Made Moon Blog

When I purchased my first truck, a showroom new 1985 Ford F-150, it was a basic offering needing some serious upgrades. One of the first products I purchased was a snap-on tonneau cover that adequately covered the truck’s eight foot bed. Although I did not have the truck for long, it proved to be one of my favorite “add-ons” and it actually saved me some money. If you’re shopping for a new tonneau cover there are some important things for you to keep in mind before finalizing your purchase. Let’s take a look at five of them.

You get what you pay for! A tonneau cover can be had cheaply or it can cost you a small fortune. In the middle area, where most consumers shop, there are several reasonably priced models that are durable, long lasting, and attractive. Some covers look cheap — and they are, while others look expensive — but they really are not. Generally, you will pay less for a soft-top tonneau cover than for a hard-top cover, so it becomes a matter of personal preference which style you decide to buy.

They are easy to maintain. Quite true! For the most part, if you are washing your truck, you will clean your cover the same way. However, do not use the car tire or dashboard cleaning agents on your cover. Manufacturers such as for the Extang Tonneau Cover will have specific care instructions for you to follow. Your local auto supply store should carry products specifically designed to help you clean and shine your tonneau cover.

You will reap security dividends. Even a soft, non-locking tonneau cover is better to have on your truck bed than no cover at all, as tempting items are kept away from thieves’ eyes. Still, if you carry valuable merchandise, consider a locking, hard cover version. Covers such as those offered by Truxedo Tonneau Cover can meet your security requirements.

Resale value will be strong. If you take good care of your truck and outfit it with a premium tonneau cover, you will be able to command a good resale value when it is time for you to sell your truck.

Decent fuel savings. With gas prices surging, one way you can save as much as 10-15% at the pump is to have a tonneau cover installed. Wind drag is greatly reduced when your tonneau cover is securely in place.

Most tonneau covers come with a one year limited warranty, which should be adequate for you. Your online auto parts supplier can provide detailed information about product offerings, care/maintenance, prices, shipping/handling information, and more.

I hope you enjoy your new tonneau cover as much as I enjoyed mine!

Matt is a contributing writer to automobile sites including Car Parts Stuff.

The number of diesel powered cars on North American highways has been dropping steadily ever since their peak in the mid 1980s. For many motorists, diesel engines conjure up images of pollution, poor power, and unreliability. However, one generation later and all that is about to change. New diesel powered vehicles will soon be arriving, in fact one is already here and receiving critical acclaim from auto enthusiasts.

Who can forget those diesel powered Chevrolet Caprices and Oldsmobile 98s that suddenly became very popular 25 years ago? If you are like many car owners, you want to forget those cars. What GM did back then was to take existing gasoline engines and convert them to diesel engines. These converted engines were loud, smoky, and very unreliable. They were unreliable to the point where GM had to pay tens of millions of dollars to replace failed engines with gasoline engines.

The memory of GM’s diesel fiasco was never lost on drivers who have spurned diesels to the point where many automakers are no longer producing diesel engines. Mercedes, a strong seller of diesel powered cars in Europe, no longer sells a diesel powered car in North America. VW is the lone importer of diesel engines while the U.S. manufacturers only place high performance diesel engines in their larger vehicles such as pick up trucks.

Another area that has stopped diesel engines cold is air pollution. Very stringent emission regulations have all but wiped out the possibility that many of the smaller diesel engines could be sold in the U.S. However, a change is in the wind as new technology is now in place that will make diesel powered cars cleaner. In addition, with the high cost of gasoline now prevailing, a diesel powered car has much more of an appeal to it especially since fuel savings of 20-30% are possible.

DaimlerChrysler recently introduced a Jeep Liberty with an optionally equipped diesel engine and this compact SUV is selling well with the optional engine. Its new 2.8L diesel delivers fuel improvements as high as 32% over a comparable gas 4×4 model and pollution is kept to a minimum. In addition, the added torque is a favorite with some, especially those who need to pull a boat or a camper with the Jeep.

Volkswagen will be bringing additional diesel powered cars to the North American market over the next few years. Diesel powered Golfs, Jettas, and possibly several larger model VWs will soon be traversing the highways and byways of Canada and the U.S.

BMW and Mercedes are both likely to be importing diesel cars over the next few years. Both automakers are studying the market to see if compact models could sell in North America. Each proposed model line is currently sold in Europe and diesel engines are a popular option with these cars.

