The rain cover is definitely a clever accessory to have for your Jeep because it protects your vehicle from the rain and provides security from stray animals in the neighborhood (those cats and raccoons!) and other elements, like wind, dust, and UV.
There are plenty of choices on the market, but some simply stand out as better quality from more reputable and well-known manufacturers.
6 Best Jeep Rain Covers
1. Mopar
- Package Dimensions: 14.26 L x 5.25 H x 11.25 W (inches)
- Package Weight : 5.6 pounds
- Country of Origin : United States
- Part number: 82215
The first on the list is a rain cover from a known car parts and accessories manufacturer – Mopar. If you know Jeeps you know Mopar, and we’re big fans of this brand.
This cover weighs only 4.4 lbs, which makes it easy to put on by a single person. It fits perfectly over a 4-door Jeep without a roof. It means that you need to take off your roof in order to fit this cover.
It is a perfect solution for those hot days when you don’t want to bother putting your roof back on but worry about a quick shower in the evening.
Made in the US out of heavy-duty, water-resistant nylon fabric, this cover can withstand a heavy downpour, torrential rain, and even hailstones. It even has a Jeep logo on the front and comes in a nylon storage bag.
It provides a little stretch around the mirrors for a tighter fit, so you don’t have to worry about it flapping too much in the wind.
There are a few disadvantages to this cover. It may be a little bit too short over the tailgate, and it allows a little bit of rain to come down in the back if not properly measured for the vehicle.
Another minus of this cover is that the strap in the tail light is relatively short and can break if pulled too hard.
2. Pavement Ends
- Designed to keep your vehicle interior protected against rain, dirt, dust or debris when soft top is not on the Jeep
- Fast and easy no-drill installation
- Secures to Jeep with straps that attach to the lower body rocker panels
- Tought heavy duty automotive grade vinyl is UV resistant to help prevent sun fade
- Installs on the vehicle with the soft top or hard top remo
Pavement Ends offers many products for off-roading vehicles, and numerous of their products are designed by the Bestop team, as is this rain cover.
It fits a 2-door Jeep with no soft or hard top on. It is rather heavy (10 lbs), so it’s best to have a little bit of help for easier installation, but it fits perfectly over the windshield and roll cage all the way down to the bottom of the side doors.
This cover is not made to cover the whole Jeep, but it includes six adjustable nylon straps with plastic hooks to attach to lower body rocker panels for a tight and snug fit.
The material is a tough heavy-duty vinyl that also provides UV protection for the Jeep. This material can withstand quite a lot of rain, wind, and even snow and hailstones in extreme situations.
The minus is that it doesn’t fit over the mirrors so well, often stretching a bit if you don’t fold them.
Another negative about this cover is that it doesn’t run the water so well, which produces puddles over the front seats after very heavy rainfall, so you have to lift the middle a little to let the water off by hand.
3. Rampage
- Protects the vehicle interior and exterior paint from sun, dirt, dust, pollution, and UV Rays
- Easy installation and provides secure fit
- Creates a high breathe-ability factor inside the vehicle
- Includes free lock and cable as well as a storage bag for storage of the cover when not in
“Built for the trail, ready for the road” is the motto of Rampage products, and this rain cover is definitely something they can vouch for.
This cover has a soft layer of fabric on the inside to gently polish your Jeep’s paint with the movement, two melt blown middle layers for extra protection, and a spun-bond outer layer. It sports OE-approved double stitching for added durability.
It covers the whole car with the top on, from bumper to bumper (including the spare tire) and is easily secured with an included cable and lock.
The cover weighs 7.2 lbs and comes in a storage bag.
The 4-layer system offers UV protection and is water-resistant but not 100% waterproof. It can withstand light rain, hailstones, snowfall, and morning dew but will leak at seams under very heavy rainfall.
Rampage stands by this product and offers a one-year limited warranty covering workmanship and material defects.
The only minus would be the size when folded. It’s pretty big and takes up space when traveling.
4. Bestop
- Waterproof fabric covers cab portion of vehicle from rain, wind or hot sun when soft top is not installed
- Adjustable nylon straps designed to provide a snug, tight fit
- Uses vehicle BeltRail channel system for tight, secure seal around rear body tub
- Comes with its own stuff sack for storage when not in use
- Provides complete door cover
Very similar in design rain cover to one they sell through Pavement Ends, Bestop is also selling their own cabin rain cover for Jeep.
The material of this cover is soft waterproof fabric almost as thick as one of the manufacturer’s soft tops.
The cover fits a 2-door Jeep without a soft top, although the top doesn’t have to be taken completely off. It can be folded back.
This rain cover includes adjustable nylon straps and offers complete door coverage with a snug fit.
Although it weighs a whopping 10 lbs, it is still simple enough to put on without much hustle (best is to do it with two people, although one person also can manage by themselves).
It provides all-weather UV, wind, and rain protection.
One of the disadvantages is that after very heavy rainfall, the front can start collecting water into a puddle and pulling on the sides.
Another minus is the difficulty in folding it back into the carry bag it came with. It can be quite challenging if you don’t pay attention to how it was folded.
On the plus side, the company offers a one-year limited warranty on this cover.
5. Smittybilt
- Designed to fit snugly over the windshield frame and roll bars
- Made from water resistant material
- Weather resistant. Fits 2007 to 2017 JK Wrangler Unlimited and Rubicon Unlimited
- Extremely durable
- Ensures easy installation
- Fitment - Direct
This rain cover comes from the makers of one of the best winches on the market, Smittybilt.
