Do you protect your car, truck or SUV with a car cover? It needs to be considered by every new vehicle or collector car owner. Premium covers come with full warranties. With proper care they will last four or more years with constant use. One way to look at it is the average yearly cost. With proper care it costs $40 to $100 per year, but that’s insignificant compared to the amount it saves you in vehicle restoration expenses or reduced vehicle resale value.
Selecting an appropriate cover for your climate and use requirements is essential. There are many considerations. For instance, do you garage your car or do you park it on the street? Climate conditions, including humidity are also important, as are winter weather conditions, like snow, ice or heavy rainfall. All of these factors must be taken into consideration.
Superior quality, custom-fit covers are priced from $175 or so. For super-sized SUVs, trucks and vans, prices can be as high as $500. That’s why it’s so important to get the facts straight and make the best choice the first time. Be aware that a custom-fit product is made to order and you can’t return it.
It may be necessary for you to make a few trade-offs in the material. If you can’t do that, then be prepared to buy one for indoor use and another for outdoor use. The reason I say this is because a waterproof car cover is not conducive to indoor use. They are very bulky. The trade-off here is to pick a fabric that’s breathable and light enough to use inside and has the ability to hold up to outdoor use in mild weather.
When you start your research the wide range of options can appear daunting. Rest assured that each fabric has a distinct purpose. Be sure to choose the right one.
I’d like to switch subjects for a moment. In fact, I have an important question for you. Are you aware of the times when you shouldn’t be covering your vehicle? I see far too many people make this simple mistake. The mistake is covering a dirty vehicle. A light coat of dust isn’t an issue. However, if the car looks like it needs to be washed and you cover-up, the paintwork will begin to develop swirl marks and scratches like crazy.
There’s a simple solution. Here’s what works best for me, and it’s really easy. I dust my car with a California Car Duster. Have you ever seen one? They are fantastic. All it takes is one or two minutes and the dust and light dirt are gone. No kidding.
Here’s what you do with the duster. Simply shake it out before each use and lightly dust off your automobile. If you’re thinking it will slow you down, I promise it won’t. It takes a minute or two at most. It’s fast and easy, and it will keep you car clean so you don’t need to wash it as often.
In case you are concerned about the duster scratching your vehicle, I can promise you that it won’t. With twenty-five years of use I’ve never had a problem, even on my black cars. That’s because the dust mop is saturated in paraffin wax at the factory. The paraffin makes the mop work like a dust magnet. It works!
Here’s something else that makes me clinch my teeth. It’s watching most people put a cover on. Am I the only one, or have you seen people do this, too. I’m talking about the car cover jerks. Those are the guys who grab a corner and give it a good yank. No folding, either. It gets wadded up and tossed in the trunk. Being someone who appreciates automobiles, it makes me sad to see.
A car cover is made from yards and yards of fabric. When you take the time to neatly fold it and stow it properly, there’s no issue. When you don’t stow and use it properly you are forced to spin it around, slide it and twirl it all over the surface of your car. All of that swirling and twirling on the paintwork make swirl marks and causes light scratches. Removing them will cost you time and money.
There is a better way to do it that’s fast and easy. It starts with a simple folding technique while the cover is on the automobile. Begin at the front by flipping the front edge towards the rear in meat folds that are approximately 12″ to 18″ wide. When you reach the middle, go to the back end and start folding from the rear to the middle. At this point you have a run of fabric that’s neatly folded and you can roll it. Begin rolling on the passenger side and avoid sliding. Finishing on the driver’s side and store your neat bundle.
When you want to put it on again, all that’s required is a quick toss from the driver’s side to the passenger side while you hold on to the loose end. Now you can unfold to cover the rear and unfold to cover the front. With a slight adjustment in position you’re done. No sliding or dragging required.
You might be wonder if windy conditions will cause the same issues. The answer is, yes, and you should make a mental note to get uncovered when it’s windy. I’m not talking about breezy weather. That’s not a problem. Be concerned about heavy winds. Sustained winds over 20 MPH will cause some serious scuffing damage. Plus, consider the scratching your paintwork will endure if sand or dirt gets inside.
There are some precautions you can take for light wind. In these cases I suggest using a wind control device to make sure the edges stay snug and secure. You’ll need to follow the instructions for proper use. Each of the wind control mechanisms is a bit different.
As you might imagine, having a dirty cover is no different than having a dirty car, but how do you clean it? I can tell you this, unless you have an industrial size washer at home, you’ll need to visit a coin operated laundry. Be sure to use the largest machine they have without a center agitator. You don’t want to shred it and washer damage is not a warranty issue.
Here’s a little trick an old timer taught me. It’s easy, too. All you have to do is scrub it while it’s on your car using a wash mitt and your car wash soap. Obviously you’ll want to make sure your car is clean first. Wash the outside first then flip it to do the underside, and don’t forget to rinse really well. Let it drip-dry for a bit then put it in the dryer on medium heat.
I hope I have shared a bit of information that let you be the best car cover owner. If you have not made the plunge yet, just know that it is the only car accessory that will help you keep your car in excellent condition. Use it as intended and you will reap the rewards.
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