I know car covers are not a big hit, but does anyone use one or have recommendations

I drive my truck maybe once a week because I have a company vehicle, so the truck mostly just sits, and I was recently booted from my underground parking spot so now my poor truck is just baking away in the sun. I figured the next best alternative would be a car cover even though they are a pain in the ass to take on and off, and I know they can leave micro scratches. Has anyone know of a decent cover company that doesn't cost an arm and a leg? I see some on Amazon but I am afraid of shitty quality with those.

Edit: this cover will be used strictly outside, unfortunately not inside the garage.

 

avoid Amazon

 

California Car Cover is very popular in the classic car groups. That’s what I use on mine.

 

I found one in Walmart that had been opened previously and was more than 1/2 off. If I was in your position, living in sunny S. CA, and seldom driving it I would for sure invest in one.

 

I've had several from Covercraft on several of my cars. Been pleased.

 

I would highly suggest a "fitted" or "custom" cover rather than something generic. The generic ones just don't fit very well. It seems to me that the top car cover brands either use the same manufacturer or at least the same materials. Trying to sort out one brand from the other is a little confusing. Seems to me that they're all probably similar quality so I'd go with what type of cover fits your needs and budget. That said, I wouldn't be buying anything under about $150-200 unless it was due to it being on sale.

I believe the "Ulitimate Shield" is what we have for our cars and a very similar cover for my Truck but I don't remember the brand. It was actually a cover I bought for my F-150 that just happens to fit my Tacoma fairly well, even with the softopper on.
https://www.carcovers.com/covers/truck/toyota/tacoma/2010/access-cab-long-bed-6-ft.html

We use covers on all 3 of our cars that are parked outside. I cover my daily driver at home and at work (although I really only go into the office 1-3 days /wk). I only use my Tacoma once or twice a month so it stays covered. My wife's car only sees use a day or two a week so we keep it covered as well. Once you get the hang of it, quickly removing and recovering really isn't much of a pain. And well worth it considering how much time we save by washing the cars a lot less. We used to wash the cars every 1-2 weeks and now it's every 3-6k (often months for the Tacoma).

They can definitely cause light scratches. Ensuring you only use the cover when the car is clean, keeping the cover clean, and ensuring that you're careful when covering/uncovering (don't drag the cover over the vehicle) are key to helping reduce this. I haven't seen any empirical evidence. But I would wager a bet that in the long run, light scratches from the cover (which could be easily buffed out) will be much, much less damage than the UV damage, scratches left from washing more often, and etching in the paint from the car getting dirty, then moist at night then drying out again the next day, over and over and over again. So far, it's working well for us but we're only a year and a half in to religiously covering our cars.

 

I have a car that must be stored outside. I bought a nice car cover from Cover Craft... and then covered that with a $50 Amazon cover. Keeps my good cover good. And it's not a hassle to cover with two covers. Off course it is a small little car...

Just an FYI.

 

Thanks for the detailed reply, I will definitely be getting a custom-made one. I actually owned one probably 10 years ago that I sold on this forum, and I can't remember why I sold it for the brand but I remember it fit really well.

 

I'm also interested in hearing feedback on this. i have read horror stories online about condensation ruining clear coat if the cover doesnt breath, so i have been hesitant to pull the trigger on one. I would also use a cover outside only.

 

We haven't had any issues yet, but it doesn't really rain much around here. We get condensation/dew daily and it does get down under the cover but typically dries quickly. The covers we have are definitely breathable and not waterproof. If there's moisture on the car when I take the cover off in the morning I wipe it down (I keep microfiber towels and quick detailer in the car at all times). And we try to take the covers off before it rains.

 

I've used California car cover. They'll kinda pricey but they fit great lasted a long time and would definitely buy another in the future.

 

I agree with bassackwards, I wax my truck 3 times a year and take good care of the paint. I bought a cover for it last year and after about 8 months I noticed problems on my clear coat. It seemed to happen quickly and I am positive it was the cover.I keep it in the garage now. It is mostly where the cover laid on my teuck.

 

Damn. Maybe I need to start looking to rent a garage

 

Or maybe keep it covered but not let it lay on the paint as much as possible.

 

It's also the material used for the cover I bought one from another company that scratched my paint too. So when I looked into California car cover I called them to ask if they had a good outdoor one that doesn't hurt the paint. They told me they did and dang that thing was good and lasted several years. When I sold the car I let it go with the cover. But over all I would definitely suggest California car cover.

 

Like a balloon...
https://carcapsule.com/20-tall-outd...H-x8jmZ-uslejPZszb-zBKpbwmj4fsAgaAgFtEALw_wcB

 

That works

 

Mine is covered in dirt

 

Carcovers.com

 

Is that one spec'd for the tacoma? Looks good especially how it reaches all the way to the ground.