We have never been a big fan of covering our vehicles here at Blacktop Magazine, however, we found a need recently when planning a ride on the Harleys. We searched through the catalogs and websites and wanted to try out a couple of covers for both the truck that would be staying at home and one we can take on the bike. I believe we found the best match and that was with Empire Covers. They have a variety of covers that work well for both our needs.
For the bike, we wanted a cover that would protect it completely, and could be easily carried on the bike. We chose the VIP Advanced Cover System. It is a two-piece cover that totally encapsulates the bike. First you lay out the bottom piece where you plan to store the bike. You roll the bike onto it. We found that there is a double layer patch were the kickstand rests to protect it from wear. Then you strap up the sides with the supplied snap straps. I run with a 2004 HD Roadking Custom with Kerker fishtail pipes. The sharp points on the fins were looking like they might rip the bottom cover, so I fashioned a couple of cardboard protectors for the fins. Then you throw over the top cover that has a super strong elastic band all the way around the cover with a drawstring to cinch it up even tighter. The bike was left in a protective cocoon that not only protects it from rain, snow and dust, but also provides a bit of security. The custom paint on my bike lures people to it. The attention is nice except when criminal elements are around. This cover completely hides the bike as being something special.
For shits and giggles we thought to try it on Billy’s Harley with a Sidecar. You can see that the bottom piece comes up a bit on the sidehack wheel, and over the nose and tail of the sidecar body. His snap cover for the sidecar protects the inside. We had to use extenders on the straps to bring the sides up over the sidecar and bike. (The extenders are not included in the cover kit.) The top cover covers his bike completely, even with his wheel chair strapped to the back!
And now on to the truck. We opted for the Titan Quatro 4L cover to fit the 2007 Dodge Ram 1500, Crew Cab. The cover is 100% waterproof with a soft inner lining to prevent scratches. It also has a breathable element where if condensation occurs under the cover it allows it to breathe and not destroy the paint. I don’t know how all that works but we will certainly test it out with a review in about a month to share with you any effects. The cover kit comes in a handy bag, a pair of straps and a pair of strings. Not sure what the strings are for. The kit comes with a patch to poke a whole in the cover for the antenna, if you don’t have an electric antenna. We opted to actually remove the antenna rather than poke a hole in the cover. A simple snap with a 5/16” box wrench and a twist of the base and the antenna comes off fairly easily. We also folded in the mirrors. I’ve tried covers before and they were a pain to put on. Align it on one corner then pull the cover over the opposite corner and the whole thing slides off. These covers from Empire come with a loop that you hook to the back license plate, which holds the cover in place as you slide the front over the truck and around the bumpers. With the cover completely around the truck and tucked under the bumpers we could call it done. However, we want to make sure it is secure, so we use the supplied straps with clip closures under the bumpers in front and back. We attach the clips and pull the straps tight. Now it is secure. There are a couple of white grommets on each side of the cover at the bottom, maybe we should tie the strings around them, but opt not to. Nothing in the instructions mentions the strings. The grommets may help in adding a lock to the cover.
We’re in luck as the forecast for rain came through. With the truck covered after a wash, that evening the rain came down. In the morning I went to check if the cover was completely waterproof and it was! However, there was a big puddle in the bed portion of the cover. Pulling at all corners of the cover. With fear that the cover might rip, I loosened the straps in the back to allow the puddle to rest on the truck bed. This exposed the bumper and part of the rear quarters to be exposed to the elements. Two possible solutions: Fabricate a cover that sits over the bedrails, which could possible wear or scratch the bed rails. Or, cut a small hole in the center of the bed area of the cover. Of course the hole would not protect the bed from rain, snow and such, but it is much easier to replace a cover than re-paint the bedrails. Another solution would be for the manufacturer to actually sew in more fabric to fit into the bed, however it would be loose when the wind blows, or it could have tie-downs for inside the bed to keep it in place.
Watch for more on the story in future updates with a simple search for Empire Covers in our search field at top of the page.
UPDATE: FEBRUARY 2012: To solve the issue of a big puddle in the bed of the truck we put a bunch of empty boxes in the bed to raise the cover over the rails. This worked well to keep the rain from making a big pool on the cover in the truck!
When you are looking for a cover for your vehicle, check out Empire Covers. They cover anything from a bicycle to a snowmobile.