The art of Towing: Follow these guidelines

Whether it’s your first time using your pickup to haul cargo or you’re a regular pro with the tow, it’s important to haul your cargo the right way.  Don’t latch that trailer until you’ve asked yourself these four questions:

1. What are the restrictions?  Towing laws vary by state, so get to know the ones for your area.  Make it easier on everyone: abide by them.

2. What are my limits?  Brake slightly if the towing vehicle slows, or starts down a hill where your speed may cause you to begin to overtake him. Slack in the tow line while traveling can result in a serious jolt if the vehicle pulling your speeds up suddenly. By keeping the tow line tight, this risk is greatly reduced. 

3. What am I hauling?  Just like you adjusted the size of your trailer for the size of your truck, take into account what you’re moving. You might need to use a closed trailer so avoid cargo spilling onto the road.

4. Where am I towing this?  The last thing you need to keep in mind is the terrain you’ll need to tackle during this job.  Take note of any unpaved roads or other deviations from the norm– it can and will affect your experience.

Don’t let car thieves ruin your Memorial Day weekend

Memorial Day weekend is kind of like the start of summer, isn’t it?  You’ll probably go to a BBQ or some other outdoor activity to enjoy the sunshine and ring in the sizzling months to come.  It’s time to kick back, let your hair down, and have some fun–just make sure your car doesn’t leave the party without you.

1. If you are going to drink, don’t drive. We’re not talking about avoiding a DUI—that should be a given. Many people this weekend will head out to a BBQ with the plan to leave their car overnight and cab it home. Don’t do it!
2. If you park in a garage make sure to park somewhere away from the exits. Thieves like quick getaways, and if your car is sitting close to an exit it’s a sitting duck. Park further away and in as much lighting as possible!
3. Double check that your doors are locked and never keep your spare key in or near your car. Yes it may be con convenient to have a spare key in the car just in case, but if your car is burglarized you are handing your car away.
4. If you don’t have a security system installed it may be time to consider purchasing one. The sound of an alarm draws plenty of attention and will definitely rattle any potential thief.
   
   
    
   
   
   

Save Money on Gas this Summer!

The summer months begin in just over a month, which means higher gas prices…well here are a few easy ways to drive more efficiently that will have you making less visits to the gas station!

5.) Make sure your tires are properly inflated. This is a big one. A single tire that is under inflated by just 2 PSI will lead to a 1% increase in fuel consumption. That adds up faster than you would think if all are slightly under inflated!

4.) Remove as much excess weight from your vehicle as possible. It isn’t winter anymore so you don’t need that heavy sand in the back of your vehicle. The decreased weight will make it easier on your vehicle saving you fuel.

3.) Keep your windows closed. Having them open on the highway will lead to an increased amount of drag on your vehicle, making it work harder than it should.

2.) Use A/C sparingly. We know it’s hot, but you don’t need your car to be 70 degrees inside either. Turn the A/C off when you feel comfortable, you’ll still feel fine and keep your engine happy.

1.) Keep the speeds down. We know you want to get places faster, but by increasing your speeds by 10mph you could be using 15% or more fuel consumption. If you don’t have to go 75 mph then we suggest you don’t!

Mother's Day Car Appliances

Mother’s Day is right around the corner, and if you are anything like us you like to spoil your mom and show just how much she means to you!  And what better way to do that than by getting her something that she can use on a daily basis? Yes flowers and clothes are nice, but why not stray from the usual and buy her something for her vehicle? Here are a few of our favorite Mother’s Day gifts that will be sure to put a smile on her face!

Many cars these days already have remote start systems which is definitely the wave of the future. But for the cars that do not have it, which your Mom’s car may qualify, is only a quick install away from making her life a little easier, while also increasing the security in your Mom’s vehicle.  Here is our suggestion for a quality remote start system for a great price!

Satellite radio, specifically XM Radio is an awesome gift for Mom! She will love the options she has at her disposal, and forget what it was like to ever listen to a radio station that played 5 minutes of commercials! Get her set up with XM radio and she will remember what a great gift you got her every time she steps foot into her car!