Friday 18 December 2015

Top Three Maintenance Issues With RVs

If you’ve owned a recreational vehicle for very long, you know how much fun you can have with one. Whether you use it to camp on weekends, put it to work as a guest house or live in it full time, an RV has value above and beyond dollars and cents.  As much fun as it is, though, you might have also noticed that your RV requires a significant amount of maintenance. Read on to learn some of the common issues with RVs.

If your rig is a motorhome, you have all of the systems that are found on a car or truck, plus all of the systems found in a house. Repairs to any of these can end up taking a lot of time and money, so investing in regular maintenance is a wise thing to do. Putting aside the automotive aspect and focusing on the “home” part, the top three maintenance issues are related to moisture.

Starting at the top, one of the roof’s primary functions is to keep out moisture in the form of precipitation. Older RVs have metal roofs, and newer ones are made of rubber. Whichever type you have, roofs on motorhomes and camp trailers tend to develop leaks. Unless you keep your RV parked under cover or have a tarp over it, you’ll need to do routine maintenance to the seals in order to keep moisture out.

Moving down, take a good look at your windows. They may be the old crank-style or newer sliding models. In either case, if the rubber seals around the edges start to crack, moisture will get inside the RV and cause damage to the walls, flooring and furniture. Examine them annually and replace them as needed.

The final type of moisture problem comes from within the RV and has to do with condensation. Depending on the interior and exterior temperatures, a significant amount of moisture can form on the insides of your windows and walls. If left alone, it can cause a lot of damage due to mold, mildew and rot. Preventive measures are considered maintenance and include opening your vents or cracking a window at each end of the RV, keeping cooking pots covered and extractor fans in use and adjusting the temperature inside to reduce humidity.

Maintenance, when performed properly and regularly, will save you money in the long run and allow you to have more fun in your recreational vehicle. Visit this website to learn more about RV repair service in Santa Cruz.

Beach Camping Beats All


 

If you think campgrounds are fun, you’ll love beach camping. Pull your rig up to the shore and hang loose for a day or a week.

Thursday 17 December 2015

How to Take Care of Your Car Body

Your car should be able to function efficiently for quite a while, but it is also important that you keep your vehicle looking great for years to come. You can get professional detailing, but there are steps you can take on your own to keep your car looking absolutely beautiful. A few simple tips should be all that is needed to increase the longevity of your vehicle’s aesthetic.

First, you should be aware of the proper way to clean a car. Before you start washing your vehicle, you should hose it down thoroughly first. This will remove any exterior dust. You should be using lukewarm or cold water from a hose as opposed to using the same used water from a bucket. The dust from the water will simply be transferred back onto your vehicle. You should wash using a soft rag, old t-shirt or sponge. You do not want to run a dry cloth against the exterior of your vehicle because this can scratch the paint. You should also be mindful never to wash your vehicle in the hot sun because the heat emitted by the sun and the cold water can cause the body to contract and ultimately crack.

Although you should do your best to prevent any scratches or dents from developing on your vehicle in the first place, sometimes they are simply unavoidable. One may appear that you have no idea go there. There are plenty of methods available to put a fresh coat of paint on your car, but you need to make sure to prime before you paint. Minor dents can sometimes be flattened out using a rubber plunger. Once suction has been established, you can pull on the plunger to buff the dent out. It may take a couple attempts to get it right. However, it is also possible that some types of damage cannot be removed on your own, and you will require the assistance of professional. There should be plenty of auto body shops near you that can help make your automobile look fantastic once again.

If you notice any problems with your vehicle’s exterior like dings, dents or rust, the important thing to keep in mind is to not panic. A little wear and tear is perfectly normal for a vehicle to experience. Everyone deals with small cosmetic issues from time to time, and there are numerous ways to fix them. For instance, you can look at this website to gather more information related to auto body restoration in North County.

Saturday 28 November 2015

When Is it Time to Replace Your Windshield?

