Car Camping Tips

If you love the outdoors and want to go camping but just need a few more creature comforts, read on.  This is a happy medium, not to be confused with “glamping” or hard-core camping. It’s an easier way to enjoy the great outdoors.

Even if you like to fly by the seat of your pants, a little preparation can make your trip much more enjoyable. Do a little reconnaissance about the area so you know what’s easily available and what you must bring or do without. When deciding on a campsite, investigate what amenities they have and their guidelines for campers. 

First of all, make sure essentials like a first aid kit, several flashlights or lanterns, extra batteries, bug repellant, sunscreen, collapsible chairs, plenty of garbage bags, disposable plates, utensils and cups are packed. Headlamps are a worthy investment for light so you have both hands free to do things after dark.

If activities like hiking, biking, canoeing or horseback riding are desired, search for popular places nearby. For fun around camp, pack a Frisbee, football or fishing rods. Don’t forget the guitar and other musical instruments. In case of rain, including things like a deck of cards and games for kids and adults can really make a difference while you wait it out.

Getting a good night’s rest is important, especially if you’re going to be doing activities. Pack a mat for under your sleeping bags or better yet, a blow up mattress. Battery operated and car charger inflators are available.  Prior to departure, set up your tent and sleeping arrangements to air it out, check for potential damage or missing equipment and make sure everything fits accordingly including pillows and blankets.

A good rule of thumb for any kind of travel is to bring earplugs and an eye mask. You never can tell what kind of neighbors you may have or what unexpected noises you may experience. On that note, if playing music is something that you’ll enjoy while cooking up dinner, please be mindful that sound travels much more in open spaces, so keep it moderate for your neighbors.  Too much noise may also deter wildlife from coming around.

Cooking can often be a highlight of the trip. For others eating out is preferable. Depending on your locale, it may be a way to enjoy some of the local flavor. Either way, you’ll still want to bring other provisions. Pack twice as much water as you think you’ll need. You’ll drink half; the rest will be required for cooking, cleaning, first aid and possibly even bathing. Since you don’t have to haul it anywhere by foot, this is not an area to skimp on as water shortage can have dire consequences.

Be prepared for hefty appetites to surface with the outdoor activities. Easy things to prepare over a campfire are pasta, rice, hot dogs or Italian sausages, anything on a stick really. Some things that don’t require cooking are cereal, milk, PB & J, bread, a variety of cheeses and cold cuts.  Snacks could include anything from olives, granola bars and trail mix to candy bars, cinnamon buns and potato chips. Of course, it’s simply NOT a camping trip without making s’mores. Ice down the food and beverage coolers well before departure.

Depending on where you are, critters tend to roam, especially at night, looking to raid your food. Do not ever take food into your tent. A common misconception is keeping provisions in your vehicle is a safe solution. If you’re in bear country. they’ve been known to break in and not only will your food disappear but your car will be damaged.  Some campsites have “bear boxes”.  If they don’t, hang your food at least 10 feet off of the ground.

Some campsites will have grills in which case you’ll need charcoal and lighter fluid.  For fire pits, collecting wood should be easy enough. Come prepared with kindling in case it’s damp. Pack several lighters and matches in various locations so if one is compromised by, say, weather, the others are still useable.

No matter what you may encounter during your adventure, hopefully these tips will help make your trip much more comfortable and less daunting. Be safe and have fun!

The Rise of Electrical and Green Vehicles. What do you think?

 

It was prophesied by cartoons and books that in the 21 century we would now be living in a world where flying cars existed. Technology however has not caught up as quickly as believed, but significant developments have been made in the green and electrical vehicle production. The majority of the vehicles that are out on the roads are gas-powered engines. Electrical vehicles are now beginning to become more popular with many different companies. With the rise of gas prices continuously over the years the introduction of green vehicles have become more popular among consumers. The question to ask now is how successful will these electrical vehicles be in the coming years?  

