Roll-up Style Tonneau Covers - A Buying Guide

Body Kits

Roll-up Style Tonneau Covers - A Buying Guide
Author: Will Mahoney
Roll-up tonneau covers have been around for years. You've see them on plenty of trucks. Maybe you like the look of them, maybe you don't. Either way, they're worth every penny. Let's go over why.

Cost
First and foremost, they are inexpensive. While a hard shell tonneau cover can sell for well over a thousand dollars, you can pick up most soft, roll-up style tonneau covers for just a few hundred dollars.

Shipping
And speaking of expense, don't forget about shipping. While many large items have to be shipped through a freight service (body kits, Fiberglass tonneau covers, hoods), your typical roll-up style, soft tonneau cover (due to its compact profile) fits in quite a small box and will ship through standard ground shipping service. And unlike larger, bulkier items, they can be expedited if need be.

Installation
Installation is easy too. Most, if not all roll-up style, soft bed covers install with no tools. They have easy-to-read, detailed step-by-step instructions that include photos and helpful tips on caring for your new cover. No friends? No worries. These soft tonneau covers can usually be installed piece-by-piece onto your bed without anyone's assistance. There's nothing bulky or unwieldy to hold onto. They really are quite simple to set up with most models installing in less than 30 minutes.

Security
Let's not forget about the protection factor here. The bed of your truck is for carrying cargo and other goodies and you don't want your goods getting rained on, or worse, stolen. Roll-up tonneau covers offer convenience unparalleled by other covers. They can be rolled up, out of the way when loading cargo, and rolled back down when loading is done. Also, when you've got larger items to transport in the back of your truck, the convenience of being able to just "roll" the cover out of the way is phenomenal. Just try bringing home that new refrigerator if you have anything but a roll-up tonneau on your bed.

Performance
Last but not least is the performance aspect of a roll-up tonneau cover. In today's economy and market, gas mileage (or lack thereof) is big news. If you install a tonneau cover on your bed, whether it be a soft tonneau cover, a hard bed cover, or any truck bed cover in between, you will see a marked increase in gas mileage. And don't think for a second that lowering your tailgate actually helps with gas mileage, it doesn't. The only thing that will really, truly help is to cover up that huge black hole of a bed with a nice, quality tonneau cover. The air comes over your hood and cab and then flows smoothly off the back of your truck for other people to deal with. You've got better things to worry about. Like what to buy next…

For more information, please visit stylinconcepts.com.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

Will Mahoney is an automotive junkie who lives in Cleveland, Ohio. He likes racing autocross and tinkering with trucks and cars. He currently writes online content and articles for Stylin Concepts , a leading retailer of truck accessories.

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Ready to Start Pimping Your Ride?

Body Kits

Ready to Start Pimping Your Ride?
Author: Christopher Smith
You dont have to be a custom car affecianoda to appreciate the hot cars in movies such as 2Fast 2 Furious. who wouldnt want to be behind the wheel of a suped up car, dragging that quarter mile of road? The adreneline rush is addictive.

Shows like MTV's Pimp My Ride have enjoyed a solid fan base and its not surprising. Who doesnt enjoy checking out a car transformed into a monster ride that is the envy of all?

Before you rush out and get your 1984 Chevy Chevette pimped out, you should consider a few things first:

Insurance
Your new ride is going to attract a lot of eyes. Unfortunately, not all of them will be the eyes you want on your car. Car theft, accidents and old fashioned jealousy resulting in scratches to your paint job all increase when you pimp your ride. Make sure that you check with your insurance company, and phone around for rates. No sense spending $10 000, only to find out that you cant afford to drive your car off the driveway.

Who's Touching Your Body
Just because they have a slick looking site with pictures of several hot cars, doesnt mean they did the work, or that you wont have to worry about your Lambo Doors falling off 6 months from now. Word of mouth is the best form of advertising for legit companies. If you find that people are talking about a certain local body shop, its worth your while to go and check them out. There is a reason why people are talking about them.

Price isnt everything. Like with most things, you get what you pay for. Just because a certain custom shop can do the job for half of what everyone else is quoting, doesnt mean you should go there. Do they have a good reputation? How long have they been in business? How long have they been installing body kits or vertical doors for?

Think Before You Buy
Before you go ahead with that change to the body of your car, consider what impacts that may have on the overall performance of your vehicle. Will it impact fuel effeciency?

