Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Why You Should Cover Up Your Sports Car

Many sports car owners do not drive their special vehicle on a daily basis and some who do drive their sports car regularly lack an indoor garage. With protecting the beauty and investment value of a sports car being a natural priority, it is essential for sports car enthusiasts to understand car covers.

A car cover is akin to a tarp designed to fit your sports car snugly. A cover is designed to protect the vehicle from common sources of damage. Many a sports car's paint job has been ruined by tree sap when parked carelessly beneath a tree, and many drivers have undoubtedly noticed significant fading when paint has been exposed to the sun and elements for an extended period of time. An investment in a car cover can prevent these maladies, as well as many other common sources of vehicle damage.

Quality car covers can be purchased for under $100 US in most cases. Some covers are designed to fit sports cars that fall within a general size range, but for many popular models of sports cars, custom-fit covers are available, as well. Either alternative can successfully protect your sports car from damage, although a custom-fit cover may be easier to use and should be more form fitting than a more generic alternative.

There are basically two kinds of car covers one may encounter-water repellent covers and waterproof covers. Instinctively, one may believe a completely waterproof model would be the preferred cover type. This instinct, however, is incorrect. Water repellent covers allow for breath ability and prevent the accumulation of moisture under the cover. A waterproof cover, on the other hand, may do a slightly better job of blocking a large rainfall from sneaking under the cover, but will trap any moisture under the tarp, including natural sources such as condensation, increasing the risk of oxidation and eventual visible rusting.

Waterproof car covers are generally priced less than water repellent covers. The difference in price is not a fluke, nor is it an indicator of greater value from a waterproof cover purchase for your sports car. Water repellent covers are priced slightly higher simply because they can do a better job of protecting your sports car.

Even those with enclosed storage locations can benefit from the use of a car cover when the auto is not being used. A covered car in a garage is much less likely to be subjected to an inadvertent scratch, a child's greasy hand print or any of the other assorted minor hazards that might be present. Dust accumulation is also reduced, which is both good for the sports car itself, and also assists in making cleanup easier before the car is returned to the road.

When one considers the potential dangers faced by an uncovered sports car-from small bad luck scratches to significant sun-produced fading, it makes sense to purchase the relatively inexpensive car cover. Even a small repair to a sports car's finish will often easily exceed the cost of a cover.

Sports car drivers are often critical of car insurance rates, complaining that the premiums they pay are never justified by any claims that are made. One can argue about the cost of insurance relative to its likely use, but the use of car covers is clearly a financial win for the sports car enthusiast. A small investment in either a car cover that fits your vehicle will automatically pay for itself within a very short period of time. Anyone who is considering the purchase of a sports car, or who already owns a sports car should not hesitate to add a car cover to his or her list of must-have accessories.

For more information on car covers go to www.clickitcoverit.com.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Best Place to Store my Car if the Garage is Full?

If you cannot get your vehicle under cover in a garage then your options are fairly limited when it comes to protecting the look of your vehicle. Paintwork is especially vulnerable to the elements and needs protection from rain, sun, animals and people so it makes sense to look at a car protection cover to provide a robust layer of all round protection for your pride and joy.

Modern car protection covers are made from durable and flexible materials which perform a variety of protective functions. They will be waterproof and so keep your bodywork from coming into contact with water which will cause discoloration of your paint job and if left unchecked, rust which will ravage the look of your car very quickly and cost dearly to put right. They will also be able to block out the harmful effects of the sun’s ultraviolet or UV radiation; the same rays which cause sunburn in people also cause damage to your paint job and the sun is the major cause of a faded paint job which always looks unsightly and there is nothing you can do to remedy it once it has happened.

Prevention is definitely better than cure in this instance!

It is not just the weather that you need to deal with; there are a host of other things that can damage the look and body of your car such as children playing near the car; the cat deciding the hood is a great place to sunbathe; or a tree shedding leaves under which you have parked the car. All of these and many others will contribute to your car becoming scratched, discoloured, dented and acquiring the odd ding or two depending on how much in harm's way you have parked the vehicle.

Make sure the car cover is therefore strong and robust enough to deal with minor scrapes and hits from animals, trees and people.

One factor is frequently underestimated and that is bird droppings. Bird droppings are highly acidic and should never be allowed to remain in contact with your car’s paint job. They will react chemically with your paintwork and damage the coating as well as the paint itself causing the formation of discoloured spots, dulled paintwork and if left untreated create opportunities for water to get to the underlying bodywork and cause very serious rust damage.

You need to be able to rely on the protective abilities of the car cover you choose but it needs to be able to fit the vehicle easily and be secured so that it can be left unattended for several weeks or even months. More than this, once it is not in use it must be capable of being stored for long periods of time without losing these qualities – older materials for instance, have a tendency to crack along fold creases and this allows the elements to gain access to your vehicle underneath.