 

From standard companies to luxury vehicles, more companies are seeing the potential and growth that can come from the development of this new market. From a business standpoint, companies are noticing the power of the green effect and how many consumers are looking for a way to cut costs in their spending. The big picture to look at is how long will it take for consumers to see the potential of these vehicles. What do you think about electrical and green vehicles and do you believe it has the potential to change the automotive industry?

Finding a Fresh Christmas Tree

It’s days weeks before Christmas and you’re running around frantically.  The gifts are unwrapped, the food is unprepared and your Santa hat is nowhere to be found.  Stop.  Take a deep breathe and relax, we’re here to help.  Though we won’t be able to cook your holiday dinner, (we can make a mean roast, by the way) we will be able to help you with one of your dilemmas: finding the perfect Christmas tree. 

Finding the perfect tree starts with one simple rule: look for the green! According to Elwood Christmas Tree Farm owner Lee Itzler, the best way to test the health of an evergreen is to grab a branch of your Christmas tree-to-be and lightly scratch the stem. "If you see green, the tree will keep its needles longer."

Trees between 6 and 8 feet are always in high demand, taking between 8 and 10 years to grow 6 feet tall.  Once you pick out your tree, it’s best to put it inside of your car as opposed to on top.  Why? Itzer says: "Strapped on the roof, the trees get really beat up, wind burned, and desiccated. If you're a local delivery it really doesn't make a difference, but if you're going on the highway, then it should go in the car."  If you do have to put it on the roof, put the trunk facing into the wind.

Once your tree is home safe and sound, it’s time to get a good stand with heavy water retention.  The tree will soak up a lot of water over the course of the next couple days, so make sure to keep the stand full.  Viola! Your tree skills have improved this year! 

How do you retain your tree over the holiday season?  Let us know below!

Learning to Read a Car Tire

 

In our blog entries, we like to provide insight on options that can simplify your life when it comes to your vehicle.  In today’s instance, we’re going to provide you with tips on how to read a tire.  Knowing how to read your tire can provide detailed information like the type of vehicle, if they’re seasonal, the speed rating, temperature resistance, as well as the width and diameter of the tire.

Read the manufacturer and the tire name.  These are easy! They are printed in large letters toward the outside of the tire.  With more than 100 tire manufacturer’s it might be hard to pinpoint the perfect one for your vehicle.  By contacting our service department, we can help you find a perfect fit.  The tire name might just be a combination of numbers and letters following the manufacturer name.

Width and aspect ratio.  This is a sequence of numbers near the center of the tire.  They would look something like www/aa/SCrr or www/aaCrr.  The first series of 3 numbers tells width in millimeters (from 155 to 315).  The 2 numbers after the slash show the aspect ratio of the tire.

The prefix in front of the width and aspect ratio drtermine type.

LT – Light truck

P – Passenger

BP – Cosmetically Blemished Passenger

ST – Steel Radial

The load index is the tire size's relative load carrying capabilities. The higher the load index number, the larger load carrying capacity.

The Z,W, and Y ratings are for tires that have extremely high top-speed capabilities.

The cold inflation numbers are near the inner edge of the tires.  This tells you the pressure the tire should be at to optimize performance.

If you have any further questions, please contact us at the dealership for more info!

Full Size Remote Racing Car? There’s An App for That

We’re HUGE fans of technology. At the dealership, our lives revolve around the constant shift and change of our vehicle lineup as more technological advances make our vehicles even more cutting edge than their existing models. Like kids in a candy store, we perfect our craft, getting to know each vehicle in and out.

In today’s blog, we found out that an automotive engineer that shares our passion for cars has taken it to the next level by teaming up with a mobile phone game developer to create the first ever full-sized remote racing car driven remotely by…you guessed it: a smartphone.

As part of a promotion for the new Sony Experia smartphone Dr. Brighton, the automotive engineer, turned two roadsters into giant remote control cars.

