Silver Crosshair

You’ve seen them on pick up trucks everywhere: specially designed truck covers that are all the rage. In times past sporting a custom fitted cap over your truck’s bed was where it was the thing to do. Today, a truck tonneau cover is the way to go for many truck owners. The choices of covers are varied, the retailers who sell them are many. Selecting your tonneau truck cover isn’t rocket science but it pays to “go with what you know” when selecting yours. Let’s take a look at the different types of truck tonneau covers on the market.

The most popular selling trucks in the USA for nearly three straight decades are Ford’s “F” series line of full size pick up trucks. Selling twice as many trucks as the nearest car, which is the Toyota Camry, this sales level clearly shows us that pick up trucks remain an important and vital part of the automotive landscape. Indeed, trucks from Ford, Chevrolet, GMC, Dodge, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and many other manufacturers have filled our roads. Unlike trucks in the past which exclusively emphasized their towing and hauling attributes, trucks of today incorporate a third factor, passenger comfort, in the mix. Still, if you ask mostly anyone exactly what they do with their truck bed you are likely to gain a variety of answers. Most truck beds are used expressly for hauling stuff and depending on what is being hauled that typically determines how the bed is protected and or covered.

I won’t get into two other products, bed liners and caps, as the focus of this article is on another popular product: tonneau covers. As with so many products the quality and durability varies widely depending on the type of tonneau cover selected and the material used to make the cover.

A snap-down cover is the least expensive of all tonneau covers, but you can have a hard time attaching it in place during cold weather. Imagine snow and ice settling into the snaps, frozen in place, as you try to attach your cover: it just isn’t going to happen without a copious amount of effort on your part. Who needs that? In addition, the material is subject to tearing meaning that your investment can be worthless in moments.

Alternately, a roll-up cover is so much easier to use and it fits better too. It is also more expensive! Still, the advantages of paying extra money for a roll up cover are many including: better materials are used, therefore you get a longer warranty; a roll up cover fits better, which means that everything in your truck bed is well protected; and a premium covers lasts longer and looks better.

Of course, the ultimate tonneau covers are those made from fiberglass, to give the cover a truly hard and durable shell. Much more resilient than all other types of tonneau covers, hard shell covers are also far and away the most expensive covers for your truck. However, as with everything in life you get what you pay for.

In the case of a hard shell tonneau cover you get a lot more too, including: a secure lock, overhanging sides, hinged at the front, hydraulic struts, automotive weather stripping, theft protection, and a water tight seal. Another advantage of hard shell tonneau covers is that many manufacturers produce them so that they can be painted to match your finish. Stick a spoiler on the back of your truck and it along with the shell will give you one hot looking truck!

When selecting a tonneau truck cover go with one that is made by a major and reputable manufacturer. Top brands include Extang, Truxedo, Lung, and Access. To get the best price shop online with a reputable online wholesaler.

Your truck can look its best and function superbly with a tonneau truck cover installed. Select one today and protect the goods you carry as well as the investment you made with the purchase of a pick up truck.

Copyright 2005 — Matt Keegan is an automotive writer for
Tonneau Truck Cover an online retailer of
Hard Tonneau Cover and
Extang Tonneau Cover for your pick up truck.

Comments Off

Carbon Fiber: What exactly is it??

January 2005

Who out there has heard of carbon fiber? Do you even know what it is? It has become apparent to me over the past few months that almost everyone in the sport compact scene is aware of carbon fiber as it explodes in popularity. It is being used to manufacture everything from the popular hoods to even fenders and interior pieces now. But another thing that became apparent is that although many enthusiasts are aware of it, very few actually know what it is. Well in this month’s column we will discuss where carbon fiber came from, the properties of the material, and how it is used.

Carbon fiber has been around for over fifty years with its earliest history in the aerospace and military industries. It was normally reserved to these industries as the costs of manufacturing carbon fiber were sky high, and cost consideration is low in these two industries. Only in recent years has production of carbon fiber climbed, therefore lowering the price and making its use more widespread.

Carbon fiber can be produced in one of two ways. These are “wet” lay-up and pre-impregnated lay-up processes. The “wet” process has been used since the beginning of composites. It creates molded shapes from glass or carbon fiber and resin. Do-it-yourselfers use this practice extensively as it is the least labor intensive and expensive money wise. When manufactured in the “wet” lay-up, dry fibers are laid into a mold and resin is poured onto them. The resin is then brushed over the fibers in a relatively uncontrolled manner. Resin is added in layers and layers until the desired thickness is achieved. If this process is not performed correctly the fibers can become saturated with resin which causes added weight, and reduced strength and stiffness. This method can also create inconsistent products as certain areas are saturated and others are not thick enough.

