Towing Mistakes

Towing is a very responsible task

Hence it requires utmost care and concentration towards minute details in order to prevent any accidents. We are here going to discuss about some of the careless issues that generally cause mishaps during the process of towing.

The most important thing that requires attention is the selection of the proper components for towing a particular vehicle. The balls and mounting must be selected in accordance with the stamping provided on the trailer. Also, it is important that the parts are well lubricated to prevent any extra pressure on the engine. The wrong or even poor condition parts and an improper mounting can lead to the risk of braking inability or a damage to the tires and other parts of the trailer.

The next important thing that must always be kept in mind is the capacity of the trailer used for towing.

It is always advisable to be aware of the towing vehicle’s rating to facilitate the process safely. The weight being towed must be within the supported limit and should be distributed evenly to allow a comfortable control of the trailer throughout the journey. This can be done by keeping a greater percentage near the axle and then distributing the rest evenly throughout the trailer.

Next point of importance is the tires. It is very important that the tires of both the towing and the being towed vehicle have the proper air pressure. If the tires are not perfectly inflated, they can become a reason of some severe accidents. Tires which are not properly inflated cause increased friction which can in turn lead to blow-outs and further rollover accidents.

An experienced and well-practiced driver is a must when the towing of any vehicle is being incorporated.

There are various points that are required to be careful about while driving a towing vehicle. One of them is the proper knowledge of the braking system. Also, a separate braking system on the towed vehicle makes your task safe as the lights on the tow vehicle is often not visible to the other vehicles on the road. Apart from this, it is also advisable not to neglect any other issues that arise while towing which also includes any visibility issues due to the big size of the entire towing system and an imperfect rear view mirror. Further, something very obvious is to have at all times full control over the speed at which the trailer is being driven. A well balanced speed limit not only keeps the towing safe but it also manages the risks of wear, high temperatures and decreased oil flow which in turn supports the tow vehicle with higher power during the tow. Another concern lies while taking turns which should never be sharp but instead wide and well managed.

The last but not the least is to be fully aware of all the towing laws and regulations related to towing speed limit, trailer width limit, towing vehicles limit etc.

A cautious tow can always help the whole process accomplish safely and hassle-freely.

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Towing Your Own Vehicle

Towing is generally related to an emergency situation that arises when your vehicle ditches you in the middle of nowhere.

This is a misconception. This is a process which can also be implemented when you want to go out on a vacation or on a long road trip which requires carrying a lot of stuff in the form of say a caravan. This makes it important to understand the mechanisms involved in the entire procedure of towing.

The components required to tow your vehicle, called a dinghy in such a situation, with any other vehicle are basically a tow bar, a base plate kit, a safety cable set, the tow bar wiring and the supplemental braking system.

Tow Bar:

This part is designed accurately in order to link your vehicle to the tow vehicle such as a caravan for its safe flat towing. It is generally the same for all models varying only in the type of mount, towing capacity and the basic designs. These can either be RV mounted, which are sturdy, safe, easy to adjust, hassle free, involving a stable no-coupler required connection and secure storage capability or Car-mounted tow bars, which act similar to the A-frame trailers that can be attached to the trailer hitch ball on your RV with an integrated coupler, being economical for occasional RVers.

Base Plate Kit:

This is vehicle specific and the plates are installed on the dinghy’s frame using maximum number of existing attachment points in order to take complete care of safety and strength. The base plates include the frame bracket/s mounting directly into the dinghy’s frame and the draw bar arms that provide attachment points to the tow bar and these can either be fixed or removable.

Safety Cables:

These are required to link the different components involved in the setup ensuring the attachment of the dinghy and the RV at all times even in a situation where the tow bar somehow uncouples from the dinghy or the RV. The cable system includes a long cable that connects the RV hitch to the base plate arms on the dinghy and a small cable that connects the base plate arms to the frame-mounted brackets on the dinghy.

Tow Bar Wiring:

This is basically a lighting system that is meant to function in sync with the tow vehicle’s tail lights. It compromises of three parts.

• The removable exterior light kits including the magnetic towing lights and the hitch-mounted light bar.
• The separate tail light bulb kits that mounts inside the vehicle’s tail light housing and bypasses the dinghy lighting system.
• The diode light system which has wires in-line with the dinghy’s existing tail light bulbs and hardly requires any maintenance after its initial installation.

