Monthly Archives: May 2010

Author: Andy Zain Title: Jeep Wrangler… Smart Or Fun Article: A compact 4×4 sports utility vehicle was born in 1987. This vehicle is the Jeep Wrangler. Jeeps have been around since World War II and become American icons. Jeeps are rugged off road vehicles originally intended to be military vehicles. Civilian jeeps, CJ’s, were inspired by the rugged workhorse military jeeps, paving the way for the birth of the Wrangler.

The Jeep Wrangler was a vast improvement over the CJ. The new Jeep Wrangler design offered far more passenger comfort, a larger wheel base, less ground clearance and the signature square headlights. These new enhancements made for a vehicle that was versatile both off and on road, appealing to a diverse group of consumers.

Modeled after the CJ, the Wrangler preserved the live axels positioned in the front and rear of the vehicle. The Wrangler a vehicle with optimum power and a tough exterior appealed to a more diverse group of consumers. The Wrangler, an enjoyable vehicle had revised mechanics causing a reduction in off road performance. These alterations caused the outdoor off road advocates to dislike the Wranglers. The newly created Wrangler quickly became identified as the “Yuppie Jeep”. Once acknowledged for its versatility and adaptability, the outdoor and off road enthusiast began to accept the Wrangler.

If a reasonable priced fun vehicle is what you are looking for then the Jeep Wrangler is the way to go. This sports utility vehicle offers drivers 4×4 capabilities in a rugged durable vehicle. The Wrangler is noted for being top at holding its value and having one of the highest resale values. Not only is the Wrangler a fun exciting vehicle to own but a smart purchase.

The Wrangler was planned and designed by AMC and made available to the public in 1987. Chrysler bought out AMC not long after the Wrangler was introduced and created the new Jeep division. Production of the Wrangler originally started in Ontario Canada but in 1992 the plant closed moving all production to Toledo Ohio. Jeeps are still to this day being produced in Ohio.

Chrysler decided to improve the design of the Wrangler even more in 1997. New features such as anti-sway bars, a wider wheel base, higher ground clearance and lower center of gravity are a few of the notable changes that were made. The 1997 Wrangler design replicated more of the original civilian jeep than the original Wrangler design. The 1997 model reverted back to the original round headlights but became a more consumer friendly vehicle. The design afforded passengers a more comfortable ride and added easier handling capabilities for drivers.

Ten years later in 2007 Chrysler revealed yet another revised design of the Jeep Wrangler. The newly designed Jeep took both the regular consumer and off road enthusiast into consideration. The Wrangler now was offered in a two or four door model. The two door version appealed to the off road enthusiast while the larger, more roomy four door version appealed to all other consumers.

Signifying rugged durable fun, the Wrangler has also embodied all aspects of a smart vehicle. Purchasers can rest assured that whether it is affordable fun or modern convenience, the Jeep Wrangler can offer both. Andy Zain is the admin of Jeep Forum, a popular Jeep Wrangler forum where fans and owners can get the right information for tuning, customization and general discussions on anything about Jeep Wrangler. Syndication Source: ThoughtSearch.com Continue reading →

Author: Art Gib Title: The Persistence of SUVs and Large Trucks Article: Around the roadways of our country, it seems that “bigger is better” is a common theme. Despite rising gas prices and fears across the nation of emissions causing environmental issues, it seems that just as many, if not more people are buying and driving SUVs and large Pick Up trucks.

It’s also interesting to note that this affinity for large vehicles is occurring not only in urban areas, but also in areas that are laden with conservationists and environmentalists who would normally see them as disadvantageous because of their potential harm on the environment.

One reason for this is that in areas – such as New Mexico, for instance – with large populations of people who oppose emissions for environmental purposes are the same areas where outdoor recreation is prevalent.

Higher elevation areas are particularly flooded with larger trucks and SUVs, because of the power that they provide in steep, snowy and icy areas. Also, many people find them convenient for their towing capacity, attaching trailer hitches and a trailer lock and using them to haul boats, ATVs, and recreational vehicles.

Another major consumer of large SUVs, are the soccer mom types — those who don’t use them for their power or towing and likely have no idea what a rapid hitch is — who find them convenient for hauling their children around town. Many family-oriented people are proponents of SUVs because of the extreme versatility and spaciousness. Their convenience in size is a trade-off, obviously, for their tendency to guzzle gas, and their higher levels of emissions.

