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Mud Bogging with Your 4×4

February 28th, 2009 by Justin

If you are a 4×4 off road enthusiast, chances are you love playing in the mud.  Just like the old days when we were kids, we always looked for the biggest mud puddle to jump into and for many of us- nothing has changed except for the size of our toys.  If you have a 4×4 and enjoy off roading, you probably love to go mud bogging.  Mud bogging is simply going off road in the trails after a decent rain.  Here are some tips to get the most out of your mud bogging experience.

Mud Bogging Truck

Know the Trails to Mud Bog
Unfortunately mud bogging can lead to your vehicle getting swallowed up in the mud, so make sure you know the trails before setting out.  With plenty of mud, you might not know if the puddle you are about go into is 2 feet deep or 4 feet deep.  For many vehicles, anything over about 2 feet can mean you will need a buddy near by to tow you and your vehicle out.  If you are unsure just how deep the mud you are about to go into, bring a long stick.  Test the deepness before driving through the mud.  This will keep the towing to the bare minimum.

Have a Winch Ready
With mud bogging, the chances of getting bogged down are high, so make sure you ride with a buddy in a second vehicle and have your winches ready.  If you don’t have a winch, no big deal, just have a tow rope handy, Just make sure not to use any chains.  If the chain breaks you don’t want pieces of metal flying towards you and your vehicle- they are like projectiles that can do big damage.  And of course, once you get out of the mud, make sure you wash your vehicle down- even though your vehicle looks mean and muddy, sometimes there are corrosives in the mud that can do damage to your exterior.

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Posted in 4x4, Offroad | | 1 Comments

Compound and Buff Your 4×4

February 28th, 2009 by Justin

If you have an SUV, pick up truck or Jeep that you have been roughing up on the trails, sand and woods, you probably have plenty of niks and scratches on your vehicle.  Most 4×4’s usually get their share of debris kicked up on them over the months as drivers get the most out of their vehicles off road.  And while many like to see their 4×4 dirty and muddy, we also like to shine it up when we go riding on the regular roads.  One way to keep your 4×4 looking its best is with compound and a good buff.

Shiny Truck Wheel reflecting another truck

Keeping your vehicle clean is pretty easy.  Today, you can take your vehicle to the car wash and easily get it thoroughly washed.  Most trucks and SUV’s are pretty high, so it makes sense to clean your vehicle this way instead of by hand all the time.  However, once your vehicle is clean of all the dust and debris, its time to get serious and wax, compound and buff your 4×4.

Waxing your vehicle will protect it from the elements.  Many car washes already include a coat or two of wax- that’s fine.  Now it’s time to compound your vehicle.  Anywhere you see small dents, the compound will fill it in and make them pretty invisible to the naked eye.  Make sure you get compound that is made for your vehicle’s color.  Finally, once the compound is applied, it’s time to buff your vehicle for a wonderful shine.  Most buff by hand, but the real way to go is with either an electric buffer machine or even a buffer attachment that fits on many electric drills.  Buffing your vehicle will literally make it sparkle.

So, for those that want the best of both worlds (the ability to get your vehicle nice and muddy and to make it sparkle) the way to do so is with compound and buffing.

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Posted in 4x4, Truck Maintenance | | 0 Comments

4 X 4 Money Traps

February 28th, 2009 by Justin

Any vehicle you purchase can be costly in the long run.  There are plenty of expenses associated with 4×4’s, they include fuel, maintenance, insurance, registration, etc.  However, while it costs money to own an SUV, it doesn’t mean that it has to be a money trap.  Here are some tips on avoiding a 4×4 money trap.

Be Aware When Buying a Used Vehicle
If you are buying a used vehicle, you could be buying someone else’s problem.  SUV’s usually cost more to maintain and parts are also more expensive.  A small problem that goes unnoticed can turn into a big headache costing thousands of dollars to fix.  This is why you need to do plenty of research before buying a used SUV.  Make sure to check the vehicle history.  Use one of the many car fax services to make sure the vehicle wasn’t in a flood, stolen or in an accident.  It’s also a very good idea to get your vehicle checked out by a mechanic that you trust.