Supplemental Braking System:

These are required to decrease the braking distance up to 30 percent on some towing setups in addition to its function of minimizing the wear on both the vehicles and smoothing the braking.

The proper understanding and setup of the above components is a must for a safe and hassle-free towing.

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TOP TIPS TO CONSIDER BEFORE BUYING A NEW CAR

Whether you are deciding on the first car you want to get

or, you feel it’s time to switch up your ride to a more fitting vehicle, there are always certain factors to consider before writing that check. In this article, we will list the top tips you have to consider for yourself before you take that leap and get a new car, because at the end of the day you don’t want to end up buying a car you cannot enjoy to its full potential. The top tips to consider are:

• WHAT’S YOUR BUDGET?

This is a very important factor to consider before buying any long term equipment or vehicle. Your budget should not allow for you to spend most of your money on the car, because people often forget the cost of maintenance when buying their cars. Maintenance costs when added up over the years have the possibility of accumulating to an amount equal to or more than the purchase price of the car. So, you have to be proactive and invest only a portion of your savings into buying the car, and have enough to buy an insurance plan for your car.

 

• ASSESS YOUR NEEDS

Do you have any children? If yes, how many are they? Do you plan on starting a family soon? How much space will you need in your car? These factors are very important. You do not want to get a two-seater convertible when you have a family or plan on starting one soon, so also getting a family car when you don’t have a plan to start a family anytime soon. Assessing your needs and conditions in your life at the stage in which you decide to get a new car plays a role in how much you will enjoy your investment.

 

• LONG DISTANCE OR SHORT DISTANCE?

How often do you drive long distance journeys? This question will determine whether you are to get a diesel or petrol based vehicle, although some brands have begun making hybrid engines to accept both. For vehicle owners that seldom drive long distances, it is advised that they get a petrol based car while diesel engine cars should be gotten by those that drive long distances daily. This is so because cars that operate on diesel have to burn the soot that piles up in the diesel particulate filter, otherwise you could end up with a blocked filter and a very fat repair bill. So if you drive fewer than 12,000 miles in a year, you should not be driving a diesel engine vehicle.

 

• WOULD YOU PREFER A NEW OR USED CAR?

There are perks that come with both options. If you decide to get a new car, you will get a car made to your specifications, and a minimum of three years manufacturer’s warranty. On the flip side, if you decide to get a used car, you will get a car at a cheaper rate (based on the depreciation value of the car at that time) and if the age of the used car does not exceed three years, you can get the remnant of the manufacturer’s warranty. Some car dealerships offer “approved” second-hand cars for sale, which saves you from buying a defective car. However, this decision lies solely on the budget you have in mind.

 

• PREPARE YOUR SHORTLIST

This is the time for you to begin reviewing your options and eliminate cars that do not meet with your preference from the factors above. Make a shortlist of a maximum of three cars you have settled upon. You can then begin evaluating each car’s performance and comparing it to the others on your list. Test drives are vital at this stage, and while test driving you should drive on different road types, and bring all the gear you plan on putting in your car to see if it will fit. Some car dealerships allow you to keep the car over the weekend, so if your car dealership has this on offer you should take full advantage of it.

 

• AGREE ON A PRICE

When you have decided on a car to get, you should be prepared to get the cheapest price you can get it reduced to. Some dealerships inflate their car prices for profit, so you should haggle and stick it out till the end.

So that’s it guys, the top tips to follow to ensure you get the most out of your automobile investment.

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TOP TEN VINTAGE CARS MEN WOULD LOVE ANY DAY ANYTIME

It is no secret that men are lovers of automobiles, perhaps that’s why they ended up making one in the first place, however, men are not the only ones that do love cars, but what makes the choice of men quite unique?

