Help an old man wax the underside of the cabover

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Help an old man wax the underside of the cabover

January 02, 2021, 12:30:53 pm

10 years ago, I was agile enough to lay on the hood and wax the underside of the cab over without any fear of sliding off. Those days are gone.

I could put two 2x12 between two ladders, but even 24 inches seems narrow to me now. And have you seen what 2x12x10 costs these days?

I could tie a cloth to a pole, but that would not allow much pressure to be applied.

So does anyone have a brilliant idea?

Re: Help an old man wax the underside of the cabover

Reply #1 – January 02, 2021, 01:06:45 pm

Hire it out to a detailer?

Re: Help an old man wax the underside of the cabover

Reply #2 – January 02, 2021, 01:34:33 pm

Quote from: Don Malpas - January 02, 2021, 12:30:53 pm

10 years ago, I was agile enough to lay on the hood and wax the underside of the cab over without any fear of sliding off. Those days are gone.

I could put two 2x12 between two ladders, but even 24 inches seems narrow to me now. And have you seen what 2x12x10 costs these days?

I could tie a cloth to a pole, but that would not allow much pressure to be applied.

So does anyone have a brilliant idea?

Yes. Don't wax it. Early on I decided the underside is fully protected from sun, rain, snow, etc. And no one ever looks there and says "Nice wax job". 🙂

Chris

Re: Help an old man wax the underside of the cabover

Reply #3 – January 02, 2021, 01:49:18 pm

For me, I like what Greg said. But, if you want to do it yourself but need a working surface, consider this. Buy two good (no knots) 2x4's 10 feet or 12 feet long. Get a sheet of 3/8" plywood and rip it into two 2'x8' pieces. Space the two 2x4's on edge so the ends will fit on the steps of your ladders. With a good wood glue (I like Titebond) run a bead along the top of each 2x4 for 4 feet each side of the center. Place one of the 2x8 pieces centered on the 2x4's, then run screws into the plywood and 2x4's about every two feet. Flip the assembly over and repeat on the other side. You will now have a quite strong 24" wide by 8' long working surface, for less cost than 2x12's, and it will be more stable. Essentially you are building a box beam with a rise of about 4", and 24" wide. Maximum bending moment will be toward the center, where you have the top and bottom beam structure of plywood. The ends are in shear, where the two 2x4's are more than ample.

A few concerns - If you are using step ladders (or any ladders I can think of) their treads are narrower than 24". So, the plywood will overlap the 2x4's. If you shift your weight to the edge, the ladders might tip, just like leaning to the side on a ladder. You need to be sure the ladders are firm and plumb, and you need to keep your weight in the center. Given that you will be on a smooth, undifferentiated surface, it will be easy to get your weight off center. Splinters from the cut edge are possible. A bit of sanding can address that. Sliding along on the bare wood surface may be hard, as clothing will tend to catch. You can go buck nekkid, or a coat or two of paint or varnish will reduce clothing snags. I recommend the paint or varnish.

Ken F in NM

Re: Help an old man wax the underside of the cabover

Reply #4 – January 02, 2021, 01:53:39 pm

"You can go buck nekkid, or a coat or two of paint or varnish will reduce clothing snags. I recommend the paint or varnish."
---
Or, if one chooses the first option for work attire, I suggest not doing the job in one's driveway.

YMMV, of course.

Re: Help an old man wax the underside of the cabover

Reply #5 – January 02, 2021, 11:48:52 pm

Quote from: Don Malpas - January 02, 2021, 12:30:53 pm

10 years ago, I was agile enough to lay on the hood and wax the underside of the cab over without any fear of sliding off. Those days are gone.

I could put two 2x12 between two ladders, but even 24 inches seems narrow to me now. And have you seen what 2x12x10 costs these days?

I could tie a cloth to a pole, but that would not allow much pressure to be applied.

So does anyone have a brilliant idea?

https://youtu.be/1mSbRbTVGts

I've been using it for years. Comfortable reach under the cab overhang.

