What Is Better Then A Yukon

When you are looking at yukons and yukon denalis, you are really just looking at GMs models of SUVs. You might even think that the yukon looks like the tahoe, because it is really just a fancier version. And of course that would make the yukon XL the upscale chevy suburban. And the denali is just one step up above the yukons in class.

With the yukon xl, you got a couple of choices in models, from the half ton 1500 to the 3/4 ton 2500. The denalis get front row bucket seats standard, and there are optional for the yukons. The second row also has the option for bucket seats instead of a bench. And the third row gets a bench in the yukon xls and denalis, but is optional in the regular yukon.

The powerful v8 engine comes standard in all models, but varies a little in each. The yukon gets the 4.8l engine standard which pumps out 285 hp. The yukon xl will get the 5.3l engine standard and that cranks out 295 hp. The standard engine for the denali is the 6.0l, which has an impressive 335 hp. The yukon xl gets a 6.0l engine with the option to go with the 8.1l engine.

No matter which model you go with, you get automatic transmission in each. The denali comes with all wheel drive standard. The yukon you got a choice bewteen rear wheel drive or an autotrac 4 wheel drive. If you go with a yukon xl 2500 2wd, you get traction control.

Antilock disc brakes and a monitor for tire pressure comes standard as well with all models. And to top it off, in the ‘05 models gm started putting in their stabilitrak in the yukons and denalis. With the denalis, you get front side airbags but will have to ask for them if you want them in the yukon. An option you might want to consider with the yukon xl 2500 is the quadrasteer, which will help with towing and turning.

Yukons get standard 16-inch wheels or optional 17s. Denalis have standard 17-inch wheels. Chrome-finished 20-inch alloy wheels are newly available for Denalis. GM’s OnStar assistance is standard on all models.

Denalis come with power-adjustable pedals and a multizone automatic climate system with front/rear controls. All are available for Yukons. Optional for all models is an audio/navigation system, which adds a control touch screen.

And who knows what the future holds for the new designs of these models, but chances are they would make some improvements to the drivetrain. The reason for this would be to get one of those third row foldable seats in there. Also, there is talk of a hybrid version coming soon for most of these models, which would be nice to help out the environment.

Towbars - What To Consider In A New One

As a family, we love to drive off and go camping for weekends, or weeks at a time. We mostly keep it really simple, a tent, sleeping bags and a car full of provisions. Last year though, for a change, we decided to rent a caravan and do it that way. Not having a towbar on the jeep, I clearly needed to get one installed.

So I made my way down to All Vehicle Accessories (AVA) in South Melbourne with the intention of getting a cheap towbar installed. On arrival I was thinking the less money I spent on the towbar, the more I’d have for the holiday. In discussing these ideas with the AVA professionals though, I quickly learned just how silly this attitude was.

To begin with, they got me thinking about the types of things I wanted to tow. Obviously there was the caravan for the upcoming trip. Following on from that though, I’d probably buy some bike beaks too as my wife loves triathlons. We could take the bikes up to the Dandenongs for a ride.

They then showed me the value of the objects I was going to be towing. To start with, my bike is a bit of a cheapie. I only spent about $800 on it. My wife’s though, well given her passion for triathlon training, she spent over $3000 for hers.

I had no idea how much caravans cost to buy so I had to look it up. Boy they are expensive. The cheapest I could find was $5000 and I have to say, it was pretty ordinary. I found many nice ones well in excess of $100,000. That’s a crazy lot of money to trust to a cheap towbar.

I was convinced. I had to change my attitude toward this towbar. If I was going to pay the money regardless, I may as well have it done properly. Instead of finding a cheap towbar, I realised I needed to find a quality towbar. Paying the few extra dollars didn’t matter anymore, when taken in perspective with the items being towed.

Having decided that, I delved further into the different towbars on offer. I was surprised to find out that there was only 1 towbar in Australia that offers a lifetime guarantee. Only Hayman Reese has that much faith in their own product. I thought that was a really interesting fact. So looking further at the Hayman Reece products, I also found 2 excellent accessories that really help with safety and efficiency.

Firstly, they have an accessory called a Weight Distribution Hitch. This important piece of equipment, when fitted properly, reduces the ball weight and therefore, the drag on the vehicle. If you are looking to save money on your towbar, think about this. Paying the extra dollars for this towbar and accessory will actually pay you back many times over down the track. Reducing the drag improves your fuel efficiency. That means that when you are towing, you use less fuel and save money at the bowser. This is an on-going saving, not the once off I was considering by going cheap with the towbar.

