A Quick Guide to Trailer Hitch Accessories

With a few handy accessories, an average family vehicle can be transformed into an awesome towing machine, capable of taking on extremely heavy loads.
A trailer hitch is the standard accessory which is used as a bridge from the vehicle to trailer. These hitches come in a variety of types which are often classified in categories based on position or how much weight the hitch can tow. A trailer hitch often requires a certain amount of drilling and it may thus require a professional to lend a hand.
–Front mount hitches are attached to the front of the vehicle and are often seen on trucks and SUVs that employ winches or snowplows.
–A receiver hitch is often the choice for those wishing to attach a trailer or bike rack. These are often quick to bolt on and are custom made for many types of vehicle. It is important to try to select a hitch that matches the vehicle’s color scheme as well as to find one that has a lifetime warranty if possible.
–Heavy duty hitches are use for hauling very large trailers or RVs, including those which weigh up to 30,000 lbs.
One extremely important component to consider is a brake controller. Brake controllers come in handy for stops because they are able to control the trailer’s brake system. One popular type is the timed brake controller which has a set delay between the time the brake is engaged to when the full output is reached.  Another type is the proportional brake controller, which monitors the slowing of your vehicle and proportionally adjusts the trailer’s brakes for an even stop. A third type is the Inertia Brake Controller which is able to automatically adjust the slowdown based on the braking rate.
Once the basics are down, some might choose to explore various other hitch components. For example, a trailer hitch camera can be used to connect to a trailer without assistance. It allows for reverse navigation and can be used at night. Cargo Net Tie Downs are used to hold down cargo loads that are hitch mounted.

Leasing A New Car

In the recent times, because of the global economic meltdown, there has been a wide spread decrease in the income levels of the individuals world over. Most of the companies no matter how large or small in size are resorting to measures to decrease their operational costs, stalling their future investment plans and strategizing to come up with solutions, by adopting which they can run the business of their respective companies in cost effective way. There have been slews of cost cutting measures which have been initiated, not just limited to the ones cited earlier but also going to the extent of downsizing their manpower strength to make their businesses operationally viable.

Income or revenue generation and preservation have become the mantra of the day with almost all the companies’ world over felling a pinch in some way or the other of this melt down. Companies have even gone in to the extent of either laying off employees or in some cases have revised the monetary aspects of the employees which have been retained. This has resulted in a cash crunch situation for individuals as well as the companies alike. The situation is grim and there is uncertainty all around with regards to the prospects of what is in store in future. Individuals or companies are not sure what all will be the sources of income generation or will there be any new opportunities which will be an avenue for generating that extra buck.

The situation is difficult and demanding for individuals as well, as there seems to be no light at the end of this dark tunnel at this point in time, which could help in finding way of getting out. People have to introspect in detail and in times when cash is considered to be the king have to come up with solutions which can help in protecting and provide an increment in the earning capacity.

Leasing cars especially brand new cars is an avenue which has some of the potential answers to problems of such individuals. In these times when there are very few buyers of new vehicles, the automobile companies and the banks are trying to go out of their way to keep the sales numbers on significant levels. This is the time when people who have some amount of excess cash available with them to try and take advantage of this situation and carve out an extra income generating avenue for themselves. They can negotiate a good deal with the financing bank and automobile company to purchase a brand new car. Effective negotiation can help in getting a good bargain from both of them on the new car; a deal which is comparatively lower than the prevalent market rates.

The brand new car can alternatively be leased with a good and established operator thereby opening up a new and assured source of income for the individual. The car can be used by the operator for the purpose of contract hiring for their clients, which would in turn also open up a cost effective revenue source for them as well.

How to save money on your next Vauxhall service

Vauxhall servicing is now much cheaper, for those in the know.

Thanks to European legislation, you no longer have to be tied to high Vauxhall service costs, dictated by your local dealer.

In October 2003 new European legislation affecting the motor industry came into force called “Block Exemption Regulation” 14002002 (BER), and this now means that you can book your next Vauxhall car service online and save up to 50% on what you might pay at your local Vauxhall dealer.

Before the law changed it was difficult to have new cars within their warranty period serviced outside a franchised dealer. If you wanted to shop around for the best prices on Vauxhall servicing, your hands were tied.

The change in the law now gives every car owner the freedom to service their car away from the main dealers, and still have their warranty protected.

Thousands of Vauxhall car owners have now taken advantage of their new right and reduced their Vauxhall serving costs, whilst benefiting from the convenience of booking with national car service providers such as Service A Car.

