Are you a car enthusiast? Then I am pretty sure you spend a lot of your time working on your vehicle at home. Herein, the best fender covers can be a great addition to your collection if you work on your engine quite frequently.
A fender cover is a necessity if you want to protect your car from unwanted scratches and scuffs. Truth be told, you cannot stay careful at all times when driving. And herein, it is effortless solution to keep your car paint away from damage.
This is a good enough reason for you to invest in one immediately. Buying a cover will always guarantee you a safe working environment. In this article, we have taken the time to carefully review the top covers available right now.
Benefits of Using a Fender Cover
Using old rags to protect the side of your fender now seems like a primitive practice as most people nowadays pay top dollar for their vehicles. You never know how you can scratch your car. So, it is better to be safe than sorry.
Keeping Your Car Clean
A fender cover will not only protect your car’s paintwork; it will also help to keep it clean from grease and oils that you accumulate on your hands. Towels and rags can accumulate dirt that will indefinitely leave behind marks on the long run.
Additional Storage Options
Most fender covers come with pockets that can hold your tools and screws. This added utility comes in handy when you frequently work on your car. It also makes misplacing important bits of your car impossible.
Comes with Magnets
Also, many covers come with magnets that hold them in place. This enables you to easily lean over to access the tricky parts of your engine bay.
Ease of Storage and Cleaning
Most of the products available are easy to clean and store inside your car.
Waterproof fender covers make sure that the occasional spills can be easily wiped off. Being able to wash the cover also adds to its benefits. Overall, automotive fender covers are a must-have for any car enthusiast.
Things to Consider Before Buying
There are several variations of covers that you can get nowadays. They vary in quality of materials, size, etc. The following few features can be a starter for you to look into before making a purchase:
Material
You will find a few options available when it comes to the choice of materials used in a cover. There are pricey leather covers that look posh and get the job done. And other, more affordable ones can serve the same purpose.
Look for covers that are water and oil proof to protect your car from your greasy fingers. Another feature to look for would be products that have anti-corrosive traits. Softback cover also works, but they accumulate dust and lint over time.
Magnets
A cover that comes with magnets has a great value addition to them as they can easily be attached to your car’s body. Some also add the option of allowing your tools to latch into place to restrict you from losing them.
However, if your car has a steel body, it will not be of much use. Other additions like hooks and straps can also be of use when keeping your cover in place. These are merely extras to give you just a little edge during your work.
Durability
Given there are a lot of options to choose from, one can quickly get confused about which cover to get. A quality fender cover will be guaranteed to last long. They will ensure that they are durable and will last a lifetime on regular use.
Cleaning and Storing
An easy-to-clean fender cover will do great in the long run as they will eventually get dirty. This will make your car more prone to scratches. Look for a cover that is made up of materials that are sturdy enough to clean frequently.
The size of a fender cover is also something to look out for. If you end up purchasing a product that is too big, it will be difficult to store in your car. Buy a cover that will best complement the size of your vehicle.
Top 5 Best Fender Covers Review
Here are a few of our top picks available in the market today. Look no more, as this should be enough to get you started.
1. Performance Tool W80583
When you are in the market for a no-frill cover, the W80583 will best serve your needs. It comes in a vinyl-wrapped finish with added foam for extra protection from unwanted scratches and dings.
The product comes with additional pockets for your tools and equipment. These help keep them in place and are an excellent place to store them too. The cover comes with stitched edges making sure it does not get frayed on heavy use.
However, there is a downside. It does not come equipped with magnets, making it prone to slide off easily if not appropriately placed. The addition of magnet would have been a great touch to an already great product.
The product is very thin, but it is tactile enough to put through robust use. It has a decent size, which should be enough for most cars. Given the price, it is a must-have for any car enthusiast.
Pros
- Tough vinyl material
- Built-in tool pockets
- Fully sewn and ribbed edges
- Added foam back
- Considerably inexpensive
Cons
- Does not have magnets
- Size is not ideal for most cars
2. GearWrench Magnetic
This product comes with no joke attitude and does precisely what it was made for, no more, no less. It is surprisingly inexpensive and packs quite a few excellent value additions.
The product is made of fine shiny vinyl with the manufacturer’s logo printed in bold. There are strong magnets installed to hold it in place. Do not worry about your tools falling off as these magnets will be your savior.
