How To Restore a Faded Tonneau Cover?
Many truck owners, especially those who value the life and appearance of their vehicles, always have trouble with the fading or aging of the tonneau cover when they have it installed on their trucks. The fading of the tonneau cover makes their truck no longer beautiful. This is because the owners have hardly done any maintenance on it after installing the cover.
Yes, the tonneau cover needs maintenance! Without proper maintenance, the tonneau cover will fade, crack, or even damage over time, which is irreversible. To extend their lives, in this article, we will introduce the correct maintenance methods for the tonneau cover from why the tonneau cover fades, how to repair it, and how to reduce fading. Make sure it stays in good condition for years to come.
Why does the tonneau cover fade?
Before we explain how to fix it, we need to know why your tonneau cover fades. Once you know why it fades, you can develop an effective strategy to deal with it. There are several main reasons why your tonneau cover fades:
UV Radiation Exposure
When a truck bed cover is exposed to the sun's UV rays, it breaks down the chemical bonds in the bed material, causing photodegradation. Over time, this causes fading and weakening of the material, making it more susceptible to cracking and damage.
Environmental Pollutants
When you live in an area with high levels of environmental pollution, some of the airborne smog, dirt, dust, and industrial chemicals can accumulate on your truck's tonneau cover. These pollutants are often corrosive, and when they combine with water, they can eat away at the material, causing it to dull and fade.
Acid Rain
It is unfortunate if your truck has ever been exposed to acid rain, which contains high concentrations of acidic components such as sulfuric acid and nitric acid, which will accelerate the fading process.
Improper Cleaning
Using harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaning tools to clean your truck cover can strip away the protective coating, making the cover more vulnerable to UV rays and other environmental elements that can damage the material and cause fading.
Oxidation
Oxidation is a chemical reaction when the tonneau cover material reacts with oxygen in the air. This reaction causes the material to lose its original color and become dull.
Aging
Like all materials, tonneau covers will age over time. Even with proper care, the material will naturally degrade and the color will fade as the cover ages. Regular maintenance can significantly slow this process and extend the life of the cover.
Why is it important to maintain your tonneau cover?
The most important thing to know about this is that maintaining your tonneau cover will increase its lifespan and make your investment more valuable. The second is that if your tonneau cover fades and becomes dirty, it will make your truck look shabby, and even an expensive truck will look cheap if the tonneau cover becomes ugly. Regular maintenance of your tonneau cover will keep it clean, which will improve the overall appearance of the truck. Finally, and related to our topic today, tonneau covers will fade or crack over time if they are not properly maintained. It will be much more difficult to restore them after fading. Fortunately, you have come to this point, so let's take a look at how to repair a faded tonneau cover.
How to Restore a Faded Tonneau Cover?
If you also want to repair your tonneau cover, follow the repair process below!
Step 1: Cleaning the Tonneau Cover
1.1 Remove Heavy Debris
Let's do our first cleanup. We'll remove debris from the tonneau cover, such as leaves, branches, and some accumulated dirt. For this step, you can use a pressure washer.
Note: When using a pressure washer, keep the nozzle a safe distance of several feet from the tonneau cover and gently rinse away debris, avoiding getting too close. The water flow is too strong and damages the material.
1.2 Apply Soap
Once you’ve removed the heavy-duty debris, it’s time to soap up the tonneau cover. To do this, you’ll need a foam gun and quality soap. Load the foam gun with soap and spray the entire truck bed cover. The foam will help break up any dirt and grime left on the surface. Allow the foam to sit for a few minutes to penetrate and loosen the grime.
1.3 Contact Wash
Once the foam has worked its magic, use a soft wash mitt dipped in soapy water to gently scrub the cargo cover. Make sure to cover the entire surface, paying attention to the edges where dirt and grime tend to accumulate.
Note: If your truck is large and you can't reach the middle of the cover, use an extension pole to get to those hard-to-reach areas.
