How have your cargo covers held up at "highway" speed?

[Valence]

And by "highway" I mean I only drive my deuce 45-50 MPH on stock 9.00 x 20 tires.

The cargo cover I purchased a while ago was in need of some TLC and I've had some large rips sewn up on the front passenger corner, and the front/rear window zippers re-stitched.

How has your cargo covers held up, or do you remove them for long trips for fuel economy/cargo cover longevity?

I was also looking to tow my (new to me) 1966 M105A2, which has a cargo cover in pretty good condition - still shows signs of military "shoe goo" patching on the front, but very small, and doesn't seem weathered at all.


Second question while we're here, if my deuce is mostly empty, do I need to have the rear duals at 50 PSI (per the TM I have) or would I be better off (ie: ride quality, fuel economy, tire wear) to lower the air pressure?

 

[gunboy1656]

When I stay 70 miles or less my top stays on (except for parades), over that I will pull it off to reduce fuel usage as much as possible.

I don't reduce my pressure when empty.

 

[mkcoen]

Are you talking about a vinyl cover or a canvas cover? I've had my vinyl cover on my truck soaking up the Texas sunshine for about 4 years and haven't had any problems at all. Canvas, I believe as a whole, will deteriorate much quicker as the threads in the material themselves break down so become more susceptible to ripping.

I run the same tire pressure on my truck all the time. Of course I don't haul anything other than people in parades at 5mph and nothing the rest of the time.

 

[Valence]

Are you talking about a vinyl cover or a canvas cover? I've had my vinyl cover on my truck soaking up the Texas sunshine for about 4 years and haven't had any problems at all. Canvas, I believe as a whole, will deteriorate much quicker as the threads in the material themselves break down so become more susceptible to ripping.

I run the same tire pressure on my truck all the time. Of course I don't haul anything other than people in parades at 5mph and nothing the rest of the time.

Ah, I should have specified, both the deuce and M105 are vinyl covers. Rubber Super rope on the deuce and thick nylon rope on the M105 hold them down.

I'll have to take a picture of the sewing/patching I had done on the deuce's cargo cover, it was by a place that makes boat covers though. I don't know how long it was stored outside before I got though. The outside buckles/loops are pretty sun bleached but the cover does not feel brittle. It bends and flexes fine but does have many pin holes and scuffs.

(And before anyone asks, yes, I do know which way to put the cargo cover on -> the big tabs on one curtain to the front!)

 

[sandcobra164]

Both my truck and trailer covers have been on for about 4 years now and have traveled probably 5 to 6 thousand miles in that time without issue. I don't take them off and I'm on 11's and routinely run at 50-55 mph. I see that I should add that they are both vinyl.

 

[Stonepicker1]

We do convoys all the time. That super rope will fail if its old or been in the sun for a few years. I even had a new in crate 5 ton cover that the rubber rope snapped when I put the cover on the truck.

We had a LMTV snap the super rope on the drivers side and was flapping in the wind pretty bad. The driver wasn't checking his mirrors. By the time I got him pulled over the cover was almost completely off.

I was just waiting for it to fly off and cover the car behind the LMTV.

If you have the rubber rope make sure it is good. Keep your cover as tight as you can. When the wind get them flapping they like to rip and rip thing apart.

by the way...I have the rope for sale in the classified that replaces the rubber rope.

 

[rmgill]

Been to PA and back from Ga twice and a few regional trips a state away, all at highway speeds on 1100s. No issues so far.

 

[Valence]

Thanks everyone for your input! I do have new super rope that I bought a few years ago, stored inside of course - hope it holds up!

 

[wreckerman893]

The trick is to catch a rip early, or to quote the sage philosopher Barney Fife, NIP IT IN THE BUD!!!!!
Once a tear starts the wind will quickly make quick work of enlarging it. You should own a repair kit and take it with you on trips. If the tear can't be repaired in the field then remove the cover until it can be.

 

[Valence]

Here's a few pictures of a couple spots where my cargo has been repaired or shows wear.



The back side of the previous picture:

 

[Valence]

The trick is to catch a rip early, or to quote the sage philosopher Barney Fife, NIP IT IN THE BUD!!!!!
Once a tear starts the wind will quickly make quick work of enlarging it. You should own a repair kit and take it with you on trips. If the tear can't be repaired in the field then remove the cover until it can be.

I did not realize there were repair kits for the covers, I don't recall having every seen one for sale. (I guess though I'm really not surprised to learn that there is) I'll have to go do a specific search now.

Thanks for helping me spend more money lol.