"The primary challenge is trying to create an interface that someone can actually drive a car with in a similar manner to the way they drive the game," he said. Martin Noriander, co-founder of Pixelbite, challenged English technology journalist Hunter Skipworth to a race at Bentwaters, an abandoned RAF air base about 130km northeast of London.”

Both cars made it through the course unscathed, with Skipworth winning by a hair. "I never thought I would end up using a phone to control a car," Skipworth said.

Self-driving cars? Wow, the future is here! Tell us what you think below.

A new smartphone app that allows you to control a full-size vehicle? You would have to read our blog to believe it!

If you missed our blog entry earlier about an app that can control a full sized car, you can check it out here:

Have Road Rage? Find Out in Our Quiz

When I was a young boy, I remembered a phrase my mother used to tell me on occasion.  She would begin to speak loudly, pause to look at me and say “earmuffs”.  At that moment, I would press my hands over my ears, drowning out the onslaught of curse words that proceeded to leave her mouth.  The more the vein pulsed on her neck, the more feverishly she would curse. This happened most often in the car when one of two occasions occurred: One, she was cut off by another driver, or two someone did something completely reckless, putting our lives in danger.  Road rage was funny to me then, but since those moments as a child, I’ve come to understand its power.  Do you have road rage?  Find out in a quiz courtesy of Progressive to find out if you fit the bill.

Yes or No, Do You ...

1. Overtake other vehicles only on the left?
2. Avoid blocking passing lanes?
3. Yield to faster traffic by moving to the right?
4. Keep to the right as much as possible on narrow streets and at intersections?
5. Maintain appropriate distance when following other motorists, bicyclists, motorcyclists, etc.?
6. Provide appropriate distance when cutting in after passing vehicles?
7. Use headlights in cloudy, rainy, and other low light conditions?
8. Yield to pedestrians?
9. Come to a complete stop at stop signs, before right turn on red, etc.?
10. Stop for red traffic lights?
11. Approach intersections and pedestrians at slow speeds to show your intention and ability to stop?
12. Follow right-of-way rules at four-way stops?
13. Drive below posted speed limits when conditions warrant?
14. Drive at slower speeds in construction zones?
15. Maintain speeds appropriate for conditions?
16. Use vehicle turn signals for all turns and lane changes?
17. Make eye contact and signal intentions where needed?
18. Acknowledge intentions of others?
19. Use your horn sparingly around pedestrians, at night, around hospitals, etc.?
20. Avoid unnecessary use of highbeam headlights?
21. Yield and move to the right for emergency vehicles?
22. Refrain from flashing headlights to signal a desire to pass?
23. Drive trucks at posted speeds, in the proper lanes, using non-aggressive lane changing?
24. Make slow, deliberate U-turns?
25. Maintain proper speeds around roadway crashes?
26. Avoid returning inappropriate gestures?
27. Avoid challenging other drivers?
28. Try to get out of the way of aggressive drivers?
29. Refrain from momentarily using High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes to pass vehicles?
30. Focus on driving and avoid distracting activities (e.g., smoking, use of a car telephone, reading, shaving)?
31. Avoid driving when drowsy?
32. Avoid blocking the right-hand turn lane?
33. Avoid taking more than one parking space?
34. Avoid parking in a disabled space (if you are not disabled)?
35. Avoid letting your door hit the car parked next to you?
36. Avoid stopping in the road to talk with a pedestrian or other driver?
37. Avoid inflicting loud music on neighboring cars?

Score Yourself ...

Are you an Aggressive Driver or a Smooth Operator? Answering "No" to more questions means you're a more aggressive driver.

Number of "No" Answers	How You Rate as a Driver
1-3 4-7 8-11 12+	Excellent Good Fair Poor

How Your Engine Works (INFOGRAPHIC)

Ever wondered how an engine truly functions? Check out this animated info graphic that shows the complete running process for a gas and electrical engine: Infographic designed by Jacob O'Neal