Posted on 21-02-2007
Filed Under (Automotive) by Auto News

Retractable s are a highly sought after tonneau cover on the market today. The price range on these tonneau covers are among the highest for tonneau covers but with good reason.

They usually are manufactured with aluminum panels. Some are painted with a very finish. This is a very tough paint system which holds up to protect the tonneau from the elements. Others have a powder coated frame and hardware but the aluminum slats or panels are laminated with weather proof padded polymer to give the cover a leather look.

All these covers glide along rails which are usually clamped along the top of the truck box rails. The cover rolls up into a canister which is located behind the cab of the . The cover usually has spring tension on it to help with opening and closing the tonneau.

They are constructed to withstand a snow-load and water is directed into the side-rails and then to the canister and out of your truck box through drain hoses. They pretty much have the same basic design.

These retractable tonneau covers really look sharp on the back of a pickup truck and save you fuel at the pumps. They are pretty lightweight and allow the wind to pass over them rather than hitting against the tailgate causing a drag.

They protect your cargo from thieves in a couple of ways. They usually lock at the back to protect your cargo from thieves and they also just keep your cargo out of the eyes of people who like to take things that don’t belong to them. The hidden factor alone is a great asset for the tonneau cover owner.

The retractable tonneau covers also protects your cargo from such as rain and snow. Your cargo is also protected from ripping winds caused from higher speeds. This is especially great if you are carrying delicate cargo such as plants.These covers are great when you need to carry larger, taller loads as you can open them up very quickly and easily giving you complete access to your truck bed.

If you are looking for a tonneau cover that opens and closes easily, looks great, saves fuel, has locking capability, completely opens for complete access to your truck bed, maybe you should have a look at the retractable tonneau covers.

About the Author:

You can get a look at, read features of many retractable tonneau covers as well as get prices for, at the author’s website http://truckbedtonneau.com/Retractable_Covers.html The author allows the use of this article but this resource text must remain and the links remain usable.

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Posted on 30-01-2007
Filed Under (Automotive) by Auto News

If you are looking for a custom motorcycle helmet, there are many shops that can make one for you. There are a lot of you can choose from. With many designs and makers to choose from, you would surely have your hands full finding one that you will like. Different designs offer different levels of comfort and styling. There are different types of motorcycle helmets available for different types of rides.

One of the more common motorcycle helmet types is the full face helmet. This type of motorcycle helmet covers the whole head and provides the most extensive head protection to the rider. A rear extension of this type of helmet covers the base of the skull while the front tries to protect the chin. A plastic face shield allows protection to the eyes and nose and provides access to the face if pushed up. Riders would usually experience of heat, sensation and reduced hearing while using the full face motorcycle helmet.

Then there is the ¾ motorcycle helmet, also known as the open face helmet. This type of helmet, just like the full face helmet, covers the back of the skull but gets rid of the lower chin armor and face shield in order to provide better airflow, hearing and peripheral vision. As added protection, most open face helmets are equipped with visors that help block out sunlight. For the eyes, it is always recommended to use goggles or wrap around sunglasses as a means of protection.

There is also the half helmet that would give you the most minimum coverage allowed by . This type of helmet has the same front design as the but with a cropped rear portion. The use of goggles and sunglasses can provide additional protection to the rider, just like the open face helmet. Before buying this kind of helmet, make sure that it meets the government standard for motorcycle helmet safety.

But if among the hundreds of motorcycle available do not have the features that you want, you can have one custom made just for you. Custom made motorcycle helmets are for those with special needs. They are for people who look for a unique type of helmet in terms of design or shape.

Styling is also the reason why many people would want to have custom motorcycle helmets instead. No matter what you choose, make sure that what you are using can provide you with the level of safety and protection required by motorcycle law. These helmets are made for your protection much more than just for looks. That is what you should always bear in mind.

About the Author:

For more information on Motorcycle Helmets & other useful information, please visit http://motorcycle-helmet.articlekeep.com.This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included.

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Learning a little more about how to better care for your vehicles is a good idea for any number of reasons. It allows you to know if an unscrupulous mechanic is attempting to gouge you on your repairs – and that will save you . It can prevent you from making – and that will save you money. It can help you locate a problem and fix it early, thus saving more money – sometimes a whole lot of money. It allows you to be more independent in an era where people are entirely too dependent on others to survive.