They also sell this cool gadget called Sway Control. It basically keeps whatever you are pulling on the straight and narrow, despite high winds, trucks coming the other way etc. Have you ever seen those retired people who are pulling a caravan behind them when a truck drives past the other way. Have you ever seen how much their caravan swerves all over the road when this happens due to the blast of air. The sway control stops this happening to you, making for a safer and once again, more efficient trip. This is very important to me given my family will be sitting next to me in the Jeep.

This experience was a rare one for me. Usually when told I am wrong its like a red rag to a bull. The guys at AVA explained to me the importance of a quality towbar though, in a such a professional way that I didn’t feel in the least bit miffed. At the end of the day, they are the experts and they were just helping me protect my family.

Why You Should Consider A Quality Towbar, Not A Cheap One

On a recent family camping trip, we decided to go “luxury”. So instead of packing tents, we hired a caravan. Almost belatedly I realised I’d need to get a towbar fitted to the jeep. (This was actually an accessory I’d wanted for ages, I just needed a good enough reason to convince my wife it was necessary)

So I made my way down to All Vehicle Accessories (AVA) in Thomastown to get a cheap towbar installed. The cheaper it was the better it was as far as I was concerned. After all, we were about to go on holiday and I wanted to use my spending money there. Luckily for me, the guys at AVA were professional enough to talk me out of using price as a means of discriminating when choosing a towbar.

The first thing they asked me was what I wanted to tow. I told them about the camping trip and the rented caravan. Also, we enjoy riding, my wife in particular loves competing in triathlons. So I’d probably come back later and get car bike racks (which I now know are called bike beaks) for the towbar.

From there is was a simple comparison of the increments (between cheap and quality) with the prices of the items the towbar was looking after. So between the two bikes we own, there is about $6,000 worth of equipment to start with.

I ended up Googling caravan sales to get a feel for how much they are to buy. I didn’t realise they were so expensive. I couldn’t find anything for less than $5000 and I found quite a few which cost more than $100,000. You can buy property for that much… The one we rented was mid range, costing around $50,000 new. Its quite a “load” on the towbar when you think about it in those terms.

The conversation really changed my opinion on the type of towbar I needed. When you really start thinking about the value of the goods you are towing, from bikes, to caravans, to boats, its a bit silly scrimping and saving on the only piece of equipment that is holding it to the vehicle. Its certainly a risk I decided not to take. I’d upgraded my preferences on quality lines. Instead of going cheap I decided I wanted as robust and safe a towbar I could get.

The AVA professionals pointed out to me that the Hayman Reese towbars are the only brand in Australia which carries a lifetime guarantee. This I thought was pretty telling, especially as quality was now the issue. I was almost sold. These particular towbars though had two additional features which absolutely convinced me.

They have this thing they call a “Weight Distribution Hitch”. When applied to your towbar, this hitch actually reduces the drag on your vehicle by reducing ball weight. And you know what that means. By paying a little more for a quality towbar and weight distribution hitch, all of a sudden you are saving money on fuel, on tyre wear and all the other things that wear out faster when you are pulling something. So it actually is a dis-economy to go the cheaper option on a towbar.

The second feature was their Sway Control accessory. Have you ever been driving behind a caravan which, when a truck drives past, swerves all over the road? The sway control accessory stops this. Given my family are going to be sitting in the car pulling my caravan, this is a safety feature I definitely wanted. They are just too precious to me.

Its good when you go to an auto store and the professionals there actually give you advice, help you get past your preconceived ideas and make a better decision. I’m certainly glad the guys at AVA helped me see sense when it came to my towbar.

Comparing Smartbars And Bullbars, Facing The Facts

I love the outdoors. The more remote the better. I just love packing my jeep with all the gear (including my wife and child :)) and heading offroad to somewhere unreachable by road or foot.

On a recent trip, I hit a kangaroo at a low speed. Thankfully the kangaroo bounded off with little more than a fright and there was basically no damage to the vehicle. The incident got me thinking about frontal protection though. If I were going any faster, the damage to the jeep could have been significant, leaving us stranded and putting my family in harms way.

During this chat they brought up the topic of smartbars. Before the conversation, I didn’t even know they existed. So I got onto Google to do some research on the products and found a lot of opinion (most of it based on aesthetics and perception rather than utility and fact) but pretty much no factual information. So me and my mates at All Vehicle Accessories dug a little deeper, and this is what we found.

Frontal protection products are designed to do 3 things in a collision. They are designed to 1. Protect the passengers in the vehicle. 2. Protect the vehicle in a collision. 3. Pretect the object being struck in a collision. So that was my first point of reference. Which product did a better job in a collision, the bullbar or the smartbar?

