Is it Safe to Use a Tonneau Cover When It Snows? – Jalopnik

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It’s fine to use a tonneau cover on the bed of your truck when it snows. You paid valuable money for a bed cover to make your truck look cool – we understand. The practical and practical benefits are also hard to ignore, as a tonneau cover can keep prying eyes (and hands) off your belongings and can even help save fuel on the highway.

Tonneau covers are primarily intended to protect the truck bed and its contents from changing weather conditions, including rain, hail or even snow. In other words, you should keep the tonneau cover on when it snows because it’s definitely better to shovel all that snow out of the bed afterwards.

However, not all bed covers are adept at dealing with snowfall as some require extra care to survive the winter onslaught. Soft covers made of industrial canvas or vinyl that roll or fold are not as sturdy as hard covers made of plastic, composite, aluminum or fiberglass. The more elastic materials of soft covers can stretch and stretch under the weight of all that snow, and leaving them unattended will certainly bend or damage the material permanently.

This can be easier said than done when you’re dealing with a nasty blizzard or blizzard, but doing your best to somehow sweep away the accumulated snowfall before more snow builds up will go a long way in helping your soft cover cope with harsh winter conditions. When clearing snow, avoid using metal tools with hard, sharp or pointed edges to avoid turning the lid into Swiss cheese with holes. Instead, get a good snow brush or push a broom with softer bristles.

Of course, you don’t have to deal with all this nonsense if your truck has a parking garage, but it’s still exposed to snow, rain, and ice when you drive it. That’s why winterizing your truck, including the tonneau cover, is the best solution to keep it protected when it really matters.

It’s a great idea to clean the cover and then treat it with a protector. Products such as the 303 Protector or RealTruck TruXedo Pro-TeX are ideal for soft tonneau covers and leave a moisturizing shield to prevent ice and snow from sticking, making them easier to brush away. Regular cleaning also allows you to inspect the material and check for tears, tears or worn seams; things you don’t want to discover when it’s already snowing. Any cuts or perforations make the material more susceptible to cracking under snow loads. If you do notice any damage, replace or repair the cover immediately.

Meanwhile, it is necessary to lubricate hinges, latches and other moving parts with WD-40 or some other type of penetrating spray to prevent them from freezing or seizing in winter. Finally, check the weather seals and replace them if necessary to ensure the bed stays bone dry in rain or snow.