3 Reasons You Need a Truck Bed Cover

When it comes to raw utility, few vehicles can compare to the pickup truck. With large, open spaces for cargo, tools and just about everything in between, pickups make it easy to get the job done where other transportation methods often fall short. One of the more popular ways to expand a truck’s capability is to add a cover or camper shell to its bed, which can enhance the security of your cargo while also protecting it from the elements. Some cover types are even said to reduce wind drag which collects in an open pickup bed, meaning you might even stand to enjoy better fuel efficiency as well.

Tonneau and similarly styled truck bed covers are available in a range of colors and configurations, making it easy to achieve the look and performance you desire. Depending on your specific needs, you can find covers which roll up or fold up, as well as rigid styles which hinge open. Many of these types of covers offer locking security, providing you with peace of mind when you leave belongings in your truck bed unattended. This can be a true game-changer for professionals who spend most of their time traveling in their work trucks.

Another key benefit of covering your truck bed is improved defense against harsh elements. Whether you’re transporting tools and work-related equipment or headed home from the grocery store, nasty weather and an uncovered truck bed can spell disaster. A good quality cover is what you need to lock out wind, moisture and other potentially harmful influences. They’re also effective when it comes to protecting belongings from the effects of prolonged sunlight and UV exposure.

On the subject of wind, there has been much discussion about the potential benefits pickup covers offer with regard to gas mileage. As you travel, wind sweeps over the top of your truck cab and down into its bed, collecting against the tailgate and creating a dragging effect. By installing a cover which is flush with the upper walls of the truck bed, or even with the cab itself, your vehicle is better able to shrug off this hindrance, possibly affording you savings on fuel over the course of ownership.

When examining the overall value of installing a new truck cover or camper shell for your pickup, it’s hard to argue the benefits. These accessories provide the security and elemental protection which is naturally absent in most standard pickups, and when factoring in the potential fuel savings as well, the choice is clear.

To learn more about pickup shells in Murrieta, please visit this website.

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3 Reasons To Buy a Truck Rack

From work to play, trucks are very useful vehicles. When they are modified with the addition of a truck rack, you receive extra utility, storage and safety options. Truck racks are highly versatile and can store and secure a large variety of items. Here are3 common uses of truck racks:

1.Additional organizational storage for your work equipment and supplies

From ladders for painters, roofers and other trades, and lawn equipment like weed eaters and hedge trimmers, truck racks offer safety and convenience. They can also work well for construction materials or other supplies to add increased storage space.

2. Convenient storage for sporting equipment

Longer items such as canoes, kayaks, paddleboards and surfboards can be secured easily on a truck rack for short day trips or long vacations.

3. Stability for bicycles and motorcycles

Keep your bicycles and motorcycles safe and secure with solid racks for all your riding needs.

Whether it is a work day or a day to relax and have fun, truck racks have the ability to serve multiple convenient functions and add utility to your truck. You get extra storage capability for work supplies, sporting equipment and more. For more information about purchasing a truck rack in San Diego, visit this website. 

Built-in Utility

Securing cargo in your truck doesn’t necessarily require full bed covers. This built-in tool box is a perfect solution to safely lock away tools while still keeping the truck’s bed open for other needs.

How to Make Your Job Easier by Buying a Cargo Carrier

Your truck is a vehicle for getting things done. To maximize the utility of your work vehicle, consider adding a cargo carrier.

Maximize Your Workhorse

A cargo carrier or truck rack adds the following benefits:

• Carry more and larger equipment
• Keep cargo more secure
• Unload cargo more easily
• Protect back of cabin
• Make driving safer for all on the road

With a good truck rack, your cargo capacity is increased substantially, so that you can carry more things, including lumber, pipes and other longer items, which would otherwise require you to drive unsafely with your tailgate down. Your equipment can also be held more securely in a rack, preventing it from jostling around in the truck bed, falling backward into other vehicles or flying forward through the back of your cabin window.

Not Just for Business

A cargo carrier is not only useful for work. Rack systems come in a variety of styles for different vehicles. A roof rack on your SUV can be an indispensable addition for bringing along everything you need on your cross-country road trip.

No matter what the situation, a good rack will make your life easier by saving you trips as you haul more gear and do so more safely. Visit this website to learn more about cargo carriers in Clairemont Mesa.

How to Help Kids Get In Safer

Tall vehicles can be a challenge for young children to get into. For an extra boost, consider adding a step bar to your truck, SUV or crossover.

Step Bars Add Safety

Also known as a nerf bar, running board or side tube, a step bar adds an extra platform below the door, allowing for easier access into or out of a vehicle. Built to be sturdy and solid, bars and boards make for safer entry and exit for shorter individuals and the elderly, yet they can support great weights and stand up to any weather, offering good traction and stable footing even in wet conditions. You can also get boards that light up when the door is open, so that you can more easily find your step at night.

