Protecting your vehicle is important for many reasons. You want to maintain its looks, avoid expensive repairs and preserve as much retail value as possible. You may use a car storage bag or a custom car cover to guard its finish from dents, scratches, weathering, vandalism and other hazards. But maybe you’ve come across car fender covers and you’re not sure what they are, much less how to use them. This quick guide can help you better understand fender covers and how they protect your ride.
What Is A Fender Cover?
Fender covers are made from soft materials such as nylon mesh and flexible PVC, a versatile thermoplastic polymer. Lightweight and supple, these covers easily drape over your car’s exterior to provide protection when you need it. Some versions use plush cotton fabric with interior magnetics to stay put on a vehicle. These are densely woven yet breathable, so they let air pass but not liquids like oil or brake fluid.
Whether as fender covers or fender grippers, you’ll typically find them in garages. Draped over a vehicle’s fender, these covers are silently hard at work. Their prime job is keeping damaging stuff away from precious paint jobs while DIYers work on their vehicles.
The most obvious culprits are scratches, dings and dents from tools and supplies. But let’s not forget about chemical damage. Brake fluid can act like paint thinner, which eats away at vehicle paint and makes it peel. Gasoline can leave hard-to-remove stains. And as for motor oil, it leaves a slick and slippery mess that you’ll have to clean up. For all these reasons, a fender cover is an inexpensive yet valuable investment.
How To Install Fender Covers
Fender covers are pretty simple to use — just carefully drape the cover over your work area and you’re done. As far as which type to use, that depends on your individual needs. Many cloth covers feature an ultra-dense weave for both cushioning and breathability. And as an added convenience, these covers come with stitched-in pockets for your odds and ends while you’re working. Gripper covers often feature PVC with nylon mesh, so they’re soft and cushioning yet impervious to harmful fluids. Both versions are non-slip, so they stay in place without any effort on your part.
More Options for Protecting Your Vehicle
Fender covers offer solid protection while you’re working under the hood. But when it’s stored outside or (ideally) inside a garage, car covers and storage bags keep the worst hazards away from its finish. After all, you have more to worry about than scratches and dents. Moisture, insects, stray animals, vandals and other risks can harm paint and detract from your vehicle’s looks and value.
Just like fender covers, you have many kinds of car covers to choose from. These come in both indoor and outdoor models with a wide range of materials: Plushweave, Customweave, Softweave, satin stretch, PVC and many more. Proper care for your cover helps it last, delivering many years of faithful protection. Be sure to follow the correct car cover washing instructions for best results.