Not every crack or chip that might appear in your windshield results in a need for complete replacement; sometimes a simple repair may be sufficient to restore it to great condition. Some vehicle owners rely too much on repairing and cannot tell when it is time to invest a bit more to go on and buy new. An expert can take a look at your auto glass and tell you what the best approach is – but, it can sometimes prove helpful to know what to expect before getting in touch with a professional. There are a few guidelines you can use to determine on your own whether you should plan for repair services or if it is time to replace.

It can cost less than $100 to have the most common cracks and chips repaired, but size is a major factor that dictates what you should do; a particularly deep or wide crack could prove unrepairable. There are some new technologies which have enabled the repairing of larger breaches than was once possible, but there are still limitations – some auto glass shops are able to fix fissures as much as 18 inches long. As a general rule, you should be prepared to replace the windshield of the damage is more than three inches long or one inch in diameter. It will ultimately be up to the technician you choose to determine if the issue is too big to be repaired.

Location of the flaw can also have a big impact on whether or not it is time for you to get a new windshield – for example, if the damage is to both layers of the glass or over the rain sensor, then repairing might not be an option. Cracks along the edge of the windshield can undermine the integrity of the entire pane, making a total replacement often the safest approach. As well, some repairs made over the driver’s lines of sight may result in reduced visibility, leaving the installation of new glass highly recommended.

Sometimes it is not the size or location of the flaw that is the most important issue, being overruled by what an insurance policy will cover; there have been cases in which a windshield could have been repaired but the financial aspect made replacement the preferred approach. Due to how the cost of fixing a small crack or chip can occasionally compare with a low deductible, some vehicle owners find it more cost-effective to simply replace.

Both repairing and replacement of auto glass can be an easy matter when you choose the right professional for the job. Visit this website to learn more about auto glass repair in Raleigh.

Friday 19 June 2015

Why It’s Important to Fix That Chip in Your Windshield

That morning the rock from the gravel truck in front of you hit your windshield to leave a little nick in it, you wanted to scream. Your perfect view became a little less clear, and the unsightly blemish made you fume. If you chose to leave that nick unattended, you made a mistake that will affect not only the appearance the car, but the cost of the repair in the long run. Furthermore, while the nick may quickly turn to a full and expensive-to-repair crack, the worst news is that the damage to the windshield may put your life and those of your passengers at serious risk.

Many people allow a nick in their windshield to go without repair. The trouble of making an appointment or the cost seem prohibitive to them, but most nicks might be repaired within an hour and the cost for such a repair will be far less than the necessary expense of replacing an entire cracked or broken windshield.

A lot of people do not realize that the tiniest chip in a windshield can and usually does lead to a very serious crack that might result in a crack that extends from one end of the glass to the other. Such a crack affects the beauty of the vehicle, and many people would have it repaired for just that reason, but most people do not realize how detrimental a crack might be to the safety of everyone in the vehicle and riders they meet along the way.

Visibility is the first danger that a cracked windshield presents. Distracting and obscuring, a crack throughout the glass may affect the driver’s concentration and ability to adequately assess conditions, distances and other factors of the road. The slightest deviation may lead to an accident, and that is one seriously good reason to replace the windshield entirely.

Other dangers may not be so easily recognized by car owners. What many people do not understand is that structural issues depend on the windshield, too. Adding support to the structure of the roof, a seriously damaged windshield may pop out during a collision, collapse to cut the riders, or fail to provide any protection in a rollover accident. This makes windshield maintenance a major concern for anyone driving a car. To learn more about windshield repair in Raleigh, please visit this website.

Tuesday 2 June 2015

Style and Protection with a Hoodshield for your Truck

Like most truck owners, the first thing you want to do when you finally buy that rugged pickup you’ve had your eye on is load it up, take it out, show it off, and test its mettle. Before you head off into the sunset for some quality time, there are a few things you should do to protect your shiny new toy.

