Time needed to do a recreational vehicle?

Hey guys,

I asked this question on a professionnal detailer's group and got no answers, I am hoping I will have more luck here....

A regular client of mine wants me to do a detail on her camper.

I have never done this because so I have no idea how long it will take and what to charge for it.

She wants it cleaned (exterior only)
Black streaks on aluminium pannels removed (I already have the product for it)
Roof scrubbed
Wax (I will apply a sealant)

She says it's 14 feet.

So how long should I expect this to take and how do you usually calculate prices for these vehicles?

Here are some pictures:

Attachment 66188

Attachment 66189

Are you going to AIO it or just apply the sealant after the prep washing?

Well, depends on her budget and result she wants. I am thinking about using a spray Silica sealant like Reload unless she wants something different.

•Since it’s your first time detailing (Wash
and Wax) this kind of a vehicle:
-considering the size of camper; and the
fact it belongs to a regular Customer;
-$15 per linear foot seems fair.

(Once you have this one under your belt,
you can always adjust the amount per linear
foot for future, similar projects, if need be.)


•Doing the roof is where you’ll need to
be extra cautious: how long it takes
(time) should have no bearing when it
comes to Safety, IMO.


Bob

Sometimes the way I look at a job is like this,


What dollar amount will I be happy with at the end of the day?


I've detailed RVs and Campers when I was younger and it's so opposite of buffing out a cool car. Like Bob referenced, getting up high enough to wash/scrub/treat/polish the roof is a safety issue just as much as it is a physical issue. You're going to want to have access to some form of scaffolding or lift. Standing on a ladder next to the RV is not a safe approach. It's done all the time but that doesn't make it safe. Maybe a local Tool Rental Store would have an affordable solution?

When I tackled these product in the past, back in my late 20s and in my 30s, I used Meguiar's #6 or #20, both are AIOs with foam pads on the Porter Cable polisher - the only electric DA on the market at that time that could maintain pad rotation under pressure. Isn't it nice now days to have so many tool options?


I'd say a low of $500.00 if you can do it all in a day plus make the owner foot the bill for any scaffolding you have to rent.

I'd say a better price for the kind of painstaking work it is to buff out these types of things would be $1000.00 for the day. It's a LOT of work from start to finish.

Feel free to share this thread with the owner.


:)

Thanks guys.

For the roof, I plan on using a foam cannon with simple green boat and car wash and a long soft pole brush. Once rinsed off, I will foam again with a car shampoo + wax mixed with an ouce of CarPro reload for additionnal protection.

I don't think she will want a buffing but I quoted her two prices, one of cleaning only and one for cleaning+buffing.

Will see how it goes. If I like it I will add it to my service offering. I should also look into doing planes, I know some of you guys offer that service as well, could be a nice extra revenu stream.

You can also install rv slideout awnings to your RV that will make it look beautiful and protect it.

I did one about 2-3 months ago $30/foot. I used McKee's 37 RV products and it came out nice.

From what I can tell of the pictures at least the sides appear to be corrugated aluminum. Your not going to use a buffer on those and you have to be very careful as the paint is very thin and can strip the paint especially on the edges of the corrugated material. I had one of those and it was a PIA as it was mainly all done by hand.