Truck Cleaning?

T

Timwag2001

New member
i dont really have the time right this second to do a search so i'm just gonna make a quick post.

my father inlaw is a trucker and wants me to wash his truck. i dont have a heated washer and i dont have any cleaning products for trucks. i explained that to him and he wants me to do it anyway (hes thickheaded). so what do i need, what products should i use? anyone have any tips, thoughts, criticism?
 
If you are just doing the one truck you can do it with the cold water unit and a bucket of soap. Pre wet the surface put some soap in the bucket and brush the truck then rinse it. You can pick up some decent soap at the auto parts store or buy some from one of the fine vendors on the board here. (wink wink) That would be your most cost effective method. If you are planning on getting into more fleets you will want to go a different direction all together. Feel free to give me a call if thats your plan I can help you find cost effective way to do it.
 
Bucket and brush is always a good way to start.

Since you don't have the time to read older posts and learn the various ways to wash trucks, Paul's answer is the right one.

Later on if you want to get into truck washing and have time to read older posts, feel free to read all you want, there is great into there accumulated over the years on many ways of washing trucks.

Or

You can just man up to him and say no, you don't specialize in truck washing and refer him to a blue beacon or other kind of truck wash where they will do the job for him but I am sure he knows where they are and how much they cost thus asking you to do it to save him time and money.

It is your choice, your time and your equipment.
 
Tim, what an awesome opportunity to learn on your FIL's truck. Give Paul a Call and pick his brain. Paul has tons of experience in fleet washing and can guide you ion the right direction. Using your FIL's truck will allow you to hone your skills, procedures, and if nothing else help you figure out if you want to be in fleets.
 
ok. i'm about to start digging into some older posts. anything in particular i should be paying attention to? types of products? equipment? searching older posts is much easier when you have the perfect keywords to look for if you know what i mean
 
im looking for a quality product to remove grease, any tips?

also any tips on cleaning a stainless bumper? aluminum rims?
 
first cleaning went so-so. was using strikeforce that i got from paul. i rinsed the whole truck down with water first to cool it down a bit (black truck in the sun) then soaped down the truck. i increased the downstream ratio when i sprayed it on the greasy areas just because i didnt have anything to cut through it with. i handed the gun to my helper and sent my father in law to dunkin donuts for me. while i was giving him my order, my helper sprayed down the rest of the truck with the higher concentration of soap. he didnt realize i increased the ratio and just wanted to make sure that the soap didnt dry. so we rinsed the CRAP out of the truck but when we were done there was a pretty thick film over the whole truck. almost like i hadnt done anything to the truck at all. it actually almost looked worse.

im pretty sure that i know the answer but i want to hear it from you. is it just a soap residue? if i hadnt layed so much soap on, would i still have that problem?

the aluminum is still kinda in rough shape, and i want to two step it. do you recommend acid and detergent from a specific distributor and what kind do you recommend?
 
Break the truck cleaning in 1/4 you cant soap the whole truck especially a black truck.Since you are new at truck washing and you havent got your chemical plan down pat.Get the brush out and that will make up for some chemical defecicy right now.For really heavy build up take a pump up sprayer and use your chemical straight if you need to.
 
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