So, your Mopar needs a blanket? OK, maybe the word blanket isn't correct, but covering your car and saving its paint should be a priority for you. Going to your local Wal-mart and buying a $20 cover is not what we recommend. The most popular cover materials used for custom-fit vehicle covers are made by Kimberly-Clark. But you can't simply call Kimberly-Clark and order your car cover, so who do you call? The world's largest manufacturer of custom-fit Mopar car and truck covers is Covercraft Industries, headquartered in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma. Custom-fit covers are usually more expensive than generic non-fitted covers, but also do a much better job of protecting your Mopar. Covercraft has over 45,000 fitted patterns for most domestic and import cars, trucks, and SUVs, and has been steadily building that library since the business started in 1965.
There are many types and weights of fabric, all designed to do a specific job, so various factors should enter into your selection, but the most important is where you are parking or storing your vehicle. Do you need a simple dust cover, or do you need a super cover that can stand up to horrendously bad weather? Both types, and everything in between, are available from several Mopar parts suppliers and many new vehicle dealers. Here, we'll examine some of the criteria surrounding vehicle covers and how to select the right one for your application.
Let's look at the most popular materials and what they can do to protect your vehicle. Each material is rated from poor to best under the following conditions: all-weather, rain, snow, acid rain, dust/dirt, UV damage, breathability, heat insulation, paint finish, dings/scrapes, storage space required, and mildew/rot resistance. Each supplier might have a different name for their individual product grades, but the material and performance will be almost identical. Covercraft has categorized each of their products according to usage to help facilitate your decision making process. That rating chart is included here and is based on performance comparisons with other materials. All the previously mentioned factors have been researched, and the cover material assigned an accurate protection value rating.
Not all covers are created equal. We've all seen the torn car cover blowing in the wind. The physical construction can differ dramatically between manufacturers. Regardless of the manufacturer you select, the highest quality covers feature double-stitched overlapping seams to prevent against rips, Neoprene elastic sewn into the front and rear hems to hold the cover in place, reinforced nonscratch grommets with protective flap, and an optionally available viny-coated cable and lock for theft protection. Some vehicle covers feature a coating or laminate on the outside only, which can wear off or delaminate. Always compare construction of the vehicle cover as closely as you examine the protection value of the material.
Let's look at what type of cover will work for you. Some fabrics focus on protection from a specific element, such as intense sun or dust/dirt. One of the most important factors to consider is breathability; you don't want to trap moisture under the cover. Condensation causes mildew/rot and can ruin your paint in one season. If your vehicle is stored in a closed, dry garage, then Tan Flannel or Dustop would probably be your best choice. Both breathe and protect the paint finish. If you have a carport or partially exposed exterior parking, than an all-weather cover like Block-It 200 Series would be a good choice. For the completely exposed parking condition, then either NOAH or Covercraft's latest breakthrough fabric WeatherShield would most likely work best.
WeatherShield is a unique new fabric that is exclusive to Covercraft, featuring their Nextec process. Its lightweight (weighs less than 5-ounces per square yard) and folds into a small, easy-to-store bundle. Constructed from materials developed for outdoor performance wear, the Nextec encapsulation process uses precision placement of polymers around the fabric fibers to create a durable, breathable barrier within the woven fabric. Therefore, the protection is inside the cover material as well as on the surface. WeatherShield sheds water immediately, allows heat or condensation under the cover to escape, prevents UV damage to paint, and is virtually dust proof.
Cover maintenance and storage are also considerations that need to be thought of. Do you have to have the cover professionally cleaned or can you wash it at home? When not in use, are you going to store it in the vehicle or in the garage? Obviously, having a cover you can wash and dry at home is advantageous, as is a tiny storage footprint in your vehicle. WeatherShield fulfills both of these important qualifications.
So you can see that buying a vehicle cover is not as simple as handing over your credit card. Once you make the decision on the type of cover that's right for you, check out the various brands, construction, and what will fit into your budget. But remember the old adage: "You get what you pay for." A top-quality vehicle cover is like life insurance for your original or restored interior and paint finish. Don't skimp on the one item that will give your investment the protection it deserves.
