If you spend time surfing, fishing, paddling, or exploring outdoors, you already know that wet gear is part of the experience. Wetsuits, towels, fishing gear, muddy shoes, and wet clothes all have to get home somehow. For many outdoor enthusiasts, that means packing everything into the truck and heading home.
Unfortunately, damp gear can bring more than just moisture into your truck. Seats and floors can collect salt, sand, mud and dirt. If moisture is left inside the truck, it may lead to stains, odors and eventually mildew.
Fortunately, there is no complicated routine to protect your truck. Some simple habits and the use of some practical equipment like waterproof car seat covers, waterproof storage bags, and a gear drying rack will make it much easier to deal with wet gear after an outdoor adventure.
Damp outdoor clothing can hold a lot of water. Towels, shoes, fishing gear, and other gear can retain water for hours after you've walked off the beach or boat ramp, while a wetsuit can drip for hours even after you've finished surfing.
That humidity will eventually get into the upholstery, carpet, and other surfaces on the inside of your truck. Saltwater can leave stains and residue on fabric and flooring, and sand and dirt can accumulate in fabric and flooring.
If the gear is consistently put in the car without being dried or contained, the problem becomes more apparent. Just a small amount of water on the first trip can turn into a chronic source of moisture and odour.
If you're spending most of your weekends outside, it's much simpler to stop the moisture from spreading than it is to clean it up after it's already spread.
If the equipment is left wet in the truck for long periods, there will be a few issues.
Upholstery and carpet can absorb moisture, leaving surfaces hard to dry. When the truck remains closed, the moist air can cause the interior to become musty and may lead to mildew forming.
Wet gear can also introduce other undesirable materials to the vehicle:
These materials may enter into seams, carpets, and fabric surfaces. Cleaning may also be more challenging due to repeated exposure.
The simplest approach is to prevent as much moisture and dirt as possible from entering the truck.
The easiest way to decrease moisture in the interior of the truck is to change into dry clothes before entering.
You may have to change clothes in a parking lot, close to the beach, or at the boat ramp, which is common among surfers, paddlers, and swimmers. A changing poncho can make this easier, and also enables you to change without using a little towel or the side of a car.
A damp wetsuit or wet clothes are much less likely to soak the inside of the truck when you change before getting in.
It also gets rid of any excess water in wetsuits, towels, shoes, etc. before filling up the car on the way home.
When repeated after each outdoor session, this small step can have a big impact.
Despite good preparation, there will always be some wet equipment that will enter the truck. This is where car seat covers made of waterproof material may offer extra security.
A waterproof cover is used to prevent water from reaching the vehicle's upholstery. This is especially useful for those who frequently carry wet gear such as wetsuits, fishing equipment, camping gear, paddles, and wet towels.
Quality waterproof car seat covers can help to shield the seats from:
Another benefit is that it's easier to clean. The protective cover can be removed from the original upholstery and cleaned after the trip, rather than attempting to clean moisture and sand from the original upholstery.
If you're someone who has a habit of bringing wet gear with you, it's easier to prevent the issue rather than fix it after it's already happened.
Another frequent error is putting damp equipment on truck seats or the truck floor.
A waterproof adventure bag will make transporting wet equipment easy while keeping it contained. Wetsuits, towels, fishing clothes, and other wet gear can be collected in a separate bag, rather than spreading across the truck.
This is very helpful if there is still a long drive home after an outdoor activity.
A waterproof adventure bag can also help to keep the rest of your equipment organized. Clothing, electronics, and other items can be kept away from wet items.
If you're choosing an outdoor bag, you should consider the strength of the bag and a closure that is helpful in keeping water from leaking out of the bag. The right storage solution can make transporting wet equipment considerably easier.
When you can dry your equipment before loading it to the truck, do it!
Surface moisture can be taken out of wetsuits, towels, shoes, and other equipment in a surprising amount of time with a few minutes of airflow. This reduces the amount of water brought into the truck and the moisture you have to deal with later.
This can be much easier with a gear drying rack. Drying can be done in a system designed for it, rather than waiting for the equipment to dry on the ground or on jumbled items attached to the vehicle.
This can be particularly helpful following:
Your gear doesn't have to be completely dry before you leave. Removing any moisture before transportation can even help keep the truck cleaner.
Another good practice is determining where wet gear will be put away before you head out on a trip.
When there is no specific area in which to store wet gear, it will be left wherever room is available. That could include a wet wetsuit on the passenger seat, towels on the floor, and fishing gear all over the truck.
It makes a lot of things easier when you have your own wet gear area.
It may be necessary to use:
The key is to ensure that wet equipment is not placed in hard-to-reach or moisture-sensitive areas.
It also helps with unloading once you reach home, as there will be a certain pattern.
Seats are not the only part of the truck that can suffer from wet equipment. The floor too can easily become covered with water, sand, mud, and debris.
Wet shoes and clothing can spread moisture onto carpet. Water that is on the carpet will take a long time to dry, especially if the truck is closed.
This can be minimized by using removable and easily cleaned floor protection. After each outdoor trip, take a few minutes to remove the mats, shake off any sand and dirt, and wipe away any surface water.
This is more important for those visiting beaches, lakes, rivers, campsites or muddy trails regularly.
It's simpler to clean up right after each outing than letting sand, salt and water accumulate over time.
A combination of protective cover and waterproof storage may not be enough to keep moisture out of the truck.
Remove wet gear as soon as practical after you get home. Moisture will have more time to work its way into the vehicle if it is left inside and becomes wet overnight.
After the gear is removed, look for water, sand, or dirt on the seats and floor. Clean any wet surfaces and let the interior air out if possible.
Minor issues can be avoided by dedicating a few minutes to maintenance after each trip.
Also, make sure to clean and dry all outdoor gear after exposure to saltwater or mud and before storing it for the next adventure.
Damp clothes and equipment are a way of life when outdoors. Oftentimes, you can return home with wet, sandy, muddy, or saltwater-covered equipment from surfing, fishing, paddling, and camping.
The goal isn't to avoid wet gear, but to manage it properly.
Replacing wet clothes before getting in the truck, installing waterproof car seat covers, keeping damp gear in a waterproof adventure bag, and using a gear drying rack to air dry gear can all help minimize moisture from getting to your vehicle.
It's the little things that can add up. Keep wet equipment contained, protect exposed areas of your truck, and wipe up any moisture after each excursion. You can keep your truck cleaner and better geared up for the next trip with the proper outdoor gear and habits from Malo'o Gear.
Waterproof car seat covers can create a barrier between wet gear and your truck's upholstery. They can also facilitate cleanup after outdoor trips.
Keep wet clothing and gear in a waterproof adventure bag or in another waterproof storage container. This helps to keep moisture contained and prevents it from spreading on the seats and floor.
Drying equipment decreases the moisture that goes into the car. A brief air-out will help to minimize water collection within the truck.
Waterproof car seat covers may prevent water, sand, dirt, and saltwater from reaching the vehicle's upholstery. Regularly cleaning covers is also important.
It's best to remove wet gear as soon as practical after returning home. Removing the gear and ventilating the interior can help minimize lingering moisture and odors.