One of the first things you’ll want to look at is adding a little extra hood protection. Most people don’t look forward to scraping bug carcasses off the hood of their truck, or buying touch-up paint for the damage a couple of small pebbles can do. Hoodshields – also called deflectors or bug deflectors – are easy to install, come in a variety of styles, colors, and finishes, and offer rugged protection from the agony of suicidal insects and runaway gravel. They’re made from high-quality, shatter and scratch-proof acrylics.

Installation is simple, and can usually be done in the time it takes your kids to find their shoes – possibly even less than that, depending on how dedicated your kids are. Most hoodshields snap or clip on to the lip of your hood. Some use high-grade automotive tape to attach or secure them, while others screw through existing holes on the underside of your hood or require minor drilling. Snap-on types are easy to remove if you like to have unimpeded access while washing or waxing. If the type of installation is important to you, check with the distributor before you buy.

Hoodshields can also add style to your ride. Urban warriors may want to flash some chrome, while camo styles appeal to drivers who prefer their adventures off-road. If you’re trying to remain incognito, a clear deflector keeps it subtle, most also come in black or smoke shades to complement your tint or paint. Most brands offer window deflectors that match for all-over protection.

Fit is an important consideration. Some styles hug the hood for a sleek, low-profile, form-fitting finish, while others stand up and away to deflect a little more wind and debris and allow you to wash and wax around and under them. You can find them in one-piece or three-piece styles, depending on the size and shape of your hood. The best are injection-molded for a perfect fit around the contours of your vehicle.

If you’re ready to deflect bugs and defeat bouncing gravel, click here to find out more about aftermarket customization in San Diego, visit this website.

Thursday 28 May 2015

Tips on Buying a Trailer for Your RV

Traveling in an RV lets you pack up a little household within the walls of your vehicle. However, you may want to bring along a few items that won’t fit inside, say a pair of four-wheelers. You can still carry them along, with the help of a trailer. Here are three tips for finding the right one for your motorhome.

1.       Check Your Vehicle’s Tow Rating

When shopping for a trailer, keep in mind your RV’s maximum loaded weight and towing capacity, usually found in the owner’s manual. If you are hauling a motorcycle, for example, include the weight of the trailer, the bike, additional fuel tanks and any other equipment you will carry.

2.       Use Proper Brakes

An RV, and any other vehicle, has a braking system designed to handle a specific load. If you will be adding more weightthan it was designed for, you may need additional brakes. If your load is too heavy, your brakes could fail.

3.       Install the Proper Hitch

Hitches are designed for a specific trailer type. To decide which one will work, determine the trailer’s gross weight (GTW) and tongue weight (TW). Hitches are rated by category: Class one can carry up to 2,000 pounds GTW and 200 TW, while a class five can carry a maximum 18,000 pounds GTW and 1,800 TW.

Choose the right trailer and hitch for your RV so you can concentrate on the road ahead, not what you’re towing behind. Learn more about finding custom hitches in Santa Cruz at this website.

Singin’ the Blues




 



Oh, excuse me; I didn’t see you there driving by on the breeze. This camouflage mingles with modern art to create a look that says, “Hey, we’re on cloud nine when we travel in our RV.” No bumper stickers required.

Get Your RV Summer Ready with Olympia’s Awesome RV

June 21 signifies more than the start of a new season: It is the signal for adventure, fun and relaxation under the sun....read more

Saturday 23 May 2015

What is Paintless Dent Repair?

Small dings and dents in your otherwise beautiful vehicle can diminish its look. Getting a new paint job seems a little extreme, particularly if the car isn’t very old. Instead of throwing the bath out with the bath water, so to speak, you can use paintless dent repair.

The process involves essentially getting under the vehicle’s body panel and gently massaging the dimples out. It works particularly well for small damage caused by hail and door dings, although it can work for larger issues like creases and dents. If the paint surface is intact, meaning it hasn’t been cracked or punctured,it can be used. It works on both aluminum and steel panels.

The technique was discovered by a Mercedes staff member during a car show in 1960. Each night, he needed to touch up the small dents and scratches that occurred throughout the course of the day. Instead of repainting, he tried pushing out a crease with a hammer handle.

