Do you leave your RTT mounted?

I park my truck outside (not daily driven. use exclusively when RTT is in use) with hardshell with aluminum honeycomb plate RTT mounted on the bed, so I suspect it will be exposed to elements like water, UV, etc...

Other than airing out inside tent and cleaning tent frames when I wash my truck time to time, is there a product I can use to protect outside of the tent from fading, cracking, etc?

Couldn't find one that's dedicated for hardshell aluminum RTT.

TIA

 

My iKamper mini 3.0 RTT has a plastic hard shell. It comes off and is stored in the garage for the half a year or so between trips.

That protects it from the elements, and makes day-to-day use of the truck easier.

My aluminum tonneau (a combination of anodized and powder-coated) likes being waxed with the same wax I use on the truck’s paint.

 

Mine it mounted full time only because my truck is lifted and I'd need 2 people to mount and dismount. For me, it defeats the purpose of being able to go camping at a moments notice when it would take 15-20 mins to put it back on. I have a hard shell and check the seems/seals often so i'm not too worried. Once it warms up a bit, i'll be able to pop it open during those checks.

 

Thanks @dmurph1996 and @4xdog

What about this?

$16 303 Products Automotive Protectant Spray - Helps Prevent Fading & Cracking, Repels Dust, Lint & Staining, Superior UV Protection & Restores Lost Color, Exterior & Interior Car Cleaning Supplies 16oz

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0185PU38A?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

 

303 is a vastly overrated product, in my experience. It doesn’t do anything that any of those glossing/darkening sprays do, and it doesn’t last anywhere near as long as claimed. YMMV, I guess.

Is your aluminum painted or anodized? Not that it matters too much, but I’d wax it with the wax of your choice and keep the bird crap and pollution from staying on to too long. Aluminum is quite durable.

 

mine is anodized. which wax are you using?

 

I've used several, from dedicated car waxes to good ol' Johnson's Paste Wax. They all work well. I do advise a wax that one applies and buffs off rather than one of the silicone-based sprays, but even that's not a hard gotta-do-it. Really, all kinds of waxes will work. Use what ya got.