Cover for a Mega Cab dually

[Elsbury]

Looking for a cover for my truck. The constant fires and Santa Ana winds here are really playing havoc with my trucks paint. Batting zero in my search...anyone know where a guy might find one?

 

[DavidC]

Be aware those winds will flog the cover bad and really mar up the paint. I have had a few cloth covers and the dirt will find it's way between the cover and body, that linked with a billowing cover will be like using a sander on your paint. Now with that said the best cover I have found is actually a hail protector and I use it for both hail (inflated) and for protection (not inflated). No dirt gets on the vehicle and it is as clean as when I put the cover on. It was invented in Texas but made in China and the owner has really inflated the price with the virus. It is susceptiple to windy deteriation unless inflated to keep the whipping under control.
https://hailprotector.com/

 

[Elsbury]

Thanks for the tip on covers. That hail protector is pretty cool and odd at the same time. I'll look into it.

 

[R.Taylor]

Ah... the woes of dark colored paint. Silver has been the choice of color since 04. As for the fire ash... Wash it off before you get dew from the cold mornings that wets it down. Don't skimp on car care products. Covers will get dirty on the inside which then will scratch the crap out of your finish no matter what... Washing a full size cover is near impossible unless you have a giant hotel sized 300 gallon washing machines.

https://www.carpro-us.com

I've got 55% of their products or offerings in my garage.... Wife's car and the trucks finish look like they just rolled of the showroom floor... Her car is 7 years old.

 

[Elsbury]

Your right R.Taylor. My 06 was silver and it never looked dirty. While I like this patriot blue it might as well be black with all the ash and sand from these Santa Anas. Went out today and it looked like someone had blown fine beach sand all over it. Blew it off with my portable Ryobi blower lol.

 

[RammerJam]

Looking for a cover for my truck. The constant fires and Santa Ana winds here are really playing havoc with my trucks paint. Batting zero in my search...anyone know where a guy might find one?

I found that the cover sometimes does more harm than good.

Maybe if it's for a short period of time like during a fire with all the ash, etc. But when I covered my car for a period of time, the cover tended to rub the paint, especially on the edges, due to the wind moving the cover around and it rubbing like sandpaper.

But my experience is dated. Things have probably changed

or not

 

[RammerJam]

Ah... the woes of dark colored paint. Silver has been the choice of color since 04. As for the fire ash... Wash it off before you get dew from the cold mornings that wets it down. Don't skimp on car care products. Covers will get dirty on the inside which then will scratch the crap out of your finish no matter what... Washing a full size cover is near impossible unless you have a giant hotel sized 300 gallon washing machines.

https://www.carpro-us.com

I've got 55% of their products or offerings in my garage.... Wife's car and the trucks finish look like they just rolled of the showroom floor... Her car is 7 years old.

Silver is the hardest color to see, IMHO. It tends to blend into the pavement.

 

[DavidC]

Just a few tips if still considering a cover. Vehicle should be clean otherwise you are locking in the sandpaper between the paint and cover. When removing pull front to back all the way or back to front. You pull it all the way to keep the dirty side with the dirty side and not touching the clean side. I do not know what the hail protector is made of but can be hosed down or washed (inflated) with a soft brush and painters extend a pole with car soap. The main point is clean between cover and paint. Now to the inflated price. My truck uses the SUV 2 cover, before covid under the spare parts menu was $185.00, now $399.00, these prices were/are for the cover only and no electrical.

 

[DavidC]

I found that the cover sometimes does more harm than good.

Maybe if it's for a short period of time like during a fire with all the ash, etc. But when I covered my car for a period of time, the cover tended to rub the paint, especially on the edges, due to the wind moving the cover around and it rubbing like sandpaper.

But my experience is dated. Things have probably changed

or not

Still the same, nothing has changed on that part with fabric covers. I was still using fabric covers till about 2-3 years ago. There were times I would remove the cover and the truck was completely wiped out with dirt and having to polish out the marring it all caused. That scenario will really make you question why your using this.

 

[AH64ID]

Having worked around boat covers many years ago I decided to not cover anything.

Breathable covers still have higher moisture inside than out.

As mentioned they become very abrasive with any wind or dirt.

Generally speaking they will do more harm than good.

This applies to cars/trucks/RV’s/boats, etc. the only covers that are a benefit are custom made that are taut so that there isn’t any movement. That’s near impossible on anything except certain compartments on boats.

 

[RammerJam]

Having worked around boat covers many years ago I decided to not cover anything.

Breathable covers still have higher moisture inside than out.

As mentioned they become very abrasive with any wind or dirt.

Generally speaking they will do more harm than good.

This applies to cars/trucks/RV’s/boats, etc. the only covers that are a benefit are custom made that are taut so that there isn’t any movement. That’s near impossible on anything except certain compartments on boats.

And then, you need a winch and a couple of NFL Linebackers to put them on when they're dry. They shrink when dry. A lot. And stretch (a lot more) when wet.

On the custom ones, you need to have the snaps drilled into the fiberglas. On the non-snap ones, (even most of the fitted ones) you need a pole to hold it up to keep rain from pooling in the low spots. My boat cover had the pole and a grommet built into it. I'm in South Florida and I've owned several boats and been around many, many more. Covers aren't always necessary when you have scuppers. Fishing style boat usually has them. Your Lake Cruisers often don't and you can get a lot of water in the bilge. And you're bilge pump wears your battery down...... Back to car covers......

Hated that thing. Hated it. Ended up throwing all the covers on everything away. Not worth the trouble.

But that's just me.

 

[Elsbury]

Thanks for the tips guys. I washed her down good today...clay barred her and gave her a couple coats of the Hybrid sealant. Looks good again. I bought a DI rinse setup awhile ago. I'm just going to have to break down and wash it probably twice a week. Not too bad today.
I agree Rammer. Bought a cover for our fiver and what a PITA that thing is. I'm getting too old to be trying to pull that thing up over a 37' trailer. Almost fell off the roof last time so the fiver is going uncovered.

 

[sag2]

I have been using CoverKing covers on the 2014 and 2018 Ram, the 91 Dakota, and the wife's 200 when it isn't in the garage. I just picked up a new one for the 18 on sale at Costo.com for $129. They last about three years and as long as the vehicle is clean they do a really good job of keeping them clean. I never put the cover on unless the vehicle is washed, or dusted off, or wiped down with Meguire's Final Finish. Regular price is about $169 and is still a great buy. They are not fabric like the fit all universal covers they sometimes carry in the warehouse, but custom fit fabric that the dirt doesn't go through. Be aware that they have Rams listed under Dodge and Ram so make sure you order the correct cover.

 

[sag2]

I just looked and a cover for a 2006 Quad Cab Dually 8' bed is $149. They do not list them unless you do a search for car cover.

 

[Elsbury]

I'll look...is there enough fabric to go over the dually's fender flares? I wouldn't use it in the Santa Ana's we have due to wind abrasion.

 

[Elsbury]

they have nothing for a Mega cab dually. They are close to me. I offered my truck for a pattern...we will see.

 

[sag2]

I'll look...is there enough fabric to go over the dually's fender flares? I wouldn't use it in the Santa Ana's we have due to wind abrasion.

They are custom fit. You can see in the photo the 200 cover fits like a glove. The Dakota cover is from a newer dakota as they no longer had 91 Dakota listed. I just measured a newer Dakota and it was really close so I ordered it. I had one of the old covers from the 1500 on the 2500 until I ordered the correct one and it was a little tight around the hood. They have elastic around the bottom and 2 grommets for a lock or tie under the vehicle. I have only had one blow loose a couple times. If it's real windy I just take it off.