Service A Car is a leading online car servicing network that prides itself on the quality of its Vauxhall servicing, their customer service and transparent pricing. Because the company is not tied to any particular car manufacturer, they are able to service any make of vehicle and compete freely in the market, on a like-for-like.

Every vehicle is rigorously serviced according to the manufacturer’s servicing schedule, using genuine recommended parts fitted by qualified technicians. This means that every Vauxhall car service fulfils the warranty criteria and there is no compromise on the servicing standards of a main dealer.

Companies like Service A Car, who fulfil the warranty criteria when servicing your Vauxhall, are able to maintain your service book, just as main dealer can – thereby protecting your warranty and helping you to maximise the resale value of your Vauxhall car.

Of course, booking direct with a national car servicing network has its own advantages:
·         You no longer have to do all the running around. Service A Car collects your Vauxhall in the morning and delivers it back that afternoon, free of charge
·         You pay a fixed Vauxhall service price, which can be up to 50% below the price at the Vauxhall servicing desk of your local dealer
·         No additional work is carried out without your agreement, which means no nasty surprises when it comes to paying the bill
·         Trained Customer Advisers are on hand throughout the day to keep you informed of progress, and report back on problems you asked to be investigated as part of your Vauxhall service e.g. knocks and rattles
·         Your Vauxhall service includes a free wash and vacuum clean
·         You simply pay with your credit or debit card and your car is delivered back to your home or work address.

Our advice for saving money on Vauxhall car servicing is to contact a national car servicing network, who is not tied to any one particular car manufacturer, like Service A Car.

So, before you book your next Vauxhall service, why not ask your local dealer to tell you the cost of the service (plus parts, oil and any extras) and then compare it with a fixed price quote from a national servicing network, like Service A Car?

Happy motoring,
Howard.
Chairman Service A Car

A Used Engines Buyer Guide

Knock knock. Who’s there? When you hear severe knocking sounds (as opposed to just pinging), brace yourself. Chances could be that you might next be hearing two of the saddest words in a motorist’s vocabulary: change engine.
You’re in luck if your car is still covered by warranty or the manufacturer will assume the engine replacement cost. Otherwise, you’d have to go looking for used engines by yourself.
You can achieve considerable savings and still get very good performance from rebuilt or re manufactured units, or even just plain low-mileage used engines from a reputable dealer.
A change engine scenario doesn’t have to mean bad hair day, though. There is a huge pile of good used engines out there. It just takes some effort and common sense to find one.
If you are like most drivers who never had to bother with replacing an engine, you may have some apprehensions or even feel intimidated about going through this with your mechanic. Here are some pointers to guide you in looking for used engines:
1. Figure out the likely cost. There are three major expense areas involved:
A. The cost of the engine itself
B. Parts and miscellaneous (lubricants, seals, cleaning fluids, etc)
C. Labor
Remanufactured or rebuilt engines are great if you can find them from a reliable company. It’s like getting a practically new one. Reputation is the key. Talk only to highly recommended shops who have a BBB certification.
If you opt for plain used engines, choose those from a dealer that can back it up with a CARFAX vehicle history certificate to verify the mileage. Try to look for used engines that have lower mileage than this one that you are junking.
2. Check out the warranty outlook. You don’t want to go through multiple used engines because the first one turned out to be a rotten papaya.
Your shop or supplier should offer at least one-year unlimited miles warranty on their used engines, as well as optional labor warranties with your purchase.
3. Find a good, trustworthy mechanic. If you don’t already have one, this is hardly an easy process, but the best bet is to go with a guy who is highly recommended by someone you also trust. Talk to your friendly neighborhood parts store or dealer.
Don’t evaluate just one candidate. Check out several, and don’t hurry. This is a case where haste can really make waste. Narrow them down to a shortlist and refine your choices to pick your winner. If you get yourself hooked up to the right mechanic, you stand to save hundreds of precious dollars.
4. Avoid an individual seller, unless you can make an informed determination about the history and state of the engine you are buying.
5. Choose between remanufactured or rebuilt. Remanufactured means the engine has been remade to meet original specifications or had parts replaced by original components. Rebuilt engines, on the other hand, are often handled with the fix-only-what’s-broke principle and, so, may come with slightly less predictable life. That’s why remanufactured engines are offered with stronger warranty than rebuilt ones.
6. If you have the chance, pick an engine taken out from a wreck rather than due to mechanical reasons. Good used engines would still be running if not for the wreck, so you can reasonably expect plenty of life from it. To reiterate, good used engines are proven.