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Cover FAQ's
 Just
ask Bob..........
Bob
Lichtmann founded Covercraft Industries in 1965, as a two-employee operation.
It's grown to become the largest manufacturer of custom vehicle covers in
the world! His attention to detail and knowledge of fabrics, and their
performance, have made Bob a recognized source for information on the best way
to protect your valuable investment - whether it's a daily driver or
treasured classic. Noted below are some of the most frequently asked questions about
car covers and Bob's answers.
- Can a cover help
prevent my vehicle from being stolen?
Yes it certainly can. A thief wants to get into your vehicle, start
it, and drive off as quickly as possible. As soon as a thief starts to
make an entry, they are exposed. A car cover takes a few minutes to
remove, so the thief's exposure time is increased. With so many cars
uncovered, why would a thief want to increase the risk of being caught? A
cover also helps protect the contents of a vehicle. When radios and
other items are out of sight they are less likely to tempt a thief.
- How can I prevent my car
cover from being stolen?
The lock and cable
accessory kit will certainly help. You should also put your name on
the front of the cover. The name works better than the license
number. The instruction sheet gives details on the correct way to mark
the cover.
- Is there a correct
way to install a cover?
In general, always cover the front and rear bumpers as the last
step. If the cover has mirror pockets, place the pockets over the
mirrors first. If you have an old car you should cover the roof and
windows first, and then the front and rear of the car. On some coupes
and roadsters made prior to 1932, you might be unable to install the cover
at all if you start with the front or the rear bumper.
- What is the best way
to fold a cover when taking it off the vehicle?
The easiest way I've found is the way we
picture it in our instruction sheets. Simply fold each side up onto
the roof and refold it as necessary so the material ends up about 2 feet
wide. Then, starting at the front of the vehicle, fold the cover
towards the back in increments of about 3 feet. This way you don't
drag the cover over the vehicles surface, and it's easy to reverse the
process for installation.
- Can I put a wet cover
on a vehicle?
If your vehicle is clean, it's actually the best way to dry the cover.
If it's a Covercraft cover, as the temperature warms up, all the moisture
will evaporate, since all of our fabrics are breathable.
- Any suggestions on
how to keep my vehicle cooler when I use a car cover?
Other than parking in the shade, because most of our better fabrics will
protect against bird droppings and tree sap, the best thing to do is to
lower your side windows about two inches. Ambient temperature builds inside enclosed
spaces, and if you open the windows slightly you'll allow air to circulate,
just like it circulates under the cover. Some of our fabrics offer
more heat insulation than others, simply because they are multi-layered and
are more effective at keeping heat away from the vehicle surface, but any
cover will help reduce the vehicle temperature on a hot day.
- What are UVR inhibitors?
Most fabrics are degraded by Ultra Violet Rays (UVR) from the sun. To
slow down the degradation process, chemicals are added during the production
of the fabric. You won't be able to see them, smell them or feel
them. The chemicals are expensive so your best bet is to buy a cover
from a reputable manufacturer who believes in quality. To reduce cost,
one of the first things a mill will usually cut is the percentage of UVR
inhibitors being used.
- How often should I wash my
cover?
There is no magic number since it
depends on where you live and how you use the cover. Don't be afraid
to wash a car cover! Dirt particles can compromise the effectiveness
of the water resistance of the fabric. Be sure to follow the washing
instructions for the cover you own.
- Will treating my car cover
with Scotchguard® make it more water resistant?
In almost every instance, a good car
cover fabric has been treated with some sort of DWR (durable water repellency)
treatment during it's manufacturing process. The effectiveness of such
a treatment will also depend on the construction of the fabric. If you
can hold the fabric up to light and see small open areas between the yarns,
no treatment will increase the fabrics water resistance. Adding
additional treatments will not help and aren't worth the cost.
- My wife is about 5 feet
tall and wants a cover for her car. What fabrics would you suggest?
First off, lighter is not necessarily
better. A thin nylon cover or plasticized paper type cover can be very
difficult to use in any kind of breeze. A heavy cover is also
difficult for a person of small stature to handle. Fabrics that weigh
between 4 and 7 ounces per square yard are considered ideal, and that is our
target weight for most Covercraft covers. The other property that is
important to consider is bulk. Bulky covers are hard to handle and
hard to store.
Have a specific question you'd like
answered? Send us an email and we'll respond as quickly as possible - sales@covercraft.com
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