Truck Stop Wheel tire polishers

[Branderson]

Hey gang,

Do most truck stops like the Flying J or Pilot have people that polish rims, clean tires?  My guess is that it isn't a person hired by the truck stop but works there to service all the patrons.  If that's the case, is there a way to find out if a stop has one before driving there?

I'm looking to get my wheels polished but not sure which stop to go to.

[Scott & Heather]

I haven't found a lot of polishers are truck stops. There are a few depending on where you go. In florida at I-75 chrome shop there's a team that polishes there. They do a good job. $80 a wheel it cost me.


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[Jon]

I spent time polishing my wheels over the years and while it might be nice to have someone do the polishing for you, especially if they are in rough shape, you might consider doing them yourself.

There are many degrees of wheel condition and they might require multiple steps of sanding with progressively finer grits, or if they are in good shape just starting out with a good buffing. There are numerous articles available that show the various steps.

Even with wheels that have had a good polish job there is still an ongoing need to keep them polished as they begin to dull. There is no aluminum polish that is so good it is universally praised or accepted and I think I have tried them all with some being a little better depending on how much beer I used to make the polishing process less boring.

[luvrbus]

Lot of mobile polishers around Vegas if you are in that area,depends on the condition of the wheel if it is in bad shape and requires a lot of sanding and polishing they charge 50 bucks for each wheel a standard polishing they charge 10 bucks for each wheel.They do a good job I just had 6 done and they look new no nicks or marks anywhere for $300.00   

[chessie4905]

Thanks for listing the state you are from in your personal details. I would go to one of the big truck stops along the interstate in Alabama and inquire at the repair and service area.Also, you can inquire of local owner-operators with sharp looking rigs. Additionally you can check with a big rig retrieval wrecker. They are pretty knowledgeable. Most polishers do pretty good work or they won't last long. The rougher you wheels look, the more they'll charge. We have wheel polishers at our local truck stop at Milesburg, Pa. They have good reviews from local wrecker service.

[akroyaleagle]

Just had mine done for $30 per wheel. The polisher drove 42 miles to where I keep the coach to do them. They look pretty good. Weren't bad to start just hadn't been polished in 15 years.

He also did the mirrors, front and rear bumpers , but at a pretty high price I thought.

I asked at the tire shop at the Loves truck stop here in Sioux Falls. They gave me his contact info.

As others have said, ask local folks that deal with truckers.

[Branderson]

Thanks everyone, I guess I should have stated where I live in Alabama.  It's in Phenix City near the GA state line.  I'm going to follow the advice of asking the truck stops.  It gets pretty hot here and although I should want to do the wheels myself, I think 15-30 bucks a wheel is definitely worth it.

From what I'm reading, it's hit or miss at the 24/7 truck stops.  I only have a cpl near me so crossing fingers!!

[Scott & Heather]

Like Jon said, I keep my wheels maintenanced myself, but the initial polish work I hired out and do not regret it. The girl who polished my coach wheels started out Caucasian and by the time three hours went by, she was literally black.....



Oh great, someone's going to give me grief for saying that. Sigh.


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[Jon]

Scott nailed it about getting black. When you blow your nose hours after stopping the buffing you still turn a hanky black.

[Scott & Heather]

I dug out the photos. You can see the before and after on my runs and look how clean the lady was when she was taping everything up and how dirty she was after polishing just my baggage door handles and hadn't even gotten to the rims yet:




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[DoubleEagle]

That poor woman, being plastered by polishing shrapnel, and a smoker. That does not seem to be a candidate for a long time career. There must be some protective gear that could be used to minimize the hazards. Her work looks fine, but I wonder how it goes for other people doing this work. I don't recall seeing such a mess when others have done it. It might depend on what type of polish is used (dry stick or liquid).

[Scott & Heather]

She loves what she does and has been doing it for years. Works for an older couple who take pretty good care of her and her team actually. There's no "shrapnel" when you polish. I look pretty dirty myself when I'm done refreshing my aluminum. And frankly, a lot of people smoke and most of the ones I know don't want our pity. She's a hard working girl that looked at my bus, pretty much named her wage, and sang to her headphone music and danced the entire time she worked. She's somewhat of a polishing legend in that area. I feel much more sorry for the pathetic lazy person who could work but doesn't, and just sits around all day with absolutely no sense of work ethic...that guy doesn't know what it's like to be proud of a hard days work and wages.


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[Jon]

She loves what she does and has been doing it for years. Works for an older couple who take pretty good care of her and her team actually. There's no "shrapnel" when you polish. I look pretty dirty myself when I'm done refreshing my aluminum. And frankly, a lot of people smoke and most of the ones I know don't want our pity. She's a hard working girl that looked at my bus, pretty much named her wage, and sang to her headphone music and danced the entire time she worked. She's somewhat of a polishing legend in that area. I feel much more sorry for the pathetic lazy person who could work but doesn't, and just sits around all day with absolutely no sense of work ethic...that guy doesn't know what it's like to be proud of a hard days work and wages.


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AMEN!

[Branderson]

Great pics!  Dam, that's the person I need local here.  I have axle covers coming in the mail and it looks like I will need to polish the wheels myself at least once.

For context, I've had my bus over a year but the rims were professionally polished when I picked it up so they shouldn't be too bad.

We are going camping for the 4th so I'm going to ask around to see what I can find out.


p.s. Luvrbus, I sent you an email.

[dickegler]

I have luck finding the polishers at truck washes.