Its pretty funny when you look around for information on the relative safety performance of bullbars and smartbars. People who love bullbars keep pointing out that at 150kms/h a collision will be fatal. So to be clear, we are not looking at the 150kms/h collission. Rather we are comparing performance of these products at speeds up to and including fatal impact, but not exceeding it. That means at speeds which are less than and equal to the point where a collision becomes fatal to the vehicle, passengers or pedestrian.

The difference between the performance of bullbars and smartbars comes about because bullbars are rigid (Ie they have no give in them) while smartbars are not. (Ie. they are made from polyethylene with a hollow internal structure so they have some give) Despite all the opinion to the contrary, at speeds leading up to fatal impact, smartbars work better than bullbars in protecting you, the car and the person you hit. The manner in which they absorb impact minimises the force of the collision and thereby reduces injury and damage. The cushioning effect of this absorbtion actually acts to decelerate the colliding forces at the point of impact. This has been proven by independent child head-form impact tests. You just have to do a little research to find the studies.

To put this point in perspective though, into words you can feel, smartbars are made out of similar materials that they make those big wheelie bins from. Imagine you fell over in the street and smacked your head into a big iron postal box. It would hurt right? Now compare the same fall if your head hit the middle of one of those big wheelie bins. The bin would cushion the impact somewhat and the damage to your forehead would not nearly be so bad. (Or painful for that matter) Thats the way the smartbars work.

If you enjoy your vehicle, performance will always be a topic on your mind. The cost of fuel, tyre wear, suspension wear, handling in extreme weather. They are all issues for regular drivers. One thing that no-one questions, is that smartbars are significantly lighter than bullbars. Do you know what this means? Better fuel efficiency, longer tyre and suspension wear, easier and safer handling. Smartbars by their lighter composition allow your vehicle to perform better. Simple.

Topic 3. Maintenance - Metal rusts. Metal looses its lustre. Metal reflects. A rusting bullbar requires significant work to clean up. A dull bullbar requires significant polishing to make it shine again. And a reflecting bullbar will effect your vision everytime another set of headlights hit it. This is one of the defining features of the smartbar. Maintenance requires a bucket of soapy water, a sponge and a quick wipe down. Thats it. The plastic parts do not rust, they do not require buffing or polishing and they will never reflect light from another source.

These are the facts I found when researching frontal protection products for my Jeep. The protection of my family was my #1 consideration, so getting this right was important to me. If you are considering frontal protection products I encourage you to do your own research, try to seperate fact from the immense amount of image based opinion out there, and pick the product that best suits your purpose.

New Car versus Used Car

This situation probably has happened to everyone: You’re driving along the road and you notice that your car doesn’t sound all that good. Before you realize what’s happening, your poor car takes its last gasps on the side of the road. You need a new car.

Television ads tell you that you need a new car. Although a new car does sound appealing, you’ve also heard from friends that buying a new car is a better idea in the long run. You’re faced with a tough decision. This article will look at the positives and negatives of buying new and used vehicles. This will help you pick the vehicle that’s meant to be yours.

The Glory of New

There’s something powerful about the looks of a brand-new car, all the way from the tantalizing smell to that shiny new paint. In this consumer culture, a new car is a symbol that tells everyone you have made it. There also are other benefits to buying a new car rather than a used car.

Positives:

Most new cars do have good reliability. The warranty also will likely cover any problems that do crop up. Buying a new vehicle also means that you shouldn’t have to worry much about how the vehicle was treated before it became yours.

A number of companies also have roadside assistance for new cars. This gives you peace of mind and can save you the expense of getting a roadside assistance program on your own.

New cars also usually have the highest fuel-efficiency standards and the newest safety features, like side-curtain airbags. You may also find a good financing program with either no interest or low interest rates. This can make it less expensive to buy a new car than it is to buy a used car.

Negatives:

Without a doubt, buying a new car is expensive. Most new cars cost more than used cars, and they depreciate very quickly in value. A new car loses the most value during the first few years that someone owns it.

The difference between what you paid for your car and what it is now worth can be substantial. According to the Kelley Blue Book, the MSRP (manufacturer’s suggested retail price) for a 2007 Ford Focus two-door hatchback is $14,335. The resale value for the same car is $11,995. The value has dropped about $2,300 just for driving the car off the lot.

Buying a new car therefore means that you are getting more debt and losing value more quickly than if you had bought a used car. You’ll also be paying more for car insurance than you would if you had bought a used vehicle.

There are also issues to think about on a deeper level. Buying a new car can contribute to the culture of consumption and not the culture of frugality. If you buy a new car, some would argue that you are buying into the consumerism culture. This can be an expensive proposition.

