Monthly Archives: March 2010

Author : Jim Corkern

If you are looking to buy any kind of vehicle, whether it is a car, truck, or a piece of farm equipment like a tractor, one of the things that a lot of people do not think about checking into is whether or not it has been flooded before Even if a vehicle has been flooded, a record of the flood may not be obtainable from a vehicle history report If the owner of the car did not report the flooding of the vehicle to the insurance company, then it will not appear on a vehicle history report, such as one obtainable from Carfax com There are, however, other ways to check to see if the vehicle you are considering buying is water damaged It is not as difficult as it might seem to detect whether a vehicle has been water damaged or not, although if you do not know what to look for, you can be duped in a New York minute How can you tell if a car has been water damaged? Here are a few tips

The first thing that you should do is check and see if there are any signs of rust in the trunk, dashboard, glove compartment, and under the seats Check also for silt and mud These are dead giveaways that the car has been flooded

Also take a good look at the upholstery in the car If it does not appear to match the interior or if it fits loosely, then it might be a replacement for the original material that was in the car

Open the car door and put your head inside and inhale deeply There should not be a musty odor in the vehicle and you should also not smell any air fresheners Air fresheners are usually used by car dealers and individuals who have something to hide

Test all the electronic components of the vehicle and make sure that they work The turn signals, heater, windshield wipers, and etcetera should be checked several times to insure that they work correctly and are reliable

Check underneath the dashboard and move some of the wires back and forth Bend them If they have been wet before they will be brittle and will probably crack as you flex them

Last, but not least, have a mechanic that you trust do an inspection of the car Always do this before you purchase any used vehicle to make sure that there is nothing wrong with the car that the owner did not tell you about

Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
flood and water damage cleanup and
water damage restoration> companies across the united states.

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Author : Jeremy Johnson

I think many of us with vehicles seriously overestimate or underestimate what we could tow with it You might look at a boat, utility trailer, or travel trailer and ask yourself “I wonder if my car could handle that?”

Now where would you go for that kind of information? Most people would go straight to the owner’s manual of their car The problem is, the information in that manual will be so watered down and generic that you can’t really trust it

It’s going to say something like this: “towing capacities are calculated under the assumption of a standard equipped vehicle, normal driver, and trailers Any other equipment or passengers will reduce the amount of weight your vehicle can handle ”

Huh? So how on earth can you evaluate your real towing capacity? The first thing you have to understand the vehicle manufacturer is using a completely stripped down version of the car or truck to beef up the towing rating Makes sense right?

They’re trying to sell cars, and if you’re a family with a tent trailer, seeing a super high towing rating on that little station wagon could be the factor that gets you to buy That’s why you need to bring a skeptical eye to that owner’s manual

The last thing you want is to load up your trailer with a few quads or motorcycles, head up to the mountains, and then have your transmission go out because you trusted the manufacturer’s published towing capacity That could be a very expensive getaway

Here are some terms you want to be familiar with in evaluating your actual towing capacity:

Unloaded Vehicle Weight (UVW)

You know all those times you’re headed down the interstate near the border of the state you’re entering or leaving? One of the best ways to find out your unloaded vehicle weight is to stop at one of them, pay the $5 or $10 fee, and have them weigh your car or truck

If you do stop at one of those weigh stations, try to have your gas tank as full as possible to make the measurement more accurate

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)

This is the maximum weight your tow vehicle can be without wrecking your car, truck, or suv There are a few places you might find this number – it might be under the hood in the engine compartment, or on a sticker in a door frame, or maybe even in the owner’s manual It’s important to know this number because the foundation for safe towing is not attempting to pull something that is just too heavy for your car

The bottom line when towing is not to overdo it When you buy a vehicle, if you know it’s going to be used for towing, be realistic about the capacity of the car or truck you’re buying

The lightweight family sedan you’re buying is probably not intended to pull a 20 foot boat, or a large travel trailer If you know you’re going to be doing lots of traveling, camping, RVing, and other recreation, be honest about what type of tow vehicle you’re going to need

I would recommend buying a solid 8 cylinder engine with a transmission calibrated for heavy duty jobs I would rather overkill on the vehicle than risk doing thousands of dollars in damage to my car or my trailer Not to mention the people I’m sharing the road with

Jeremy teaches people about installing a trailer hitch and also advises them on the right way to set up trailer hitch covers.