More Benefits of Step Bars

These bars can even protect your truck from other vehicles on the road, providing a small barrier to prevent a passing car from making contact with your door or tires. In the parking lot, a nerf bar can guard the side of your vehicle against others carelessly swinging their doors open next to you.

A quality step bar adds function and style to your truck. Most importantly, it makes for a safer ride for your kids. Visit this website to find out more about truck step bars in San Diego.

Able Accessories

A soft tri-fold Tonneau truck bed cover provides added security and protection for cargo while still providing quick, easy access for virtually any user.

Common Truck Parts You Need to Finish the Job

Your truck should be your most dependable vehicle for any job. A few common parts and accessories on the inside and outside can make it safer, more capable and more comfortable.

Top It Off

Complete the look and function of your truck with a stylish topper:

• Truck caps
• Camper shells
• Tonneau covers

A cap or shell over the bed creates a larger and more versatile space, while an easy-to-install tonneau adds a convenient retractable cover to provide the bed more security and protection against the elements.

Enhance the Exterior

Increase the utility, durability or safety of your truck with additions to the exterior:

• Running boards
• Truck racks
• Spray liner
• Hood shields
• Vent visors
• Fog lights
• Hitches
• Winches

Add accessibility with running boards, carrying capacity with a rack system and extra bed protection with some spray liner. Shields, visors and lights can preserve visibility in difficult conditions. A hitch will help your hauling capabilities, while a towing winch is an essential tool when you are in a pinch.

Improve the Interior

Some interior accessories can make the most of the space inside or simply make it more livable:

• Seat covers
• Floor mats
• Toolboxes

Make sure your truck is equipped with all the essentials to take on any task. Visit this website for more on truck parts in Murrieta.

When to Get Your Struts Checked

 

Your vehicle’s struts are vital to keeping you safe on the road. Part of the suspension system, they are responsible for supporting the weight of the car or truck, acting as shock absorbents and providing balance for a smooth ride. If your struts are not in good condition, your vehicle will be bouncing uncomfortably over the slightest bumps.

Signs That You May Need New Struts

If your car is exhibiting any of the following symptoms, then it is time to get your struts checked:

• Hydraulic fluid leaking from struts
• Noise when steering
• Uneven tire wear or tire cupping
• Vehicle dips forward when braking
• Vehicle bottoms out over bumps

Not all symptoms are easily noticeable. Because struts wear down gradually, you may unknowingly adjust your own driving habits over time to the subtle changes in vehicle handling. Consult a professional mechanic if you suspect a problem, if your vehicle has suffered any collision damage or if your current struts are approaching 50,000 miles of use.

Don’t Wait Until It Is Too Late

Good struts are essential to your car’s handling. Bad ones can be a legitimate safety concern. At a minimum, worn struts can accelerate the wear and tear on your tires and other parts of your car, so it is important not to neglect them. For more information about car strut replacement in San Diego, visit this website.

Get an Excellent Brake Job Service

 

When your brakes need a little attention, you want to make sure they are being taken care of by the best. Shoddy workmanship will create more problems than it will solve.

The Importance of Getting Your Brake Pads Replaced

 

Your brakes are one of the most critical parts of your vehicle. The most basic and all-important safety system of any car or truck, the brakes are necessary to slow down or bring the vehicle to a stop. Their effectiveness decreases, however, as the brake pads gradually wear down with repeated use, so it is vital that you regularly maintain them.

Warning Signs That Your Brake Pads Need Replacing

Pay careful attention to any of the following signs that your brake pads may need replacing:

• Squealing or grinding noises when braking
• Brake pedal sinks lower before engaging
• Brake pedal is slow to release
• Pulsing or vibration in the brake pedal or steering wheel
• Vehicle pulls to one side

If you experience any of the above, then you should take care to have your brakes examined as soon as possible. Brake pad replacement is a routine service, but the longer you wait to address the problem, the likelier it becomes to damage the rest of your vehicle, to say nothing of the safety hazard posed.

Don’t Take Chances With Your Brake Pads

Faulty brake pads put your life, the lives of your passengers and those of your fellow drivers in danger. Brake pads inevitably wear down over time, but proper care will keep your vehicle running safely. Visit this website for more information about brake pad replacement in Pacific Beach.

Reasons Your Alignment Should Be Straight

 

A standard item in the routine maintenance of your vehicle should be the wheel alignment. Properly aligned wheels keep your car running straight, so that it doesn’t drift to one side when the steering wheel is centered.

When your wheels are not properly aligned, your vehicle will pull to one side, requiring you to constantly correct your steering. In addition to taxing your concentration while driving, this results in uncomfortable friction on the road, increased wear and tear on your tires and added expenditures of fuel. In the worst-case scenario, poor alignment can cause your vehicle to swerve out of your control.