Its A Gas
If you're complaining about the cost of gas right now, wait til you replace your engine with a more fuel efficient model that doenst take kindly to you filling up with the cheapest grade of fuel. Expect to pay a lot more for gas, and its not going to get any better until fuel cell technology finally becomes the norm. Consider a hybrid engine if it is available for your car. Remember, the cost of gas will continue to move higher, not lower.

Consider these tips before you go ahead to your local shop and have them complete an extreme makeover of your car. They will help you save money over the long haul.

Now you are ready to live life a quarter mile at a time.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

Pimp My Ride - Those words instantly bring images of supped up sports cars, renovated classics, and some pimped up rides from some of the most imaginative people around. Looking for some tips to pimp your ride? Look no further! You have found your home!

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Radio Controlled Cars – A Fun Hobby For All Ages

Kit Cars

Radio Controlled Cars – A Fun Hobby For All Ages
Author: David Shephard -
It doesn't matter if you are eight or eighty, if you love cars and enjoy tinkering about, then racing radio controlled cars can provide you with endless hours of fun and excitement. But there are hurdles that you have to cross before you get to the race track and, if you are a newcomer to the world of radio controlled cars then there are a number of things that you will need to think about.

Many people are amazed at just how exciting the world of radio controlled car racing has become in recent years with modern hobby cars reaching speeds of 60 mph and featuring complex suspension systems that can be tuned in much the same way as those of a real car. But perhaps the best feature of today's radio controlled cars is the wide variety of different vehicles available.

When the time comes to buy your first radio controlled car you will need to begin by considering three things:

1. Do you want to buy a ready-to-run vehicle or to build your own car from a kit?

There is no doubt that building your own car has many advantages, not least the fact that you will find it easy to maintain the vehicle and to make alterations to it if you choose to, but this is certainly not an easy option for the beginner. Although they are a little more expensive, for younger racers and to get you up and running quickly, you would probably be best advised to start with a ready-to-run car and then move on to building your own radio controlled car at a later date.

2. Do you want an on-road or an off-road vehicle?

On-road vehicles (on-road here refers to a smooth, paved surface rather than the road itself) are designed for speed and are clearly the option if you wish to race your car.

If, however, you are not principally concerned with racing then there are a wide variety of off-road vehicles available including trucks and buggies which can provide immense fun negotiating rough terrain, obstacle courses and even jumps.

3. Do you want an electric vehicle or a nitro powered car?

Electrically powered vehicles provide the simplest option and use rechargeable batteries. They are both clean and quiet but, for many hobbyists, they lack the realism that gives radio controlled car racing its true excitement.

Nitro powered vehicles, on the other hand, offer the sound (tuned pipe), sights (smoke) and smell (exhaust) of a real car. They do however require considerably more maintenance than their electric counterparts and this is something that the novice needs to take into consideration. Although the quality of nitro powered cars in the past left a lot to be desired, in recent years they have been greatly improved in terms of not only their performance but also their safety and reliability.

Having considered the options of ready-to-run or kit cars, on-road or off-road and whether you want an electric or nitro powered car, the next step is to visit your local supplier and take a look at the huge range of cars available.

Then its time for some practice before you head off to the race track.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

For more information on radio controlled cars and to pick up a free copy of the Beginner's Guide To Buying And Racing Radio Controlled Cars please visit NitroRadioControlledCars.com today.

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Pampering Your Car With Luxury

Body Kits

Pampering Your Car With Luxury
Author: Aurel Radulescu
Just as people enjoy being pampered from time to time, cars are no different. They work hard every day, are on call 24/7 and they also deserve a little R&R. The best way to replenish your car and leave it feeling rejuvenated is to start with a complete wash, by hand of course, followed by a rinse and dry. Think of this process as an exfoliation to remove all of nature's unwanted dirt and grime from your car's surface.

Next, polish your car in order to smooth the paint's surface and eliminate certain contaminants, such as road salt, pollen or bird droppings. This will provide your car with the massage that it needs to relieve the stress of everyday life and leave it's surface all shiny and bright.

The next step to pampering your car involves waxing. This is an essential step in keeping your car protected from the damaging effects of UV rays and acid rain. And not to mention, waxing leaves your car with an unbelievable showroom quality shine. It's important to get your automobile professionally waxed if it's within your budget. Many people think that rain will clean their car but, in actuality, nothing could be further from the truth. Acid rain, which is common throughout North America, can actually cause erosion.

Once your car is looking great on the outside, it's time to begin working on the interior. A thorough vacuuming of the carpet and interior seating can be done with a small handheld vacuum. In addition, window washing and shampooing will finish up the next phase of pampering your car.

