for any replies.

 

If you do a good job you will do fine.

I can tell you from experience that nobody out there can wash a truck that is acceptable to me. The Streakin Beacons and Eagle Truck Washes of the world are all crap. I refuse to give them my business anymore. I take my truck home and wash it myself. I can do it in less time than waiting in line at a truck stop, and it CLEAN when I am done.

Good luck to you.

 

Hey guys,

Have you ever tried the waterless car wash stuff? It is fantastic! I use it all the time. You just spray it on, and wipe off. It keeps my truck looking good between washes. It leaves a polymer finish. It is like a wax. I can go a couple weeks between washes now, and it looks clean all the time. I just spend a few minutes a day when I get parked. You would not use it when you have mud caked on the truck, but it will remove pretty heavy dirt. This would be ideal for you if you were starting a detailing business. This works better than soap and water. I use it on some of the cars that I haul, if they are pretty dirty. Check it out by clicking below.

Waterless Car Wash

Good luck on your detailing business. I just might stop by sometime.

John

 

I'm with you Dollar Short, there's nothing like doing it yourself! I always cleaned my truck by hand with car shampoo and nice soft wash mit. It's not that big of a job if you stay on top of things. Thanks for the reply.

jroqueman, I've never tried the waterless products you have tried. I guess I was always skeptical of them, thinking they would possibly scratch the paint. I will checkout their website and read about their products, thanks for mentioning them.

Do either of you guys polish your aluminum and stainless on your trucks?
I've found a pretty nice polisher that I think would make polishing the tanks out a breeze. Only draw draw back is the cost. I think the secret to being successful when it comes to detailing a truck, is to be able to provide the very best in a "show quality" finish, and I'm talking mirror finish on all the aluminm and stainless, and being able to provide that in a timely manner. I have learned alot in the past from trial and error, and tried just about every product out there. The thing I need to do is work on cutting the amount of time it takes to detail a truck to my pretty high standards. My friends Pete I did, he was very pleased with it and got lots of compliments from other drivers, but I told him I wasn't very satisfied with it over all. It looked really nice, but I'm very picky.

Thanks for your replies and when the weather breaks I will take some before and after shots of his truck and post it on here. To the moderators on here, I'm not using this forum to advertise, I'm just trying to get a feel if there is a market for truck detailing.

All of you have a safe week out there !

 

I wash and detail it myself.

 

Polishers (aluminum) in Az. get from $5 to $10 a wheel, $15 to $20 a tank. Sometimes you can work out a deal if you get everything done at once. The advantage these guys have is they put 3 to 5 guys on one truck and knock it out in a couple hours.
Little sisters truck wash (Eloy,Az.) get $70 :shock: for a tractor and flatbed for a crap,crap CRAPPY job.
If you're going to get into this,. you need some help to get the work done or build a clientel of local guys that can leave their trucks with you.
I agree with the other guys in that the only way I'm satisfied is if I do it myself at home.

 

Your profile says you're in Indiana. Go check out the show trucks at MATS in Louisville at the end of March.
Granted these guys/girls have spent months getting ready, but it may give you some inspiration.

 

The waterless carwash has some polishes. They do not perform that well. I just use the washing products. The dry wash leaves a mirror shine. The car shows that I deliver to uses them when they detail the cars inside the building. Check them out, you will not be sorry.

 

I have a local guy around the corner from me that details my truck. I usually pay about $450-$500 for a complete detail twice a year, that includes polish everything that shines except the headache rack, & painting the frame.

 

well i wont go to eagle or the streakin becon but i have actually found 1 place that does do a great job. for those folks that come through indiana on 80/90 its just right inside the michigan border in niles michigan on the corner of US 12 and US 31. its called JD`s truck stop and the guys that wash the trucks there take their time. some times a little too long. usually about 45 to an hour. but since i have been going there i have only had 1 time where i was able ot find something wrong in witch they forgot to wash 1 stack. they do all of the truck with hand mits and brushes. they even wash the tops of the trucks not just let the water run down on it. and while they do have the over head sprinkler syatem i have never seen them put it to use and i have came in with a pretty nasty truck. they are open monday thru friday from 8-8 and on sat 8-4

they are about an hour and a half from the house and i make the drive every friday to wash my truck.

while they are expensive compaired to the becon (70 for truck and trailer and 40 for just sleeper truck) i will gladly pay the price for a proper washing.

usually in the summer i do it my self but i just dont have the stamina to do it out side in the winter.