New cars also don’t stay new for very long. You eventually will find your first nick or scratch. Eventually, the floor will be stained, the doors will have dings, and you won’t have the thrill of having a new car. Your monthly payments will last much longer than your shiny new car.

A Humble Used Car

Although “pre-owned vehicles” - what the car dealers like to call a used car - don’t have the mystique and “shiny” factor of a new car, they are hard to top as a practical financial move. Buying a late model car with few miles can be a bargain seeker’s dream.

Positives:

Buying a used car helps you get the most amount of car at the lowest cost. A late-model used car often costs less than half the cost of a new car. Some dealers’ pre-certified programs come with good warranties. They often include the balance of the factory warranty and the opportunity to buy an extended warranty. Low-mileage, late-model used cars are almost new. You probably don’t notice the difference between a used and a new vehicle if you trade in your car every few years. Most modern cars can go 100,000 or more with few problems. You could probably get 60,000 more miles on a car with 40,000.

You can also buy a used car for only a few thousand dollars if you don’t have much cash and are willing to take a chance on a used car. Buying a care that needs a little tender loving care can cut the amount of money you need to spend on your “new” car.

Negatives:

Some used cars still have the stigma of being unreliable. There may always be a fear of buying someone else’s problem because you don’t know how its last owner treated the car, or why the last owner traded the car into the dealer. Even if the car is fine, you still need to perform maintenance sooner than you would on a new car. That maintenance will include radiator and transmission flushes, new tires, and new brakes.

It also may be difficult to find a used vehicle with the features you want. You also will have fewer options if you buy a lemon. Lemon laws usually only apply to vehicles under a certain age.

New or Used?

You should make your decision to buy a new or used vehicle based on many factors. You should be comfortable with your various financing options, as well as any long-term consequences. You need to feel safe and buy a vehicle that is reliable for your needs and meets your monthly expense budget. Your “new” car also needs to meet your requirements for amenities and features.

Is the Shiny Car on the Lot Really Worth It?

This situation probably has happened to everyone: You’re driving along the road and you notice that your car doesn’t sound all that good. Before you realize what’s happening, your poor car takes its last gasps on the side of the road. You need a new car.

Television ads tell you that you need a new car. Although a new car does sound appealing, you’ve also heard from friends that buying a new car is a better idea in the long run. You’re faced with a tough decision. This article will look at the positives and negatives of buying new and used vehicles. This will help you pick the vehicle that’s meant to be yours.

The Glory of New

There’s something powerful about the looks of a brand-new car, all the way from the tantalizing smell to that shiny new paint. In this consumer culture, a new car is a symbol that tells everyone you have made it. There also are other benefits to buying a new car rather than a used car.

Positives:

Most new cars do have good reliability. The warranty also will likely cover any problems that do crop up. Buying a new vehicle also means that you shouldn’t have to worry much about how the vehicle was treated before it became yours.

A number of companies also have roadside assistance for new cars. This gives you peace of mind and can save you the expense of getting a roadside assistance program on your own.

New cars also usually have the highest fuel-efficiency standards and the newest safety features, like side-curtain airbags. You may also find a good financing program with either no interest or low interest rates. This can make it less expensive to buy a new car than it is to buy a used car.

Negatives:

Without a doubt, buying a new car is expensive. Most new cars cost more than used cars, and they depreciate very quickly in value. A new car loses the most value during the first few years that someone owns it.

The difference between what you paid for your car and what it is now worth can be substantial. According to the Kelley Blue Book, the MSRP (manufacturer’s suggested retail price) for a 2007 Ford Focus two-door hatchback is $14,335. The resale value for the same car is $11,995. The value has dropped about $2,300 just for driving the car off the lot.

Buying a new car therefore means that you are getting more debt and losing value more quickly than if you had bought a used car. You’ll also be paying more for car insurance than you would if you had bought a used vehicle.

There are also issues to think about on a deeper level. Buying a new car can contribute to the culture of consumption and not the culture of frugality. If you buy a new car, some would argue that you are buying into the consumerism culture. This can be an expensive proposition.

New cars also don’t stay new for very long. You eventually will find your first nick or scratch. Eventually, the floor will be stained, the doors will have dings, and you won’t have the thrill of having a new car. Your monthly payments will last much longer than your shiny new car.

A Humble Used Car

Although “pre-owned vehicles” - what the car dealers like to call a used car - don’t have the mystique and “shiny” factor of a new car, they are hard to top as a practical financial move. Buying a late model car with few miles can be a bargain seeker’s dream.