We need to get started now, so that we have time to cover everything…

Some people are incredibly sensitive to the sounds their vehicles make. This is especially true of motorcyclists, those who refurbish , and experienced . It’s a very worthwhile skill to develop. There are mechanics who can listen to a running car engine and tell if the timing is slightly off, or the injectors are not operating properly. While this is a very neat thing to be able to do, you do not have to elevate your listening skills to that in order to get benefits from listening to your vehicle.

Listen To the Engine (This is best done in relatively until you get really good at it.) Open up the hood of your vehicle’s engine compartment. If necessary on your model, be sure to use the metal rod to lock the hood in the upright/open position. Now, start your engine. Allow the engine to run for 30-60 seconds before you start listening too hard. Also, there are many moving parts inside of engine compartments, don’t wear loose clothing, and mind all your fingers and hair! Safety first.

A brief word about … All engines make sounds. Some sound like jets, and other have constant clicking noises, or humming, or clattering. Which sounds are consistently made, and are okay, are unique to your specific vehicle’s engine. The point being, don’t be alarmed the first time you really take a good listen to your engine. You’ll quickly learn the sounds that are okay, and the ones that are not.

You’re going to listen to your engine from three different positions: 1) Directly in front of the car. 2) On the left (driver’s side) side of the engine compartment. 3) On the right (passenger’s side) side of the engine compartment. I like to start I like to start on the left – right in front of the driver’s door.

Lean over the engine compartment (again – be careful with clothing, hair, and appendages) and listen carefully. Try closing your eyes to heighten your hearing. Listen for things that don’t sound ‘right.’ Such things might include: clattering, metal rubbing metal, clanging, and squeaks. If you hear such a thing, open your eyes and try to focus in on it – moving the position of your head and ears as your track the sound to its source. Repeat this process at all three positions previously described.

This method of checking your engine can reveal loose caps, loose fan belts, loose fans, missing bolts, nuts, and many other things. Correct what you are able to, and have anything else dealt with by a service technician. Don’t put your hands into your engine compartment to tighten something or check something while it is running. If you notice that the stays on the overflow tube are loose and rattling, turn off the engine before tightening.

Driving your car for a short distance over a good road with the radio and air conditioning off and the windows down is a good way to hear some other sounds. Clattering might mean you have a lug nut that came off, and it’s stuck inside the hubcap. A metal-rubbing-metal sound may be a stuck brake.

The last listening project/technique is the best – or at least so people tell me. This one requires a willing and able assistant. The two of you climb into the vehicle together – you drive, the assistant rides shotgun. The assistant will require four things: some WD-40, a notepad, a small can of 3-in-1 oil, and a good rag. Head for a road that isn’t so smooth, and simply drive along. The assistant listens for those irritating squeaks, squeals, and rattles.

The assistant should move around inside the vehicle, focusing on the sounds to locate their sources. One of the two lubricants will fix almost any squeaking – and the rag ensures a nice, tidy application of the chosen lubricant. Some things, such as loose or missing screws or bolts, should be recorded on the notepad for maintenance or repair later, when you get back home to the tools. You won’t believe how quiet your cockpit becomes after you perform this process once or twice.

Okay, you’ve completed another step in becoming a full-fledged automotive diagnostician – or something like that, anyway. You’ve definitely gotten your vehicle in much better condition, and you should have learned a thing or two. Check out Part I – See No Evil, and Part III – Smell No Evil.

About the Author:

Eric Scribener is a 35-year veteran freelance writer and photographer currently on assignment for http://enginesentry.com/ - Engine Sentry removes the smaller particles of steel from re-circulating engine oil: cools oil temperatures, improves lubricity & oil filter function, and extends engine life.

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Posted on 04-12-2006
Filed Under (Automotive) by Auto News

There are many car that you can frequent if you have access to the internet. There are many people who watch these car videos because they are and have nothing better to do. If this sounds like you, there is nothing wrong with this. After all, who doesn’t like ? But on the other side of things, if you are really interested in the automotive industry car videos can teach you a little bit as well. You may be thinking how this is possible, right?

Generally speaking, the people who videos have knowledge in the industry. Of course this is not always true, but when it comes down to it if you want to post a video about the chances are that you have some know how that you can lend to others. So anytime you are watching car videos make sure that you keep an eye out for more than just what you see. Instead of just seeing the video, take note of the smaller details that are involved. You may find out that you can learn a whole lot by just keeping your a bit wider.

Also, in many car videos there will also be a website displayed on the screen. If you see one of these, why not write the website down and take a look later on? This is one of the best ways for you to get a good idea as to what websites are available. And when you know about these websites you can then visit them to learn about what you are interested in. If somebody posted a video that you like, you will probably be able to find more of the same at the website that they run.

