Cover Your Gear

1. Importance of car covers

People use car covers for many different reasons. Sometimes it is used because you want to place a car into storage or sometimes it is just used to protect the car while outside or inside the garage. Often, people use car covers because they want to preserve the integrity of the paint job.

 

A lot of times when you use a car cover for storage you simply just don’t want the car to rust. When you are using a car cover it is very important that the cover goes underneath the side of the car. This is so that you don’t get rust building up under the side panels of the car because of snow. It is very important to use a car cover if you really care for your car.

Traveling with your pup

Traveling with your dog may sound like an easy load-up and go, but there are things to keep in mind in order to safely and happily travel with your dog. Before hitting the road, consider going to the vet for a routine check-up to make sure your dog is healthy and able for a road trip. Like children, remember that your dog needs to be in a safe and comfortable environment. Try not to keep your dog in the back with boxes or furniture that can easily slide or injure your dog. Consider a barrier along the back that will your dog safe and off your seats at the same time. Seat protectors are also available so if you don’t have a barrier, you can still keep your car seats in mint-condition. Like humans, some dogs can get car sick. Feed them a light meal before the trip and try to feed them minimally during the ride but feed them water as necessary. Take frequent stops along the way to avoid accidents and allow them, and yourself, to stretch out and re-fuel. Before you head out, check for anything that can choke or poison your pup. Dogs love the likes of antifreeze and chocolate for example but both are deadly to them so be safe and do a once over before hitting the road. 

Tips for a well running vehicle

It’s enough trouble to shop and buy a car. Once you sign on the dotted line you can relax, but not just yet. You want to keep your car in the best shape possible and with the gas prices increasing like crazy; you want to get the best bang for your buck.  But how do you do that? Here are a few things to keep in mind to keep your car running at its best.

Always keep the fluids filled. Make sure that at any given time your car’s oil, coolant, brake, transmission and windshield wiper fluids are where they should be. Most Lube services will do this for free in between oil changes. You can also request they double check that all hoses are in tact and leak free.

Check your windshield and windows for chips and cracks. Being unaware of any glass damage can give you a headache later. What looked like a small crack can turn into a spider crack all the way across your windshield before you know it. Getting a professional to repair and damages can save you a lot of money in the long run. If you park on the street, consider a car cover to protect from scratches and weather damage.

It’s always a good idea to check online, in the newspaper, or on the radio where construction is taking place and where you can expect a slow commute. Not only do you need to slow down to avoid injuring any workers, there are often uncomfortable dips and holes that can wreak havoc on your shocks and possibly more importantly, fines are often higher in construction zones so save some money and slow down.

Know what kind of weather to expect. Check you tires, lights and wipers before heading out. Wipers that don’t work properly or insufficiently can put you in a compromising and dangerous position and can turn a normally safe drive to a dangerous endeavor.

 

Always buckle up. If not for safety, do it to save a buck or two. In most states, buckling up is the law now.

Keep cool, and I don’t mean turn on the A/C. Keeping a check on your temper is always a good idea. It’s no secret that holiday shopping, screaming kids and hot summer weather can cause stress and frustration. Driving when feeling any extreme emotion (anger, sadness, extreme happiness) can cause you to be distracted and may lead to a fender bender or worse. Always try to avoid sending off rude gestures to the jerk that cut you off and receive rude gestures at an “adult” level. 

Don’t drink and drive. Period. Also, don’t drive when you are extremely tired. Nodding off at the wheel can be deadly. Pull over if you have to.

Don't just take your car's gauges as an opinion, but as a rule.  If your temperature gauge is climbing or higher than normal, your car could be on its way to overheating.  Try switching on your heater and slowing down to cool down the engine.  Never try to solve the issue yourself if you don't know what you're doing.  Never open the radiator's cap when the engine is warm.  A roadside assistance service comes in handy in these situations.