Positives:

Buying a used car helps you get the most amount of car at the lowest cost. A late-model used car often costs less than half the cost of a new car. Some dealers’ pre-certified programs come with good warranties. They often include the balance of the factory warranty and the opportunity to buy an extended warranty. Low-mileage, late-model used cars are almost new. You probably don’t notice the difference between a used and a new vehicle if you trade in your car every few years. Most modern cars can go 100,000 or more with few problems. You could probably get 60,000 more miles on a car with 40,000.

You can also buy a used car for only a few thousand dollars if you don’t have much cash and are willing to take a chance on a used car. Buying a care that needs a little tender loving care can cut the amount of money you need to spend on your “new” car.

Negatives:

Some used cars still have the stigma of being unreliable. There may always be a fear of buying someone else’s problem because you don’t know how its last owner treated the car, or why the last owner traded the car into the dealer. Even if the car is fine, you still need to perform maintenance sooner than you would on a new car. That maintenance will include radiator and transmission flushes, new tires, and new brakes.

It also may be difficult to find a used vehicle with the features you want. You also will have fewer options if you buy a lemon. Lemon laws usually only apply to vehicles under a certain age.

New or Used?

You should make your decision to buy a new or used vehicle based on many factors. You should be comfortable with your various financing options, as well as any long-term consequences. You need to feel safe and buy a vehicle that is reliable for your needs and meets your monthly expense budget. Your “new” car also needs to meet your requirements for amenities and features.

Motorcycle Parts, Gear And Accessories

While you are cruising on the vast road to freedom and slamming the wind behind you, there are a vast number of motorcycle essentials such as apparel and even motorcycle accessories to complete your image.

Motorcycle Head Gear

Being that you are mandated by various state and federal laws to have wear helmets, you can take advantage of this to show off your creativity with the type of helmet that you choose to wear. For example, solid helmet colors are available in virtually every tone for men and women which are terrific for matching up with the color of your wheels. You can even throw some hot flames, roaring dragons, candy paints or even spray designs on your motorcycle head gear.

Motorcycle Body Covering

You will see a vast number of motorcycle riders wearing various types of jackets and vest for body covering. Even if it is 100 degrees in the summer time, you will see riders squeezing into their often custom designed leather vests or motorcycle jackets. The good news is that with today’s apparel technology these body coverings are more than just plain, old heavy leather. For example, jackets and vest come in comfortable mesh, polyester mesh, rain resistance waterproof Temperfoam and even nylon. You’ll want to make sure you have a jacket or vest that is the perfect color, tailored to fit and provides insulation.

Motorcycle Additional Apparel

While cruising down the slick streets, there are more than simply motorcycle jackets for motorcycle clothing. There are gloves to protect your hands, rain gear for bad weather and even two-piece motorcycle riding suits for those adventurous times that you go dirt or even street riding on your wheels. Suited to take on all types of terrain, the two-piece motorcycle riding suits provide attractive, reinforced body coverage. Dependent upon the original product line, features such as the leather-flex zones for the torso and knee area or even the plastic body-armor might be an option. Many riders go with a pair of comfortable riding gloves for hand protection. There is even the option to select a pair of riding gloves that will provide additional wrist protection for riders. Do you want a stylish pair of shades? When finding the best bargains for motorcycle clothing and apparel, you can land yourself a cool pair of sun glasses, however over-all these dynamic shades are not truly considered part of motorcycle apparel.

Motorcycle Foot Gear

Protecting your feet during your ride is important. There is vast selection of motorcycle boots to select from. The goal of wearing motorcycle foot gear will vary depending on the types of trips you will be using your ride for. You should be certain that the motorcycle boots give the type of protection that you will need for absorbing shock and resistance while you are bike riding. The best riding boots will provide handy ankle support, while providing toe, heel and shin protection for your body. Sturdy soles are helpful. Be certain to select a pair of motorcycle boots with a breathable lining. This will prevent excessive perspiration in your feet while you are on the road.

Motorcycle Frills

There are many motorcycle frills that you can purchase for yourself and even for your hot ride. Maybe you will want to select a handy face shield to keep off bugs or even a fancy leather bag to store extra helmets. Saddlebags and tail bags are fun and useful motorcycle frills because of their great functionality. For example, you can take your lunch with you for work or even store your camera for easy access in the various zipper compartments of these bags. You might even want to toss in an additional helmet in one them.

Shield goggles and sunglass choices not only look cool but provide great eye protection. You’ll want to make certain that they provide you with comfy nosepieces, handy interchangeable lens, arm straps to keep them on you while riding, wrap-around capabilities along with a carrying case.