Additionally, they tend to offer more safety — due to their size — than their smaller, more fragile counter parts (rollover tendencies notwithstanding). Safety ratings, however, are usually based on vehicle class, so it is difficult to compare a compact to an SUV or a mid-size to a sports coupe. But the general consensus is (particularly in multiple car accidents) that larger vehicles can better withstand accidents and therefore are more likely to protect the occupants within.

Many people would also argue that larger vehicles present more versatility than smaller ones. How often do sedan owners have to rent or borrow a truck to make a move across town? A larger vehicle allows for day-to-day transportation as well as the versatility to act as an emergency vehicle of sorts when more labor intensive tasks become necessary, the idea being that large vehicles can do anything that smaller ones can do, but smaller ones can’t necessarily do everything that large ones can.

Whether or not you endorse or despise the “bigger is better” notion, it is becoming obvious that large vehicles are not going anywhere and that, despite absurd prices in gasoline and potential detriment to our environment, SUVs and Trucks are going to continue their influence as a major part of our roadway traffic. Art Gib writes for Trucks, Trailers and Outdoors (http://truckstrailersandoutdoors.com) a truck and SUV accessory company that offers a variety of trailer hitches, trailer locks, rapid hitches, and related products. Syndication Source: ThoughtSearch.com Continue reading →

Author: Paul Fitzgerald Title: Do You Want Some Water With That Petroleum? Article: Are you in need of a fill up, but just can’t stomach the rising cost of gas or the guilt from adding more pollutants in the ozone? What if you could just hook your car up to the kitchen sink whenever you needed gas? Would you drive a car that ran on water?

In this time of rising pollution and fuel costs, science is expanding into territories of research to alleviate the issues facing automobile drivers today. Many have suggested biofuels, even green fuels like electric cars, but science is now looking into water as a source of energy.

Water to fuel a car?

It seems to simplistic to be true, but yes, science is exploring water as a fuel source. With the addition of a hydrogen system to your car’s engine, your car can emit water vapor into the air, rather than harmful pollutants. Research has shown that only a small percentage of gasoline is used for energy, while the other is simply wasted by simply running your car’s engine. That’s it! You waste more gas starting and running your engine than actually driving around! Remarkable! So why shouldn’t cars run on hydro power, and why aren’t they?

The concept is easy: as a car pulls the water into the engine’s combustion unit, it forces the water molecule to separate into a HHO gas. This gas, also known as hydroxyl, is then pulled into the car carburetor and fuels the engine. The resulting emission is water vapor.

This process makes the engine not only cleaner, but more fuel efficient. Some reports from drivers who have the hydrogen system state that their car gets a higher mileage rate than the standard gasoline engines. This small change allows drivers to save hundreds of dollars in gasoline or diesel when they pull up to the pump.

Yet it is what water can do for the automobile which needs to be seen. Gasoline is harmful not only to the environment, but to the components of your engine. The resulting byproducts from gasoline combustion remain under the hood, coating valuable and necessary parts and inhibiting from functioning properly. However, with water, the components remain clean, as water molecules collect carbon and keep those carbon molecules from binding to the engine. It removes any current carbon particles and helps keep future carbon particles from adhering. This helps keep the engine functioning at optimal levels.

Other benefits found with water as fuel are a quieter, cooler engine, more torque and better acceleration. Water allows an engine to maintain a cooler temperature, which in turn, helps eliminate harmful greenhouse gases. This assists with global warming on an individual level. Imagine getting behind the wheel of a car and know that the engine is actually assisting the environment, instead of shouldering a solid portion of the responsibility.

While it is quite possible to run a car using water, there is still a small need for gasoline and diesel. The technology is not available to fully rule out the use of gasoline and diesel, but the hydrogen system does bring the automotive driver closer to having a more energy, fuel and cost efficient means of driving. Did you know that you can convert your car to a water-burning car? You can run your car on water, supplemental to gasoline, to increase your car”s fuel efficiency and reduce your fuel costs significantly. Works on gas or diesel powered cars, vans, trucks, and SUVs. Syndication Source: ThoughtSearch.com Continue reading →

Author: Gregg Hall Title: Even With All Of The Imports On The Market The Chevrolet Truck Remains A Winner Article: Chevrolet automobiles seem to have been around for as long as cars have. This is true in more ways than one. There are still plenty of people driving vintage models that perhaps your grandfather or great grandfather drove so many years ago. These are now considered to be collector’s items by many car enthusiasts. They buy old Chevy trucks and then lovingly restore them to their previous glory. By the time they are finished, you would never know that they had rolled off the manufacturer’s line so many decades ago.

