Cross Country Adventures & Road Trip Planning

Cross country driving continues to be a popular vacation pastime. As air travel prices continues to become more expensive and more of a hassle, many are discovering that taking your a vehicle on a road trip is enjoyable. Besides, taking your own car offers more freedom, saves money, no flight delays and best of all-- no TSA!

When on a cross country or road trip, the journey becomes part of the vacation. If the trip is properly planed you will see that America has many beautiful, scenic roads.

Properly planning the trip will save you time, money, and stress. You will enjoy the adventure more.

Below are some tips to get the most out of your next cross country trip.

Prepare your car:

• Check fluid levels (engine oil, coolant, transmission fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, windshield washer fluid)
• Make sure belts and hoses are strong and snug
• Check breaks
• Check tires

Saving money on gas:

You don't need to wait unless your tank is empty to fill it up. If you see low gas prices, stop to take a break and to take advantage of the gas prices. The more you can minimize gas prices, the more you save. 

Packing for your road trip:

Remember to pack for emergencies, entertainment, fine dining and outdoor adventures. You never know what your adventure will hold!

Is There Really a Difference at the Pump?

I know, you’ve been there, done that.  Deciding which gas to fill up with can be difficult; you can sometimes find yourself at the pump thinking about which fuel to fill your car up with.  Whether you’re driving an SUV, compact car, or super car, each type of gas performs differently.  When you arrive at the gas station you fill up on unleaded gas, with three options: octane, special additives, and ethanol content. In today’s blog, we’re discussing the several options of gas purchase for when you’re at the pump. 

Octane

Octane has three options: 87, 89, and 92.  Large engines perform well on 87 octane, smaller cars do well with 89, and high performance cars run perfect on 92 octane.  The higher the octane rating the more compression the fuel can handle before it ignites.  If your engine begins to knock, then fuel is igniting from the compression, not from the spark.  Thus, damaging your engine.  If this continues to occur, it’s time to buy higher-octane gas.

Special Additives

Special Additives are beneficial because their utilized by fuel companies to keep the inside of the engine clean.  For example, Exxon uses high amounts of additives in their gas to keep your system clean.  All the major gas companies use detergent additives to help keep the engine clean, so this should not really be a consideration. 

Ethanol content

The final option is ethanol content.  The lower the ethanol content, the better the fuel will burn in your engine, providing a longer life for your engine.  Ethanol is also good because it improves fuel economy, sometimes giving up to a 20% boost. 

Saving the planet, saving money, or prolonging the life of your car?  These are all great options to consider, give us your feedback!

4 Vehicle Must Haves

There are some basic items that everyone should have in their car.  In 2011, it’s rare that you’ll be found stranded, with the emergence of features that come equipped with every vehicle, but there are some things you GOTTA have in your vehicle.  In today’s blog, we discuss some crucial items for daily commuters.

Jumper Cables – These nifty cables are a lifesaver.  I can’ even count how many times it’s saved me from a stranded situation.  If you forget to turn off your lights, leave your car parked for a long time, or just have an older battery, jumper cables are awesome.  We recommend the AAA Heavy Duty 16′ 6 Gauge Booster Cable.

12-Volt Mini Air Compressor – This small compressor is powered by the vehicle via the cigarette power jack and includes a built-in dial air pressure gauge.  You can use this to top off your tires before a long trip.  This saves money and keeps your vehicle riding great.

Jack Stands – these are very important because they add a safety precaution for when you change your flat tire.  Also, you should only change your flat tire if you’re in a safe location.  Get a set of sturdy jacks that feature pawl-and-tooth design and a one-piece multi-position ductile ratchet bar for extra strength.

First Aid Kit – Be prepared for anything with a fully equipped first-aid kit.  These usually include:  bandages, gloves, butterfly closures, an instant cold pack, tape, antibiotic ointment, cotton tips, burn cream ointment, finger splints, alcohol prep pads, a first aid guide, sting relief prep pads, gauze pads, sterile antiseptic prep pads, scissors, and a roll of gauze.

These items will be helpful, as well as the features readily available for your vehicle.  Feel free to add your own components. 

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Tips on Learning to Drive Manual

If you’re like us, then you love speed.  Not just any speed, but the feeling of driving on a breezy morning, your hair whipping back, the music blazing, hands shifting gears like a pro at Talladega Superspeedway.  If you’ve imagined this scenario, then you understand the coolness of learning to drive “stick,” otherwise known as manual.  In today’s blog, we’re showcasing some tips of how to navigate while driving manual.

Drive on Level Ground

Put on your seatbelt.  While learning, it’s also good to roll down the windows to hear the engine to know when to shift gears accordingly.

Check out the Pedals

There are three.  From left to right they are

1.    Clutch – disengages spinning engine from the wheels and allows you to switch gears.  Before you switch gears, the clutch must be depressed.

2.    Brake

3.    Gas

 Tips:

·      Make sure you push the clutch all the way in before shifting to the next gear

·      Does your vehicle seem like it’s about to stall? PUSH the clutch again and wait for the engine to return to idle and repeat.

·      If you’re having difficulty starting the car from a stop, make sure that you are slowly letting off the clutch.  Pause at the friction point (the part where the engine starts to move the car and continue slowly pulling the clutch out.

·      Learn to recognize the sounds of your engine; you should eventually be able to tell when to change gears without relying on the tachometer.

·      Try to watch if you are on a hill or a steep area. You can roll back and hit the person or object behind you if you are not holding in the brake and clutch.

·      Two other descriptions mean the same thing as "manual transmission"--"stick shift" and "standard."

These are just a few tips to put in effect while learning, enjoy! 

How to Prepare Your Car for Long Term Storage

So, you’re running out of room in your front yard, garage, mother’s house, friend’s condo, cousin’s yard, and anyone who’s tired of seeing one of your vehicles in their personal space.  Now, you’ve decided to store your extra vehicle.  You envision yourself riding of in it in the future, hair flowing, top down, and want to ensure that it’s taken care of.  In today’s blog, we’re discussing what tips to follow to maintain your vehicle for long-term storage.

Check your paperwork:  make sure you renew your registration, or set a reminder when the time is near so that your car is good to go when you’re ready to drive it.

Service your vehicle: Always make sure that your vehicle’s engines and fluids are in good shape before you store your vehicle for a long period of time. Also, fill windshield washer fluid, coolant, transmission, brake fluid, and make sure you fill your car with gasoline.

Clean the interior/exterior: Throw away trash, vacuum the seats, wash the windows, wax the car and even have it detailed if possible. 

Fully charge battery:  make sure your battery is at OPTIMAL power.  Also, if you’re storing your vehicle for more than six months, disconnect it from the power source and keep the battery somewhere temperate and dry.

Do you have any tips to add?  Feel free!