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Author : Tom Sample

When you buy a new truck, you want to preserve the way it looks; shiny, clean, and unscratched However, if you are using your truck to haul tools, wood, metal or anything else, it will not remain pristine for long Because of this problem, truck bed liners were created The most common type of liners are drop-in liners

This type is made out of hard molded plastic They are molded to the exact dimensions of your model truck, so that it fits perfectly They have ridges and grooves that help prevent slipping and sliding of the items you are hauling, and also to allow water to drain out They are easy to clean You simply hose them down with water

The drop-in liner is usually bolted into place in the bed of your truck It will not shift or slide around They come in many colors, although the most common is black The nice thing about drop-in liners is that you can remove them when you need to, and the original truck bed still looks like it did when you bought it

There are many places to buy drop-in truck bed liners Some truck manufacturers are realizing how popular they are, and making them that way, direct from the factory You can buy it on the car lot with a liner already installed You can also buy drop-in liners at auto-body shops and mechanics shops They can cost upwards of $350, but well worth it if you wish to preserve your truck bed The liners from the shops are of the same quality as the ones from the factory, because they use direct models of your truck’s bed You can also buy drop-in liners that you install yourself with bolts These, however, are not always as good They are not a perfect fit with your truck bed, so they will slide around a little When they do this, they can scratch the paint on the bed of the truck

Sometimes drop-in bed liners can be gouged, scratched or broken However, it would take a lot of abuse before this happened Drop-in liners can last upwards of ten years, which is a good investment on your truck

To save the look of your truck bed, liners are key Some of the best are drop-in liners You will be saving yourself a lot of time in the long run if you put a drop-in liner in your truck Keeping it clean is easier, and reselling it later on down the road even easier Take a look at drop-in liners before you buy your next truck

More information about adjustable bedliners

adjustable bedliners

http://www.adjustablebedliners.com

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Author : Tom Sample

No matter how you crack it, at some point we all need to haul a large item from one point to another Whether it’s a homeowner cleaning out a garage and needing to get rid of some debris, or it’s a small business that needs to get equipment to a job site, hauling is a fact of life The costs of truck purchases for some jobs are just too great, and this is where a good utility trailer can really step in and save the day

A utility trailer is simply a platform for hauling items It can be an elaborate add on to a vehicle that includes safety walls and other features, or it can just be a wheeled slab on which to secure a piece of machinery or item for hauling There are a number of things to consider, however, when adding a trailer onto a vehicle They include:

* Local laws Many states require even simple trailers to have their own license plates They also require lighting systems that include break lights and hazards This is for the safety of everyone on the road, the hauler included

* Proper hook up Trailers are wonderful for homeowners who occasionally need to pick up big items, but don’t own trucks Easy to add to a car or a small, personal use pickup truck, trailers free their owners up from having to rent a big hauler or hire someone else to do the work for them They must, however, be hooked up safely This means the attachment to the towing vehicle must be safe and secure and the lighting system needs to be in place correctly Doing otherwise might not only result in an accident, but also the loss of the load being hauled

* Weight considerations A small, wooden trailer with a wheel system that’s meant to hold only 500 pounds, cannot and should not be loaded up with a ton of debris or lawn equipment Make sure you know what your trailer is rated for and follow all safety precautions

Businesses, too, often use trailer systems to help them get their work done Plumbers, electricians, other construction trades and especially lawn maintenance companies rely on trailers to help them get from jobsite to jobsite with their equipment intact The benefits of trailers over much larger trucks for hauling equipment and supplies are many They include:

* Increasing the capacity of a regular work truck without having to purchase more expensive vehicles

* Ease of access of equipment Open trailers or even enclosed ones make it much easier for employees to get at the equipment they need when they need it Ramps on lawn equipment trailers, for example, are ideal for rolling equipment out when it’s needed Plus, it makes it even easier to put equipment away after a long, hot day After all, who wants to lift a heavy lawn mower onto a truck?

Utility trailers are oftentimes much more affordable and economical to keep up with than a full-sized truck or even a larger commercial truck They are perfect for homeowners who need to do occasional hauling, great for businesses and simply irreplaceable to lawn maintenance crews

#1 Resource

Utility trailers.

http://www.utilitytrailersite.com

Truck rental and leasing.

http://www.truckrentalinc.com

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Author : Andy Jones

Every year a car will need to be taken to a specialist garage that has an approved MOT test station and the correct range of equipment that is used for MOT testing An MOT test is a legal requirement to ensure that the vehicle is roadworthy, safe to drive and environmentally acceptable

So as an example, for a Mercedes MOT, the car can be taken to a Mercedes dealer or specialist garage and will be MOT tested on the following:

