You are here: Home / Archives for Road Trips

When to Use a Microloan to Help Fund Emergency Car Repairs

Your car is your life. You can’t get to work without it. If you can’t get to work, you can’t make money, and without money, it’s hard to have a life. You rely on your car as if it is an extension of yourself.

The problem is, cars aren’t always agreeable extensions. They need gas, they need routine maintenance, they need insurance payments, and if it’s a new car, they need regular car payments, too. These expenditures tend to add up, but because you need your car, most of the expenditures are tolerable.

Like any kind of machine, however, cars occasionally need new parts. This could be as simple as a spark plug or air filter, and as complicated as a head gasket or muffler. If you’re already operating on a minimal budget, due in part to regular car payments and all of the other bills you have to pay, having to pay for more drastic repairs can feel as if you’ve hit a financial crossroads. Without your car, you can’t get to work. If you can’t get to work, you can’t make money, but in order to fix your car, you almost need to spend money you don’t have (yet).

If you run into a situation like this, you can secure a right-sized loan for your repairs from a microlender such as GreatPlainsLending. Microlenders exist for situations exactly like the kind you might have with your car – a time where you need money in a pinch and don’t want to sign excessive amounts of paperwork to make it happen. Pending approval for your micro-loan, you can move forward with the repairs on your car and set up a payment plan in order pay back your loan as soon as you start earning money again. With your car back up and working, repaying the loan shouldn’t be a problem.

Filed Under: Highway Miles, Road Trips Tagged With: , ,

Will The Gurkha Challenge the Hummer?

2006 Hummer H3
Image via Wikipedia

In the celebrity world, cars are like fads and latest trends. What is popular one day isn’t the next. This is evidenced by the fact that the newest and latest celebrity must-have vehicle is the Gurkha. Ever since well known celebrities like the designer for the popular hip hop clothing company Ecko, Mark Ecko appeared in his own Gurkha it has caused many people to wonder what exactly this type of car was.

The Gurkha is actually an armored military vehicle. It is commonly used be the United States Army as well as other international defense departments such Russia and Switzerland. The speculations and features that the Gurkha offer vehicle owners are truly amazing. The Gurkha offers a four-cylinder diesel engine that runs similar to the luxury sports cars. It also has a 113 horsepower capability and a five-speed transmission that works in manual gear. The interior of the Gurkha is nothing to talk about as it is a poor quality design. However, the interior does seat five people comfortably.

Car and truck enthusiasts have started discussion whether or not the Gurkha will replace the Hummer. While it certainly appears that the Gurkha could give the Hummer a run for its money it probably will not happen. The Gurkha and Hummer are two completely different cars. In fact, the Gurkha is almost twice the size of a Hummer. Many people already complain that the Hummer is too large, so a larger vehicle probably would not give it any competition. However, the biggest deciding factor would be the price. The Gurkha is only available through military manufacturers at the moment, which means that the price is three times that of the Hummer. These factors easily determine that the Gurkha and Hummer are no match for each other. However, if you are a car fan, the military tank look is pretty impressive.

Filed Under: General, Road Trips Tagged With: ,

Finding a Towing Service Quickly

Tow truck tows a car after a collision with a ...
Image via Wikipedia

When the inevitable happens and you’re on the go, you might not have too many options. Unless you’ve programmed a towing service in your phone you might be a bit lost. However, Canada 411 could be your best bet when you need something quick and reliable.

Canada 411 is a reliable search engine directly that can help you find virtually anything. Listings include those that are closest to your location, whether you are at home – or unfortunately stranded on the highway. You will of course have access to the phone number for the business along with any other relevant information, such as hours of operation.

If you find yourself in this type of situation, simply open up Canada 411 on an applicable device. Put in the location that you need the towing service for, and you will find a list of the closest businesses that can tow your car. Then simply call the location to get a tow truck to the location needed as quickly as possible.

Get a flat tire and need some help? Did your car battery die on the highway while on a road trip, leaving you completely out of your safety zone for a backup plan? For any and certainly more scenarios such as these, you need something reliable that you can lean on to get help quickly.

