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Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles on many topics including Automotive, Real Estate, and Business
December 17, 2007
Every season when you take your snowplow out of storage you should follow these guidelines to prepare your plow for the upcoming winter.
First off, you should be intimately familiar with every component of your snowplow; this will save you a lot of aggravation later. Read through your owner’s manual thoroughly and educate yourself about the maintenance procedures and operational guidelines. The manual will also give you a list of parts and diagrams, tips for snowplowing, and a troubleshooting guide that will help you figure out any problems.
You should be prepared for potential problems that could occur when you’re out plowing. Make sure you have a fire extinguisher, first aid kit, tool kit, tow strap, flares, flashlight, fuses for your vehicle, jumper cables, ice scraper and deicer, a shovel and a bag of sand or salt. You should also always have warm clothes such as insulated boots and long underwear, a warm winter jacket, gloves, sunglasses and a cell phone.
You should also have an emergency parts kit for your snowplow that includes extra hydraulic fluid and hoses, a pump solenoid, extra cutting-edge bolts and a trip spring. Be sure to check your vehicle’s tire pressure; also check the vehicle’s engine belts for any cracks and for tightness. Check the vehicle’s fluid levels and keep your gas tank filled. You’ll also need to check the battery as wet conditions and salt from the roads can corrode the connections. Always keep in mind that subzero temperatures in the winter can really do a number on your vehicle so you have to pay attention to these maintenance items even more.
Having good visibility is vital so you want to be sure that your windshield washer fluid is full and wipers are in good working order. You also want to be sure that your defrosters are working correctly. Check your lights to be sure they are all in working order. You may want to consider adding a strobe light if you don’t already have one. A flashing strobe light will make you more visible to others while you are on the job.
To improve traction, you’ll need to add ballast to the rear of your vehicle. Each snowplow manufacturer publishes a ballast chart so be sure you take the time to counter balance your vehicle to improve your traction.
During the plowing season you should check your snowplow often. Be sure to examine bolts for tightness and make sure that none of the welds have cracks. You also want to be sure that the hydraulic hoses do not have leaks and make sure that your snowplow lights and turn signals are always working properly.
Make sure that you inspect the plows’ cutting edge and the plow shoes. Not maintaining your plow and letting the cutting edge get over worn can result in costly repairs.
If you follow these guidelines when you take your plow out of storage this season, everything will run as smooth as the paths you will plow.
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Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as Boss Snow Plows at http://www.bossplow.com
Over the last couple of decades the snowplow industry has changed a lot, mainly due to the introduction of several new products that make snowplowing easier, faster, and safer.
The introduction of these new products is a two edged sword; yes it makes things easier, but at the same time it also makes the process of deciding on a snowplow a little more involved. Some of the things that you have to consider include the following:
Should I buy a straight-blade or multi-position snow plow? Does it matter if the blade is steel or poly? How easy is it to attach and detach the plow? Are the hydraulics dependable and are the controls easy to use? Does the product have bright enough lights? Is there a good warranty on the plow? These are some of the things you want to know beforehand and we will endeavor to give you as much information as possible to get you started.
For most people who are just using the unit for clearing their own driveway, a straight-blade will more than likely be just fine, but if you use it to make money then you’ll want to be able to do the job quick and efficiently, so you may want to go with the multi-position. Multi-position plows are up to 50% faster due to the fact that you can reposition the blades to all straight-blade positions in addition to the scoop and V positions. This makes the plow adaptable to nearly any job you need to do.
When it comes to the composition of the blade you have the choice between steel and poly. The vast majority of snowplows on the market today come with steel blades, although the poly plows are becoming more and more popular. The reason for the growing popularity is that poly is just as strong as steel and maybe stronger. They also have a lower coefficient of friction, which saves on fuel costs and is easier on your vehicle. The poly plows are also saturated with color all the way through so nicks and scratches don’t show like they do with steel, plus they don’t rust.
Attaching and detaching the plow is very important as well. You don’t want to be freezing and trying to deal with getting a blade on and off your truck. Try the attachment system for yourself at the dealer so you can see firsthand how easy or difficult it is to use.
Most snowplow makers use a single halogen light bulb, which are not bright enough; some makers have come out with dual halogen bulbs with the option of upgrading to High Intensity Discharge. These HID lights are four times brighter than standard halogen bulbs and also last ten times as long.
