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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