One of the first things that attracts a man to a car is the speed level, in addition to this, they also look out for the most attractive designs as well as the type of style that would catch attention of ladies. However, it should be known that not all men are in for speed style and modern stuffs, some men just prefer to keep it simple and classic. This may seem rather weird to many people as these set of people tend to spend a considerable fortune trying to acquire them, perhaps it is the look or the history behind then car or even perhaps the smell of it that turns them on.
Irrespective of what the reason for their preferences may be, this write up has attempted to come up with a list of 10 cars that seem to be favorites among vintage car lovers. Certainly these cars would create a real competition for the attention of any man with his spouse. Below is a list of such cars

• • 1955-1957 Chevrolet Bel Air:

    This car received wide recognition as at the time the second generation was inaugurated, it is a classic car. It was a top choice among car buffs back then due to its cheap price which was about 2,000 dollars as at then, it also was a delight among car lovers due to its cozy interior, its large capacity and very good visibility. Also its acceleration was quite incredible for a car in that generation; it was recorded to have acceleration of 0 to 60 mph within 12 seconds

  • Lamborghini Countach (1974-1989):

    This unique sports car came in the form of a two door beauty, although taking a look at it now would give the impression of an old school not too attractive car, however, back then it was nothing less than a wonder to behold. The car comes big in size, very fast, and surely looks cool to drive in. also it was a high performance car that was limited in edition hence its popularity. It was recognized as one of the best ten sports cars of the 1970’s.

  • Lincoln Continental (1961-1969):

    This car is one car that would certainly drive any guy into dream line; it certainly has the capacity and looks to make anyone dream of dreaming of becoming the president of America. The car became famous due to its appearance in movies such as Spider Man 2, Goldfinger, Hit and run. It sure has the kind of quality that would make it a forever relevant car.

  • Toyota 2000GT (1967-1970):

    this car was a joint venture between Yamaha and Toyota, it was initially though out by a German designer named Albrecht Goertz who had experience as a staff of Nissan motors. Its classic heritage stems from its unique interior and exterior characteristics. Also, it came with a 2.0 L straight-6, which produced about 150 horsepower. It also has the record of winning the 1967 Fuji 24 hour Race competition.

  • BMW 507 (1956-1959):

    This German car was indeed a grand traveling ride, it came in two particular Variants: it came first in form of two seat convertible and also as a four seat coupe. The designer of the car was the famous Albert Goertz the designer of the Toyota GT2000 model. The price was tagged as about 5,000 dollars although added costs such as shipping and handling skyrocketedthe price to about 10,000 dollars. The most unique thing about the car is the fact that only 252 units were sold in the American market.

  • 1951-1954 Hudson Hornet:

    these car was launched by the Hudson Motor Car company of Detroit and it came in a number of variants namely: the coupe, sedan, and also the convertible. A very unique thing about this car was its very large interior, it could easily carry about six individuals, it also came with a 5.0 L engine which produced up to 170 horse power

• Dodge Challenger R/T (1970-1974):

This car has some semblance looks like others created by Cadillac mainly due to its size. It is quite narrow and can be gotten as either a convertible or a hardtop. It was specifically designed to be of optimum performance, it also came with different horse power ratings staring from 335 to about 426HP.

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Top Questions to Answer before Choosing the Car for You

There comes a time when individuals decide on getting a car and for most people, this might have been a dream waiting to happen. The process of getting a car can occur in different ways but researching about cars often involves searching the internet for adverts regarding used or new cars within their budget, perusing auto magazines or simply visiting show rooms. Regardless of where the purchase is going to be made one thing is certain, you have to know the car that bests fits your style and need. A car should not be chosen based on a first glance but a lot of thought and assessment has to go into it.
Simply forming an assessment in the head is not enough but writing out the reasons behind each assessment makes it easier to make a decision. The most logical thing to do would be to have a checklist of some sort detailing the why, requirements, use, and needs which getting the car ought to fulfill then before any commitment can be made to the actual purchase, then the car ought to check most if not all of the shortlisted ideologies. According to the experts, having a list prevents making sporadic decisions that might be a source of regret in the future.
Owing to the fact that there are numerous things that ought to be taking into consideration the following questions cover the most pertinent factors that arise before purchasing a vehicle. It is important to note that aside from the below listed, other matters that are specific to your situation can also be taken into consideration. The following are questions gotten from the auto showroom experts:

Do you have a valid reason for purchasing the car?