The issue is not so much, where is the best place to store your car outside of the garage but what else is there that you can effectively store your car in. A durable, quality car protection cover will cocoon your car, truck or boat and provide an added layer of protection so it continues to look good and is kept damage free for as long as you own it.

For more information on car covers go to www.clickitcoverit.com

Sunday, February 8, 2009

All You Need To Know About Trailer Hitch Covers

Most of you will probably already know something about trailer hitches but for others it could be something you have no idea about so I will explain a little here. Many vehicles have the capability to tow other vehicles, such as a trailer, caravan or boat. In order to attach these items to the vehicle you require a trailer hitch, or tow-bar. There is more than one type of hitch but the most common is the ball type hitch. These are welded directly on to the vehicle and are renowned for having a ball-like rounded lump of metal on the top of them.

The ball on the hitch is removable but it is there to cover the actual workings of the receiver, parts of which are sharp, dangerous pieces of metal. Without the ball on top, these hitches could cause damage to people walking around the back of the vehicle and so it is a bad idea to remove the ball unless it is vitally necessary. The workings can also be covered with general dirt from the roads if the cover is not on and this can prevent trailers from being attached without good cleaning being done prior to it.

As mentioned previously, the ball is the most common type of hitch cover. However, it is not the most exciting design and so somebody came up with the idea of customised and personal hitch covers. Now you can almost certainly find a hitch cover which represents you individually but if you can’t there are numerous places which will custom make one for you with the design of your choice on it.

Many small business owners have their company details on their hitch cover. This is a great idea as it provides them with free advertising whenever they drive or park their vehicle in a place where others will see it. Another common theme for a hitch cover is that of sporting teams or colleges. Showing your allegiance has never been easier and die-hard fans can add a hitch cover to the plethora of bumper stickers which are readily available.

Collectible and iconic designs are also popular choices, such as the sports and outdoor activities. You can also find iconic characters such as USMC, ARMY or any number of military characters on hitch covers. Many use their hitch cover to pass on a message, perhaps regarding their faith or offering support to the nation’s armed forces, or to reveal their hobby to the world, such as surfing or skateboarding.

The Internet is a great way to find unique and individual hitch covers. Search engines offer a multitude of sites selling these items and you could spend hours searching for the perfect design. One website I use to find hitch covers is www.clickitcoverit.com as it has a huge number of designs in one place and they are divided into categories, making it easy to narrow down your search area somewhat. The prices for these items are also very reasonable and they offer great customer service options too.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Why Invest in a Car Cover

A car is one of the biggest purchases a person makes next to the price of their home. Just put it in the garage, you say? If your garage is typical it is already being used to store everything else in your home except the car. Most homes barely have enough room left in the garage to store a bicycle, let alone a car.

Vandals often target cars in the driveway as they are convenient targets. Using a car cover makes it less visible and tells them the car is being protected. They are much more likely to pass your vehicle by instead of mess with it.

Some car covers have a cable with a lock to secure it in place. A car thief has no desire to mess with trying to unlock the car cover, then the car door, an alarm, then the ignition. If they cannot get the car quickly, they will pass by.

Leaving a car in the driveway exposed to the elements is also detrimental to your investment. Leaves, pollen, tree sap, dust and other things blow onto the car even in the most gentle of winds. Any car owner who has had the displeasure of trying to get sap off their vehicle will tell you that it is much better to invest in a car cover. In a storm, debris can be picked up and tossed against the paint job. Branches also can be blown against the car leaving ugly scratches in the finish. The car cover will take this beating instead of your car.

Price ranges vary from the inexpensive to deluxe models. Some are generic and can fit over most vehicles, while there are covers made just for your particular make and model of car, SUV or truck.

Some for the larger vehicles can be partial- say to cover just the front end of a frequently driven vehicle or just the cab while others will cover a full sized pickup and a shell to boot.

For those cars which are awaiting the funds to be repaired or rebuilt as a hobby a car cover can preserve their very existence. Some city ordinances prohibit non-driven vehicles from being visible from the street. A full car cover fills the requirements of the ordinance and protects the vehicle while it is being worked on.

Why not just use a cheap tarp? The answer is simple- a car cover is made with fabrics that will not scratch or react with the finish of the vehicle. A tarp can make no such claim. Besides a tarp really does look tacky- any wind flaps it around pounding it against the paint. It also requires being held down on all sides by rocks or bricks lending to the look of a junk vehicle or a trashy yard. And if the wind is strong enough the whole thing can come flying off, landing in a place it is definitely not wanted.

After spending thousands of hard earned dollars it makes good sense to invest in a product that will protect your investment for years to come.

For more information on car covers go to www.clickitcoverit.com