Pre-impregnated lay-up has been refined over the past 20 years to create better products with more predictable results. In this method the fibers are pre-impregnated with resin at the factory. It is then rolled onto spools and then frozen to prevent the material from curing too quickly. Materials made by this method are typically 20-30% stronger than “wet” laminate of the same thickness. Pre-impregnated lay-up materials can be cured in one of two ways: vacuum bag compaction and also vacuum bag compaction plus an auto clave. The composite is placed under vacuum bag compaction and is placed into an oven. The resin will then solidify or “glass.” When the autoclave is used it essentially pressure cooks the fibers. The maximum allowable temperature of the cured laminate is used and the continuous temperature is lower. It is normally is between 250 and 350 degrees.

Automakers first began experimenting with carbon fiber in the 1970s. Ford even built an entire car out of carbon fiber composites in 1977. In the 1990s GM manufactured a concept car out of carbon fiber that got 100mpg. The motivation for automakers is to produce vehicles with lower emissions, lighter weight, lower cost and better fuel economy. The problem carbon fiber has presented though in the past is its astronomical price compared to other materials. At one point, it cost $100 per pound versus .40 cents for steel. Nowadays though, the prices are hovering somewhere in the $5-$10 price range and it is making many other industries experiment with the material. Many enthusiasts purchase carbon fiber products solely for the looks, but they offer other benefits as well. Carbon fiber reinforced materials perform at higher rates for strength versus steel and aluminum.

So the next time you think about purchasing a carbon fiber hood or other products, you will know how to investigate the manufacturing of the product to make sure you are getting what you are paying for. Carbon fiber is just getting started with a bright future ahead.

_________________

Jason Helferich

www.streetstylecustoms.com

Comments Off

Whenever there’s an accident, the first thing that has a
probability of breaking is the windshield. Even a small crack
can often spread across your area of vision or it can spread
into the inner layer of your windshield, which is a plastic
layer sandwiched between the two glass layers. Even a small
stone can cause extensive damage.

Whenever such a situation occurs, the first thing that arises in
our mind is which option we should choose - repair or
replacement. If we go for repair rather than the replacement
then certainly we can save some money. Modern windshields have
been designed to be repairable. Nowadays special injections are
coming into the automobile glass market that contain a special
resin which is injected into the damaged area using unique tools
that attach directly to the glass.

Some chips or crack may react successfully to the repair whereas
some may not. Windshield repair is like first aid. If you leave
a crack and do not fix it, then it may cause more severe damage
and the condition of the windshield can get much worse.

If a tiny size chip is just in front of your driving seat, then
a quick repair is must as this may hinder your vision.
Windshield repair can be quarter sized or up to 3 inches long.
But some advance techniques can repair up to 12 inches long
cracks. For more than 12-inch cracks, only replacement is
suggested.

Major thing that needs to be considered is the location and size
of the damage. If damage is at the edge of the windshield then
it will spread fast and will destroy the integrity of the glass.
If any edge damage is found then repair it soon. It will save
the life of your windshield.

Some of current techniques do no repair those cracks that
directly come into the view of driver’s line of sight because a
small distortion may still left behind. In that case replacement
would be a wise decision. Cost of the repair is entirely
depending upon the damage of the windshield. If the cracks are
quite long or around 12 inches then charges will be higher.

Certainly if you go for replacement then your insurance company
may not pay you the entire replacement amount but in case of
repair they may pay the total expenditure. So repair is a more
economical process.

Windshield repair or replacement is totally depending upon the
size and location of the damage and cracks. So, before going for
any of these options just consult a glass specialist who can
examine your shield and suggest if a repair will work or not. If
damage from an accident is quite big then do not compromise your
life, as you know better that windshield replacement is a
necessity. Just bear in mind that your life is more valuable
than anything else.

Comments Off

I need a car. I’ve been a pedestrian for too long. I need
information. I’ll hop on the web. Search for “car buying
guides.” Whoa! Over 15 million sites/pages! Refine my search.
“Free first time car buyer guides” and narrow it down to only 4
million. That’s about as refined as I can get right now. Look
over the first page of my results, chose some links with names I
recognize. Open some pages. Lots of interesting articles. Let’s
see if I can pull together a cohesive list.