Put Canada 411 on your smart phone. It is a very reliable search engine directory that can get you the business you need, wherever you may be. Canada 411 can help you find the closest towing services when you find yourself in an unfortunate situation.

For a quick and necessary towing service or for anything else you can imagine, take advantage of the search engine directory Canada 411. No matter where you are at, you can get access to nearby businesses in no time.

Filed Under: Road Trips Tagged With: ,

The Winter Demons – Watch Out For Them

So this is very fitting: first off, it’s the brink of winter. The first flakes of snow have already hit the ground; and your car’s getting restless. It doesn’t like snow. It DEFINITELY doesn’t like ice–particularly BLACK ICE. So here’s a few tips you need to know about driving safe during this time of year.

Simply SLOW DOWN. It’s not to sound condescending, because the reason for “slowing down” is actually a more pointed one than the obvious. It’s that killer ‘Winter Demon’ called “black ice”. Slowing down is that much more important; and please don’t feel like a dummy for driving a regular speed during the winter. USUALLY, it’s okay to drive like you normally do. The problem is this: black ice is virtually invisible to the naked eye when you’re driving! Hence the distress for stressing the concept of ‘slowing down’. Even when you think the roads are safe, still make it a point to slow down.

Because of icy roads, you’d be surprised at how easy it is to lose control of your car. The basic tip for this is to simply STAY CALM. Keep your foot on the brake and don’t freak out. The worst that could happen is bumping the curb. No big deal. Just take it easy, wipe the sweat off your forehead, and move on. No harm, no foul.

Keeping your distance from other drivers is even more paramount than usual. Make sure to make it a habit to increase your natural distance by double when dealing with the Winter Demons. The farther away you are from other drivers, the safer you’ll be.

And when dealing with the biggest Demon of all–the Snow Storm–simply prepare as if Armageddon would come. Seriously, stock up on blankets, flashlights, batteries, torches, mittens–you name it. Anything regarding cold weather, BUY IT! You never know when your car will get stuck in a storm.

So those are your tips, friends! Use them well, and happy traveling!

Filed Under: Road Trips, Safety Tagged With:

Never Tire of Checking Tires

Especially during the winter, regularly checking your tires is a must. It’s also the easiest part of automotive safety to overlook. I mean, look at the tires! They look normal, right? They don’t look flat. They’re not torn. There are no giant nails stuck in them. So everything should be peachy, right?

Wrong.

The deal is that in colder weather, it’s standard knowledge that tire pressure decreases. As it’s absolutely important to maintain pressure, make sure to keep your tires inflated during the winter, or you could be in danger of blowouts, bad accidents, maybe even a nice trip to the ambulance while you beat yourself in the head for not purchasing that handy little tire gauge from the gas station.

In addition, the less pressure in your tires, the lower your gas mileage. Which, you guessed it, means you pay more for your travels. No one wants to shell out more money, so do the sensible thing: check your tires. Improperly inflated tires can also lead to more harmful emissions in your vehicle.

The basic mantra of tire maintenance is that you measure pressure at least once a month. The more the better, though, particularly in the winter. Even better, check your tires in the cold weather to get a better understanding of the tire pressure during that time of the year.

Believe it or not, overinflation is just as important as underinflation. So make sure you read your car manual and use the suggested tire pressure recommendation. You fill up your tires too much, and the car will ride more on the center tread of the wheel, which could cause steering and stopping issues as well as potential suspension problems.

So there are your tips. Take a good like at your tires, please. And never ‘tire’ of checking your tires. Your car will never ‘tire’ over your riding in it throughout winter. Promise!

Filed Under: Road Trips, Safety Tagged With:

Troubled Teen Driving

Yes, cell phones are cool–especially the text qwerty keyboard ones. O-M-G, I-D-K what I would do without a qwerty keyboard. Like, seriously. But, seriously, this is common knowledge: you don’t mess around while on the road, and unfortunately, teenagers are known to do that. You’ve seen them in movies, maybe you’ve seen them on the road. They’re ‘troubled’–not in a necessarily bad way–just in a naive way. And you can’t blame them! They’re teenagers! So here are a few things to remind your fun-loving teenage child of regarding safe driving.

One, Make Sure Your Teenager Uses Both Hands on the Wheel!