The ideas in this article are ideal if you want to pamper your car for the day. If you want to pamper it for a lifetime, always be sure to follow the maintenance guidelines and schedule as recommended by the manufacturer. This information can generally be found in the owner's manual, which should be located in the glove box. In addition to being the best way to keep your car operating at it's peek performance, properly maintaining your car will also ensure that it remains covered under the manufacturer's warranty should the need arise for it's service.

Rounding out your car's luxury treatment is a professional scrubbing of the wheels and the engine. It's also a good idea to have the oil and other important areas of the car checked by a professional just to make sure that your car is in premium operating condition.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

Find more about Honda Civic body kits , car MP3 CD players and many other auto accessories on www.autonews24h.com/Accessories/

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Nitro Powered RC Cars - Tips for Choosing Your First Gas RC Car

Kit Cars

Nitro Powered RC Cars - Tips for Choosing Your First Gas RC Car
Author: The Ezine Ad Tester
RC (radio controlled) cars, especially the nitro or gas powered RC cars, are becoming increasingly popular. With speeds up to 70 mph, realistic looks, and racing clubs in virtually every large city, it's easy to see why. If you want to join this exciting hobby, there're a few things you should consider before you buy your first nitro-powered RC car. The basic considerations are: size, type, 2 or 4-stroke motor, maintenance, 2 or 4 wheel drive, and ready-to-run (rtr) or kit cars. Sizes The two most popular sizes to choose from are 1/8 and 1/10 scale. 1/10th scale is the industry standard for on-road racers, while 1/8th is more popular for off-road trucks and buggies. The larger 1/8th scale on road car comes standard with a 2 or 3 speed automatic transmission. Types The touring and racing cars are are the popular choice for on-road use. For best performance, they should be run on a smooth surface. Trucks and buggies are the choice if off-road action is what you want. Though not as fast as the touring and racing styles, they are still very impressive and extremely rugged as well. And since a smooth surface is not required, they also have the advantage of being able to run just about anywhere.

Motors Nitro powered RC motors come available in the popular 2-stroke or the less conventional 4- stroke versions. The primary difference is that the 2-stroke motor, much like a weed eater or chain saw, requires a fuel oil mixture. The 4-stroke motor has an oil reservoir and can run on straight fuel. The 2 stroke engine has the advantage of producing higher rpm's (revs up faster) and is more suitable for racing. The 4 stroke engine has more power and torque and is better for offroad use. The most popular 2-stroke motor is the 23cc (cubic centimeter) displacement engine. It's popularity is due to the amazing 2.5 HP of output it produces. The resulting high speeds and acceleration are what RC racers love. Additionally, motors come with or without a pull start. The ones without a pull start are cheaper, but you'll also need a starter box. Maintenance for Nitro Powered RC Cars Maintenance is a definite requirement of running a nitro powered vehicle. Most hobbyist love tweaking and tuning their vehicles. In addition, you'll need to maintain certain parts such as: Clutch Differential Air Filter Header and Pull start cord 2 or 4 Wheel Drive If you're new to the hobby, you'll find a 2wd car less expensive and easier to work on. The 4wd car has the advantage of better traction and handling in turns which makes it a better choice when you're ready to race. Kits or Ready to Run (RTR) Rc Cars Nitro powered rc cars come in kits or ready-to-run right from the box. The primary difference is the whether you want to save time with a RTR car or save money with a kit. However, because of the assembly process, kits better prepare you for required maintenance. If you choose to build an rc car, don't expect to finish in one sitting. To avoid mistakes, familiarize yourself with the instructions first and get your work area prepared. Some of the things you'll need are: Small No. 1 and 2 Phillips and flathead screwdrivers Soap - as a dry lubricant for tight parts Extra fuel line - to hold screws while positioning Needle nose and regular slip joint pliers Flush cutter Hobby knife with no. 11 blades When you assemble the car, make sure to work in a well-lit, uncluttered area. You should keep the parts and tools separated using tin boxes, trays, or even an old fishing tackle box. These are a few of the basics you'll need to know before you buy your first nitro rc car or truck. You should expect to pay around $400 for a complete beginner setup. The price will vary a little depending on whether you choose a kit or RTR and how many tools you need. Whether you race or just practice by yourself, get ready for a lot of fun!

Greg Root owns and maintains http://rccarssite.com. A website that provides basic tips on how to buy, build and race electric and http://www.rccarssite.com nitro powered RC cars .

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