Car Covers Research Guide

Why Car Covers?

Car Covers help defend your Car’s exterior against the harmful UV rays of the sun, runaway shopping carts, heavy downpour and dings and scratches from the garage. They also offer protection against bird droppings, tree sap, dust, dirt and pollution.

You can choose from Indoor Car Covers, Outdoor Car Covers and Indoor/Outdoor Car Covers for protecting your car from the harsh elements. Car Covers are available in a variety of breathable, water-resistant and waterproof materials. You can either go for universal Car Covers that fit most standard cars or Custom Car Covers that offer a perfect fit.

JC Whitney also stocks RV Covers, Camper Covers and Snowmobile Covers. These Covers are designed to protect your Recreational Vehicle, Camper and Snowmobile against harsh elements during off-season storage.

What Different Types of Car Covers Can Do for Your Car

There are three basic types of Car Covers that you can choose from, to protect your vehicle from the elements — Indoor Covers, Outdoor Covers and Indoor/Outdoor Covers.

Indoor Car Covers are great if you keep your car garaged most of the time. If you tend to leave your car in the open, you will need an Outdoor Car Cover that’s designed to repel water but still allows airflow through the cover fabric. If you want a cover that can be used both indoors and outdoors, then an Indoor/Outdoor Car Cover is the one you should choose. We have listed down some basic features of Indoor, Outdoor and Indoor/Outdoor Covers to help make your decision easier:

Indoor Car Covers

Dust and dirt from the garage and frequent opening and closing of the garage door can leave ugly blemishes on your car’s exterior. One surefire way to keep this from happening is to get an Indoor Car Cover for your vehicle.

Indoor Car Covers are gentle on your car’s finish as they are made from lightweight materials. These covers are a safe bet against dings, scratches and scrapes that are common during interior storage.

Outdoor Car Covers

The strong UV rays of the sun can make your exterior paint fade unevenly. Heat can also weaken the rubber, plastic and leather upholstery inside the Car. They can even break down foam padding and adhesives and fry the audio components, tapes and discs. Outdoor Car Covers are fitted with specialized UV ray inhibitors that reflect the sun’s rays away from your car to prevent damage to the color coat.

Ice and snow can also wreak havoc on your vehicle’s paint. These covers offer protection in all weather conditions — be it hot and sunny or damp and snowy. Outdoor Car Covers are available in a variety of non-abrasive and non-shrinkable materials.

Indoor/Outdoor Car Covers

Indoor/Outdoor covers are versatile as they combine the features of both Indoor and Outdoor Car Covers. These covers are breathable and water-resistant and so are ideal for any climate condition. Indoor/outdoor covers are also non-abrasive making them suitable for use indoors.

Special Features: Water is the biggest enemy for your vehicle’s exterior. Car Covers made of water-resistant materials are great for outdoor as well as indoor use. Water resistant and waterproof covers keep water out of your vehicle even during that heavy downpour.

To keep rust at bay, breathable materials are the way to go. Indoor, Outdoor and Indoor/Outdoor Car Covers made of breathable materials allow for ventilation, absorb excess moisture and prevent rust formation.

Car Covers, Camper Covers & Snowmobile Covers

Car Covers

Car Covers are an economical and easy way to protect your car’s finish as they keep your paint job looking factory-fresh for a long time. What’s more, they come in attractive colors, embellished with icons like “flames” and iron cross to add a dash of style to your car’s exterior.

They are available in Custom-Fit as well as Universal sizes for Indoor, Outdoor and Indoor/Outdoor use. Car Covers are made using durable, water-resistant and breathable materials that dry out excess moisture.

Apart from protecting your vehicle’s exterior from the elements, a simple Car Cover can also deter theft by masking the car’s make and model as well as the audio system, cellular phones and other valuables inside the car.

RV and Camper Covers

RV Covers and Camper Covers made of breathable, lightweight materials offer superior protection for your Recreational Vehicle and Camper.

You may safely put away those trailers and campers with heavy-duty covers made of sturdy polypropylene that protects every inch of your Recreational Vehicle or Camper.

You can stop worrying about an attack of mold and mildew as the covers have a triple layer top that allows moisture to escape. These covers come with tie-down ropes that keep your trailer cover on even in the face of windstorms.

Snowmobile Covers

Snowmobile Covers keep your snowmobile protected against harsh elements. They come with a high-tech fabric coating that ensures maximum water resistance and UV resistance. These Covers offer heavy-duty, all-weather protection — you don’t have to remove them even when trailering your snowmobile! They are a great way to protect your valuable investment during storage and transport.

Snowmobile Covers are constructed out of sturdy poly cotton and polyester materials and they come in handy when you have to transport your snowmobile. You can even leave it on when trailering.

How to Choose the Right Car Cover?

Different types of Car Covers offer different levels of protection; choose one depending on where you park your car, the weather in your area and your budget. Here are certain helpful pointers that will help you select the right Car Cover:

• Fit is Important: A well-fitted Car Cover gives your Car everlasting protection whereas a poorly fitted one defeats the very purpose by allowing room for damage. A poorly fitted Car Cover lets in moisture, which leads to rust over time. Car Covers are available in both universal as well as custom fit sizes. Universal Car Covers are designed to fit most Car models but to obtain the best fit, choose a cover that is custom designed for the make and model of your car.
• Where You Park: Choose the Car Cover depending on where you park and how often you use your car well as the weather in your area. Indoor Car Covers are made of fabrics that are gentle on your vehicle’s color coat, so these are ideal when keeping your car garaged for a long time. If your car is going to be parked outside a lot of the time, then an Outdoor Car Cover equipped with air vents is the one you should go for.
  
  Choose a Car Cover that can be used both indoors and outdoors if you want the best of both worlds. If you live in an area where it rains throughout the year, go for a water-resistant Car Cover. For a sunnier zone, choose a Car Cover with extra UV and photo degradation protection. When it comes to colors, it is wise to choose a lighter-colored cover as it deflects the sun’s rays.
• Security: Most Car Covers provide tie-down points, which allow you to secure your cover and keep it on intact even during windy days. Securing your cover with a cable and a lock also makes your vehicle harder to steal.

Put On/Take Off A Car Cover with Ease!

Here is how you can put on and remove a Car Cover without causing any scratches to your car.

Start by covering the mirrors of your car with the pockets on the Car Cover. Next, cover the roof and windows of your car followed by the front and the rear ends. Always cover the front and rear bumpers last to get that snug, secure fit. After you have put on your car cover, secure the cover with a cable lock or ropes.

For removing the Car Cover, start by folding each side of the Car Cover up onto the roof. Then refold it as necessary. Next, beginning at the front of the car, fold the Car Cover towards the back. This way you will not drag the cover over the vehicle’ss surface and minimize any chance of scratches.

Car Cover Care

Caring for your Car Cover takes very little time and effort. Read the manufacturer’s directions carefully on how to clean and maintain your cover. A few helpful hints to keep your Car Cover clean are given below:

Most vehicle covers can be washed in a washing machine with a mild detergent. Always dry your Car Cover, thoroughly before storage as the excess moisture can cause rust formation. Keep your Car Cover away from hot exhaust pipes, as it is made of materials that melt under high temperature.

Car Covers are a great investment as they help protect your vehicle from the elements and keep it looking good as new for years. Choose the right type, material and the size that best suits your Car make and model and the cover will take care of the rest!