The Car Guide

Archive for September, 2011

8 Ways To Make The Most Of Your Trailer Hitch

So you have a receiver hitch. Have you ever used it? Do you know how handy your trailer hitch can be even if you don’t have a trailer to haul? What do you need to get the most out of your trailer hitch?

First. let’s talk about the receiver. It’s a square hole located below your bumper. it’s called a receiver because it “receives” the stuff you stick into it. Makes sense right?

Your receiver is either 1.25 or 2 inches square. The smaller receivers are either class I or class II hitches depending on how much weight they can handle. The 2 inch receivers are class III or IV; as the class number increases so do the weight limits. For example a class I hitch can tow up to 2000 lbs. and handle up to 200 lbs. downward pressure on the actual hitch that’s called tongue weight while a class IV hitch can tow up to 10000 lbs. and handle 1000 to 1200 lbs. tongue weight.

Equally important to the trailer hitch’s weight specifications are the towing specs for your vehicle. You can find these in your owner’s manual and they should always be respected. Overloading your trailer hitch will not only risk damage to your vehicle but it will also make steering and braking more difficult making you a danger on the road.

So what can you do with your receiver hitch? Obviously you can tow a trailer. If it falls under the weight specs for your hitch and vehicle you’ll just need a ball mount and a hitch ball. The ball mount is the square metal shaft that slides into the receiver. The hitch ball mounts onto the ball mount and sticks out behind your vehicle when properly installed. You can tow cargo trailers camping trailers utility trailers just about anything that you want.

Beyond towing you can use your receiver hitch for cargo carriers bike racks boat carriers ATV ramps ski racks hitch mounted grills hitch steps and to display your personality with a custom hitch cover.

The bike racks cargo carriers and ski racks are all generally mounted to a shaft that slides into your receiver. These racks offer great convenience as they allow you to safely carry bulky and/or dirty items outside your car. Many of them fold for easier access to the rear of your vehicle and to require less storage space. Sports racks and cargo carriers are a great use for your receiver hitch.

You can also get bed extenders and hitch mounted boat racks that allow you to put one end of a ladder or canoe on top of your pickup cab and support the other end with a rack that mounts to your hitch. Similarly hitch mounted ramp supports are available to allow you to attach ramps to the back of your pickup so you can drive what ever you need to right into the bed without fear of damaging the tailgate.

A hitch mounted step is a great way to access the rear of your vehicle; they are simple to install and fold to be out of the way when you’re not using them. They often double as hitch covers which keep your receiver clean.

If you’re a tailgater you will love a hitch mounted grill. Forget hauling the mess of a charcoal grill or dealing with the small rack on a portable grill; with a hitch mounted grill you can bring the comforts of your back patio with youit’s easy and awesome. Even if you don’t go with a hitch grill you’ll want a tailgater hitch cover. It displays the logo of your favorite team and has a built in bottle opener for your convenience.

Whatever trailer accessories you choose make sure you get a hitch lock to keep your stuff safe. This handy little lock replaces the tow pin you use to keep the ball mount in your receiver hitch and will give you peace of mind as you make the most of your trailer hitch.

About the writer:  Jeremy supports his favorite teams with college hitch covers and loves to load his mountain bikes on his hitch bike racks.

5 Diesel Tips – Diesel Truck Performance

As diesel performance technology advanced so did the use of the diesel engine. Diesel performance is now so good that diesel engines are commonly used in smaller and luxury vehicles.

With the popularity of diesel engines there are many aftermarket diesel performance accessories available to increase the performance of your diesel engine. Below are 5 of the most popular accessories for increasing diesel performance:

1 Diesel Performance Fuel Systems
The fuel system is a popular diesel performance upgrade that is usually done on most diesel trucks. Unfortunately most diesel trucks fuel tanks are mounted at least two feet below and ten feet away from the fuel pump and this can cause problems with the fuel delivery to the engine one of the biggest ones is retarded timing. If you upgrade your fuel system to a diesel performance fuel system some of the benefits you will experience are; increased horsepower increased fuel economy reduced engine and cab noise and a smoother idle and quick throttle response.