Traveling with Dogs

Traveling with your dog may sound like an easy load-up and go, but there are things to keep in mind in order to safely and happily travel with your dog. Before hitting the road, consider going to the vet for a routine check-up to make sure your dog is healthy and able for a road trip. Like children, remember that your dog needs to be in a safe and comfortable environment. Try not to keep your dog in the back with boxes or furniture that can easily slide or injure your dog. Consider a barrier along the back that will your dog safe and off your seats at the same time. Seat protectors are also available so if you don’t have a barrier, you can still keep your car seats in mint-condition. Like humans, some dogs can get car sick. Feed them a light meal before the trip and try to feed them minimally during the ride but feed them water as necessary. Take frequent stops along the way to avoid accidents and allow them, and yourself, to stretch out and re-fuel. Before you head out, check for anything that can choke or poison your pup. Dogs love the likes of antifreeze and chocolate for example but both are deadly to them so be safe and do a once over before hitting the road.

Tips for a well-maintained car

It’s enough trouble to shop and buy a car. Once you sign on the dotted line you can relax, but not just yet. You want to keep your car in the best shape possible and with the gas prices increasing like crazy; you want to get the best bang for your buck.  But how do you do that? Here are a few things to keep in mind to keep your car running at its best.

Always keep the fluids filled. Make sure that at any given time your car’s oil, coolant, brake, transmission and windshield wiper fluids are where they should be. Most Lube services will do this for free in between oil changes. You can also request they double check that all hoses are in tact and leak free.

Check your windshield and windows for chips and cracks. Being unaware of any glass damage can give you a headache later. What looked like a small crack can turn into a spider crack all the way across your windshield before you know it. Getting a professional to repair and damages can save you a lot of money in the long run. If you park on the street, consider a car cover to protect from scratches and weather damage.

It’s always a good idea to check online, in the newspaper, or on the radio where construction is taking place and where you can expect a slow commute. Not only do you need to slow down to avoid injuring any workers, there are often uncomfortable dips and holes that can wreak havoc on your shocks and possibly more importantly, fines are often higher in construction zones so save some money and slow down.

Know what kind of weather to expect. Check you tires, lights and wipers before heading out. Wipers that don’t work properly or insufficiently can put you in a compromising and dangerous position and can turn a normally safe drive to a dangerous endeavor.

 

Always buckle up. If not for safety, do it to save a buck or two. In most states, buckling up is the law now.

Keep cool, and I don’t mean turn on the A/C. Keeping a check on your temper is always a good idea. It’s no secret that holiday shopping, screaming kids and hot summer weather can cause stress and frustration. Driving when feeling any extreme emotion (anger, sadness, extreme happiness) can cause you to be distracted and may lead to a fender bender or worse. Always try to avoid sending off rude gestures to the jerk that cut you off and receive rude gestures at an “adult” level.

Don’t drink and drive. Period. Also, don’t drive when you are extremely tired. Nodding off at the wheel can be deadly. Pull over if you have to.

Don’t just take your car’s gauges as an opinion, but as a rule. If your temperature gauge is climbing or higher than normal, your car could be on its way to overheating. Try switching on your heater and slowing down to cool down the engine. Never try to solve the issue yourself if you don’t know what you’re doing. Never open the radiator’s cap when the engine is warm. A roadside assistance service comes in handy in these situations. 

Keep your paint job new

As if getting a nice paint job for your car isn’t stressful enough, what with high prices and deciding what color you want to get, the hard part is actually maintaining the paint job after you get your car out of the shop. Here are some tips on how to keep your car looking good as new.

 

Keep your car clean. Wash you car or take it to a car wash on a regular basis to keep things like bird droppings, bugs and dirt from destroying your vehicle’s exterior. Rain water won’t suffice as a wash either because even it can have damaging chemicals that can ruin a paint job. If you do wash your car by hand, choose a soap that is made for vehicles. Basic soaps can strip the wax. Try to avoid using just any old towel too; use cloths designed specifically for washing vehicles. Try to find a shady spot to wash your vehicle and make sure the surface is cool.

 

Park your car in a garage or shaded area. Keeping your car parked in the shade will protect your paint job from obvious sun damage. Salt, tar, dust, mud and gravel, among other things, can also cause damage to your paint job so if you have a readily available garage, park it in there. If you don’t have a garage to park your car in, try a car cover as a nice substitute. This will protect your car from almost all ailments and are relatively inexpensive.