Two, Have Them Constantly Check Mirrors at All Times!

And Three, (again, the O-M-G no-brainer), DO NOT USE CELL PHONES WHEN DRIVING. PERIOD.

Be caring about how you remind your teenager, of course. Remember: he or she is feeling very independent and happy about the new responsibility of driving. It’s almost euphoric, too. You were once a teenager, right? Remember getting your first ride and inviting your friends for a trip to the local burger joint? Yes, it was fun. But just be sure to recognize the obvious distractions that even adults face.

Eating and drinking presents a distraction. So does conversation in the car; keep it to a minimum. Grooming and reading–check those off the list, too. Watching a video, changing the CD player or radio station, and even using a PDA while you drive can present a danger. Concede to your teenager that even you as an adult have to be wary. These are typical things even adults do. That’ll decrease the chances of parent-child heated discussions about using the car. Of course, that’s not the point:

The point is your child’s safety. And don’t worry: your child will respect that. Go ahead and hand them the keys, give them a kiss on the cheek, see them off, and trust them. Just keep your cell phone handy, though! But not when you’re driving….

Filed Under: Road Trips, Safety Tagged With:

Dog Owner Drivers Beware!

Nothing against Fido, but fear the road when your lovely animal rides with you. Believe it or not, he/she can be a distraction while you drive (especially if your pet has bad breath!) However, you can minimize the danger and still take your dog for a ride through the countryside if you follow these helpful tips.

One, use a pet restraint system. Do a search on the company called Kurgo, and you’ll be surprised. No one ever thought there were devices designed to ‘restrain’ your pet inside your car, but there are! And Kurgo’s got ‘em. It can protect your pet much like a seatbelt can protect your child; and, of course, it can limit the amount of distraction you may deal with.

Two, make sure to keep your pet in the back seat. Something you might not think about: if you’re in an accident and the air bag inflates, the sudden release could actually injure your pet. So take the necessary precaution: back seat ONLY.

And Three, limit the amount of affection your pet gets. Taking one hand off the wheel and your eyes off the road just to pet your Siberian Husky on the nose can set you up for a head-on collision. So DON’T DO IT. Statistically 55% of drivers have petted their animals while on the road, and an astonishing 21% have actually allowed their pets to sit on their LAPS while driving. Again, DON’T DO IT.

There are even other distracting behaviors reported: 7% of drivers actually feed their dogs food and water while on the road, and 5% reported some playtime here and there while the wheels are actually running. No playtime while wheels run! While the car is moving, playtime is over.

Sorry, Fido. Playtime can resume once you’re home safe in the backyard. You have much more room back there. But not in the back seat. So, please, drivers, be kind to your animals, yourself, and your passengers. Stay safe.

Filed Under: Road Trips, Safety Tagged With:

Watch Out for Brake Failure

Car chases are cool–only in the movies, though. Typically in real life, if anyone’s ever chasing you, such as the police, the normal thing to do is STOP. So, naturally, one would think rationally when watching a car chase on the silver screen and think the realistic worst about the situation: oh, my God, the car has no brakes! It’s pretty obvious, right? After all, in those movie scene car chases, the car’s riding the sidewalk, through store windows, riding up dead-end ramps and flying high over three-story buildings.

Seriously, the concept of brake failure is probably the pinnacle of hell on the road. No one wants to lose their brakes while driving. It’s probably one of the scariest things to experience.

These are the signs of possible brake failure:

1. Poor braking performance and difficulty stopping.
2. Squeaking, grinding, or dragging.
3. Necessary brake pumping.
4. The car pulls to one side when breaking.

Keep your ears peeled for these signs. They could lead to brake failure.

Now don’t panic if in fact you DO run into full-on brake failure. You WILL survive. Promise. These are the steps to take for the unfortunate inevitable….

1. Try not to panic and turn on your hazard lights while guiding the car ever-so-gently toward the shoulder of the road.

2. Gradually take your foot off the gas pedal and shift to a lower gear; that will slow the car down.

3. Once off the roadway, shift the car to neutral to further help slow your automobile down while you gently rub against the curb, slowing you down even more.

