RV and 5th Wheel Wash n' Wax Prices and Tips??

[MusicMan]

Whats up guys.



I just got done with a 5th wheel...about 32'...and it was an a** buster lol.



First off it was my first time doing something of this size (only cars,trucks suvs before) So i seriously underbid it at $150 for a wash and wax only.



Thank God the owner was quite nice and tipped is $100, so that eased the pain some, but it did still take quite a few hours to complete the job over 2 days WITH my sisters help.

I used my PC with Megs softbuff 6.5" Polishing pad and Meguiars Flagship Premium Marine Wax.



Some problems I had were, the pad got pretty caked up after using (obviously) so much wax since this thing was a monster. Also using a step ladder to get up to the higer portions was quite a pain as well (any suggestions on easing the difficulty with this?) Also, the shade issue...im in arizona...and It seems the best way I can keep in the shade is to just work on whatever side is in the shade at that time (as the wax does NOT come off well with any sun hitting it)



The job turned out pretty well, the owner was very happy and said he'd have us back next year, but man its a lot of work! Now his neighboar wants his RV done (30' long). Its in better shape, but still a big baby. His neighbor told him about our $150 bid, but also told him that his was our first vehicle of that size, and that after working on it and seeing the time/work that went into it, that I would have bid it higher (at least $8 a foot is what I told him).



Now the owner seems to be stuck on the $8/foot...so about $240 for the job. I'd like to get a little more out of this one, and probably even more than that for anything here after.



So my other question...as the title stated is...what do you charge and HOW do you charge?



Also, with the 5th wheel it was fiberglass (my 1st fiberglass vehicle) and it seemed to really drink the wax (was pretty oxidized and needed love). The RV on the other hand doesnt seem to be fiberglass....so do i use the same Marine/RV wax on it as i did the 5th Wheel, or do I use a regular car wax?



Suggestions anyone? Thank you!

 

[Labster]

I've only done one and I did it at $15/ foot and bought myself one of those flow thru gentle wash brushes and it made the washing step pretty easy. I was also fortunate enough to borrow my friends moveable scaffolding for the waxing portion.

 

[alloutdetailing]

This topic was just covered a few days ago. Over here is $15-$25 depending on where you go to do the job. So $8 I would just pass on the job. It's not worth the headache.





Edit: Also use less wax on your pads. I can prime my 6.5 pad once and it covers at least 3/4 of the car.

 

[MusicMan]

I was thinking about getting one of those Flow Thru brushes, just wasnt sure how the soap would get thru :-\. Scaffolding would be very nice...ive been checking out those 'telescope' ladders that fold down into a scaffold...I might get it if jobs like this keep coming it, it would be well worth it i think.



So $15-25 really...wow thats big bucks. And Allout you can cover that much of a car with a 6.5 pad....how do you prime it, with just a detail spray? I primed mine with a couple sprays of my UQD, but this thing just ate the wax up, granted it was heavily oxidized and im sure that had a lot to do with it...and it being fiberglass seemed to not allow the wax to spread...or maybe its just cause it was oxidized fiberglass??



Heres another question, do you guy do it by machine or hand...and IF you were to do it by hand as a quick 'wipe on wipe off' sort of deal, what would you charge for it compaired as to how you'd charge for it doing it by machine?