A fiberglass truck cap is a great investment for your truck. In addition to protecting your truck bed cargo area from weather and prying eyes, truck caps also serve an aesthetic purpose by making your truck look more custom. Proper care and maintenance are the best ways to keep your truck cap looking great for a long time.

How To Wash Your Truck Cap

Fiberglass truck caps are often custom-painted, so you should treat the fresh paint with extra care for the first 30 days. Don't use any abrasive material on the truck cap. For example, going through a car wash with brushes.

After that period, avoiding car washes with brushes is still best. Use cool water to wash your truck cap during the summer and warm water in the winter.

Wash and dry with a soft cloth. Don't wax your truck cap for the first 60 days, but after that, you can use the same type of wax you would for your truck.

Removing Snow or Ice

If you need to remove snow or ice from your truck cap, it's important to use a brush that isn't abrasive. Don't use an ice scraper on the door or the glass. Typically, you can buy snow brushes or a snow rake that will gently remove snow and ice without causing damage to the finish of your truck cap.

Repairing Nicks or Scratches

If you need to repair any nicks or scratches on your truck cap's paint, start with clear fingernail polish as a base coat. When that dries, you can add touch-up paint to make repairs. Once the repair has fully cured, use a rubbing compound and polish to restore the finish.

UV Protection Products

Another maintenance item to be aware of is using a UV protection product on any vinyl, plastic, or rubber parts of your truck cap. This helps maintain the shine and extends the life. When looking for a protection product, don't buy anything with silicone oils, petrochemicals, or petroleum distillates.

Keep Locking Parts Lubricated

Keep your truck cap's locks and locking parts lubricated with lithium grease. Spray lubricants with a lithium base are an ideal choice for this application. These sprays do not attract dirt and grime that can build up and hamper your locks. Don't use any penetrating oils on your locks unless you follow it up with lithium grease.

Care Tips for Cold Months

Caring for your truck cap can be a little challenging in the cold months. The key is to keep it clean so that road grime doesn't build up. Don't dry wipe your truck cap, always rinse debris off first before you wash. Use lithium grease in all lock cylinders to prevent them from freezing during cold and wet weather.

FAQ About Truck Caps

Let's take a look at some frequently asked questions about truck caps.

Are truck caps waterproof?

- Due to how truck caps are constructed, it's generally impossible to make them fully waterproof. No matter how well they're designed, there will still be tiny cracks and openings that allow some water to enter.

If you find that the interior of your truck cap is humid, you might consider adding some water absorbers.

How do I keep my truck camper shell cool?

- There are various ways to keep the interior of your truck camper shell cool. The most obvious is to park in the shade and keep the windows covered. You can also use reflecting insulation or buy a portable fan to set up in the shell when you're using it.

Are truck toppers worth it?

- The answer to this depends on what you're looking for. Ultimately, the purpose of a truck cap is to transform your truck bed from an open area to an enclosed space. This enclosed space allows you to transport things in any kind of weather and it also provides a level of security by keeping items out of sight.

As versatile as truck beds are, they become limited when you need to carry things that might be compromised by the open space.

If you're looking for a quality truck cap, Action Car and Truck Accessories has you covered with a nice selection of fiberglass truck caps to choose from. You can also get them professionally installed at one of our locations.