Overall, car videos are appealing in a number of different ways. Sure, watching car videos is entertaining, but at the same time they can be educational as well. No matter who you are or what you are looking for, if you are interested in cars check out some of the video sites that are devoted to them.

About the Author:

http://www.dreamcar.co.uk is a car site offering a large database of video clips categorised into http://www.dreamcar.co.uk/videos/Car_Crash_Videos, cop chases, luxury cars, gumball and much more.

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Posted on 23-10-2006
Filed Under (Automotive) by Auto News

is used as a protective gear for the head to avoid severe injuries brought about by accidents. In some countries, wearing helmet is comparable to , regulated as part of the street ordinances as general safety measure. But of course, any promulgation imposed is debatable and others would drop the matter in every philosophical manner they can give reason against its use.

Looking at the physical make-up of motorcycles will not guarantee pure salvation in every imaginable trauma. When used, it can only lessen the severity. To have an understanding on its function it is important to know how injuries can disable a person in one incident. When it comes to serious matters like heavy impact, a helmet is nothing. The most important thing about is to avoid the fragments from embedding the sensitive tissues of the , until then, most head injuries are not as fatal as expected. Basically, a full-blown impact on head can lead to permanent malfunctioning of the body system.

Another kind of fatal head injury caused by motorcycle accident is when the brain is stirred while there is no open wound in the head. In this case the brain bumps the side of the skull leading to small yet deadly movements and rotation enough to cause internal bleeding inside. The use of properly designed motorcycle helmet can help absorb the shock in the head after it sinks to its protective cushions. It must not be too soft to let the head crush through its hard interior walls at once. After that, the hard plastic will yield without control. Helmet design considerations are all about the tolerable impact the head can handle, which the soft linings provide as protection, and the exterior protection from punctures.

Types of for effective use come in different appearance:

FULL FACE - Covers the full area of the back of the head, chin but has a shield made of plastic in the eye area for visibility. It is usually ventilated though some still consider it warmer and lacking flow of air inside. It tends to isolate a rider and restrain hearing because of full head coverage.

OPEN FACE - Almost the same as the full face design except it has no chin cover, which means it has low protection for the face. It has a plastic shield open to particles during a ride. It can cause injuries out of trapped small debris caught on speed. Thus, it is advisable to wear riding goggles as additional protection for the eyes.

Motorcycle helmet may not give ultimate protection but it saved a lot of lives during minor injuries.

About the Author:

This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included. For more information on Motorcycle Helmets & other useful information, please visit http://motorcycle-helmet.articlekeep.com

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Posted on 08-09-2006
Filed Under (Automotive) by Auto News

Car safety is a critical component in the design of any new car nowadays, and no manufacturer will have a license to build and , if they don’t comply with all the car safety aspects. With the increase in technology and the resultant conveniences in our lives, the aspect of safety too has come to the fore. This is especially true in the case of automobiles.

Car safety takes on several forms in this technological era. While the person driving the car is still responsible for adhering to driving safety regulations, increasingly, small computers and micro processors are taking on the role of the car safety keepers. All cars nowadays come with a certain degree of automation, and when it concerns car safety, these aspects are mandatory.

Gone are the days when the safety of the car depended on the individual driving it. That was probably restricted to them old , when moving along was the critical component. But with the ever increasing number of cars on our roads and the heightened speed limits at which they drive along, car safety is no longer an option. It has become a critical aspect of the car manufacturing process itself. Not only that, it has become compulsory by law as well!

The auto pilot function for instance is one such example. By enabling the car to drive itself on open stretches, it ensures that don’t feel the need to take their eyes off the road. Rather, they enable the driver to rest, thereby making for an enhanced , by taking on some of the aspects of driving on themselves.

Seat belts and crash balloons have almost become a permanent fixture inside all cars, even in . Most countries nowadays have specific regulations pertaining to the useof like the seat belt and the crash balloon. In fact, some countries often issue hefty fines to drivers and passengers who drive without latching themselves in.

But car safety is often more than cosmetic. Manufacturers of cars nowadays have to test the car in a variety of possible scenarios in order to ensure that factors like crash zone, damage control and the like are minimized. This has resulted not only in a better build structure of cars, but has also ensured that the entire driving experience is made better, made safer and made absolutely secure.

About the Author:

Ernest R. Peterson contributes his http://www.latest-entertainment-news.com, reviews and write-ups on Cars & Autos-related issues to http://www.cars-directory-guide.com

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