Its size falls in the medium range category and weighs around 3.15 pounds. The flaps have the magnets sewn inside that holds them up against the inside of your fender. Also, leaning on the cover will do no harm as it has foam backings.
The material used is of top quality and oil-resistant. This means that it will not only protect you from scratches but will also protect your fender from grease and other unwanted oils.
Pros
- Included magnets in flaps
- Oil resistant
- Easy protection from scratches and scuffs
- Inexpensive
Cons
- Weak magnets
- Difficult to clean
3. RUPSE Automotive Mechanic Magnetic
If you want a product that covers the full length of your engine bay, this cover is the way to go. The product comes in three parts that make it a steal for the price.
And among those three parts, one is for the front, and the rest of them are for the sides. This saves you a lot of time if you have more than one person working on your car. It eliminates the need to detach and reattach when moving around.
The cover comes in a black synthetic leather finish giving it a classy look. It has a non-slip texture meaning you can freely move around your car without budging it out of place. Also, it comes with a smooth underside for protection from scratches.
It is easy to wipe off unwanted oil and grease from this product. The additional magnets are one of the best in the market, making them strong enough to keep the cover in place. They do not leave any marks leaving you tension free.
Pros
- Durable anti-corrosion material
- Waterproof and washable
- Synthetic non-slip leather
- Easy to install with strong magnets
- Environment friendly
Cons
- Comes in one color only
- Large size may not be suitable for all
4. OCM Premium Magnetic
This product is a great all-rounder when it comes to getting your job done. The cover comes with a PVC finish and a soft cloth backing. It weighs in around 10.4 ounces and is sized adequately for most cars.
It comes with not one, not two, but with six non-slip magnets and three velcro straps to help hold the cover in place. The magnets are powerful enough to even hold your tools in place. Plus, they are concealed in such a way that they will not scratch the surface of your car even if you wanted to.
It is recommended to clean the cover regularly with detergent to make sure they are clean at all times due to the lack of a foam backing.
Cleaning this product is pretty easy. Any mild solvent will get the job done fairly quickly. It has a compact size, meaning you can simply fold it up and store it at the back of your car without worrying about losing trunk space.
Pros
- Strong magnets
- Non-slip material with additional hooks and straps
- Durable tear-resistant material
- Scratch-resistant soft cloth backing
- Easy-to-fold compact size
Cons
- Size is not suitable for big cars
- Cloth backing is inferior to foam backing
5. Jecr Magnetic Car Fender Cover
This cover is another very good inexpensive product for those who just want basic protection. Dreaming about the best material cover with magnets? This cover is just what you need.
The product comes in a rectangular shape with rounded-off edges. Its magnetic strips lie on one end to secure the top of the cover in place. The strips can be adjusted to fit the bottom half of your fender for added security.
This cover is made of soft vinyl and makes sure no grease or oil reached the car. Additionally, the underside of the cover protects the fender from beings scratched if pressed down during work.
It also comes with an easy to fold lightweight structure, making it easy to store in your trunk or glove box. Any mild detergent or solvent should easily keep it clean. It may not be a premium product, but it will give you adequate protection.
Pros
- Magnets are sewn in on the top edge
- Durable vinyl exterior
- Soft-touch backing
- Simple to clean
- Lightweight and foldable for easy storage
Cons
- Inferior to most of its competition
- Weak magnets
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Which fender cover will best fit my car?
A: There are a lot of choices when it comes to finding the right fit. Most covers provide dimensions in their packaging, making them easy to distinguish. It should not be a problem finding the right size given you can do the math.
Q: Are covers with magnets bad?
A: Most covers nowadays come standard with magnets to help keep them in place. These magnets are fitted in a way that they will not scratch your paint. Additional magnets honestly come down to personal preference.
Q: How do I install my cover with hooks?
A: Covers that come with hooks are very easy to work with. Just simply lay down the cover on the working surface and attach the hooks to the insides of your fender.
Q: Is my fender cover washable?
A: Almost all fender covers use washable materials, which will be suitable for basic detergent. Only a few are machine washable.
Q: How do I store my fender cover?
A: Fold the cover by rolling it up. Wash it beforehand if needed. Make sure the cover is dry before you fold it. Also, make sure that the outer parts are folded inwards.
Final Words
There are way too many brands of automotive fender covers available in the market today. Thoroughly going through this article will not only give you an idea of their benefits but will also help you pick the best fender covers available in stores.