GM is also considering tapping its relationship with Isuzu to import engines to be placed in several compact models. Long a producer of diesel powered vehicles, Isuzu has pretty much exited the North American market, but could return in the form of Isuzu powered cars sold by GM.

Chrysler will likely take its favorable experience with its Jeep division and begin to offer diesel engines on other trucks and SUVs. At the same time the all new Dodge Caliber, a replacement for the Neon, may eventually offer a diesel engine too.

Ford seems to be content with expanding its hybrid offerings and no other Japanese or Korean manufacturers appear ready to jump into the diesel movement…yet. Regardless, within five years the number of diesel cars on American and Canadian roads will likely triple. This can be a good thing for people wanting better fuel mileage, more torque, and a highly reliable engine.

For older diesel powered cars, they will continue to serve their purpose as owners discover how to extend their lives through useful aftermarket parts such as Bully Dog and competing products. With their rugged durability and well known reliability, a diesel powered car can easily reach a half of million miles or more before quitting.

Copyright 2006 - Matt Keegan, is The Auto Writer, who covers a variety of automotive topics including
Bully Dog Diesel products and other handy aftermarket parts and accessories.

When it comes to lemon laws, knowing the basics can be the difference between whether or not you get screwed over or get the chance to recover the money that you spent on the car. This article will help you to uncover the basics behind the lemon laws. Keep in mind that this is just an overview and each of these laws varies by state.

The state and federal statutes offer a wide array of relief for consumers who get stuck with a bad car or truck after they buy. At the same time, these statutes provide buyers with the chance for recovery of costs and attorney fees which are a strong incentive for attorneys who would like to take up the cause on behalf of unhappy lemon owners.

For the sake of this article, I will call them “lemon laws.” Lemon laws basically outline all of the procedures that are used in order to settle these sorts of new car problems.

Again, these lemon laws differ from one state to another, but lemon laws in general are designed to provide the owner with a refund or replacement vehicle should a problem occur.

For example, some states mandate a refund or a new car if a large enough problem cannot be repaired within four tries, or if the car has been out of service for around a month within the first year or 12,000 miles.

However, there are some exceptions to this rule, such as: some states only provide you with the chance to make one attempt for significant safety related issues such as the brakes or steering.

Some states do not even stop with just providing lemon owners with either a refund or a new car. Some of them will also let you recover any sort of attorney’s fees that you encounter during your pursuit of some satisfaction from your purchase of a lemon.

It is always good to know that you can get some sort of return on your money when you buy a lemon. It happens so often that eventually there was bound to be some laws protecting buyers.

What is sometimes sad about the lemon laws is that they do not necessarily help you, depending on your specific situation. However, this varies by situation, so if you think you have a lemon, do something about it!

Levi Bloom is a contributor to automotive sites such as http://thenewcarbuyersguide.com Check it out to learn everything you need to know about buying a new or used car.

If you do not want to spend a lot of money building a garage protecting your Truck or RV then you should consider a Truck Canopy.

Canopies are a low cost way of protecting anything from cars to boats and even tractors. These lightweight structures are made of a very light but durable material which can withstand any weather conditions. The great advantage of a canopy is that they come in all sizes. If you have a small pickup or even an 18 wheeler you will be able to find a canopy that will fit your needs. The most popular is the All Purpose 10′ X 20′ 8 leg canopy which creates a lot of opportunities for outdoor protection. The shelter includes a white, full-valanced cover and foot plates for stakes. Slip-fit connections make assembly painless. The durable frame is structured from 1 3/8-inch diameter, powder-coated steel tubing.

If you had a slightly longer truck then you may consider the 12 x 26′ Tandem Commercial Grade Canopy. This commercial-grade canopy provides you extra space for your shelter needs! At 12′ wide, there is plenty of room for walking around a vehicle, and at 26′ long, you could protect an extra-long Truck, RV, boat or position several tables for a family reunion in the shade. The 10-leg frame is constructed of 2-inch diameter, powder-coated steel tubing and features slip and connections for durability and easy assembly. The white cover is UV-stabilized, waterproof polyethylene. The price for a canopy of this size can range from $450 to $650. Good quality and size doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. The great thing about this canopy is that although its versatile to use for any occasion you could also rent it out to others wanting to use it for an outdoor wedding or party.

There are accessories that come with these canopies. You can either have the configuration in such a way that you just have the roof with the side legs showing. If you want a more enclosed look then you can opt for the side walls which will totally enclose your truck in instances where you need more protection from the weather, or just want to keep your vehicle out of site.

