Tonneau Cleaner/Protectant...

[VengeFulHemi]

Greetings all. What does everyone who has a soft tonneau cover use for cleaning, then protectant? I have a Red Extang Blackmax. Many thanks.

Don

[Murr1525]

Re: Tonneau Cleaner/Protectant...

APC would be good for general cleaning, and ASD for a dressing.

Could use any of the things like UP, Trim Detailer, etc, but ASD will probably be the best value.

[boiler7904]

Re: Tonneau Cleaner/Protectant...

Extang is very particular about what you use to clean and protect their products in the event you make a warranty claim.

I've been using regular Gold Class shampoo to clean mine and then their Tonno Tonic as a protectant. My cover is right at 5 years old and there are a few places where the vinyl cover is starting to separate from the fabric backing.

Extang Tonno Tonic

I called a while back to ask about a warranty claim. They said to send in the cover and they'll analyze for silicone and other chemicals in the spots that are failing to determine if they will honor the warranty and send a replacement. He also mentioned that typical carwash solutions (Meguiar's included) were not recommended for cleaning these covers - they suggest dish soap if I remember correctly. Only problem with that is it strips the wax on the truck and creates its own problems.

Seriously considering ditching the Extang and going for an Undercover removable hard tonneau.

[TOGWT]

Re: Tonneau Cleaner/Protectant...

There is a lot of misinformation about protecting convertible fabric tops; if your goal is maximum protection, do not use water beading/sheeting as an indicator, as its caused by surface tension; while it’s true that it is a visual indicator that the protection previously applied is still present it does not guarantee that it’s actually providing protection. “If water beads on the surface it’s protected and able to repel stains” (Just like water beading on a paint; it’s due solely to surface tension) the answer to both is - No

The waterproof protection you get from a convertible top comes from the butyl rubber core sandwiched between the outer canvas and the inner pre-shrunk cotton layer. An applied protection only renders the fabric water resistant.

You don't have to wash your car's top every time you wash your car, but used occasionally it will remove ingrained soil /road dirt. Every time you wash your convertible top, even with the gentlest car wash shampoo, you are stripping off any previously applied protection. A better methodology would be to vacuum the top using a brush attachment to remove loose dirt and then just rinse the top with clean water.

Rode & Schwalenbert Global Minority Business Network (GMBN) Germany the world leading manufacturer of automobile convertible tops exclusively recommends Harrtz RaggTop Cleaners and Protectant. Developed specifically for cleaning, re-proofing and preserving convertible tops, these cleaning kits consist of two products:

1. Cleaner to remove soiling, stains and atmospheric pollution for both natural and synthetic materials. The best cleaners are formulated from low-pH (low alkalinity) and gentle enough for repeated use over years. They will rely on proteins and enzymes for their safe, but effective, cleaning power.

2. Fabric protector to re-proof and preserve fabric tops from the effects of water absorption, surface soiling and staining, and provide a sunscreen from UV radiation and subsequent fading, and it repels dirt, grease, and oil. It doesn’t make your vinyl top glossy or greasy-looking. It will have the natural matte sheen of new vinyl.

[makindue]

Re: Tonneau Cleaner/Protectant...

Greetings all. What does everyone who has a soft tonneau cover use for cleaning, then protectant? I have a Red Extang Blackmax. Many thanks.

Don

My friend has that soft tonneau cover. For me it is good looking.