For most people, having a valid reason for purchasing a car does not matter but for the most practical of individuals who must have a cause before offering a reaction, it does. The reason or purpose behind the purchase is something that ought to be considered first before anything else. Once the reason has been sorted out then everything else is child play. The most logical reason for purchasing a car is as a means of transport but there might be other things attached to it such as needing a family car due to a child on the way or getting a truck due to the mountainous terrain. For the car enthusiast, it is simply a matter of acquiring the latest antique unveiled in a showroom. No matter the reason behind it, it must be thoroughly examined.

What features must the car have?

The next thing after considering the reason is to determine how effective the car will be for what it is meant for and as a result of that to meet that need what features must it possess. Roadside assistance or towing is crucial but nowadays, most cars have similar features that provide similar functions but some are more advanced than others in certain aspects. The technological advancements have made it possible for cars to be outfitted with anything from the top of the line entertainment systems, anti-theft alarms, and GPS amongst others. Some individuals even go the extra mile to having custom fittings and systems made for them.
The need for the car determines the features it must possess. For example, a ranch hand cannot use a minivan to haul feed and livestock from one location to another due to the fact that it is not built for that type of use. Things like engine specification, design, power, hauling ability, load capacity and fuel usage need to be taken into consideration. For jobs that involve security risks, things like airbags, seatbelts and security sensors need to be top of the line. A better decision can be made if you are well armed with information regarding what you need.

Do you have the right finances?

Having a budget reduces your search scope for a car but it helps keep a tight hand on how much you spend to acquire the vehicle. Buying a car on a whim can have consequences in future if you do not have the right finances to buy it outright and might need to take a loan for it. In the case of not having enough money to meet the type of car needed, then used vehicles can be bought or a financing contract drawn up at the auto dealership.

When the above questions have been answered and all boxes ticked, then there can be no problem during the purchase process.

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Top 6 Tips on Preparing Your Vehicle For Winter

Navigating the road on a normal day takes a great deal of patience and focus but when you add the slickness of the road that makes it hard for tires to move on smoothly alongside rain, snow and sleet on the windshield, it can get tougher. It is popular knowledge that when the winter period sets in, it is best to get adequately prepared to avoid road emergencies and accidents. Most people tend to avoid the whole concept of driving when winter rolls in and turn to other alternatives as a precaution. If adequate preparations are made ahead of the winter period for road navigation, then there would be no need to fear the road. The following are helpful tips on how to prepare your vehicle for the winter months:

1. Windshields

One part of the car susceptible to the elements of the weather is the windshield. Be it the autumnal period where you have dust and leaves or winter where the snow leaves watery trails thereby blurring the vision. Winter period combines fog, snow, rain and sleet cutting down visibility. In a bid to retain visibility, constant wiping of not only the windshields but also the wiper blades need to be done. Therefore, having a washer at hand alongside a wash cloth brings visibility back to normal, also making using of the antifreeze solution helps prevent build-up of ice on the windows and the windshield thereby preventing any likelihood of blurred vision.

2. Tire Inspection

During winter months, it is best to mount winter tires so as to avoid slipping on the slick, wet roads but if that is not an option then the existing tires have to be examined so as to estimate the tread life. Examination of the tires involves checking if there are any signs of uneven wearing and cupping, if the side walls have cuts or nicks and also to determine if the tires can hold up in the harsh weather. It is well known that the colder the weather, the lesser the amount of pressure within the tires thereby causing poor performance on the snow. The tire should be checked frequently before any journey.

3. Coolant

Internal temperature of the car is something that has to be regulated. If this is not monitored, then the heaters and conditioner get clogged up not bringing out the set temperature. The coolant not only regulates the temperature of the engine but also safeguards it against corrosion. During the winter season it is essential that the most suitable coolant to the car system be use as well as the ratio of water to coolant be gotten right. If unsure of the type of coolant to get, then there are tests available at auto parts centre just for this.

4. Ice Scrapers

Having ice scrapers in your car can come in handy as it helps to clean off any ice or snow that has built up on the windows of the car. When a build-up of ice or snow is evident, then it is best to rid the car completely of all of them and not merely scrape off a significant amount to allow for visibility. If only the windshield is cleaned, snow from other parts of the car can drift off back to the windshield thereby blurring the vision. It is the law in certain parts of the state for the vehicle to be cleared of both ice and snow before commencing on any journey.