2 Diesel Performance Modules
Diesel performance modules are another accessory upgrade that is most commonly completed on a diesel engine. One of the benefits of adding a diesel performance module is the module can provide up to a 35 increase in torque and an additional 150 horsepower. It can also increase fuel mileage by about 10. Another added benefit of installing a diesel performance module is that you will not have to reprogram the truck’s main computer chip. You can just install the performance module in any areas where there is a gap between the computer and fuel injection.

3 Cold Air Intake Systems
Upgrading the cold air intake system is another way to get great diesel performance out of your diesel truck. The cold air intake is sealed away from hot engine air and it is used to bring down the temperature of the air going into a diesel engine. The main benefit of installing a cold air intake is an increase of the power of the internalcombustion engine and with the higher percentage of fuel being burned the better it is for fuel economy.

4 Performance Exhaust Systems
Another major diesel performance modification that is very popular for diesel trucks is to add a larger diameter and less restrictive exhaust system. A larger diameter and less restrictive exhaust system relieves back pressure on the engine because now it will not have to exert the effort as much effort to push the exhaust away. The main benefit of adding diesel performance exhaust system is better fuel economy and a longer lasting engine. This diesel performance accessory is especially important if you have already added a performance module because the exhaust system will help to keep temperatures lower resulting in the engine not having to work as hard.

5 Diesel Fuel Injectors
One of the most popular diesel performance accessories is upgrading to performance diesel fuel injectors. The main benefit to upgrading your fuel injectors is of course more power and better fuel economy. Diesel performance fuel injectors come in a wide variety of makes and models and can add up to 150hp to your diesel engine..

About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;ABOUT THE WRITERS

Corey Rozon and David Leonhardt are international Marketing Consultants.

This article about accessories for diesel performance was written on behalf of Thoroughbred Diesel who have been specializing in diesel performance accessories for diesel pickup trucks for almost 10 years.

Your Tires Are The Foundation Of Your Motorcycle Heres How To Care For Them

The tires of your motorcycle are just as important as the engine. The tires are the only connection to the road. Well maintained tires grip the road and make riding much more pleasurable they allow the rider to go faster and maneuver better. Tires are often bought because of how they make the bike look. But beauty is only skin deep or in this case tread deep. Having the proper tread for the terrain you are riding can be the difference between a great day and a trip to the hospital.

The backbone of the tire is a carcass. Then there is a layer of cords the angle of these cords determine the overall strength and flexibility of the tires. If you could look inside the plies of the tire you would notice they form an x shape. On the outside of this is the tread. The amount of tread determines the use of the tire. High tread or knobby tread is used for off road riding. The smoother tread is used for regular roads or highways. This tread has grooves to channel water and prevent hydroplaning.

Since there are only two tires on it is important to maintenance them and change them at the same time so they wear the same. It usually takes about 100 miles to break in new tires. You should check the air pressure in your tires regularly. It is the air in the tires that cushions the bike from the roughness of the road. Proper inflation can add life to the tire. The valve stem should be capped with a nice tight fit so they can’t come off when driving at high speeds.

Tires should have proper balance and alignment. These two things have the most effect on the handling of your motorcycle. If they are not done properly steering can become difficult or dangerous in some situations.

Keep your tires clean. There are many products on the market to clean tires even good old soap and water works. Clear the debris from the treads looking for nails or screws anything that could cause the air to leak.

Before you ride it is a good idea to do a quick visual inspection of your tires to make sure they have the proper air pressure and there aren’t any cords showing from too much tread wear. You should never mix the treads on the front and rear tire. They should be the same style and tread type.

Taking the time to care for your motorcycle tires is as important as changing the oil. It doesn’t take long to make sure they are functioning properly and it will add to the riders’ enjoyment.

About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;Jim Sherard is a motorcycle enthusiast who has been riding for more than 20 years. For more information on the benefits of oilskin coats visit his website at http://www.jackaroohome.com/longrider.html