To Cover or Not to cover - THAT is the Question

[Kukailimoku]

Presuming for whatever reason two constraints:

1. Ram 1500 2020my cannot fit in garage and will live its life outside. Forever.
2. Will keep said truck til it runs into the ground - will keep it ten, 12, 15 or more years.

Which is worse? Covering it or not covering it?

Before you jump to "duh, cover it" think about the rubbing and friction of the cover in breezy situations, and over time the cover may acquire grit particles that could, over years, act as "sandpaper".

Is it worse to leave the truck open to UV light, bird poop, tree sap, and rain/sprinklers/wind, or to cover it from the elements but over time the cover itself becomes an agent of wear and tear against the finish?

Ideas????

 

[NOV87]

Leave it uncovered. Wash it periodically, wax 2-3 times a year. Keep it clean. Also, if you leave in a rainy part of the country, you may get mold growing under that cover unnoticed.

 

[Darksied]

Here are my 2 cents a cover can help I have a 89 foxbody mustang that sat outside with a covercraft breathable cover for 15 years in the rain sun snow and the paint is fine with no mold inside or rust underneath on it

I also had a 86 turbo coupe that sat in a garage and ended up with the black mold of death in the interior go figure I had to have it disposed of

if you intend to leave it outside uncovered make sure you wash and wax it often make sure you clay it at least twice a year use protection from UV sprays on the tires leather rubber trim etc

and for god sake if a bird ***** on it especially in the summer heat use a disposable rag soaked in hot water to soften it up gently wipe it away and apply some wax or some protection to that spot

the acid in bird poop will etch the paint the longer it stays the worse it will become I have a Black 4th Gen and in the summer you can’t even touch it I wash it once a week in the winter I take it to a hand wash for $25 or do it myself

If they use a lot of salt on the roads I use warm water to spray the undercarriage and wash it off on the lawn grass seed is cheap if the salt burns the grass rust on the other hand is expensive to repair

Also if you live in snow Country let the icicles and snow build up behind the tires/ running boards melt or wash with warm water don’t kick them off I did that I extremely cold weather and had a few things break off

Like I said just my 2 cents good luck with your Truck

PS if you live around trees that drop a lot of sap use a cover if you can I would rather wash my cover the deal With sticky sap and all the dust particles that cling to the sap on a hot day and remember claying your truck is worth it you can do to yourself

 

[Kukailimoku]

...make sure you clay it at least twice a year use protection from UV sprays on the tires leather rubber trim...the icicles and snow build up behind the tires/ running boards...don’t kick them off...a few things break off...

Sage advice, thanks.

 

[madtrucker2016]

Well think of it like your boys down their air is good

 

[WY-Dave]

If you live in a wind prone area I would not recommend covering. Before we got the new house the wife's mustang and my Harley trike (both black) had to be outside. She had the coverking autobody armor and I had the Harley brand cover (nylon). In a windy area (WY) unless the cover is a second skin, there will be scratches. The first month the harley looked like it was 10 yrs old on the edges where the cover was because it cover flapped in the wind. The Mustang not so bad, it was a heavier material and fit better. Around here is dry so we don't have to worry too much about moisture.

If you do cover, just pay attention that it is "outdoor rated".

 

[Darksied]

If you live in a wind prone area I would not recommend covering. Before we got the new house the wife's mustang and my Harley trike (both black) had to be outside. She had the coverking autobody armor and I had the Harley brand cover (nylon). In a windy area (WY) unless the cover is a second skin, there will be scratches. The first month the harley looked like it was 10 yrs old on the edges where the cover was because it cover flapped in the wind. The Mustang not so bad, it was a heavier material and fit better. Around here is dry so we don't have to worry too much about moisture.

If you do cover, just pay attention that it is "outdoor rated".

Yes outdoor rated is key the one I owned was form fitted to the car body and Saleen rear wing and was rated for long term outdoor storage it was heavy but soft underneath it had a rear hatch and under hood tie down and a cable that ran under the car

wind can be your enemy that’s why you should not tow on a car at highway speeds on a open trailer with a cover on it you will get wind burn

 

[turkeybird56]

Well, U can always get an arch over carport canopy type for the driveway where U park. Enclosed URL but there are all diff types out there.

https://www.shedsforlessdirect.com/versatube-buildings-m-22.html

 

[Randy Grant]

You might also look at one of the new hydrophobic products. I use Meguiar's hybrid ceramic wax, and am pleased with it so far.

 

[eithkrp]

How often would you be covering and uncovering?