5. Survival Kit

Otherwise referred to as emergency roadside kit, this is bound to come in handy when travelling in conditions that are heavily fogged and below freezing. Having a survival kit at hand is like a lifeline in case you find yourself stranded. The kit should comprise of flashlights with a set of backup batteries, sturdy weather boots, quilts or blankets, extra pair of clothes, nutrition bars, bottle of water, tire chains, gloves, flares and portable phone chargers. Have a good spare tire with a readily available tool box with tools in great working condition.

6. Gas

During the winter periods, it takes twice the amount of time to navigate from point A to point B than it would have during the summer. This is as a result of the harsh weather conditions and can be fuel consuming. It is advisable that the gas tank be kept full at all times and an extra keg of gas be kept in the booth in case of emergencies.

If you find yourself stranded, having the extra fuel makes the difference between staying warm and freezing.

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TESLA’S AUTOPILOT SYSTEM

A new technological revolution in the auto industry has been born from the womb of Tesla Motors; the car is a revolutionary concept that seeks to merge function with innovation without sacrificing style. The newest of the autonomous cars is not just a self-drive car but it also comes with a unique feature which makes it able to learn the ways of the driver and also its immediate environment. This technology is one that seeks to leave other self-drive car makers behind, the main focus of Tesla in this project is to create a situation where the mean cost of maintaining the car can be lowered thus making it cheap enough for the average American to own and drive one.

There are certain features that make the Tesla car a one of a kind ride, among several other features, the following make it quite unique:

It makes use of machine learning

A lot of high-tech systems are being deployed by Tesla in this project, systems such as mapping data, connectivity and machine learning are being used to give it the optimum capacity so desired. The system utilized by Tesla certainly bears some semblance with that which Google uses, this technology is termed machine learning, it is a process composed of algorithms used to process and analyze data, from the data gotten accurate predictions are made on the basis of this data. Google is known to explore human responses and brings out results with time. For example, someone who loves furniture and constantly searches for materials on woodworking and articles on how to use them, this piece of information would certainly help such a one acquire data on how to build or renovate a piece of furniture. Someone else might see the list of outlets that retail wood. This technology is also been deployed by social network Kings Facebook. Facebook uses the same system when it makes the choice of what to put in your feed on the basis of who you exchange regular correspondence with and who you comment or like their posts more. this is exactly the type of technology Tesla is currently deploying.

It is a one of a kind artificially intelligent car

It may be a normal feature to have cars retain the memory of their individual experiences, however, it is even more unique when these cars work together as an interconnected system. This is exactly the case with Tesla cars, they make use of a certain type of artificial intelligence named machine learning, in as much as this is really not an all new concept, Tesla blazes the trail by being a leader in creating a Network of cars which make each car more intelligent by simply harnessing the various data acquired over time. An instance of this technology can be seen in the Google car which automatically freezes the moment it hits a red light at the traffic, this helps it avoid crashing into any other vehicle. As good as the Google brand sounds, Tesla seems to offer even better by being able to sense some normal driving scenarios such as when a different driver is changing lanes rather quickly.

Huge Data Collection Difference

The technology deployed by many companies in acquiring data involves uploading dozens of information into the computer, the data is then scrutinized and the relevant facts are removed. Once this is done, car makers begin including their own functions, a typical instance in this regard is the Apple car which is known to acquire its data by using their cars to go around streets and map them. Google, on the other hand, has been involved in the same approach. However, Tesla is quite different in this regard as a result of the fact that the data is being acquired by real individuals driving the cars daily and the relevant information being constantly uploaded on their computers thus making their autopilot system smarter. It is on record that the maps being developed by Tesla are about 100 times more reliable than any other.

Artificial Intelligence May Create Safer Vehicles

The awesome features of the Tesla cars such as its artificial intelligence, wide area inter-connectivity and so on make this car a one of a kind. However what makes the process even more exciting is the fact that as the Tesla cars in their various locations acquire relevant data such as the position of a pothole, or any other problems that may arise in traffic, the safer the cars become. This is achieved simply on the basis of shared information as the cars are interconnected hence the experience of one car is the experience of all the other cars.

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