Benefits of Proper Wheel Alignment

Having your wheels properly aligned provides several benefits:

• Reduces wear and tear on tires
• Reduces resistance on the road
• Optimizes vehicle handling
• Improves gas mileage
• Ensures safety and stability

In addition to providing a better driving experience, proper wheel alignment pays dividends, as it will extend the life of your tires and suspension and also save you money on gas.

When to Have Your Alignment Checked

It’s a good idea to have your wheel alignment checked regularly, including any time your tires or suspension are receiving service, any time your vehicle has been involved in a collision and any time you experience difficulty with steering or handling. For more information about tire alignment in San Diego, visit this website.

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Common Issues With CV Joints

 

CV joints are a crucial component to any vehicle that utilizes front-wheel drive. Many other types of vehicles use this part, and if you notice problems with the overall function of your car, then the issue could lie with the joint.

Cracked Protective Boot

One of the most typical problems that occur with a CV joint is that the protective boot begins to crack. This break allows moisture and dirt to enter the joint, which in turn causes the component to become worn out much quicker than it would normally. If you take your vehicle into a mechanic regularly, then he or she will be able to spot any premature damage.

Joint Completely Fails

As soon as the crack is discovered, it needs to be fixed immediately. Drivers who continue to drive with a faulty CV joint risk total failure. If your CV joint is unable to operate, then your car will be completely inoperable. Rather than waiting for this to happen, you should take a proactive approach to your vehicle and get any problems sorted out before they escalate into something much worse.

In many circumstances, simple repairs can be carried out instead of having to replace the entire part. To learn more about CV joint repair in Pacific Beach, visit this website for useful information.

3 Signs Your Muffler Needs Attention

Mufflers are important to the proper function of your vehicle. You should be constantly vigilant to see if there are any problems with your muffler, so you know when to get it repaired or replaced.

Strange Odors

If you start smelling something awful inside your vehicle or if you see fumes being emitted, then your muffler likely requires attention. Not only is the smell unpleasant but it can also be dangerous to your overall health.

Strange Sounds

A vehicle that starts up and creates noises within the engine needs prompt care. Noises that are not as smooth as usual or are louder indicate that the muffler is having problems. If you want to be certain the muffler is the culprit, have someone stand outside your car while you start up the engine. They should pay attention to the muffler to see if it acts bizarrely.

Burning Through Gas More Quickly

You should pay attention to the mileage you get out of a full tank of gas. If you are not getting the amount you should be getting, then the issue could lie with a malfunctioning muffler. Calculate your mileage to make sure you are getting your money’s worth and then get your muffler checked out.

These problems could indicate an issue with the muffler or something else entirely. For peace of mind, get your vehicle checked out when there are any strange occurrences. You can also visit this website to find a great muffler repair shop in La Jolla.

Get an Alignment When Your Vehicle Drives Improperly

 

Routine alignments are necessary so that your car continues to drive correctly. Any changes in the quality of driving should be examined promptly, so an alignment can be acquired.

Hear, Hear: Signs That Your Muffler is Bad

Most modern vehicles are so complicated that you need to consult the owner’s manual just to be able to turn on the stereo. Your vehicle’s muffler, though, is still pretty simple, even though it plays a vital role in the vehicle’s exhaust system. When a muffler goes bad, you not only may hear funny noises issuing forth from the back of your vehicle, but you may also be exposed to harmful exhaust gases. Consider these signs that your muffler may need replacing.

Certain noises may be your first clues that you need a new muffler. Unless you drive a muscle car with a muffler that gives off a perpetual growling sound, an exhaust system in good repair is usually fairly quiet. If you notice that your muffler is louder than it has been in the past, such a noise could signal that your muffler has a hole. A damaged muffler not only increases the decibel level of your vehicle, but it also may allow potentially harmful fumes, including carbon monoxide. Additionally, many municipalities have noise ordinances, and a noisy muffler might get you a large fine.

Other noises, perhaps not so obvious, also may signal that your muffler is bad. A rattling noise that you have not heard before can be a sign of a potentially serious problem. Such a sound may mean that your vehicle’s exhaust system is misaligned or loose, and you certainly do not want part of your exhaust system to fall off while you and every driver around you are driving at speeds of 70 miles per hour on a busy highway. Rattles need to be checked out by a qualified mechanic or exhaust specialist right away.

Likewise, unusual ticking noises can signal that a muffler may need to be replaced. Now, a ticking sound coming from underneath your vehicle is normal, especially when you park it after driving for awhile, because hot metal components of the exhaust system make a kind of ticking noise as they cool down. However, if you hear a new or different ticking sound that you have never heard before, the new noise could signal a problem in your vehicle’s exhaust system such as a loose exhaust manifold.

These are the major audible symptoms that your vehicle’s muffler may need to be replaced, and they should be checked by an exhaust system specialist. For more information from a muffler repair shop in La Jolla, visit this website.