What type of vehicle do I need? Notice I wrote “need” not want?
I want a cool car, but this is a major investment and cool
doesn’t really last that long. Do I buy new or used? What kind
of driving am I really going to be doing, and in what kind of
conditions? How much can I reasonably spend for monthly
maintenance? How much can I spend on a loan or lease payment?
Should I buy from a dealer, an auction or private sale? How’s my
credit rating? Where should I buy insurance? Lots of questions
to answer, and probably some I haven’t included here.

Before you search for that cool car,” decide exactly what your
needs and wants are. Don’t buy what you want, buy what you need.
Don’t get into a cash bind because you spent more than you can
really afford because the “cool” factor fades fast but those
monthly payments continue. Review your budget to determine how
much you can really afford. That means not only the car payment,
but insurance and an estimate of your monthly maintenance (gas,
oil, etc.) Check your credit so you have an idea of what type of
loan you can qualify for. Decide on a firm price (payment or
full-purchase), because dealers and salespeople will be doing
their best to get more out of you. Be firm and stick to your
dollar amount. If financing, decide on a realistic maximum
payment you can make. If possible, check with your bank to see
what type of loan you qualify for.

With the internet, it’s now much easier to compare vehicles.
Take the time to check out some websites that offer information
about vehicles and compare. Don’t just rush out and buy the
first car you see. Remember, your vehicle is a major investment
and unless you can change vehicles every year, this car will
probably have to last you 4 or 5 years. Be choosy. Look at the
pictures, sure, but READ the information. Check to see if the
dealership offers web discounts (that is, if you buy from them
they will offer some discount for using the web).

Educate yourself about vehicle pricing. Dealerships have to make
a profit; otherwise they would not be in business! Simple
economics. Dealers will negotiate, but YOU have to be prepared
as well. The dealers and salespeople know their bottom line on
any vehicle. Again, check the web for information regarding
pricing. Ask family and friends to help you learn about vehicle
pricing. There are many factors that most people don’t even know
about.

Make certain you qualify for insurance. Check out your state’s
department of motor vehicles website and learn the minimum
insurance necessary. Check around the web and you’ll find many
major insurance companies with rate comparison features. Use
those resources. Be very aware that your past driving record
will affect your rates, but also if you are a first time buyer,
be ready for slightly higher rates to begin with. After all, the
insurance company is really gambling on your not making any
claims against the insurance. Think about the type of driving
you will be doing and review the “extras” offered by the
insurance provider. Also, the type of vehicle you are looking to
purchase will affect your rates as well. Older cars usually mean
less safety features, so rates will be higher. Your vehicle
insurance is just as important as your health insurance.

A short note here about car dealerships (and not just the new
vehicle showroom guys). I personally have not had good results
buying from a private seller. Way too many variables and
basically no recourse if something isn’t right. Dealers have
certain rules and restrictions they must comply with, such as
title registration time limits, the lemon law, and the “buyers
remorse” (3 day changed my mind) rules. Dealerships must be
licensed and follow the laws; private sellers often don’t.
Dealerships also can provide a wider range of options than a
private seller. Go to your state motor vehicle or department of
licensing website and educate yourself. What you don’t know can
hurt you.

Also, there is a list called the Customer Service Index (or
something similar) which each car maker maintains for
dealerships. The ranking indicates who a dealership satisfies
customers not only in sales, but also in service. Basically, go
to the manufacturer’s website, search for customer service index
and then navigate the website to find that manufacturer’s
criteria for a great dealership. Yes it takes time, but this is
a major investment. Family and friends can help here as well.

Once you have decided what type of vehicle you want, and which
dealerships you want to check out (always try at least 2
dealerships, don’t just settle on one!), take someone with you,
preferably someone knowledgeable about the vehicle you have
chosen (a family member or friend you feel comfortable with).
That person will probably ask some questions you didn’t think
of! I’m a wimp when it comes to negotiating, but my hubby isn’t,
and he knows about cars. I let him do most of the questioning,
even though I was the one purchasing the car. Believe me, it
helped, because he asked questions I really never thought about.

Last, but certainly not least, TEST DRIVE THE CAR! Sounds
simple, but it is very important. Just because you found what
looks like the car of your dreams, it may still not be right.
You need to be comfortable behind the wheel, your sight lines
should be clear, you should be able to judge your surroundings
based on the size of the vehicle, and you should be able to find
all those little areas of vehicle maintenance you can do
yourself.

Remember, a vehicle is a major investment. It should be chosen
with care and deliberate thought. There a many factors to
consider and, ultimately, you are the one that has to pay for
any mistakes in your choice.

Comments Off