Why You Should Buy A Quality Towbar, Instead Of A Cheap One

By Damian Papworth

Typically when we go camping, we go pretty spartan. A tent, a few sleeping bags and half a car of camping gear is all we really need. Late last year though, we decided to go a bit more "classy" and hired a caravan instead. It was a pleasant change. In order to pull the caravan though, I needed a new towbar installed on the jeep.

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.

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.

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.

I really valued the advice I was given on this day. It completely changed my perspective in what I was buying when shopping for a towbar. It changed my mind regarding what I was looking for. Instead of shopping for price, I was shopping for quality, reliability, robustness and efficiency. Yes, that's right, efficiency. Different towbars actually make you vehicle perform differently too.

Having a better idea of what I was looking for made the product choice a little bit easier. For example, did you know that Hayman Reece are the only towbar that comes with a lifetime warranty anywhere in Australia. Personally I think this speaks volumes for the quality of their products. They are clearly the only brand which fully trusts their own product. The great thing about Hayman Reece towbars too ,are the accessories you can get with them. They have accessories which make their towbars safer and work better with your vehicle.

To start with, they have a Weight Distribution Hitch which will take the extra money you spent on the towbar and hitch, and put it right back into your pocket with fuel savings. That's right, it makes the trailer work better with your vehicle. It does this by reducing the ball weight on the towbar and therefore drag. Less drag means your vehicle drives easier, giving it better efficiency and a lower consumption of fuel. Sometimes you just need to spend a bit to save.

The other thing they sell is an accessory called Sway Control. This one I definitely wanted as it makes towing so much safer. Given that my family are going to be in the vehicle with me as we drive on our holiday, safety really is my first priority. Sway control is simply the add on that stops the caravan from swerving all over the road, every time a truck drives past the other way. A very nifty accessory which makes for a much safer trip.

I have to thank the guys at AVA for their help on this one. They gave me perspective, an understanding that finding the cheapest towbar is probably not the cheapest way to tow and ensured my tow set up was as safe as it could be. What more could you ask for? - 21392

About the Author:

Damian Papworth realises the cost of quality towbars and bike racks are mimimal compared to the vehicles they are carrying.

Vehicles Safety and Emissions

By Lindsay Parker

Sometimes it can be confusing with all the different rules about safety and emissions testing when exactly you may need it and what exactly needs to be in good working order. It can actually differ from state to state what is needed, so, I'll be focusing on the requirements for Utah.

I was surprised to find out that the times from safety and emissions can actually be different depending on the year of your car. The year of the car will make all the difference in safety and emissions.

Here are the rules for safety inspections. Cars that are 9 years and older need to come in every year for safety inspections. If they are 8 years old and younger, they only need to be brought in every 2 years.

Emissions is only slightly different. If your car is 6 years old or younger you only have to bring it in every other year. If it is older than 6 years it is required to be tested every year.

Remember, it is important that your vehicle does not pass its registration date. If so, you may not be able to get a company to do the testing. You'll have to get a temporary registration from your DMV.

Emissions and safety inspections can come back a negative and require some additional work before they will be able to give you your safety and emissions papers to be taken to your DMV. These problems can sometimes be little and feel inconvenient but they must be fixed before you'll be able to register your car again.

The best way to insure that your car will pass safety and emissions the first time is to periodically do maintenance work. Make sure that little things like the engine light or other lights aren't always coming on, and if they are get it checked out. Don't think that the light coming on doesn't mean anything because it is a sign that something in the engine has changed.

If this is your year to get your safety and emissions done, don't put it off because you might forget. Take it to a trusted shop and be on top of things before your registration expires. - 21392

About the Author:

Master Muffler is Utah's leading muffler, brake and auto repair shop, and has 13 locations from Brigham City to Provo. Visit or call one of their locations for a free quote on how to improve your miles per gallon up to 30% for your car, truck or van. Visit their website at www.mastermuffler.net.

Can the TomTom ONE be the One and Only GPS for You?

By Joseph Aaron

TomTom is a company that is widely recognized for its TomTom GO models that have gotten better every year at providing the most sophisticated technology for accessible and reasonably priced appliances. Even though they haven't produced any upgraded TomTom GO devices this year, people still keep buying the existing products because they live up to their standards in terms of performance and ease of use. The only problem that certain GPS fans face is the price tag. Another model to consider is the Garmin 7200 StreetPilot GPS.

The TomTom ONE GPS provides the answer to this issue. The TomTom ONE is a newer lineup for customers who prefer to keep some money but appreciate the TomTom's functionality. TomTom ONE actually has several models, like XL models which are widescreen. Unfortunately, only the original TomTom ONE is available in the US. The TomTom ONE is well known for its very low price, in addition to its paucity of functions and mediocre quality. Then, the 2nd edition appeared with long-awaited design and software developments, rescuing us from the old model. This review will address the updated 2nd edition.

Look and Design

Looks might actually be everything, and TomTom ONE made an effort to be appealing with its diminutive and simple profile with a nice curved top. The TomTom ONE GPS is small enough to be held one-handed and is able to fit in a shirt pocket. Just by looking at it, a person would never think that your TomTom ONE GPS is an inexpensive model.

Setup Process

The installation procedure is quite simple given its plug and play functionality, and therefore you should be able to work with the device directly after you unwrap it. You'll encounter one part when you will be required to activate the device online, which isn't covered in detail in the manual. However; you should be able to find everything you need in terms of activation in the complete manual found only on the CD. As soon as you activate the device, you are all cleared for takeoff.