Maintain Your Vehicle
By ensuring that you keep your SUV maintained regularly, you can catch a problem early on before an issue becomes worse.  Keep records of all the maintenance done on your vehicle and make sure if your car has a warranty that all items being fixed under the warranty are done properly so that once your vehicle goes off warranty, you don’t have to once again replace an old part or revisit an old problem.

Choose Your Fuel Wisely
Fuel can make up a big chunk of money it costs to operate an SUV, so make sure you use the right fuel.  Most SUV’s drive just fine on regular gas.  You don’t need to spend extra on premium.  Before doing so, check the owner’s manual to make sure which fuel is right for your vehicle.

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Posted in 4x4, Financing, SUV, Truck Maintenance | | 0 Comments

2 Big SUV’s for the Family

February 28th, 2009 by Justin

There are plenty of vehicles available for sale-that is for sure.  However if you have a large family, you need a big vehicle to comfortably hold everyone when you travel.  While passenger cars generally hold about 4 to 5 people, carrying people just isn’t enough, what about plenty of gear like baby strollers and carriages, kids toys and work tools.  These are some of the reasons that it makes sense for larger families to purchase a big SUV.  Here are two vehicles that definitely deliver.

Chevy Suburban
The Chevy Suburban is one of the largest SUV’s available.  And while it has been around as a nameplate for decades, today’s Suburban definitely fits many comfortably.  Whether you are looking for plenty of space for people or gear, you will find it with the 3 row Chevy Suburban.

Chevrolet Suburban 2009

While the Suburban is not cheap, usually starting in the mid 40’s and going up to 50K or more, you do get plenty of practicality and functionality from this vehicle.  Besides a large engine, expect plenty of towing and hauling power to boot.  In addition, there are lots of amenities that make the Suburban perfect for cross country traveling or just the weekly drive to grandma’s house.

Hummer H2
For those families that are not only large, but are sport focused, a great vehicle is the Hummer H2.   The H2 might not be the most economical vehicle on the road, but for larger families they definitely make sense.

Grey Hummer H2 2008 - Side View

Plus, if you like to enjoy plenty of outdoor sports, getting their and hauling all your stuff to far off sites is quick and simple.  The Hummer H2 can be very expensive- over 40K for sure, but for those that what plenty of power, room and 4×4 oomph, you can’t beat the Hummer name plate.

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Posted in SUV | | 0 Comments

The Different Weights in Motor Oil

February 15th, 2009 by Justin

If you are looking at motor oils for your truck, SUV or Jeep, you probably have seen a lot of numbers and letters.  Unfortunately, motor oil can be confusing for consumers to buy.  And finding the right motor oil for your vehicle’s engine is very important.  Here are some tips on choosing the right motor oil.

Check Your Owner’s Manual First
Your vehicle manufacturer has spent billions of dollars creating your vehicle, so they know exactly what should be going into it.  Your manual will tell you exactly what to use.  However, here is a guide so that you can read the labels once at your auto parts store.

Motor Oil

What are All Those Numbers For
When you shop for motor oil, you will see plenty of numbers and letters.  For instance, you will usually see a motor oil with SAE, W and S or C.

SAE
SAE stands for the Society of Automotive Engineers and this organization has come up with a scale of how to categorize the different motor oils around.

W and the Following Numbers
You might see the letter “W” next to a number such as 10W, 5W, 40W, etc.  W stands for winter temperature.  This is usually the coldest temperature that your oil should operate in.  For instance, if you live in a cold environment, you want motor oil with a low temperature viscosity.  Viscosity is defined as how thin and easy to flow something is.  For instance, water flows pretty easily, jelly does not.  So for instance oil with 5W means that the viscosity is made for engines operating in 5 degree Celsius winter weather.  On the other hand if it is the middle of the summer and you live in Texas, you want an oil that is more durable to the heat.  You may want to purchase 40W for your car.

Multi-grade Motor Oil
Besides single grade motor oil, some motor oil can be multi grade made for a variety of temperatures such as 10W-30W.  This is done with special chemical additives.

S or C
When you see the letter S, this means for spark ignition vehicles- generally for passenger vehicles.  The C stands for commercial vehicles.

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Posted in Truck Maintenance, Truck Parts | | 2 Comments

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