How to protect Mopar Tonneau Cover on 2013 Dodge Ram

[Nick McKees37]

I received this PM from a new forum member late last night. Since other owners of Dodge Ram trucks might have the same question now or in the future, I'm posting my reply on the forum. :dblthumb2:

Nick,

I recently purchased a 2013 Ram 1500 that has a very nice Mopar tonneau cover. I believe it to be vinyl as it is not hard plastic and doesn't appear to be fabric. I am looking for a good inexpensive product to keep it looking new and prevent it from dry rot. I have heard great things about the Wolfstein product. I know you can't "endorse" any specific product, but I was wondering your take on that product. Can it also be used on other parts of the truck such as the tires, interior leather seats, steering wheel and leather dash? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks. Rocky W.

I'm a big fan of Wolfsteins Tonneau Cover Vinyl Protectant. I featured this protectant in an article I wrote back in 2011, and my stand on this product remains the same: it's a phenomenal protectant for vinyl tonneau covers. Regular use will keep your tonnneau cover looking and performing new for years.

How To: Properly Clean & Protect a Tonneau Cover

The Tonnea Cover Protectant provides excellent UV protection against fading, cracking, and hardening. This patented formula can be used on all vinyl, plastic, and rubber trim. It contains no silicone, does not streak, and will enhance the appearance that's being treated. A tonneau cover treated with the protectant will be easier to clean and maintain in the future. Each application lasts several months.

First you want to thoroughly rinse the tonneau cover to remove any loose dirt or debris. The Fire Hose Nozzle is one of my favorite wash tools because it's extremely durable, easy to hold, and can be adjusted for either a powerful spray or a fine mist.

The 20" Boar's Hair Brush works great for getting the hard to reach areas because of its long handle. The bristles are soft enough for even the most delicate surfaces, but they also provide great scrubbing ability.

After rinsing, dry the tonneau cover using a soft microfiber drying towel. The Ultimate Guzzler is the last drying towel that you will ever use. Its massive size (28" x 44"), soft satin edges, amazing absorption capacity, and durable construction have made it my go-to drying towel since I started at Autogeek. I usually fold it in half, or in four ways, and pat dry.

For this application, the Tonneau Cover Protectant was applied liberally because the tonneau cover being treated was neglected resulting in a very dry finish. For routine maintenance every 3-5 weeks, much less product is needed.

The tonneau cover looks new, but what about the plastic trim surrounding the bed, tail gate, and bumper? Wolfsteins’ Tonneau Cover Protectant can also be used on other plastic, vinyl, and rubber surfaces to protect and enhance their appearance.

For interior surfaces I'm a big fan of 303 Aerospace Protectant, Pinnacle Leather & Vinyl Protectant, DP Total Interior Protectant, and a couple others. BLACKFIRE Interior Protectant is worth noting because it protects vinyl, plastic, AND leather.

For tires, you can't go wrong with DP Tire Coating.

How To: Clean & Coat Your Tires with DP Tire Coating

Why apply a tire gel on a weekly basis when you can coat your tires with DP Tire Coating?

....My response to just about every wheel and tire detailing question that's been thrown my way in the last week.

Other common questions include:

What’s your longest lasting tire gel? Do you have anything that’s not greasy or slimy? My car is white – will this product sling off and stain my paint?

Every week I'm bombarded with questions just like these, and for good reason: there is nothing more appealing on a detailed vehicle than a freshly dressed set of tires. Clean wheels, shiny paint, and streak-free glass mean nothing to most car care enthusiasts if their tires don’t look perfectly dressed to impress.

There’s only one issue with most tire dressings….they don’t last!

DP has the solution, and it's aptly named Tire Coating.

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