Navigational Features

The TomTom ONE is very accurate in regard to positioning and updating as you move along. Occasionally you will notice it a bit confused by 25 to 50 meters, but it still performs more dependably than the other entry level handheld models you'll find. Its routing capabilities are exceptional too, and you won't get very many of those annoying instructions to make a U-turn every now and then. Your TomTom ONE won't locate the quickest route every time, but it will find a sensible one. The regional downloads that TomTom provides include a wide array of POIs, but a small part of the signs won't be found on the map, so be sure to keep the maps updated.

Other Features

The sound quality is good even at high volume, when other systems get muddled. The digital pictures and advanced user interface are a refreshing change and should definitely induce more customers into giving the TomTom ONE a spin. The battery life is less than ideal, running just above 2 hours, and it comes with merely a USB and car charger. Another solid car GPS unit is the Garmin 7200 StreetPilot GPS.

The TomTom ONE is offered for a great price and this GPS's most vital applications work rather well. Consider this model as your next GPS product if you really are required to save money. - 21392

About the Author:

Joseph Aaron writes for an online project helping consumers make educated purchase decisions on GPS Navigation Systems. Amongst the highest rated GPS units recommended on his website is the Garmin Streetpilot 7200 GPS Navigator.

Find Out About Drivers Ed

By John Robertson

When your kids are turning into semi-adults, it's time to think about the future. It used to be that your kids could take drivers education through their high schools. In fact, in the old days, it was mandatory. While parents didn't know much about drivers ed, they knew that it was a good thing, and were very happy to have their kids learning how to drive.

The price to own several drivers education vehicles just got too out of hand for most school districts. Between the buying price of the vehicle, the taxes and title and the cost of fuel, it's virtually impossible to fathom that any school district could afford the cost. Many schools can't afford text books these days, let alone buying cars and paying for auto insurance.

While the services of drivers ed were free when we took them, back in high school, they are not free from your local service provider. You can expect to put out several hundreds of dollars for your children to go through drivers education. However, know that they will be instructed by state certified professionals who have your children's best interests at heart, not the gym teacher like when we were in school.

With more and more young people waiting until an older age to drive, it means that they're less experienced. Some states do not require you to have taken drivers education if you go for your license and you're beyond a certain age. This means that there are uneducated and untrained drivers on the roads that may be feeling overly confident. This is one of the worst things that could happen. It's best to get your kids the training and education that they need, when you can.

The first part of the drivers ed course that your child will take will involve a lot of book work. There will be reading in class and assigned as homework. Your child will need to make sure that he or she reads all of the literature that their drivers ed teacher asks them to read. It is very important not to miss imperative lessons. Missing classes is heavily frowned upon and in most cases, will cause your student to fail the class.

They will learn about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. You can expect that they will see some films that they may not really want to watch. Surely you remember these movies from when we were in high school. It's always good to put a little bit of fear into your almost drivers so they're aware of what could happen if they're careless and dangerous.

Your child will get behind the car of a vehicle that is equipped with dual controls so that the drivers education instructor is always in control of the situation. Whenever they feel that a student is making errors, they will instruct them to right the course. If they do not feel that this is possible, they will shut off the controls for the student's side of the car and safely stop the vehicle.

When you need to find out about drivers ed in your area, the quickest and easiest way to learn about schools is to search online. When you're waiting to get your child behind the wheel of a car, the quickest way to get them up to speed is by taking a drivers ed course through a local, accredited academy. - 21392

About the Author:

learn to drive and more at driving lessons ibrox and driving instructors ibrox

Types of Car Insurance Policies

By Amy Nutt

The law requires that anyone who drives a car must have car insurance. Purchasing car insurance involves buying a policy from an insurance provider. The premium you pay depends on a number of factors such as age, gender, and the make, model, and year of the car. When you look for an insurance policy that will provide you with appropriate coverage, it is important to understand the types of car insurance policies that are available.

The most common car insurance policies include:

Liability Coverage: This type of insurance is a must-have for every driver. It provides coverage for accidental physical injury and damage to property caused to another person. Physical injury damages can be pain and suffering, medical bills, lost wages, and rehabilitation. Property damage can be damage caused to another driver's car. State laws determine how much liability coverage you must purchase. States provide a minimum set coverage that one must have, but most people protect themselves by purchasing more liability, however you can always get more coverage. The law requires liability coverage because most people do not have the money to compensate another person for an accident.

Most insurance companies will provide coverage for a maximum limit as outlined in the insurance policy. The liability coverage limit can be anywhere from $50,000 to $1,000,000. The amount of liability coverage you acquire will determine how much your premium will be. The higher the liability coverage, the higher the premium will be. Most experts recommend coverage of 1, 000,000 to ensure that you are fully protected. It is best to have at least $500,000 or $1,000,000 liability. This will make certain that you will be able to cover all damages and expenses that you may be responsible for paying.

Comprehensive Coverage: This coverage will cover any damage to your car that is not caused by another driver. Examples include fire, theft, (including car parts) weather damage such as hurricanes, floods, hail, ice storm, vandalism, hitting a object such as a deer, etc. Comprehensive Coverage is optional and is usually purchased for vehicles that are worth more than $1000. Deductibles can range from $250, $500, and $1000.

Collision Coverage: This type of coverage covers your car if it is damaged from a collision. For instance, you are covered if you crash into a fence or another car. This policy provides coverage for all damage minus the deductible up to the set maximum limit. It has to be an accident such as a collision caused by slippery roads. Deductibles range from $250, $500, and $1000. You should get this policy if you have an expensive car.

In order to ensure you are fully protected in the event of an accident or another car related mishap, you need to understand the details of each car insurance policy. As well, you must comply with state law regarding the type of insurance that they mandate for all drivers. To avoid unnecessary financial and emotional hardship, choose the policy that best meets all of your needs. - 21392

About the Author:

Auto Club Organization serving in the areas of travel, roadside assistance, and Ontario region car insurance