VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Helpful Information & Suggestions Vinyl Top Dressing

What is a good vinyl top dressing to protect and enhance the material? Seems to me I read somewhere that some products for this purpose actually has an ingredient the dries out the material. Anyone know anything about that?
Thanks; Dick

I think there have been discussions on this site before so you might want to try a search. My suggestion would be to check with a shop that sells and installs vinyl tonneau covers for pick-ups.

I went thru this problem a couple of years ago looking for top dressing, but I was looking for HARTZ CANVAS cloth dressing for the top insert in my 35 chev coupe. I found a seller on ebay, name escapes me at the moment but it can be posted if needed after a basement search .

VINYL tops like those used on pickup beds covers would use a different product and those are easily found at performance shops or auto parts places like Reillys .

mike

I've used Armor-All for years on the top of our family's '86 and '85 Cavaliers. I also use it on the dash and other vinyl trim without a problem. The dash has zero cracks and all the trim still looks good. Been using it since my folks got the '86 in 1988 and so far, so good.

Meguiar's rubber and vinyl trim dressing is also fine, and the STP Son-of-a-Gun is decent.

Appreciate everyone's answer to my inquiry.

Dick

I use the 303 protectant on my vinyl tonneau cover. It offers UV protection and is not greasy. It doesn't attract dirt as well.

I hunted for that product about 5 yrs ago and could not find it.
Where did you find it. Thanks

dick

Try a Google search vinyl protectant 303. I'm not sure if that is what he was talking about.

Most RV Dealers sell it in small spray bottles as it's recommended for several types of RV roofs.

I got tired of the small bottles and googled the manufacturer and found a local source for a gallon. Likely amazon would have it.

I am curious hows often you apply it. The bottle I have recommends every 4-6 weeks so I have hesitated using it.

As often as needed: I use 303 on some faded vinyl siding and it could use it a couple times a year as it obviously starts to lose color and look white-ish. Most car plastics/vinyl is more like a couple years when you notice slight fading. If it were my roof, it would be sparingly once a year if the roof was in good shape.

I think the 4-6 weeks is for something continuously exposed to sunlight like the top of an RV Awning while living near the Equator...

My vinyl top on my 32 is 17 years old and I have never done anything other than hand wipe with a damp cloth and mild detergent. A few drops in a gallon or so of water and then dry towel it. It still looks good but I know it won't last forever so I was looking to find a product to extend its life. I just don't want to become a slave to the process and when it said 4-6 weeks the bottle went into the closet. I do like the fact it claims to not attract dust.

I got mine on ebay, though I forgot the name of the seller.