Selecting a custom car cover may seem like a daunting task.
After all, the top 2 manufacturers alone (Covercraft and Coverking) make more than a dozen custom fabrics.
So many options! How to choose which is best?
There are several factors:
- Where you actually park
- How frequently you use the car
- Weather conditions in your area
- A color fabric that suits your vehicle
Parking Habits & Frequency of Use
Guys, it mostly comes down to this:
Where you park and how frequently you use your car, truck or SUV.
That’s a great starting point for making a smart purchase!
But it also depends on stuff like this…
Do you have a daily commute? A hobby car? It is garaged at home or parked outside?
Different scenarios should factor into a final decision on a car cover buy.
Take it from me…
If you park your daily commute vehicle outside, you’ll want to cover it up.
Your best choice would be to go with a lightweight outdoor car cover.
Lightweight makes folding and storing faster and easier. The lightest outdoor cover is the Covercraft WeatherShield.
It folds to the size of a light sleeping bag. Yet, it offers very effective, mild weather protection!
What if you park outside in a crowded area or where children play?
Well, an extra layer of protection may be beneficial.
For these situations, an Evolution or Noah car cover offer superior protection with just a bit more storage bulk.
Heavyweight Evolution and Noah fabric offer exceptional ding and scratch protection in this regard.
For those of you who routinely garage your daily commuter…
You still want to keep it covered for protection against kids, pets, etc.
A lightweight indoor car cover is perfect!
The two easy choices are the Satin Stretch car cover or Dustop car cover. They are super soft and very light.
Putting it on and taking it off is a cinch.
Need an indoor cover for your hobby car (classic, antique, hot rod, or Sunday driver)?
Choose a slightly heavier fabric.
Go with Tan Flannel or Form Fit.
These covers block more dust. They also offer more padding for extra protection. Super soft too! This pampers the paint finish.
The Weather in Your Area is Key
Where you live should also be carefully considered when choosing an outdoor cover.
So true!
Covercraft and Cover King both develop their own materials to handle different climate and weather conditions.
For example, coastal areas along the Pacific, Atlantic or Gulf Coast require a car cover that can protect from and withstand salt air.
This is where the marine-grade Sunbrella car cover and the WeatherShield HD car cover come into play. If you live within a mile of the coast, these covers offer the best defense against salt damage.
In wet areas of the country, including the Deep South and Pacific Northwest, require water resistance.
This isn’t as easy as it may seem.
The cover fabric must be able to keep the water out. At the same time, it needs to breath.
That’s where the Noah car cover and StormProof car covers really shine. Both of these fabrics offer premium wet weather protection.
In hot, dry, sunny climates, like the Desert Southwest, rain and snow are the last of your worries.
What you need here is a blanket of UV protection.
The cover must offer reflective properties to protect against photo degradation and keep down the heat. This is the exclusive domain of Sunbrella car covers.
Hands down…
The Sunbrella fabric blocks more UV light than any other.
Get a Color w/ the Best Protection
There’s one more factor to consider…
That’s the fabric color.
Color choices are available for our personal tastes, or are they?
Well, that’s not really the case.
In fact, fabric color has A LOT to do with outdoor protection.
In sunny, warm weather climates a lighter colored fabric is essential for outdoor protection. Silver offers the best reflective qualities.
The QuickSilver car cover and Evolution car cover both come in soft colors for sunny conditions.
Tip: If your vehicle is a light color then choose a cover with a light color.
I’ll tell you why…
A light-weight cover with a bright colored fabric may bleed UV energy.
The ideal option is a light colored cover like the Block-It 380 or even the Noah car cover.
BUT, if you insist on color-coordinated style, the WeatherShield car cover and StormProof come in a rainbow of fantastic colors.
Next, let’s talk features and potential benefits of investing in a custom designed car cover!