To keep your Jeep in tip-top shape, you need to protect it from sun and heat damage. During the hot summer months, your Jeep can retain damage in both the interior and exterior of the vehicle. Just like ultraviolet rays can damage your skin, they can also harm your vehicle. Sun damage can cause your Jeep’s paint to fade and chip over time. Additionally, the interior of your vehicle, including the dashboard and seats, can fade and eventually crack. To prevent this damage, you can learn how to protect your Jeep from sun damage.
Wax the Exterior
Since the exterior of the vehicle is often exposed to direct sunlight, it’s essential to protect it from damage. One way to protect your Jeep from sun damage is to wax the exterior. The wax provides an extra layer of protection from the sun, and it repels the damaging UV rays. Before you wax, wash your car completely to get rid of dirt and dust. To keep your vehicle safe from the sun all summer, be sure to wax and maintain the exterior regularly.
Windshield Sun Protector
When you park in the sun, the rays often harm the dashboard of your Jeep. To prevent this damage, you can use a windshield sun protector. These shiny sunshades come in all shapes and sizes, so they can fit any type of windshield. A sun shield has a reflective surface that repels the UV rays and protects the interior of your Jeep. You can choose plain, silver sun shields, or you can find them with many different designs, such as flags, your favorite movie characters, beloved pets, and more.
Install Seat Covers
Protecting the interior of the Jeep is just as important as protecting the exterior. Seat covers are a great way to add style and protection to your seats. In addition to shielding the seats from UV rays, these covers also protect your seats from moisture, dirt, grime, and more. There are plenty of different shapes, styles, and designs for seat covers, so you can find one for every type of vehicle. They also add comfort to your vehicle to make long or bumpy rides easier on your body.
Condition the Seats
If your Jeep has leather upholstery, you will need to condition it on a regular basis. The conditioner protects the leather from heat damage, which leads to discoloration and cracking. The best time to condition the leather is after cleaning it to prevent dirt buildup or scratches from residual grime.
Park in the Shade
One of the easiest ways to protect your vehicle from the sun is to park in the shade. Whenever you take your Jeep out for a spin or a trip to the grocery store, try to find a parking space with shade. You can also park it in the shade at your house. There are a few ways to create shade at home, such as a garage, a carport, a tree, and more.
Wash Often
Washing your Jeep often is one of the best ways to maintain the exterior. Sun damages the paint along with dirt, grime, squashed bugs, and more. To prevent scratches on the paint that could make sun damage more severe, be sure to wash your Jeep often.
Protect Your Headlights
Unfortunately, people sometimes forget to take care of the plastic parts of their Jeep, such as the headlights. Many Jeep owners attach a film or spray to their headlights, taillights, and other plastic parts to protect them from the sun’s rays. If the plastic parts remain unprotected, they will begin to weaken and crack over time.
Purchase Car Covers
A car cover is like a giant poncho for your vehicle. It reflects sunlight and protects your vehicle from dirt and dust. However, it is not the best solution if you live in an area with rough weather or if you do not clean your Jeep regularly. Strong winds and rough weather will damage the car cover or blow it away. When the exterior of your vehicle has dirt and grime, placing a car cover on the Jeep can cause scratching and damage the paint job. Car covers work best when the vehicle is clean and you live in an area with pleasant weather.
Open Your Windows
While opening your windows may seem like a simple task, it is one of the easiest ways to reduce the amount of heat in your vehicle. Bright sunshine can cause your car to overheat, which damages the interior of your vehicle. By opening the windows, you let out some of the heat that would otherwise remain pent up inside the Jeep.
Check Your Cooling System
During the summer, you need to check your cooling system on a regular basis. A well-maintained cooling system not only benefits you but also benefits your vehicle. No one wants to take a long road trip without AC, and the extreme heat damages the interior. The parts that you should check regularly are the coolant, radiator, water pump, and hoses. Also, be sure to have a mechanic check your cooling system regularly to ensure that everything is in tip-top condition.
Maintain the Convertible Tops
Convertible tops require additional care to stay in great shape. If you have a vinyl or fabric top, then you need to take extra precautions to protect it from the sun. You can use a spray-on protectant to reflect the sun’s harsh rays. Before you spray this on the top of your Jeep, remember to thoroughly wash and dry it—otherwise, dirt and grime will become trapped under the protectant.
These tips teach you how to protect your Jeep from sun damage. To recap, you can protect your Jeep by:
- Checking your cooling system
- Opening your windows
- Purchasing car covers
- Protecting your headlights
- Washing it often
- Parking in the shade
- Conditioning the seats
- Installing seat covers
- Using sun shields
- Waxing the exterior.
Another way to improve your vehicle is to add a few Jeep Wrangler off-road parts. These parts make your vehicle safer and add style for your adventures both on and off the road. You can purchase Jeep Wrangler off-road parts from our online store here at AM Off-Road to make your vehicle safer and improve its style today.