The price of canopies varies and this is usually in line with its size and the accessories that you may want. For a simple canopy like the one mentioned above you can expect to pay in the region of $150 to $350 but these can range up to as high as $1000 and over. There is usually no compromise on quality in the price range as all canopies are made to a very high standard.

The most important and convenient aspect of buying a canopy is that you can do it online. You can browser online stores and have your canopy delivered to your door for as little as $10. In most cases you will find that delivery is free depending on the size of your order.

Grant Marwick is a freelance writer and owner of http://www.canopy-center.com where you will find advice and more articles on Truck Canopies

Long and sleek! With Elvis as the hero of the day during the
1950s, whatever he drove become the car of the day. And
Elvis loved the glamour that shiny new tail-fins exhibited.
His fans loved them, too, which led to over thirty heart-
stopping models being designed during the 1950s. No one
cared back then whether cars were gas-guzzlers or whether
the paint job would last, or whether the shiny chrome that
protruded out the back begged to have dents inserted within
the first few weeks.

The appeal of cars during the 1950s was more than just
Elvis. It was prestige and glamour for even the average
working person. The feeling of luxury seeped into one’s
feelings and emotions, and romance bloomed with respect
while riding in these elegant vehicles.

The Chrysler Town & Country Newport coupe which came out in
1950 didn’t have fins (they started creeping into the design
around 1952). Yet it wasn’t the typical car of the 1940s.
Almost a dinosaur compared to today’s styles, the Newport
featured distinctive, external wood framing (referred to as
being a ‘Woodie’) and strongly appealed to the hunter and
sportsmen.

Pontiac had a mascot – an Indian Chief- whose unsmiling face
formed the base of the front hood. His headdress consisted
of streaks of chrome sliding back over the hood and being
picked up again on the trunk. Sleek looking! Everyone wanted
a car with a personality, and the Indian Chief gave the
Pontiac one.

Because the cars of the early 1950s had a somewhat dowdy
appearance but reflected the potential of sparkling glamour,
car designers became aggressive in their creativity. By 1957
and 1958 the designers produced disastrously overblown
responses. Sharp clean fins reached in all directions. They
were streaked with chrome, and somewhere in the middle a
body was grafted into them. Bright yellows! Passionate reds!
Baby blues! And regardless of the weather where one lived,
convertibles were in, even if you never lowered the top.

The intense competition among the car manufacturers meant
that each model became extinct quickly. Planned obsolescence
meant the customers had to choose between buying a new car
each year or being a social leper. Because of the expense of
redesigning all models every year, the manufacturers took to
keeping the inner workings of the cars basically the same
and only changing the outward look.

By 1958 some models,such as the 1958 Oldsmobile, were
beginning to be called ‘ugly.’ Some even said it looked
like a brick with a hardtop sitting on it. However, the
indented chrome on the doors still caught one’s eye of
respect.

All systems self-destruct from within. The era of the
glamour cars had outdone itself and common sense dictated
that what would follow in the 1960s would be based on
performance, a concern for the environment, and conservative
packaging. During the 1960s people weren’t impressed with
external appearances to the exclusion of what existed
underneath. This attitude was reflected towards both people
and cars. Yet, who will ever forget Elvis? Or the glamour
cars of the 1950s?
Cottis Pardens is the webmaster and operator of
CarsUlike Dotcom which
tackles all motoring issues.For more information, go to:
http://www.acarsz.com

If you have an older car it may have R12 refrigerant in the air conditioner system. You can still buy R12, but it is very expensive. If you are ready to convert your system to R134, here is a brief explanation of the procedure with a few insider tips to help you. To begin you will need a conversion kit with all the necessary materials. It will include: 2 new adapter fittings, 2 -3 cans of R-134, and a hose with adapter. Once you have all the materials, you can begin the process. The first thing you have to do is have the R12 recovered with a refrigerant recovery machine. (It is illegal to just open the valve and let it out in the air.) Now that the air conditioning system has no pressure, it is time to install the new valve kit. At this point some people freeze up (no pun intended) because they are afraid of mixing up the adapters on the high and low pressure ends. Don’t worry, they are different sizes. The bigger one goes on the low pressure side of the system and the refrigerant hose will only connect to the low side valve. It is pretty hard to mess this up.