- Vehicle body structure – ensuring that the Mercedes srtucture is not damaged or corroded and that there are no sharp edges

- Fuel system – the car should have no fuel leaks and the petrol cap should securely fasten

- Exhaust emissions – the car will have to meet requirements for exhaust emissions This will depend upon its fuel type and age

- Exhaust system – ensures that it’s secure, without leaks, complete and silenced

- Seat Belts – checked for security and condition They must also be the correct type for the car

- Doors – the doors of the Mercedes should be capable oif opening and closing with a secure mechanism The front doors also need to open from inside and outside the vehicle

- Seats – the front seats need to be secure The front and rear backseats also need to be secured in the upright position

- Mirrors – need to be in good condition and all mirrors are present

- Brakes – need to be in good working condition

- Tyres and wheels – need to be in good condition with the right tyre size and tread

- Registration plates – have to be in good condition with the digits correctly spaced and the proper format

- Lights – need to be working correctly, the correct type and colour and at the right angle

- Bonnet – the Mercedes’ bonnet will need to be able to secure safely in a closed position

- Wipers – need to operate to give the driver a good view of the road

- Windscreen – needs to be in good condition to allow the driver to view the road

- Horn – needs to be working correcting

- Steering and suspension – needs to be in the required condition

- Vehicle identification number – needs to have not more than one different ID number on or after 1st August 1980

If the vehicle passes all of these tests, then an MOT certificate is given by the Mercedes garage, which is recorded with a unique MOT certificate number Without an MOT, the driver will not be able to obtain road tax, as an MOT certificate is required to allow a tax disc application

If the Mercedes car does not pass the MOT on any of the required tests, then repairs will need to be carried out and the vehicle tested again before it is passed The test does not cover the clutch, gearbox or the condition of the engine

Authored by Andy Jones for MotorAid who carry out MOTs and Mercedes repairs in Essex. For more, please see the site at:
http://www.motoraiduk.com/mercedes/mercedes_home.html

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Author : Idan Lavi

It`s one of the easiest ways to get both car and driver from Point A to Point B without actually having to do the driving yourself, but few people know the ins and outs of the Amtrak car transport service The fact is this mode of transportation takes a lot of stress off people who are moving along the Eastern Seaboard and even those who just want to vacation there

Let`s talk a little about the service and then we`ll get more in-depth about Amtrak car transport vehicle requirements

The Amtrak car transport train runs between Lorton, Virginia, which is near Washington, D C , and Sandford, Florida, which is in the center of the Sunshine State The trip takes just under 17 hours and provides a whole lot of perks along the way Passengers using Amtrak car transport service can kick back and relax while the train does the traveling for them As they do, they can take advantage of several different sleeping car options and some great food and entertainment along the way

While passengers will still have to get their cars to and from the stations, the perks of this service are more than notable The truth is the service cuts time and hassle off the trip down the Eastern Seaboard and saves cars the wear and tear of travel When lodging, food, gas and wear and tear are all taken into account, along with headaches of driving, the service might be one of the more economical ways for both car and driver to travel, too

While Amtrak car transport is a great option for anyone moving or vacationing along the East Coast to consider, there are some specific vehicle requirements Not all motorized vehicles are allowed onboard The following requirements apply:

Cars

Most standard automobiles are welcomed passengers on the Amtrak car transport route Vehicles, however, must not exceed a 65-inch height requirement and they have to have a minimum of 4 inches in ground clearance Luggage racks are acceptable, as long as they are empty and they do not make the vehicle exceed the 65-inch requirement in height

SUVs, vans

These, too, are welcomed aboard the train, but they must also meet specific size requirements In the case of vans and SUVs, the requirements on height are set between 66 and 88 inches Luggage racks that are empty are again okay, but they must not bring the total height to more than the 88-inch measurement Also, specific reservations must be made for these larger vehicles

Motorcycles

While it might seem motorcycles would be an easy fit, the Amtrak car transport service does have some pretty specific requirements for these, as well Only standard factory, two-wheel bikes are allowed on the train These motorcycles have to have a ground clearance of at least 5 inches between the frame`s lowest point and the bottom of the tires, too, The total height allotment for motorcycles is 57 5 inches, windshield and all No sidecars are allowed

Amtrak car transport services can be a great way to take the hassle and worry of making a long distance trek away The train is used by many for just this reason, but it`s important to make sure vehicles fit the requirements stated before booking

More information on the Amtrak car transport service and other types of auto transport can be found online at http://www.GoMovers.com.

