Dye Autos Denver Area Truck and Automotive Blog

Photo credit: State Farm

Halloween is a fun time of year for kids (and adults). It can also mean smashed windows, slashed tires, scratched paint or worse for pickup truck owners, because someone pushed their tricks a little too far.

According to the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), approximately 81% more vehicle vandalism claims occur on October 31st than the average.

Protect your pickup truck.

Help prevent slashed tires, smashed windows, and deliberate car damage on Halloween — and every other day of the year—with these tips:

1. Check your surroundings.

Where you park your pickup truck affects the likelihood of it being vandalized.

• At home? Park in your garage.
• If you don’t have a garage, install motion lights that will deter vandals and alert you and neighbors to activity near your vehicle or driveway.
• Away from home? Park in a well-lit, populated area—preferably a gated lot or secure parking garage. For added protection, park away from objects that could help conceal vandals, such as large vehicles, dumpsters, big trees or shrubbery.

2. Eliminate temptations.

Remove valuables and any evidence of them from your vehicle. For example, clean GPS suction rings off your windshield, remove stereo faceplates, and store cell phone chargers in the center console.

Remove objects from the truck bed or top racks. If you own a truck or other vehicle with an exposed bed, remove all objects from the rear cargo area. If you have toolboxes or locking covers for your truck bed, double check to make sure they are secure. Thieves and pranksters can simply and easily take advantage of anything left in site.

3. Lockdown.

If you are not in the habit of locking your truck, take special precautions on Halloween night. If your truck is equipped with an alarm system, ensure that it’s armed and ready.

It’s also an excellent idea to make sure your windows are closed all the way to avoid additional ways in, or anything from getting inside of your vehicle. If you do not have a locking garage available, it’s best to park in your driveway or as near to your house as possible.

4. Have a gameplan to protect your truck’s paint.

Halloween is a good reminder that protecting your pickup truck’s paint is good practice all year long.

If you drive a newer vehicle, you might not have to worry too much (but hey, why tempt fate?). In the past 10 years, automakers have developed clearcoat paint specifically designed to resist the type of acid that comes from eggs and pumpkin guts.

If you drive an older truck (or just want to keep your truck looking good), there are steps you can take to protect it from Halloween pranks.

• Wax on. The week before Halloween is a perfect time to wax your pickup truck. Get yourself on a regular 2-3 month wax schedule so you can protect your truck from all the other types of road grime all year long.
• Take cover. Shield your pickup against finish-destroying man-made and natural hazards. Also, covers act as excellent theft deterrents.
• Keep your hose ready. If your pickup truck gets hit on Halloween night, immediately rinse off any solid residue such as eggshells. (The heat of the sun speeds up chemical reactions and can severely harm the paint). Then, most importantly and as soon as possible, give your truck a thorough washing.
• Be prepared to clean off any small mess quickly. Keep a small spray bottle of water mixed with a dedicated car-washing soap handy. A spray-on car wax will also work well. Then, whenever you find a contaminant on the paint—whether it’s the morning after Halloween or after a bird dropping at the beach—you can spray the solution on the car, and wipe away the mess with a soft towel. Even if you can’t remove it right away, just spraying the solution on the mess will dilute the acid and minimize damage, if there is any.
• Pro Tip: If you’ve accidentally left the offending substance on your truck, go see a professional detailer right away. They have special tricks of their own to make your truck look new again.

Halloween is a fun time of year. These tips will help make it worry-free so you and your family can enjoy yourselves.

Have you been thinking about buying a pickup truck for yourself? Give Dye Autos a call at (303) 286-1665 and we’ll help make this your best Halloween ever!