It worked, and paintless dent repair has been a viable option ever since. The method was originally used in an attempt to use less filler before painting. That, too, was a success. As a result, you and insurance companies can save thousands of dollars on repair costs.

While it sounds simple enough, if you want perfect results it’s better to rely on a professional.Doing it yourself, you may push too hard and end up leaving high spots or cracking the paint. A technician will know the specific locations he or she needs to manipulate in order to keep the metal at the correct height. Specialized picks and rods are used to adjust the metal. A mechanic may also use a fluorescent or LED light to know where to push and pull. If the dent is pushed out too much, a specialist can blend spots to make it look even.

There are some limits to whether paintless dent repair can be successfully used. The paint must be flexible, which most finishes are today. Also, it must not have been stretched too far when damaged. That will depend on the extent of the damage, how thick the metal is and how much curvature there is near the dent.Small depressions are usually easy to fix; however, sharp dents likely will need a new coat of paint.

Remember how excited you were when you first brought home your car? Be proud of it again when you get it back into pristine shape by removing those annoying dings on your hood and doors. Learn more about paintless dent repair in North County by visiting this website.

First Responder Emergency Extrication

The National Auto Body Council partners with Holmatro Rescue Equipment and repair facilities to provide this valuable community service program.....read more

Every Husky Knows… Dogs Love Trucks!






Siberian Husky next to a black Toyota pick-up goes to show that the old ad campaign had it right. Dogs love trucks!

Thursday 21 May 2015

Tips for Next Time You Are Buying Truck Accessories

There are a lot of options out there for your next accessory purchase, and it can be easy to tempt yourself to make a quick purchase out of excitement or a feeling of need. To make sure you are getting all everything you need to get the most out of your truck without overpaying, think about these tips.

Performance Savings

It can be tempting to make your automotive purchases based on cash savings. Those are short-term savings, though. Thinking about performance savings, where you do less work on maintenance or use less fuel over time, can wind up doing even more for you. Accessories that can help with performance savings areas include:

  • Fuel economy
  • Regular wear on parts
  • Accident prevention
  • Rust prevention
  • Engine buildup prevention

There are a variety of accessories that can help in each of these areas, and the best part is that when you save by increasing performance, you also help your vehicle be better at getting more done.

Getting the Job Done

Buying accessories that help you do more with your truck can also be a wise investment. From camper shells and tonneau covers to protect and secure cargo to roof racks and hitches that help you haul more, you can customize your truck for nearly any job if you make a plan and check out which accessories will best complement each other to provide for all of your needs in a well-rounded way. Whether you are trying to get the most out of a stump-puller or planning a cross-country outdoor tour, there's something out there for everyone. To learn more about a truck accessory center in San Diego, check out this site.

Pennsylvania Body Shop Owner Prevails in Aftermarket Parts Case Against Travelers

After a year-and-a-half-long court battle, Kilkeary’s Auto Body of Eighty Four, Pa., has won a suit over Travelers involving a customer dispute over an ill-fitting aftermarket bumper.....read more

Wednesday 20 May 2015

Key Benefits of High Performance Fog Lamps

Most people hardly use their vehicle’s fog lamps, and it is not hard to see why. Manufacturers often prioritize quality headlamps and high-powered brights at the expense of providing a rounded and supportive experience for this lower-glare option. As a result, many drives run with full headlights in times when fog lamps might offer more benefit, or they do not realize the way that they can support your regular headlamps to provide added benefits.

Key Features

When you upgrade from stock to high performance fog lamps, you will start to notice improvements in the areas where your fog lamps really help out. That includes:

  • Strong but low-glare light that can penetrate difficult environmental conditions
  • Ambient support for directed headlamps to increase long-distance visibility
  • Increased visibility to other drivers during times of low visibility

By augmenting your other lights and providing an option that has far less glare, performance lamps do a better job of fitting into the niche they were designed for.

