How to Maintain Your Tonneau Cover

Clean it Regularly

If you want to keep your bed cover in good shape, regular cleanings are an excellent idea. Road debris, vegetation, and bird droppings can all accumulate on the cover and cause damage like rot or mildew. Cleaning the cover around once a month will ensure that it doesn’t start to deteriorate or develop stains that can affect the overall look of your truck. The type of product you should use to clean your tonneau cover will change depending on the material. For example, if you have a vinyl cover, a specific vinyl cleaner will be your best option. For fabric or canvas covers, material-specific cleaners can be a big help.

Apply Protectants

Your tonneau cover is exposed to all the different weather elements including water and UV rays. If you have a vinyl cover, apply a UV-resistant protectant to help preserve the color and prevent fading. A water-resistant protectant is also a good idea for fabric or canvas covers as they can be affected by standing water or rain. For hard covers, an automotive wax or sealant can be a great way to keep the finish looking its best, even after particularly dismal weather.

Inspect and Tighten Fasteners

Now and then, it is a good idea to go around your truck’s tonneau cover and check all the different fasteners. Whether your cover has clamps, bolts, or velcro, checking their condition will ensure that the cover doesn’t come loose or become damaged in the wind. Tighten any fasteners that may have come loose or apply additional adhesive to the fasteners that use it to hold onto your truck. Your cover may also use snaps that can come apart over time, so checking that they are still fastened and holding strong will ensure that you don’t lose your cover on the highway.

Regularly Check for Damage

One of the things about tonneau cover damage is that once it happens it will be much more likely to get worse. A small hole or tear in a canvas or fabric cover can quickly get worse if it isn’t repaired as soon as possible. Weather elements like rain, hail, or wind can make rips bigger or cause fraying that can eventually lead to deterioration. Go around your cover once in a while and check to see if there are any small signs of damage. If you notice any, either repair the damage right away or think about replacing the cover so you can get the protection you need.

Check Seals

If you have a hard tonneau cover, it may have seals that help improve its water resistance. Over time, these seals can disintegrate and won’t offer the kind of protection you need. Before the rainy season, check all the seals around your cover for signs of deterioration or rot. You can also test them by spraying them with a hose and checking for any leaks. This way, you will know whether or not you need to replace the seals before the weather turns bad.

Use it Properly

Your best bet for keeping your tonneau cover in great shape is to make sure you are using it properly. Unless you have a hard cover, try to avoid placing any heavy loads on it. Heavy items like tools or equipment can stretch out canvas or fabric and create sagging that will eventually cause rips or other deterioration. You should also avoid letting water sit on a soft cover for too long. While they offer some level of water resistance, standing water will eventually turn into mold or mildew and can weaken the material of the cover.

If you have found that your tonneau cover has been damaged, even after taking steps to maintain it, AmericanTrucks has the replacement you need. With a range of covers from soft roll-up varieties to folding hard covers, you can find the perfect option to protect your pickup and keep it looking its best.