SUVs - height

[Cadude]

I hate my wife's Tahoe. I hate climbing a ladder in 6 different locations to wash the roof, and then when it comes to waxing. OMG, climb up, apply, climb down, relocate, repeat.

Is there an easier way? Am I overlooking the obvious?

 

[XS650]

quote:

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Originally posted by Cadude:
I hate my wife's Tahoe. I hate climbing a ladder in 6 different locations to wash the roof, and then when it comes to waxing. OMG, climb up, apply, climb down, relocate, repeat.

Is there an easier way? Am I overlooking the obvious?

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The solution to your problem.

 

[medic]

quote:

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Originally posted by Cadude:
Is there an easier way? Am I overlooking the obvious?

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I can think of two easier ways.

1. You already said it - "My wife's Tahoe" - she can wash it

- or - , if you don't want a divorce

2. Automatic car wash

 

[kenw]

3) leave it in the rain.

 

[Cadude]

quote:

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Originally posted by XS650:

quote:

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Originally posted by Cadude:
I hate my wife's Tahoe. I hate climbing a ladder in 6 different locations to wash the roof, and then when it comes to waxing. OMG, climb up, apply, climb down, relocate, repeat.

Is there an easier way? Am I overlooking the obvious?

---

The solution to your problem.

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LOL - it took me a minute but I finally got it. I thought for sure you put in a wrong link.

 

[Cadude]

1. Ain't gonna happen.
2. Ain't gonna happen.
3. No garage - it already sits in the rain.

 

[Palut]

Psst...nobody can see the roof...

 

[John D]

Do you have access to an air compressor at your home? How much height can you cut off by letting the air out of the tires?
We did this on a lifted Ram 1500 (or 2500 -- I cannot remember which) when we needed to do some bodywork and paint it. That gave us a good 6 to 8 inches.

 

[Cadude]

I do have an air compressor but I don't think that will give me more than 5" even when fully deflated.

The Tahoe is 75" high and 79" wide. I'm only 69 inches tall (5'9"). To do the job with a ladder, I'm having to climb to the 3rd rung which is approximately 27" off the ground. This allows me to bend over (a little precariously) to get the middle part of the roof.

I was just looking at an articulating ladder such as this one at Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t.../ref=sr_1_2/104-2817147-7992720?v=glance&s=hi

Do any of you have any experience with these?

It looks like it would work.

 

[XS650]

Since you don't want to chop the top....

Long handled flow through brush.

You would be able to clean your roof from a 1 foot high step stool, one maybe two positions per side.

 

[Larry the Cable Guy]

quote:

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Originally posted by Cadude:
I was just looking at an articulating ladder such as this one at Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t.../ref=sr_1_2/104-2817147-7992720?v=glance&s=hi

Do any of you have any experience with these?

It looks like it would work.

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I would be wary of that. I am the same height as you and use a ladder to wash the roof of my truck. I had it kick out from under me once...and when everything that you grab for is slick with soapy water the ground comes rushing at you in a hurry!

I bought a long handled flow-thru brush thinking that would be the ticket...I wasn't all that impressed with water running down my arms and into my shirt...so it's back to the ladder and I'm just a little more cautious now...

Steve

 

[Cadude]

I've used a long-hand brush. It is good for the windshield but doesn't do a very good cleaning job around the roof rack and roof rack strips. That really requires getting the fingers in there. Also, can't wax and remove wax very well with one.

Yes Larry, the ladder is not the safest thing. Yesterdays near fall is what prompted this post. There I was with one foot on the 3rd rung, 1 foot stretched away from the truck for balance as I leaned over as far as I could to reach the center of the roof. To boot, my driveway is loose rock so the ladder doesn't have a firm footing.

I guess the articulating ladder might even be more precarious since it does not have anything for the hands to hold onto.

I would hate to buy scaffolding to wash and wax a car. I know I could just say the **** with a perfect wash and wax on the roof, it's just the detailer in me wants it done right.

 

[Larry the Cable Guy]

quote:

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Originally posted by Cadude:
...Yesterdays near fall is what prompted this post. There I was with one foot on the 3rd rung, 1 foot stretched away from the truck for balance as I leaned over as far as I could to reach the center of the roof...

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That's almost exactly what I did...and my driveway is concrete...

 

[michaelc80]

Depending on how much you really want to get rid of the ladder you could invest in and learn to walk on a set of drywallers stilts. Not too tall and easy to learn, they should give you just enough reach.

 

[Larry the Cable Guy]

I'm starting to like this more and more. Before long we are gonna need a bigger garage to hold all of our new tools!

SUV > Stilts > Place to set wash bucket (that can be reached while on stilts) > Raise hose bibb to +48" > More tools > ...

 

[Cadude]

This looks like a possible solution to my problem:

edited:

The link won't work. Go to
www.homedepot.com

and search for item number 165352

 

[robbobster]

I open the front doors and stand in the sills to get to the front of the roof. I also stand on top of a rear tire (for the rear-sides) and the rear bumper (for the far rear) to get to the roof.

Just make sure that you do the roof first. Both methods keep you close to the vehicle so you don't have to reach.

But neither is an elegant solution - it just works for me.

 

[Dominic]

Get her to trade in that gas guzzling difficult to service Tahoe for something more manageable? Like a Mazda3 Wagon?

 

[Cadude]

 

[1sttruck]

It'd be easier if you got a pickup as you could stand in the bed. It'd be harder if you got a pickup with a canopy, which is what I have. Sometimes I just expect the neighbors to put their hands on their over their ears if they're easily offended :^)