Chevy is famous for many types of vehicles. As the years passed so did the style of the car. However, even with the newer, sleeker models of cars available, there was a longing for the old style, so they brought back a classic model, slightly altered to make it look more modern. Chevy is also famous for their line of trucks. This has been true for decades and is still true today. They’ve come a long way from the models your older relatives used to drive, being sleeker and carrying all of the latest technology.

When your ancestors drove them, they probably weren’t purchased because of their aesthetics. They were probably purchased to do tasks such as hauling things. Many of them were highly regarded as farm and ranch vehicles. This was particularly true in rural areas where the roads were unfinished and rough. The Chevy truck is renowned for its ability to handle tough terrain, even while burdened with bales of hay or vegetables that needed to get to the market to sell. You will often see these trucks in old movies, covered in mud and driven by cattle ranchers. Times have changed, but Chevy Trucks continue to be a prime choice in work vehicle as well as family transportation.

Now instead of seeing them being driven by ranchers, you see soccer moms behind the wheel, with her children in the back seat. Many men purchase them, not for their capability of carrying heavy loads, but because of their cool look.

A favorite Chevy Truck is the Silverado. Not only are these sleek looking vehicles, they retain the speed and durability that Chevy is known to produce. You can get them with all the bells and whistles and may not even want to haul anything in it, because it might spoil the look. Another consumer favorite is the Chevy Colorado. With its two tone detailing and attractive contours, this truck is coveted by many.

There are a variety of Chevy cars and trucks that are suitable for just about any type of travel that you can think of. Whether a classic from old days or one with the classy look of the present, you can’t go wrong with whatever choice you make. Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about this as well as Chevrolet truck accessories at http://www.truckaccessoriesetc.com Syndication Source: ThoughtSearch.com Continue reading →

Author: Christine Harrell Title: Tarp off a Flatbed Trailer in Five Easy Steps Article: Vinyl tarps are a valuable tool when it comes to using a flatbed trailer. Regardless of how well the items are stacked, the entire load needs to be protected in order to get it to its destination safely. The high wind pressure created while driving at high speeds becomes very strong requiring a little ingenuity when it comes to tying everything off.

Loading the Flatbed

Before the tarp can be pulled across the load, you need to arrange the load properly. First, you will need to ensure the weight is distributed evenly across the trailer to make it easier to pull and steer. Arranging the load with wind resistance in mind is also important. The more wind hitting it the harder it is to pull and the more stress is put onto the cover itself. This is the single biggest reason tarps tear while in-route to its destination. When loading, try not to have anything high and wide standing over and above your truck.

Tarp Selection

Use the right tarp to cover the load. Polyethylene and canvas tarps are simply not going to stand up to the abuse of the wind and other elements you will encounter on your trip. By the time you make the first mile, you might already see tearing. Instead, select heavy vinyl tarps with a weight of at least 18 ounces that is UV treated and waterproof. They are not only ten times stronger than the typical blue poly covers you see, but they will not break down in the hot sun either.

You also want to look at the actual construction of the cover. Choose a style that has heavy, well-attached grommets. The sewing of the fabric’s edges will also make a big difference out on the road. The sewing around the edges of the tarp can also make a significant difference. Look for hems that have two rows of sturdy stitches that go through multiple layers of the material.

Tie Down the Load

Once the products are loaded and you have chosen your vinyl tarps, it is time to start covering the load. Stretch the cover across the load and ensure there is an equal length on both sides. Use sturdy rubber tie-downs to attach the cover to the trailer and start strapping in the centers. When you get to the corners, fold the excess underneath before strapping it down to prevent the wind from catching the edges.

Next, use wide nylon ratchet straps to tie both the tarp and the load down to the trailer. If the trailer is equipped with an enhanced ratchet system, run the hook over the load, set the metal bar across to secure the straps, and lock the ratchet mechanism into place.

Covering your flatbed trailer with a tarp is the single most important step in securing your load for transport. The exposure and wind pressure can have a significant impact, but by loading the trailer correctly and using high-quality vinyl tarps accurately, the products will reach their destination safely. Author is a freelance copywriter. For more information on tarps, visit www.mytarp.com. Syndication Source: ThoughtSearch.com Continue reading →