J Ramp / tie down covers

[SilentT]

Who's the go to place for 85' J ramp/tie down fuselage covers? Intake inserts, pitot covers, etc? 

[PeterRus]

I went with Bruce's covers, for fuselage from the engine all the way to the vertical stabilizer. Full fuselage cover eliminates intake inserts, just a pitot cover that was bought from Amazon.

[Paul Thomas]

I have a Bruce cover. I've only used it on few times and the fit is great but I did have them make some modifications. I didn't want the front strap to interfere over the gear doors and I have a velcro over the rear antenna that's where the dorsal fin starts. I had to send it back for the rear antenna but since I had been told the cover would not reach there. Bruce took care of shipping both ways and couldn't have been any easier to work with.

[Scott Ashton]

I have a Bruces Cover and it has been very durable.  There are two snaps at the front on either side above the gear doors, which holds the cover snug without having a strap tight across the gear doors.  The other thing I got with the airplane is a tail cover for the empennage to keep birds, etc out of the tail mechanism and that helped a lot too.

For better or worse, you can definitely tell where the cover was and was not because the paint is remarkably different.  The cover did a great job protecting the cabin area even if it was a pain to install and remove...

I see a lot of planes out on the ramp without a cabin cover and I just couldn't do that!

[SilentT]

On 12/8/2025 at 8:20 PM, Scott Ashton said:

I have a Bruces Cover and it has been very durable.  There are two snaps at the front on either side above the gear doors, which holds the cover snug without having a strap tight across the gear doors.  The other thing I got with the airplane is a tail cover for the empennage to keep birds, etc out of the tail mechanism and that helped a lot too.

For better or worse, you can definitely tell where the cover was and was not because the paint is remarkably different.  The cover did a great job protecting the cabin area even if it was a pain to install and remove...

I see a lot of planes out on the ramp without a cabin cover and I just couldn't do that!

All of the seals in my plane are probably trash so I'm worried about water getting in the windows and down into the tubes so that's primarily what I'm focused on protecting when I'm on a work trip away from the hanger 

[Pinecone]

I use Bruce's window HeatShields.   Lower temp, keep out prying eyes, and pretty easy to install.

Also got all the plugs from Bruce's.  Pitot cover from Amazon also.

[PT20J]

Has anyone used Bruce’s lighter travel covers for the occasional night out?

[Hank]

1 hour ago, PT20J said:

Has anyone used Bruce’s lighter travel covers for the occasional night out?

Would that be the far.Mooney parked beyond me? Sadly, my cover has been out of production for several years now . . .

[NotarPilot]

Several years ago, I came across a post either here or on Beechtalk about someone making their own window shades using heat shield material from Home Depot. I did the same and I think I ended up having to buy two rolls to have enough material to make shades for all the windows. You simply place a section of the material large enough to cover the entire window and use a Sharpie to outline the shape by feel. I think the two rolls ended up costing me less than $25.

I have a Bruce's cover that came with my plane but I prefer my CB home made window shades. They weigh A LOT less, cost a fraction of a custom cover, take up less room in the plane, install from the inside in about 1 minute, keep prying eyes out and I don't risk the custom cover grinding sand onto the windows on a windy day. I wish I had a photo of them installed to show you but I can say they work great and have lasted 4 or 5 years now, still in good condition. I definitely wouldn't spend several hundred dollars like some of those pre made ones. 

People will talk about the sun reflecting back through the glass and eventually causing crazing on the plexiglass. Yeah, maybe/probably if you keep your plane outside all the time, but for occasional use for a few days at a time, I don't see the harm. My plane normally lives in a hangar so they really only get used for several days per year.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-24-in-x-10-ft-Double-Reflective-Insulation-Radiant-Barrier-24x10DRI/314983628

[PeterRus]

My Bruce's covers have microfiber on the inside for the windshield/windows and wingtip lenses. I am not sure if the HomeDepot window shades protect from the elements...

[Paul Thomas]

On 12/13/2025 at 11:37 PM, NotarPilot said:

Several years ago, I came across a post either here or on Beechtalk about someone making their own window shades using heat shield material from Home Depot. I did the same and I think I ended up having to buy two rolls to have enough material to make shades for all the windows. You simply place a section of the material large enough to cover the entire window and use a Sharpie to outline the shape by feel. I think the two rolls ended up costing me less than $25.

I have a Bruce's cover that came with my plane but I prefer my CB home made window shades. They weigh A LOT less, cost a fraction of a custom cover, take up less room in the plane, install from the inside in about 1 minute, keep prying eyes out and I don't risk the custom cover grinding sand onto the windows on a windy day. I wish I had a photo of them installed to show you but I can say they work great and have lasted 4 or 5 years now, still in good condition. I definitely wouldn't spend several hundred dollars like some of those pre made ones. 

People will talk about the sun reflecting back through the glass and eventually causing crazing on the plexiglass. Yeah, maybe/probably if you keep your plane outside all the time, but for occasional use for a few days at a time, I don't see the harm. My plane normally lives in a hangar so they really only get used for several days per year.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-24-in-x-10-ft-Double-Reflective-Insulation-Radiant-Barrier-24x10DRI/314983628

I have a set of those made by Kennon who will stop making them at the end of the year. Those are very effective and I typically use them even if I park just for lunch. It makes a huge difference in comfort when you get back into the airplane.

[NotarPilot]

12 hours ago, PeterRus said:

My Bruce's covers have microfiber on the inside for the windshield/windows and wingtip lenses. I am not sure if the HomeDepot window shades protect from the elements...

Protect from which elements? I use them on the inside and for me they serve two purposes: Keep the majority of the heat out (which they do) and keep prying eyes from looking at my panel and hopefully any would be thieves from seeing what they can steal from my plane.

[EKoS]

I use a complete set of Bruce’s covers for my plane (cabin, wings, full tail, and prop). Yeah, they’re expensive and a pain to put on and take off - but with no hangar option available at my field yet, I get near 100% coverage and sun/rain protection for 1/10 the cost of a new paint job. I store everything in a dock box planeside when I’m out flying. Turns out I don’t actually have pics of the plane with covers on but can go take some if there’s interest.

For travel I just bring cowl plugs and a pitot cover - and remember to hide headsets (etc.) and lock the doors. Should probably look into a lightweight cabin cover too, through my bigger concern while traveling is keeping frost and other debris off the flying surfaces…