Taking care of a vehicle is about more than just the basics – we can change the oil, check the tire pressure, and make all sorts of wiring fixes to our heart’s content. One thing we can’t fix easily, however, is a paint job. Unless you have access to a heavy-duty spray gun, blast media, and a dustproof setting, you’re going to be shelling out buckets of cash to have scratches, nicks, and rampant water spots erased and painted over. Save some money and get a quality truck cover.
Some of us know the scenario all too well. At some point, we just stopped caring about all of the little “battle scars” on a brand new (or almost brand new) truck and started focusing more on just the mechanical aspects of the truck. No matter how you cut it, having a vehicle in tip-top visual form is a point of pride, and that’s why investing in a custom truck cover from Covercraft makes so much sense. With over 50 years of experience, the company has grown to encompass every sector of the automotive market, from cars to motorcycles.
“In our total library, we have over 80,000 patterns,” said Covercraft’s Jeff Jegelwicz. “We make every effort to stay up on new models and trim packages, and how manufacturers change the shape of a vehicle. That’s why every year, our design team gets out to dealerships or new vehicle showcases to make sure the covers have the proper specifications. We do this so that once we offer a cover on the website, our customers can filter by year, make, model, bed length, cab configuration, and so on, and have that part number fit perfectly.”
For truck lovers like us, Covercraft has us covered with the Carhartt Work Truck Cover, which bears the name of that most beloved lifestyle brand. It also touts triple-needle stitching on stress seams (just like Carhartt does on its clothing and gear), great UV protection and dust protection, and more.
Something to note about the Carhartt Work Truck Cover is its mirror pockets, which are a great design feature. These pockets, when the cover is being installed onto a truck, should be the first things to address right after the antenna grommet. They slip on easily over the mirrors, no matter if you have the standard or towing-style mirrors (Covercraft lets you select this option during purchase).
After the mirror pockets are situated, the truck cover can then be stretched over the front, back, and sides. Its elastic band along the edge helps keep the cover tight against the truck, but this can be supplemented with the supplied ropes that run underneath the vehicle. What’s more, Covercraft offers an optional eight-foot security cable that uses vinyl-coated steel and a padlock. “It’s a theft deterrent and adds more security to keep the cover on,” commented Jegelwicz.
Once fully covered, your truck has a host of defensive properties going for it. Covercraft provides a handy chart detailing a cover’s protective attributes across eight different criteria, including UV rays, snow, dings, and more. The Carhartt cover, in particular, rates well in seven of those areas. These include UV protection, snow protection, dust protection, soft touch, rain protection, bird protection, and breathability.
“Our Carhartt truck cover is made from Ultra-Tect fabric, which is one of our best vehicle cover fabrics for UV and rain protection,” explained Jegelwicz. “It is lightweight, durable, and strong. We offer them in two colors: Carhartt Brown and Carharrt Gravel, both of which are official Carhartt colors to give that look of desired toughness.”
When it’s time to take the truck out for a spin again, removing the truck cover is as pain-free as its installation. You start by undoing the front and rear and rolling them up onto the top surface of the vehicle, making sure not to damage the mirror pockets or antenna grommet.
From there, the cover should be rolled into a long strip about two feet wide. Letting the cover’s inside layer touch the outside layer is not a good idea, as this could expose it to debris that will rub over the paint the next time you install the cover. “Brake dust and grime for the tires can get inside the cover,” said Jegelwicz. “You don’t want that to transfer to the outside of the cover, as it can create a pathway to allow dirt, dust, and water to seep in.”
Once you have the strip ready, you can roll the cover up like a beach blanket (three-foot sections are recommended). All told, removing and installing the cover should take no more than 1-2 minutes.
If you’re ready to invest in your truck and give it the level of protection it deserves, then feel free to give Covercraft a phone call. You can find the company’s contact information below.