Hydraulics are probably the most important part of the plow, along with the controls. Be sure that the hydraulics system is dependable and the controls are simple and easy to use. Go for quality since the old adage, ‘you get what you pay for’ definitely applies here.
When it comes to the warranty be sure to know exactly what you are getting and what the warranty covers. Some only cover parts, while others cover parts and labor. Warranties are usually either one year or two years; so pay attention to the warranty.
Take all of these things into consideration when shopping for a snowplow and you will be able to choose the right one to suit your needs.
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Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as Boss Snow Plows at http://www.bossplow.com
November 23, 2007
Toyota?s growing popularity hasn?t been without controversy. No, the automaker doesn?t have much of a quality issue to contend with and, no Toyota isn?t likely to begin losing market share anytime soon. Yet, there is one area where the Japanese automaker has a bit of a perception problem and that has to do with styling. Of course Toyota vehicles aren?t ugly but there are few models being built today that are truly exciting. All that is now beginning to change as Toyota releases several head turning models including the latest rendition of its popular Camry sedan and one of its newest models, the FJ Cruiser. Keep reading and we?ll take a glance at just how Toyota is breaking one mold by breaking new ground.
Maybe it was the success of the Nissan Xterra or perhaps it was the desire to recapture past glory [or something in between] but Toyota?s decision to build the FJ Cruiser may not have been an easy one. With a line up filled with various trucks and SUVs, the proposed FJ Cruiser would not only be competing against the Jeeps and Land Rovers of the world, but with some of its own models including the car based Highlander and the versatile, truck based 4Runner. Still, the model was thought to stand a chance for two reasons: the FJ Cruiser is a retro-styled vehicle taking its design cues from the FJ40 of the 1960s/1970s and for its 5 passenger seating capacity: just the right sized vehicle that consumers would want to take off roading.
Yes indeed the FJ Cruiser is one beast with an attitude and an effective competitor in a sea of SUVs. For the money, this is what you get with the standard model:
Land Cruiser style and versatility. As the original Land Cruisers were noted for their off road prowess, the FJ Cruiser matches its heralded relative by climbing over rocks, surging up hills, and navigating sandy terrain with relative ease.
Retro styling. Much like Chrysler, Ford and GM which have each successfully introduced and sold retro styled vehicles, the FJ Cruiser?s two tone body, restrained roofline, and painted black bumpers effectively combine the old model with the new.
Safety features everywhere. Available as a 4×2 or 4×4, the FJ Cruiser comes with vehicle stability control and vehicle traction control along with ABS, brake assist, and electronic brake force distribution for added stopping capabilities. Add in optional driver and front passenger seat-mounted side airbags and side curtain airbags for front and rear passengers and the FJ Cruiser has riders thoroughly protected.
Dependable engine/transmission. Not to take too much of a risk with this model, Toyota snagged the same 4.0L engine powering the 4Runner and other Toyota trucks of its size and stuck it under the FJ Cruiser?s hood. A five speed automatic or six speed manual transmission helps the off roader triumph as it scales rocks or takes steep hills.
The interior of the FJ Cruiser is anything but austere, but it certainly doesn?t rise to the level of the overdone Land Cruiser, not a bad thing though. Power windows and door locks, keyless remote entry, and a six speed CD radio are some of the features found in this model. On the outside, 17 inch steel wheels do their part in helping the vehicle tow as much as 5,000 pounds. Whatever you choose not to tow can be stuck inside or carried on top; with the second seat folded down the FJ Cruiser?s ample storage area is tops in its class.
Best of all, the base FJ Cruiser retails for just over $21,000 with 4×4 versions selling for about $2,000 more. One drawback reported by consumers is dealer price gouging: some buyers are claiming that dealers are adding four to five thousand dollars to the sticker price of every FJ Cruiser sold.
Finally, if it is fuel efficiency you are seeking the FJ Cruiser just isn?t there. Average fuel economy of 20 mpg is not terrible, but it is not great either. Chances are if you are interested in a vehicle like the FJ Cruiser, then fuel economy will be one of your least concerns at least Toyota hopes so.
Truly it appears that Toyota has gotten the styling side of their house in order with this capable retro 4×4 vehicle as evidenced by strong sales in a vehicle segment that has been hit hard by high gasoline prices.