Step 2: Drying the Tonneau Cover
Now that your tonneau cover is clean, the next step is to dry it thoroughly. This step is very important because any remaining water will dilute the protective product you will apply next, reducing its effectiveness.
We use high-quality dryer towels for wiping. These towels are specifically designed to absorb water quickly without leaving streaks or lint. Carefully dry the entire tonneau cover surface, making sure to remove all moisture.
Step 3: Restoring and Protecting the Tonneau Cover
All of our preparations are finally done. Yes, the first two steps are just preparations, and only once the entire cover is clean and dry can we restore and protect it. This involves applying a protective dressing that not only restores the original shine of the cover but also protects it from UV rays and other harmful elements.
3.1 Choose the Right Product
There are two main types of protective dressings: water-based and solvent-based. For tonneau covers, especially if the cover is made of a soft material like vinyl, it is important to choose a water-based product. We recommend using a water-based decorative gloss product that is specially formulated to be safe for tonneau covers. Solvent-based products can penetrate the material and cause damage over time.
3.2 Application Method
There are two main ways to apply trim polish: the first is to apply directly to a microfiber towel or directly to the tonneau cover. The second is to spray the product directly onto the tonneau cover. Be careful not to spray too much. Spraying directly onto the tonneau cover can save time. After spraying the product, use a microfiber towel to spread it evenly over the entire surface of the tonneau cover.
3.3 Buff the Cover
After applying the trim polish, lightly buff the tonneau cover with the dry side of a microfiber towel. Allow the product and material to blend thoroughly to ensure we have a smooth and even finish.
What Cleaner to Use to Restore Your Tonneau Cover?
303 Products
- 303 Tonneau Cover and Convertible Top Cleaner
- 303 Aerospace Protectant
Ideal for cleaning and protecting vinyl, fabric, and hard top covers. 303 Aerospace Protectant provides excellent UV protection to help prevent fading and cracking.
Wolfsteins
- Wolfsteins Tonneau Cover Cleaner
- Wolfsteins Tonneau Cover Vinyl Protectant
Mainly used on vinyl tonneau covers. Wolfsteins cleaner effectively removes dirt and pollutants, while Protectant helps prevent UV damage.
Meguiar's
- Meguiar's Ultimate Black Plastic Restorer
- Meguiar's Convertible & Cabriolet Cleaner
Meguiar's Ultimate Black Plastic Restorer is designed to restore the shine of hard plastic tonneau covers, while Meguiar's Convertible & Cabriolet Cleaner is designed specifically for fabric tonneau covers.
Armor All
- Armor All Original Protectant
- Armor All Outlast Trim & Plastic Restorer
Tonneau covers for vinyl and plastic provide cleaning and basic protection, perfect for everyday maintenance.
Truxedo
- Truxedo Pro-Tex Soft Tonneau Protectant Spray
Designed specifically for soft tonneau covers such as vinyl and fabric materials, it cleans and provides UV protection, preserving the softness and shine of the cover.
How to Reduce Tonneau Cover Fading?
Reduce Sun Exposure
Park your truck in the shade or a garage. You can also purchase a cover to protect your bed cover from prolonged sun exposure. Use a UV protectant designed for bed covers or automotive fabrics. These products create a protective layer that shields the cover from the sun's UV rays, the main cause of fading.
Apply Plastic/Vinyl Restorer Periodically
You'll need to apply a product every few months to prevent fading, cracking, and discoloration.
Wash Regularly
Keep your bed cover clean by washing it regularly with mild soap and water, preferably every 1-2 weeks, and then apply a restorer. This helps clean off harsh chemicals that can cause fading.
Wax or Condition
Some bed covers, especially those made of vinyl or leather, benefit from occasional waxing or conditioning. Use a product designed for your cover's specific material to preserve its color and texture.
Avoid Harsh Conditions
Try to avoid exposing your cover to extreme weather conditions, such as prolonged direct sunlight, heavy rain, or snow.