For Lamps vs. Headlamps

Despite the advantages of upgrading your fog lamps, many people still choose to run with headlamps instead, citing cash savings or a simple lack of need for the additional support. This misses the fact that headlamps have a harsh, penetrating light that is great in the dark, but that easily gets refracted and reflected to produce glare in conditions where precipitation is interfering with visibility.

For that reason alone, upgraded fog lamps are worth it. When you add in the benefits of better safety and support for your headlamps at night and under other conditions, the difference between the two strategies becomes highly visible. To find out more about fog lights in San Diego, visit this website.

ARE You Outfitted for Work?


ARE truck accessory stand at a convention center with two white pick-up trucks begs the question. Is your truck properly outfitted so that you can perform your job as best as you can?

Tuesday 19 May 2015

Mycrsmanager Management Software System Created to Save Shops Time & Money

Rental car companies receive a notification prior to the customer picking up a rental car and a notification when the customer vehicle has been picked up, with complete timeline documentation within every customer RO.....read more

Google Autonomous Cars Ready to Hit Public Roads for Testing

As promised earlier this year, Google will put its fleet of autonomous test cars into use on public roads, rather than just private test tracks......read more

Monday 18 May 2015

What is a Cargo Master Rack?

If you are fairly new to customizing your truck, or if you just haven’t needed to use roof racks much in the past, then this question might seem a little confusing. After all, most people are familiar with a variety of roof racks for other vehicles, but most of the time they are single-use accessories. A cargo master rack, though, is a bed-length rack that fits on your truck’s roof, usually attaching to a cap.

Benefits & Features

Unlike many other kinds of roof racks, it attaches to the cap even when it extends forward, allowing it to be removed with the truck cap in the event you need an open bed. Its other features include:

  • Versatile grid patterns  with ample places for ratchet straps
  • Heavy duty construction to take the weight of oversized equipment without protest
  • Modular design makes it a fit for a variety of kinds of equipment, both work and recreational

The idea is to create an attachment that works as well for ladders, lumber, and other outsized items as it does for your recreational gear like kayaks, skiffs, and overhead storage compartments.

Options & Availability

The term “cargo master rack” refers to a variety of designs from different manufacturers with their own subtle benefits and features. This means that finding the best one for your particular truck and your cargo hauling needs will take a bit of research, but it will also result in a great fit for your vehicle and your lifestyle. To learn more about cargo master racks in Murrieta, visit this website.


A Cap Can Make a Pick-up More Functional Than Ever


A black 4- door pick-up truck on the San Diego Convention Center floor shows how a high quality cap can add to both functionality and form.

Sunday 17 May 2015

Reasons to consider painting your car

Top Three Reasons to Consider Painting Your Car

There’s no question: new cars look fabulous with their glossy paint. Your vehicle, on the other hand, may beshowing its years. Bring your ride back to its former glory with a fresh coat. You won’t just be saving face; you’ll also be saving the life of your old friend. Here’s a look at the top three reasons to give your auto a new ‘do.


1.       Repair Damage 

If your car was significantly damaged in an accident, a new coat is usually required of course. However, there are every day issues as well. Tree sap, bird droppings and dirt can all scratch and even eat away at the surface. Touch up work can take care of small areas, but if you have a large patch it’s probably time for an overhaul.


2.       Prevent Rust From Taking Over

As vehicles age, the protective coating begins to decay. Sun, wind, rain and snow slowly etch away the finish, leaving it vulnerable to rust. This is particularly true in climates that see snow, where salt is used on roads. Rust is not only unsightly, but it can cause structural damage.

 3.       You Want to Flaunt It

Sometimes the manufacturer’s paint job just isn’t enough. When you consider your car an extension of yourself, you want it to fit your personality. You can express yourself by customizing the color or using more than one.

Fresh paint, applied correctly, can breathe new life into your vehicle. Please visit this website to learn more about car paint in North County.

And Then Some




You may need an oxygen mask when driving this super pumped up ride. Far out fenders? Check. Race car rear window gear? Check. Multiple muffler pipes? Double check.This one is all dressed up and ready to rumble.