This site not only has a wealth of information on auto transport, but it allows you to quickly and easily request auto transport estimates from multiple auto transport companies.

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Author : Christine Harrell

Rising fuel prices have affected consumers in almost every market Not only do you pay more to fill up at the pump, but prices on retail goods have increased in response to higher shipping costs

Auto transport firms are one of the hardest hit industries as spiking fuel prices force them to raise their rates Although this move has scared off some customers, higher gasoline prices make car shipping a more economical choice than driving yourself

The Economics of Auto Transport

Gas costs for car shipping is lower because of the economy of scale Consider that if you drive a car that gets 25 mpg to a destination 1000 miles away, you will use 40 gallons of gas

Compare that to an average car carrier Even an inefficient carrier gets at least 5 mpg – many get much higher mileages If that truck carries a moderate load of six cars over a thousand miles it will use up 200 gallons of fuel Those cars individually would use 240 gallons total so shipping saves 40 gallons If it carries a dozen cars then it saves a whopping 280 gallons, more than half the fuel that would have been burned by self-driving

Combining loads means that fuel surcharges can be spread among more customers While the consumer might pay more for shipping than would have been the case two years ago, it’s still cheaper than driving

Cars incur expenses other than gasoline Car shipping means that there are no expenses for oil, tire wear, or other maintenance so savings are even greater

If you are a typical family with two or more vehicles, then auto transport becomes a real savings Even if you decide you want to pile the family into one car and take the drive, it is simple common sense to ship the other car rather than trying to caravan and wasting even more fuel

Car Shipping Means Lower Emissions

Less fuel burned means less pollution and less impact on climate change as well as a host of other health risks Not only that, but diesel emits less carbon dioxide than gasoline so this means less of a carbon footprint even if the same amount of fuel is burned

However to give a complete picture, it is fair to note that diesel has historically been a dirtier fuel than gasoline The two main culprits have been soot and sulfur compounds Emissions standards that have been implemented recently as well as new rules that will come into effect in the next few years will deal with these problems, making diesel a cleaner fuel than it ever has been

The analysis is complex but it appears that gallon for gallon, gasoline and diesel have about the same negative effects Thus whichever method uses less fuel is the more environmentally friendly

Author is a freelance copywriter. For more information on Car
Shipping, visit http://www.national-car-shipping.com.

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Author : Art Gib

Driving in the winter in the northeast area of the United States can be a very treacherous venture Large amounts of snow and ice can make it hazardous to attempt to go out in vehicles which are not prepared to handle such difficult conditions Driving a 4- wheel or all-wheel drive car can really make a difference, and improve your chances of not getting stuck out there

Driving a 4-wheel vehicle does not necessarily guarantee more traction on the snow than a standard 2-wheel car A lot of the safety of regular snowy driving conditions rests on the quality of tires that you’ve invested in So make sure you have good tires for wintry weather no matter what kind of car you’re driving And never assume that you can drive faster than conditions should allow because you have a 4-wheel; no safety features on cars can compensate for poor common sense

That said, 4-wheel drive automobiles are indeed extremely helpful in sticky situations If you get stuck in deep snow, for instance, usually only one or two wheels are spinning Being able to kick you vehicle into 4-wheel mode gives you the advantage of the free tires being able to work on their own, getting the traction you need to disengage from the snow All wheel drive increases general maneuverability in all snowy conditions, and offers better overall gas mileage than 4-wheel

Even though 4-wheel drive will help you get through very deep snow, such a surface may hide ice chunks and large rocks that would ultimately do damage to your car Unless it’s a real emergency, resist the urge to joyride through deep snow in off road situations: it’s just not worth the risk of running over something you might regret later Driving on ice requires operators of all types of vehicles to simply slow down and watch out for others

If you are on a hill, keep your 4-wheel or all-wheel drive car in low gear to maximize traction

Be sure to follow all common sense winter driving preparations, such as making sure you stock your car with at least one blanket, first aid kit, emergency food and water Although driving a 4-wheel vehicle will certainly improve your chances of getting out of trouble, it is in no way a guarantee

These rugged cars come in a variety of styles and sizes, and their owners can enjoy greater confidence in their ability to handle whatever winter may throw their way Just use common sense, and be careful out there

Do you drive a 4-wheel or all-wheel drive Subaru? Find the best in quality Subaru Loyale parts at SubaruPartsForYou (http://subarupartsforyou.com/). Art Gib is a freelance writer.

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