Trail Cover Reliability

[Mad Jasper]

I recently picked up a Model 3 for my daily driving/monthly visits to Dad so the Gladiator is mostly relegated to play and occasional truck needs. I would like to to take the top/doors off more often - potentially leaving them off most of the summer and using a trail cover to keep the wet out. Are trail covers suitable for such a thing? If not, are there any other options aside from a garage?

I do have a garage, but I am reorganizing it so fitting any vehicle in the garage right now is no bueno. I am not even sure the gladiator will fit once I am finished with it.

TIA

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[Thunderspud]

I use my RainGear cover for weeks at a time in the spring/summer. It just stays in the bed until needed. Never had any issues. Quicker to put on/take off than the hardtop in any case.

https://www.raingearcovers.com/

 

[Y-Guy]

Personally I only use my Jeep cover when I get caught in the rain, not for daily protection. I park in the garage. The two brands I'd suggest looking at are the Mopar Jeep Cover or the Rain Gear brand.

 

[D_JT]

Soft top is the way to go.

 

[DylanM]

While it doesn't look as nice, a tarp and some bungee cords works as well or better than a trail cover for keeping the weather out.

 

[Mad Jasper]

I use my RainGear cover for weeks at a time in the spring/summer. It just stays in the bed until needed. Never had any issues. Quicker to put on/take off than the hardtop in any case.

https://www.raingearcovers.com/

Personally I only use my Jeep cover when I get caught in the rain, not for daily protection. I park in the garage. The two brands I'd suggest looking at are the Mopar Jeep Cover or the Rain Gear brand.

Do you think that either the Mopar Jeep Cover or the Rain Gear will work for prolonged periods of time? I don't anticpate leaving it on for months at a time, but certainly for a couple of weeks now and again throughout the tolerable months.

Soft top is the way to go.

I've considered a soft top but that still leaves me needing coverage for the doors.

While it doesn't look as nice, a tarp and some bungee cords works as well or better than a trail cover for keeping the weather out.

I'm on board with a tarp, if it would at least last for a season and is easy to add/remove.

 

[Y-Guy]

Do you think that either the Mopar Jeep Cover or the Rain Gear will work for prolonged periods of time? I don't anticpate leaving it on for months at a time, but certainly for a couple of weeks now and again throughout the tolerable months.

I don't think I have enough experience to comment, I'd contact Rain Gear and see what they say about their product. The FAQ has some info that might help too.

Rain Gear: vinyl backed 600 denier polyester water resistant material.
Mopar: nylon is all I could find.

If I were in your shoes I probably would try the Rain Gear just because I don't know what the Mopar is really made from.

 

[Thunderspud]

Do you think that either the Mopar Jeep Cover or the Rain Gear will work for prolonged periods of time? I don't anticpate leaving it on for months at a time, but certainly for a couple of weeks now and again throughout the tolerable months.




I've considered a soft top but that still leaves me needing coverage for the doors.



I'm on board with a tarp, if it would at least last for a season and is easy to add/remove.

Having had both the Mopar branded covers on Wranglers, and now a couple from RainGear.......they are similar in coverage/function but not comparable in quality, IMO. The RainGear cover is made of better material, is easier to put on/take off, has better-designed mirror cutouts, and still fits over the hardtop with just the doors off. There are 4 straps (one at each corner) that I wrap under my rock rails. Takes all of 5 minutes. It covers to the bottom of the door sills and will stop the random curious critter from exploring all over your dash. I can't think of any reason it would be detrimental to leave it on year-round if the climate allows. It's more robust than any standard car cover I have ever used for storage. Actually, I guess the only con I can even think of is that it's heavy-duty and larger than the other options. At least they give you a big enough bag to store it in, lol.

I have tarps on my utility trailers, things I don't need access to regularly, and things that don't have paint. Call me a snob I guess, but no way I am chucking a tarp over my $50k truck every week.

Edit: To clarify, since I just realized that RainGear sells a thing literally called a TRAIL COVER for the Wrangler, I am referring to this Cab Cover for the Gladiator...

https://www.raingearcovers.com/product-page/4-door-gladiator-cab-cover

 

[Gvsukids]

Rain Gear will work for prolonged periods of time?

Yes.

 

[Fabtech Motorsports]

I am a big fan of the Bestop trail cover. Does a great job of keeping moisture out.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

If you'll be running with no doors but the hard top on, the Mopar cover is a tight fit.

You'll get some water on the inside because of the small gaps around the doors.

 

[DylanM]

If you'll be running with no doors but the hard top on, the Mopar cover is a tight fit.

You'll get some water on the inside because of the small gaps around the doors.

^^Good example showing why I feel a tarp works better for keeping out the weather. In my experience and observation, the trail covers don't effectively cover the door openings. I'm not saying trail covers are bad, I have and use one for my TJ, I'm just saying that for more than short term use on a vehicle that a tarp works better.

 

[Silverator]

Do these covers keep the mice, squirrels, etc. out? Personally, I'd be more concerned about that than some water.....

 

[Supazuk]

I got one off the Jungle site from Joytutus for $59 I have been using it for a few weeks seems to be good quality and has pockets for the door mirrors and a zipper for the door
I'll ad a link latter

 

[Gvsukids]

^^Good example showing why I feel a tarp works better for keeping out the weather. In my experience and observation, the trail covers don't effectively cover the door openings. I'm not saying trail covers are bad, I have and use one for my TJ, I'm just saying that for more than short term use on a vehicle that a tarp works better.

Rain Gear covers the hard top and soft top very well and the door opening.

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