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Probably one of the very last things you want to do after you have just plopped down a big down payment on a truck and signed yourself up for a payment plan is spend more money, but there is one more purchase you should strongly consider making before you put your checkbook away. Truck covers are a great way to protect your investment; not only do they keep your car looking newer longer (much longer), they will also ultimately help maintain and preserve performance. Your driving isn’t your truck’s worst nightmare – it is the elements. Sun, rain, snow, dust, dirt, and birds are likely much more damaging to your new truck. Protect it now to keep it looking and running in prime condition.
The first step in protecting your truck is choosing the right cover. The choices can be overwhelming; which fabric do you choose? How do you know if the cover will fit your vehicle? What if you have exterior accessories that change the standard dimensions and you can’t find a ready-fit cover? Fabric is the biggest concern; you want a cover that will provide protection against the elements your truck will regularly encounter. For example, if you live in a very sunny climate, you’ll want to make sure that you get a fabric that has top UV protection, such as those made by Sunbrella. If you live in a place with long winters, long muddy springs, and a few months of sunshine, you’ll need a quality all-season cover, like WeatherShield’s Heavy Duty fabrics.
Fit is also essential. You can choose from ready-fit or custom covers. Which way should you go? That depends on a few different factors, including the addition of after-market accessories, like hood scoops, winches, or brush guards, and cost. Ready-fit covers typically cost less, but they may fit your vehicle exactly. They’ll still offer a good shield from the elements, but a custom fit will provide specially tailored protection. It is just as easy to order a custom truck cover as a ready-fit cover, and though you’ll pay a little more, you’ll have the extra peace of mind that knowing every inch of your vehicle is shielded.
After you’ve selected your truck cover, the next step is using it! Before you put it on, make sure that your truck is thoroughly cleaned and dry. You don’t want to trap moisture in (though, you should seriously consider getting a breathable cover) and you don’t want particles of dust or dirt to scratch or scuff you truck’s paint. You’ll also want to make sure your exhaust pipes are cool before you put on the cover.
It is also good to remember to wash your cover once in a while (the frequency of which will be dependent on where you live, how dusty it is, etc.) because dust decreases its efficacy. If your truck is perfectly clean and dry, just put the cover over it to dry. This doesn’t hurt the paint of your vehicle at all, and it helps the cover dry uniformly.
A truck cover is your vehicle’s shield against the elements, but it can also prevent theft as well. Car thieves tend to want to be unobtrusive and fast. They want easy pickings, and with a truck cover, your truck is too obvious a target and will take too long to bother with. Multi-layer protection is essential, and the best cover can give it to you.
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