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Copyright 2006 ? Matthew C. Keegan is a freelance automotive writer covering products from the Tornado Fuel Saver to quality, wholesale priced Toyota parts.
November 22, 2007
Truck rental is huge in many ways, the trucks are most certainly big and the industry is huge. Millions of persons, families and companies relocate to a new home or office every year. Whether across town or across the country, renting a truck is the best and easiest option to transport your belongings.
The efficient truck rental companies can help you to relocate to any location with minimal stress and setbacks. You can find many rental services that offer moving truck rentals. If you need a truck rental there are some important points you should consider before you choose which truck rental service to work with.
Determine how much space you will need or how much space your belongings will take up. This is an important factor. Generally a roomful of household furniture will take up roughly five square feet of cargo space inside a truck. Call the truck rentals and inquire about their fleet of trucks for rent. Then you can choose a truck that will fit your belongings in one go. Return trips should be avoided as they are time consuming and costly.
Check the truck first before you agree to rent it. Make sure the truck can transport your properties safely. Truck rental companies also provides hand trucks, packing paddings, adhesive tapes, ropes, packing paper, mattress bags, padlocks, boxes etc at a nominal cost.
Make sure the truck is in good working condition. Also, familiarize yourself with the truck. Most of the rental trucks have air conditioning, FM radio, power steering, automatic transmission, power brakes, walk off ramps, lift gates etc and they are really comfortable.
When you have found the right truck, make sure that the documents, such as insurance, rental agreement, inspection sheet, driver trip report and other paperwork, are good. The rented trucks are often covered by roadside assistance. The internet websites of truck rental companies are full with information about types of trucks, prices etc. Most websites have a very user friendly interactive page where the pick up and drop off locations are mentioned. Online reservations and quoting rates are available on the sites.
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Louise Wasa always writes about valuable news & reviews.
A related resource is
Rent A Truck
Further information can be found at
Truck Rentals
October 23, 2007
Due to the problems in the truck wash industry of finding competent and hard-working labor more and more truck watches are going to semi robotic board even fully robotic equipment to clean the trucks. Unfortunately many of the truck drivers do not like the job that is produced by these robotic truck wash equipment machines.
Regarding the guys that make these kinds of equipment and the different manufacturers, well I am not going to bash anyone publicly; the industry is simply too small. I do give them a plug once in awhile, because it is my hope that one day the robotic truck wash equipment will be able to clean trucks better than human labor, because there is a severe crisis with truck wash labor these days.
Some of the robotic truck washing equipment looks fantastic, powder coated finish, high-tech look, but just because their equipment looks nice this not mean it will clean well. Now then, most of the robotic truck wash systems will wash a flat bus okay, not the Bobtails of 18-wheelers however, well at least not very well. Maybe some of this high-tech equipment will someday find itself on the moon cleaning mining equipment?
http://www.ezinearticles.com/?Lunar-Mining-Colony-and-Robotic-Equipment-Cleaning-Needs&id=132474
Let them put their stuff on the moon, just get it off of my planet? Just kidding. It seems that robotic truck wash equipment has a few more miles to go until he can clean 100% of the truck to the satisfaction of independent truck drivers without using hydrofluoric acid and other harsh chemicals that might damage the decals or turn the aluminum polished components of the truck white. And that is my truck wash tip for the day.
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‘Lance Winslow’ - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is a guest writer for Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington
In truck washing you want something, which works, does not break down, has good service to fix it, does not use too much water and is affordable considering the ROI. So addressing equipment is key, people come second. That is to say the people selling the equipment come second. Sure they might be professional, nice folks and what have you, but in reality does that really matter? You need the best equipment first and foremost.
Now then it does not pay to call the salesmen scoundrels or question their shifty eye syndrome, as in the end we all know that pragmatism is needed in the primate politics of this species. What can you expect to pay for a robotic system? Well a lot really and if it does all they say it can then it might be worth it? But chances are that $350K is not doable for you, unless it includes the building and such; ‘Turn Key’ if you will, if not well, you probably cannot go there. If it includes turn-key that might not be bad. Always remember ROI.
