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Buying an SUV for Family Travel

January 31st, 2009 by Justin

One of the most functional and practical vehicles for driving the family around- especially if you have a large family is the SUV.  The SUV exploded onto the scene due to its large amount of cargo space, seating area and many amenities that make traveling with your family convenient and comfortable.  For those now buying an SUV, looking for a vehicle specifically for family transportation, here are some tips on the best features and vehicles to look at.

Family SUV

Finding an SUV to Carry Lots of Family Members
Seating is quite important when purchasing a people mover and many SUV’s make it easy to carry your entire family in comfort by offering plenty of seating.  Many SUV’s easily have space for 5, however for larger families, you probably will need more space, this is why you should definitely look for 3 row seating.  With 3 rows of seating, you can fit 7 comfortably in your vehicle, more than enough for the average family of 5, plus 2 friends or grand parents.  Some SUV’s even offer seating for more, as they are able to turn cargo space into seats for more passengers.  This usually gives you seating for 9.  While not on every SUV and definitely not on SUV’s that are compact or mid-size for larger SUV’s this feature does exist.

SUV Comforts
Now that you have seating for everyone, make your trip more comfortable with a few entertainment options.  Some of the most popular options include an entertainment center with fold down DVD screening, small LCD screens built in seats to view DVD’s or for gaming and don’t forget GPS navigation systems so you don’t lose your way with your whole family in the back.

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Driving Your Truck in Bad Weather

January 31st, 2009 by Justin

Many people purchase trucks, SUV’s and Jeeps specifically for bad weather driving.  For those that live in the colder climates where there is plenty of snow during the winter months, having a 4×4 can definitely help you get the kids to school, you to work, etc.  Here are some tips on driving in bad weather.

Driving a truck under bad weather

Keep your Vehicle Well Maintained
You can’t get great performance out of your vehicle, if it is not in tip top shape.  This is why it is very important no matter what season it is to have your vehicle always in good working condition.  For bad weather, make especially sure to check the tires for tread, check the wiper blades to make sure they are not dried out and worn and the lights to make sure they are all working properly.

Tire Chains
If you live in the mountain areas or in places that get plenty of snow, you probably have had some experience with tire chains in the past.  While tire chains are a great accessory, older types can be a pain to install and can wear out or break easily.  Today, with better design and materials, you can purchase tire chains for your vehicle that are very easy to install and work very well.

Carry Essential Supplies for the Cold Weather
Before the winter season begins, make sure you prep your vehicle for the coming bad weather conditions.  This includes putting a small fold up snow shovel in the back- to dig out of any snow drifts your car may find itself in, a first aid kit, a bag of sand to give you better traction on the ice and a blanket- in the case you get stuck in the cold for a few hours.

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Posted in Truck Maintenance, Truck Safety | | 1 Comments

Get a Great Price When You Sell Your 4×4

January 31st, 2009 by Justin

Are you planning on selling your truck in the near future?  I bet you want to get the most money possible for it.  While many people check their blue book value for their truck’s, SUV’s or Jeep’s value, the truth of the matter is that many sell their vehicles for far less than their worth.  Here are some tips on getting the most for your vehicle.

Don’t Trade it in
Unfortunately, many lose hundreds, even thousands of dollars in order to sell their vehicle conveniently- trading it in.  If you want to sell your vehicle retaining a lot of value, don’t trade in your vehicle- statistically you lose the most money when you sell your vehicle to the dealership.

Old Red 4x4 for Sale

Clean Up Your Car Before Selling It
The last thing a potential buyer wants to see is a dirty truck.  You don’t necessarily have to detail it- although it is a good idea, but you should make it presentable so that the person can focus on the vehicle and not on how dirty it is.

Complete Minor Repairs
If your vehicle has minor repairs that are needed, fix them before you put your vehicle up for sale.  For instance, if your vehicle has a broken tail light, this can cause your vehicle to drop much more than the actual cost to fix it- so make everything nice and tidy before you put it up for sale.  A little maintenance and repairs definitely go a long way when it is time to sell.  It’s also a great idea to have documentation handy of all the repairs and maintenance you have done in the past.

Advertise the Features of Your Vehicle
If you have some great features that make your vehicle stand out from others, make sure you advertise them and tell them to prospective buyers.  This can raise interest and the perceived value of your vehicle- ultimately fetching you a higher price.

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Enjoying Your Jeep on the Beach

January 31st, 2009 by Justin

One of the great things in life is having a Jeep to ride on the beach.  It’s an iconic image that is in many Jeep lover’s mind, being free, enjoying the wind in your hair and plenty of sunshine.  However, if you consider yourself a beach bum that at every opportunity takes your Jeep down to beach you should know that there are a few tips to keep your Jeep well maintained to continue to get the most performance and use out of it.  Here are a few tips.

Jeep Wrangler Beach

Get Yourself a Tire Deflator and Inflator
One of the things that many Jeep owners learn very quickly is that having properly inflated tires will usually not give you the best traction once on the sand.  For best results, deflate your tires so that it has a wider profile, thus giving you more surface contact and much better traction.  And while many Jeep owners literally get out of their Jeep and spend 30 minutes deflating their tires, there is a better way- a tire deflator.  Usually these quick and easy tools can deflate a Jeep’s tire to proper psi in just a couple of minutes.  This way you spend more time driving than deflating.  Also, don’t forget that once back on the road, you will need to inflate your tires, so make sure you have an air compressor for inflation.

Clean your Jeep After Being on the Beach
There is plenty of sand, salt, water and other materials on the beach that are not good for your vehicles engine, exterior and interior.  These materials can be corrosive and very abrasive.  This is why after each time of being on the beach give your Jeep a decent cleaning.  You don’t have to detail it, but a decent rinse will help you remove a lot of the bad stuff.

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Top Truck Maintenance

January 31st, 2009 by Justin

If you own a truck, SUV or Jeep keeping it well maintained is very important to ensuring high performance and safety of you and your occupants.  However, there are a few tips to learn to not only save some money- avoiding unneeded maintenance, but to also ensure quality parts go into your vehicle so that it lasts and is functional for the many years to come.  Here are some tips.

Truck Maintenance - Truck Lift

Before You Schedule Maintenance Check the Owner’s Manual
While many people want to make sure their vehicle is in top shape, you don’t necessarily have to over do it.  Before you schedule maintenance, check the owner’s manual for the intervals necessary.  For instance, if you drive your vehicle normally, you probably won’t require an oil change every 3K miles or 3 months.  This can save you big in the long run.

Have Your Truck Inspected Every 6 Month
Unfortunately, for those that use their truck for business, you can put plenty of wear and tear on it quickly.  While your truck is usually built to be more durable than the average car, it still can develop problems that can be quite costly.  To head off serious problems, inspect your truck every 6 months, so if there is something brewing, you won’t have to wait till it is broken- which can cost you not only the cost of the part, but the downtime as well.

Don’t be Penny Wise, Pound Foolish
Trucks can be expensive to maintain, however, don’t try to cut corners to save money, because inevitably, it will come back to haunt you.  As the old saying goes- penny wise, pound foolish.

Following these quick maintenance tips can not only help to keep your car in tip top shape, but also save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars over the life of your vehicle.

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