Sitting on the hood of your car can cause unnecessary damage. The hood of the car is not constructed to bear weight like other parts of the car.
Although people are often tempted to sit on hoods during outdoor events or for other reasons, this should be avoided if you wish to maintain the body of the car.
Why Do People Sit on Car Hoods?
Our vehicles are more than just a means to get around. Over time, our vehicles truly become an integral part of our lives. It is not uncommon for people to become very attached to their vehicles.
This isn’t surprising considering how much time we spend with our cars and in our cars.
We do not just drive our vehicles, but we also spend time with them. Vehicles become an extension of ourselves, especially if we are outdoors or attending outdoor events.
During times like this, it is tempting to lean up against the vehicle or even to sit on it.
Sitting on the hood of a car is often a convenient way to find a place to rest if you happen to be outdoors. Although this seems to be a very natural thing for some people to engage in, the truth is this behavior should be avoided.
Why Is It Bad To Sit On the Hood of a Car?
Many people assume that sitting on a car hood is not a big deal because it will not cause any damage to the internal workings of a vehicle. Although this is true, sitting on the hood of a car can still have a negative impact on your vehicle.
The internal workings of a vehicle will not be damaged by sitting on the hood because there would not be enough weight present to crush the metal down to the depth of the engine and other internal parts.
It would take a great amount of weight to crush the hood of a vehicle this severely. It is possible, however, for there to be vehicles that are not sound enough to bear any weight on the hood.
It is safe to say that if you sat on the hood of your car, you would not permanently damage your vehicle so much that you could not drive it. Sitting on the hood of a car is, however, damaging to the body of the vehicle.
What About the Roof of a Car?
Not only do people sometimes feel inclined to sit on the hood of a car, but even the roof of the car can seem attractive. Most vehicles are built to support the weight of the vehicle several times over.
However, if you are trying to maintain the body integrity of the vehicle, sitting on the roof of the car is a bad idea. Most vehicles are designed to support about four times their own weight. However, you may not know exactly what that weight is.
If several people are trying to sit on your car roof, you might exceed that weight without realizing it. This is why it is best to avoid this behavior altogether.
Even if you did not entirely crush the roof of a car by sitting on it, even a small amount of weight could cause slight denting and scratches.
This can be significant damage if you are concerned with maintaining the body integrity of a vehicle.
Can I Sit On Any Part of My Car?
If you really need to sit on your vehicle for some reason, there are ways that this can be done more safely without causing damage to your vehicle.
The best way to sit on your car safely is to open the trunk and sit on the edge of the trunk.
This part of the vehicle is built to withstand much more weight than the roof or the hood of the car. Sitting like this is usually adequate for time spent outside when a seat is needed.
If you have a truck, the truck bed is also built to withstand a great deal of weight. Several people can sit inside a truck bed without causing any damage whatsoever.
How Can I Protect the Body of My Car From Damage?
One of the best ways to protect the body of your car from damage is to use your car properly. Avoid sitting on the hood or the roof of your vehicle.
It is also important to let others know that you do not want them to sit on your hood or roof as well. Stick to your guns on this so that you can keep the body of your vehicle in great shape.
Another great way to protect the body of your car is by avoiding dangerous parking situations. Parking in areas where damage is likely to occur should be avoided. Crowded parking lots, areas where loose items could roll or smash into your car should be avoided.
When possible, park far from other vehicles. Although this may mean you will need to walk further, it will also help decrease the chances of your vehicle being damaged.
You can also help protect your vehicle by parking inside a garage. People often use their garage as storage space, but it was intended to be a place that protects your vehicle.
By parking your car in your garage, you will cut down on the chances of the car getting dented and scratched. Parking in the garage will also provide extra protection from the elements.
Over time, exposure to the elements will cause damage to your paint job.
What Are The Most Common Causes of Dents and Scratches?
The most common causes of dents are impact with other objects.
Buggies in parking lots, other people slamming a door into your car, even people themselves bumping into your car can all cause denting. Sitting on vehicles can also cause denting.
Another common cause of denting is debris flying at your vehicle while driving. This can include objects falling from other vehicles, loose gravel, or even birds.
To decrease your chances of denting up your car, always be aware of the other vehicles driving near you or in front of you on the road.
If you are behind vehicles carrying items, you should put sufficient space between yourself and these vehicles in order to avoid debris that could damage your car.
This is especially true of vehicles hauling gravel, lumber, or equipment.
Are Dents and Scratches a Big Deal?
Dents and scratches will obviously not affect the function of your vehicle, so why are they a big deal?
Most vehicle owners want to maintain as much resale value for their vehicles as they possibly can.
Resale or trade-in value can be a very important part of your financial plan.
When you purchase a vehicle, there will be a certain amount of depreciation that happens naturally. Vehicles lose their value over time. However, if you have plans to resale this vehicle in the future, or if you have plans to trade the vehicle in when you are ready to buy another, you will want the maximum amount of trade-in or resale value you can get.
Dents and scratches can have a huge impact on trade-in or resale value for a vehicle. One of the first things that will be evaluated when you try to trade in a vehicle will be the exterior appearance.
Most car dealerships will do a very detailed check of the vehicle and will make a note of even the smallest scratches. Every dent and scratch will be taken into consideration when the trade-in value is assessed.
Protecting your vehicle from dents and scratches is truly protecting the investment you made into the vehicle.
Even if you are not planning on trading a vehicle in or reselling it, you will want to protect the body of your car to the best of your ability. You may not realize that your paint job does more than simply make your car look pretty.
The paint job also acts as a protective barrier. It protects the metals underneath from the elements.
If moisture gets down into the metal, it can cause rust and compromise the integrity of the vehicle. Each scratch allows moisture to go down onto this other level.
Keeping the exterior of your vehicle nice also improves the way you feel about your vehicle. If you keep the vehicle nice, you will be satisfied with it longer and might avoid upgrading quite so much.
This saves you money in the long run.