Also it behooves you to go and look at other robotic systems that are already in place and watched them watch and see what the quality is as the trucks come out. Are they acceptable? Will independent truck drivers and corporate company drivers be satisfied that the windows are not streaked in the vehicle is indeed actually clean. These are all considerations when thinking about purchasing robotic truck washing systems. Please consider this in 2006.
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‘Lance Winslow’ - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is a guest writer for Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington
Perhaps you have heard they are planning to build an Intercontinental Highway system, which goes through Texas and starts in Mexico and will go all the way to Canada. This is part of the North American Free Trade Agreement and the Canadian-American free trade agreement. It makes sense to have our economies working together rather than working apart and causing trade wars. It will be just like a many European Union only it will be a North American free trade union, which should help all three countries including our own.
Now then would it be a great place to put a truck wash on a gigantic highway Intercontinental tollway system? It seems when they build the giant Toll Way - Intercontinental Highway from Mexico to Canada thru Texas that someone might be able to build another truck wash on that road. That is to say if you can get in with the right group of folks and Texas kind of works that way any how.
How long until something like this is completed or until they break ground; probably 10 years out minimum, Although with the new DOT lady maybe sooner for ground breaking; hard to say? What kind of truck wash would you want to put in? Well it would have to be a very large facility to wash that number of trucks and it would be best if it was semi or fully automated and robotic. However we need to be careful with robotic truck wash equipment in the present period, because they’re not up to speed yet and do not perfectly watched the trucks; Perhaps in a few years.
For those who are in central Texas they might be reminded that the San Antonio fully automated robotic truck wash is still sitting vacant I believe, as it had some fully automated issues. Yes fully automated bothers me, truck drivers will not go for that really, well at least until these robotic truck wash his start doing a better job and I believe that technology is coming within the next few years and we shall see the first 100% robotic perfect truck wash capable units. Please consider this in 2006.
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‘Lance Winslow’ - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is a guest writer for Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington
If you are an independent truck driver and take very good care of your truck then you know how important is to get a good hand wash and to go to a truck wash which does not use hydrochloric acid. Indeed, I can understand how you feel if you have had your aluminum dulled or turned white due to the use of this chemical or other harsh chemicals.
Well regarding being up set, no one was more upset when one particular truck wash chain etched all my aluminum and turned it white with Hydrofluoric. My gosh, it took me months to get it back half way decent and I cancelled my entry at both Walcott and Kentucky Truck Shows, too bad that would have been good PR for our team (I run CarWashGuys.com) to come away with a prize.
You see, I had Magnesium Chloride all over my truck due to Michigan’s use there on the road for Ice, jerks. Can you believe they put it on the road in little clumps and let the trucks spread it around, then the DOT all year gives tickets out for corrosion violations?
Go figure, what a complete sham and perpetual money generator for that state against trucks. But I had to get it off and so I went to this certain truck wash chain rather than waiting to get to Southern, IL where I could have gotten a real truck wash? I guess I learned the hard way why the truck drivers have a slanderous name for this particular truck wash chain; Ouch?
http://www.carwashguys.com/blitz.html
Of course what would they know about Show Trucks? Oh well, you live and learn and I hope you can learn from my experience and not have to go to the same thing I did with you or show truck or specially polished independent operator truck. Please consider this in 2006.
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‘Lance Winslow’ - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is a guest writer for Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington
September 22, 2007
One of the greatest transportation projects to come along in the last 100 years in the United States has to be the plan for the new Texas court or superhighway. Now many people in Texas have no problem with the Texas court or highway, unless of course their property happens to be in the way and might become a victim of eminent domain.
Indeed Texas politics are filled with controversies over Eminent Domain, and so often full and fair market value was not paid, which is also an issue, if you will remember some of the baseball stadiums and controversies in TX. President Bush almost had an issue with that in his political career.
For those who do have it come thru their property, they might be able to work something very good out with it. I see all the issues and yet I know it is needed. NIMBY; Not in My Back Yard is a problem in this country so is; NOPE or Not On Planet Earth. And unfortunately the real issue is that everyone ties it all up in the courts and everyone loses.
The truth is that the Texas court or superhighway makes sense and we will need more of those in the United States as our nation grows to 420 million people by the year 2020. We will need bigger highways and freeways to move more freight and people and we need to get a move on and start building these projects now. Sure it is a massive undertaking, but if we don’t do that to you imagine the traffic gridlock in 20 years.
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