It is made from a water and weather-resistant space-age material and comes with 8 flat plastic hooks that allow you to secure this cover in a tight fit over your Jeep’s cab.
It provides a direct and sug custom fit from the windshield frame over the roll cage to the back, but it fits only without the roof (soft or hard).
Weighing only 3 lbs it offers a very quick and easy installation
Although it is not 100% waterproof, it can still withstand medium rain, snow, hailstones, or morning dew. Unfortunately, you have to forget about it if you live in places where heavy torrential rain is an often occurrence.
This much rain will cause water to pool and ultimately soak it through. However, some people don’t give up and put water seals on seams with quite positive results.
The cover also offers UV and wind protection, but unfortunately, it doesn’t come with a storage bag
Although it fits a 4-door version, the minus is it doesn’t fit the Jeep Unlimited.
Smittybilt offers a one-year warranty with this product.
6. Rugged Ridge
- Gray
- Vinyl
- Water resistance
- Protects inter
Another full-car rain cover on our list comes from the Rugged Ridge factory. The company knows a thing or two about the outdoors and vehicles, so we can safely say this rain cover is another great choice.
It’s made out of a 3-layer vinyl-coated (polypropylene) polyester – one layer of micro-porous film sandwiched between a soft non-woven and a tough space-age water repellent material.
The cover also sports reinforced elastic straps that come with underbody hooks for better security.
As mentioned before, the cover protects the complete vehicle and weighing only 6 lbs, it is relatively easy to put on.
The material can withstand showers, ice buildup, and mildew, but it is not recommended for a big downpour. You can treat it more like an emergency cover than long-term rain protection.
This cover comes with a storage bag, lock, and cable to keep it safe, stored when not in use, and protected when covering the car.
The good thing is that it fits over that hard or soft top installed, plus some add-ons like a light bar, fender flares, or rock sliders.
The company itself offers easy to deal customer service and a really good five-year warranty for material and workmanship defects.
The only serious disadvantage of this cover is that it’s not really designed for long-term outdoor use.
Jeep Rain Cover Buyers Guide
Before you decide which rain cover you are going to get, there are a few things to consider.
Your Needs
You have to think whether you need a proper waterproof cover or just a “rainfly.”
Depending on where you live, you may not require the heavy 100% torrential-rain-waterproof cover if you only get a couple of showers now and then or a few chilly mornings when your car gets covered with morning dew.
On the other hand, if you live in a place where downpours are a common occurrence, but it’s still hot enough during the season you want to drive without the roof or side doors, it’s great to look for something more sturdy.
In those instances, you need something more than just a lightweight cabin cover.
There are rain covers on the market that will cover your whole Jeep, offer straps and cables to secure the bottom, and snugly wrap your vehicle, protecting it from buckets of water from the sky.
Jeep Size
There is a multitude of different Jeep shapes and sizes on the market, and, unfortunately, there is no one-size cover fitting all of them.
You have to look for a cover that offers perfect fitting for your Jeep. Otherwise, you are risking leaks, big puddles of water gathering on top, rips from the wind, or even losing the cover completely – blown away by the strong gust.
Some covers would fit perfectly on a 4-door hardtop Jeep, but others only cover a 2-door cabin and the door of a topless one.
You have to know the measurements of your Jeep with and without the roof to find the perfect size. Additionally, you have to include all the add-ons in the sizing. Any lightbars, fender flares, etc., would change the size of your Jeep, and the advertised cover may not work for you in the end.
Material
It is maybe not THE most critical factor you should include in your decision, but it should definitely be on the top of your list.
Most rain covers are made from waterproof or water-resistant materials, and it’s up to you to decide which one would suit you best.
Some covers have a few different layers, with the toughest on the outside, protecting your Jeep from the elements, and the softest inside, gently polishing the paint with any movement and smallest friction.
Cover materials also differ in weight and packing. Some of the biggest covers can pack into a surprisingly small space, and some others won’t fit back in their bags without a particular way of folding them.
There are strictly waterproof materials on the market, but others offer additional UV protection, so you don’t have to worry about either scenario. It’s worth looking into because the “only waterproof” types run the risk of fading and losing their strength if left under the sun for long.
Security Type
The way you secure your cover is also rather important. You never know what may happen, from stray cats and raccoons breaking in for a nap, through strong winds blowing your cover to pieces, to (knock on wood) theft.
You are facing the risk of the cover not working out because of the way it’s strapped to your car.
Most of the full covers include a cable and a lock to secure the cover around your car, especially if it stays outdoors for an extended time.
The shorter versions tend to have adjustable elastic stripes to secure the cover tightly around your Jeeps cab.
There is always DIY, but if you can get a cover that includes the straps and security you want, then why not pick the right one for you from the start?
Conclusion
Out of all the covers available on the market, we picked the best we thought of from tried and tested brands in the production of outdoor accessories for off-roading vehicles (even if you don’t drive them off the road).
There is plenty to choose from, and it all depends on what you need the cover to do, the size of your Jeep, and how much rain is falling on it every time you leave it outside.
The rain cover is a great thing to have in case of emergency or even extra protection from the elements or even stray animals.
- Tips and tricks For Setting Up Camp Like a Pro - September 11, 2023
- The Best Multi-Tools for Overlanding Adventures - August 25, 2023
- Off-Road Navigation Tips for Overlanders - August 13, 2023