Re: Help an old man wax the underside of the cabover

Reply #6 – January 03, 2021, 07:55:43 am

Here is the setup my Dad made for me so I could wash, wax, and seal all the bits of the DogHaus. Essentially the box beam mentioned above. The old wool blanket prevented splinters as I was wiggling around under the cabover. I did have a spotter for the cabover part because the ladders would tip with reach or additional pressure it took to wax on / wax off.

This wont work well for Don's question as an alternative (it pushed my limits of comfort and agility) but maybe you could get a friend or neighbor for that little undercab part with a similar setup.

Re: Help an old man wax the underside of the cabover

Reply #7 – January 03, 2021, 08:48:10 am

Here is an easy way to wax it. Use Turtle Quick and Easy Wax and Dry.

Directions: Wash underside of cab and rinse. Skip drying, leave underside of cab wet. Shake product well. Simply spray underside of cab while it is still wet. Dry and shine at the same time the underside of cab using a pole with some sort of cloth attachment.

After drying the surface feels like it was waxed! Smooth as a babies butt!

Turtle Wax Quick and Easy 1-Step Wax and Dry Spray Wax, 26 oz - Walmart.com...

Auto Drive Car Wash Microfiber Mop, Blue Aluminum Telescoping Handle -...

Ron

Re: Help an old man wax the underside of the cabover

Reply #8 – January 03, 2021, 09:10:18 am

Don, you can always come back down here to our ranch and use our LD nosecone wash/wax rack in the motorhome storage bay of the shed. We just finished waxing our nosecone up there.

Re: Help an old man wax the underside of the cabover

Reply #9 – January 03, 2021, 09:14:12 am

I no longer have the agile grandkid to do this sort of stuff for me.
It's not so much waxing as getting the bug guts out of the space between the windshield and the cabover.
I have a refrigerator fin cleaning brush. I fortify the wire handle by slipping a PVC pipe over it. I can reach to the rearview mirror with it. It does a decent job, but...

Thanks for the ideas.

Re: Help an old man wax the underside of the cabover

Reply #10 – January 03, 2021, 11:29:28 am

I use McGuiar's spray on and wipe off wax. Spraying underside and wiping off with a towel on a pole. Yes, it is not as good as a paste wax, but using it twice a year does the job.

Re: Help an old man wax the underside of the cabover

Reply #11 – January 03, 2021, 11:56:43 am

Quote from: dsandsaz - January 02, 2021, 11:48:52 pm

https://youtu.be/1mSbRbTVGts

I've been using it for years. Comfortable reach under the cab overhang.

I have been using the same system. The expanding pole is worth the cost alone. The polymer wax does a good job of cleaning and waxing. I do not generally use the waterless feature of the wax, but on one trip to FL where the love bugs were out doing their thing I did use the system with out water on the leading edges.

Re: Help an old man wax the underside of the cabover

Reply #12 – January 03, 2021, 03:42:21 pm

It came to me that I can use a pressure washer to clean the space between the cabover and the windshield. Spray it with Greased Lightning and then hit it with the spray. That should return it to white.

I think I will do a pad on a pole to do the underside of the cab. Until I build Ken's box beam.

BTW, I consider Poly Wipe to be the best sealant/wax on the market. The Mothership sells it. You can keep all the other brands.

Done for now. Put the cover on it. Time to spend some time with maps for some out of the way places on the Arizona Strip. No people, no Covid.

Re: Help an old man wax the underside of the cabover

Reply #13 – January 04, 2021, 03:17:45 pm

I set up an alternative way to access under the LD nosecone for washing or waxing. (see photos)
The shelving was surplus from a lumber business. It is well bolted to the floor. It still takes some body maneuvering to get underneath but at least I won't fall.

Re: Help an old man wax the underside of the cabover

Reply #14 – January 04, 2021, 05:11:12 pm

Quote from: Don Malpas - January 03, 2021, 03:42:21 pm

It came to me that I can use a pressure washer to clean the space between the cabover and the windshield. Spray it with Greased Lightning and then hit it with the spray. That should return it to white.

Just a note of caution, Don. If using a pressure washer, be sure to avoid hitting the sealant between the cab and the cabover.

Mike, if I'm ever back in your neck of the woods . . . ;-))

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