And 4. When safely off the road, place reflective triangles or flares by the vehicle to alert other drivers of your situation. Also don’t stand next to or behind the car. Stay as far away from the car as possible while waiting for a tow truck!

You will survive the disaster if you follow these steps. Remember, total brake failure is rare. But it never hurts to remember the essentials.

Filed Under: Road Trips, Safety Tagged With:

The All-Important Emergency Motor Vehicle Kit

Think of it as mobile safety precautions while you’re…well, MOBILE in your autoMOBILE. That’s a lot of ‘mobile’ for you. Seriously, an emergency ‘kit’ is something that you can take with you. And it’s surprising that hardly anyone ever thinks of bringing such a thing, nor do many even consider the chance that one might actually use it. But it never hurts to have one.

There are two types of emergency kits: Major and Minor. Major involves such things as motor trouble, car accidents, or getting completely lost out in the road and low on gas. Minor includes the typical flat tires, overheating, windshield wiper malfunctions, and maybe some other things that would temporarily force you off the road. Generally, it’s smart to have both the Major and Minor Kits.

The Major Kit is especially necessarily for long road trips and designed specifically for sustaining families for at least 72 hours without any assistance. The essentials are listed as followed:

1. Thermal Blankets
2. Protein Bars or some other high-nutrient ration
3. Flashlights
4. Road Flares
5. Jumper Cables
6. Extra clothing tailored for rain, snow, or sun
7. Two gallons of water, either in empty milk jugs or just water bottles
8. Provisional Medications (such as prescriptions)
9. First Aid Kit
10. And Fire Starting Gear

The Minor Kit, however, is more designed for temporary, fast and easy remediation. So naturally the items for the Kit are less long-term, such as these:

1. Duct Tape
2. Phillips and Flathead Screwdriver
3. Small Hammer
4. Crowbar
5. Zip Ties
6. Latex Gloves
7. Old Sweat Pants and Shirt (for greasy repairs!)
8. Crescent Wrench
9. Small Socket Set
10. Back-up Cell Phone Battery or Charger
11. The all-important Godsend, FIX-A-FLAT!
12. Gauge Wire or a Small Coat Hanger (Why? To secure loose exhaust system parts, of course!

These are the basics. Your car will feel at ease, as well as you, for keeping these two kits in ready condition and availability. Have a happy time driving!

Filed Under: Road Trips, Safety Tagged With:

Pollen: The Silent Killer of Sneezing and Drowsy Drivers

No, this isn’t one of those pharmaceutical commercials about the ugly, germy monsters inside your nose, and what you can take to utterly destroy them. However, it is SOLELY on those germy monsters and what they can do to you while you’re driving. That includes the repercussive and wrathful consequence that comes with facing the deadly allergens of the road and their horrific olfactory onslaught: OTC medications…. Specifically the ones that make you DROWSY.

Listen, it’s understandable when facing the terror of allergies, particularly during the Spring, Fall, and early Summer. Makes driving slightly difficult, yes. But know without a shadow of a doubt that certain medications do cause drowsiness, and driving in that condition may cause a serious hazard not only to yourself, but your passengers (particularly if they’re kids) and other drivers around you. So take these precautions:

1. If necessary to commute, be sure to take a non-drowsy medication of some kind, such as Claritin.

2. This is pretty obvious, but AVOID DRIVING if drowsy!

3. If on long trips, be sure to make rest stops every now and then, and it’s always a good idea to travel with a companion to help you stay alert.

4. Another obvious tip: GET ENOUGH SLEEP!

5. This is extremely important: no matter what, even if you’re only five minutes away from your destination, without even thinking twice, without even taking another breath, think this thought and NEVER forget it…. IF YOU FEEL DROWSY WHILE DRIVING, PULL OVER AND STOP. Take as long as you need to wake yourself up, rest, walk outside, anything. Sometimes your body needs a break. One thing’s for sure: your car doesn’t need a ‘break’.

Blame it on pollen if you will. Those are dangerous little fairies out there. But there are ways around them. Use them. So no matter what, when you drive, those little pollen pixies will only look pretty!

Filed Under: Road Trips, Safety Tagged With:
« Older Posts
Newer Posts »