Washing with tonneau on or off?
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Member
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 54
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Washing with tonneau on or off?
For those with the soft tonneaus... Are you guys washing your trucks with it on and giving it the whole hose down and soap wash. Or do you remove it? I would think it is pretty time consuming always taking the dam thing on and off.
I'm asking because I was wondering by drenching the tonneau then letting it air dry does it loose its suppleness and tear or crack?
I usually wipe it down after every drive and wax about once a week so it stays clean. But I think it may be time for a whole wash and wax treatment.
I'm asking because I was wondering by drenching the tonneau then letting it air dry does it loose its suppleness and tear or crack? I usually wipe it down after every drive and wax about once a week so it stays clean. But I think it may be time for a whole wash and wax treatment.
Member
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 62
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From: Indiana
I took mine off for the first time during a wash yesterday. I really wanted to wash the bed out. Usually i dont take it off because i'm lazy and there are so many things to do, wash, dry, zaino, tires, wheels, and the list goes on...........
I'll never armor all it again i sure know that! Crap ran down the side of the bed, making a mess! I clean the cover now with soap and then some cleaner my wife has had that she used on her old waterbed, which worked really well!
I'll never armor all it again i sure know that! Crap ran down the side of the bed, making a mess! I clean the cover now with soap and then some cleaner my wife has had that she used on her old waterbed, which worked really well!
Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 24
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From: Austin TX
303 Protectant
Once in a great while I'll remove my tonneau for washing, but only a couple times a year. I have a Downey SST, and they recommend just using the same car wash soap you use on the rest of the truck. I found this worked okay to keep it fairly clean, and it didn't do any harm (cracking, etc.) to the cover, but it left it dull and it didn't get dirt out of the 'textured' lines in the cover.
Then I bought some 303 Aerospace Protectant. HOLY COW! This stuff is unbelieveable. It left an amazing shine to the cover and also got out all the dirt in the texture lines. It also provides excellent UV protection, a big plus according to Downey, but it won't do the damage to the vinyl that Armor All, etc. will do. (And those products will definitely damage a soft tonneau.) 303 also made the cover considerably more pliable and softer than it's ever been, even when brand new. I highly recommend it. Only downside is it's pricey; I paid about 7 bucks for an 8 oz bottle.
Then I bought some 303 Aerospace Protectant. HOLY COW! This stuff is unbelieveable. It left an amazing shine to the cover and also got out all the dirt in the texture lines. It also provides excellent UV protection, a big plus according to Downey, but it won't do the damage to the vinyl that Armor All, etc. will do. (And those products will definitely damage a soft tonneau.) 303 also made the cover considerably more pliable and softer than it's ever been, even when brand new. I highly recommend it. Only downside is it's pricey; I paid about 7 bucks for an 8 oz bottle.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,678
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From: Northern Kentucky
I wash mine every week with regular Turtle Wax Zip Wax ( don't flame, I like it). Then about once every 3 washings I will use Blue Magic's vinyl and leather cleaner on it. It really brings out the dirt in the textrured surface and leaves a nice shine that doesn't streak the paint if it rains. I just bought some Vinylex and hope it works good as everyone claims.