Now that the adapter valves are connected, it is time to start the car and put the air conditioner on high. Turn the blower fan to its highest setting as well and open the windows. Grab a can of R134 and hook up the hose and T valve that came with your kit. With the hose hooked up to the can begin to twist the T valve until it punctures the can. Then open the valve to let some freon out and purge the air in the line. Turn the can upside down and hook it up to the low side adapter valve. Now slowly open the valve and let the Freon flow into the system. At this point the compressor will begin to cycle on and off. Don’t panic, this is normal. Keep adding Freon until the system begins to cool. You can feel the low pressure line begin to get cool and condensation will accumulate on it. (Do not grab the high pressure line. It can burn you.) You probably will not need all 3 cans and be careful not to overfill the system. If the air conditioner is still not cooling after the second can, something is wrong. You may have a leak in the system or some other difficulty.

Do not be tempted to keep pumping Freon in the lines. If the low side line is cold and dripping with moisture you are done. If you have a air conditioning manifold gauge set, the low side should have a pressure of 40 – 50 psi.

Good luck and stay cool!

Jason is the webmaster for Red Hill Supply – Online Automotive Air Tools.

Refrigerant Leak Detector, Air Conditioning Manifold Gauge Set and More

Every once in a while, an invention comes along that gains so much popular attention that it may seem like it has been around forever. While the basic idea for the hybrid car has been around since 1917, the hybrids that we talk about on the market today have only really been around since the Honda Insight and the Toyota Prius made their debuts in the 1990s. Since that time, other dealers have become involved in the hybrid trade, in part thanks to government initiatives such as the Clinton administration’s agreement with Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors (Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles). What the growth in both popularity and diversity means is that several issues that have come up in the evolution of the hybrid car are being dealt with in the age old capitalist way of competition.

Hybrid cars have always lived up to their touted ability to save gas, but unless your soul is painted green this was not necessarily of any benefit to the average consumers. Most hybrid cars end up costing more than their standard engine counterparts over the long term, largely due to their initial cost. In addition, hybrid parts can be hard and expensive to obtain.

These are some of the key issues that need to be resolved from a consumer’s perspective in order to make the mass purchase of hybrids by the public a reality. It should come as no surprise that in terms of long term cost, the original manufacturer of the hybrid, Toyota, is far ahead of its competitors when it comes to addressing the purchasing needs of consumers. This is currently the only model that over time will actually save a consumer some dollars because of gas savings. Here are some other models of hybrid cars slated for debut in the next few years.

Toyota Prius: Still the gold standard for hybrids, the Prius 2007 model is now being advertised for sale and is in the lot of a dealership near you. The model brags an incredible 110 miles to a single gallon. It is also expected that Toyota will continue to set the standard when it comes to speed for the hybrid (which has been another knock on hybrid vehicles, although they can maintain a legal speed along with any other model of vehicle just fine) as the 2004 model was designed to reach speeds of up to 130 miles per hour. $20,875 US dollars.

Ford Escape: The 2005 is the latest model in the Ford hybrid line, and is great for both domestic car enthusiasts and those who insist on having a sports utility vehicle. The Escape offers 50 miles to the gallon (keep in mind that it is an SUV) and all the luxuries of a standard model car. $27,000 USD.

Honda also offers three models in hybrid version, and these are a few thousand dollars less than Toyota models. As for hybrid luxuries, they might be in the near future as well, with Lexus and Mercedes working on perfecting their own models.

Frank Little maintains a website dedicated to exploring the most fuel effcient hybrid cars.

• Salesmen are more willing to haggle prices to close the deal when in the holiday season, as most people are too busy to think about buying a car at that time.

• Another time that is the best for getting a good deal is the period from July to October. Dealerships are trying to get rid of their inventory to make way for the new year models.

• Do some research online, and get some quotes – optimally along with some good rebates or incentives. Print out your results from the lowest quotes and bring it with you to your local dealer. Showing them the lower quotes might compel them to give you a better deal. If not, shop around some more.

• Visit FightingChance.com – This site has great advice, as well as incentives and rebate offers. You may be able to save thousands of dollars on your car purchase.

• A good tactic is to bring a copy of your credit score with you to the dealership. It can lower your interest rates on your car loan.

• Be suspicious of any ‘bait and switch’ tactics, such as some odd change that occurred after you initially discussed the car with the dealer. Some unscrupulous dealers will use your preference for a particular car as leverage in convincing you to stay with your choice; although, unfortunately there has been some ‘unforseen’ change in the price or deal you originally discussed. Stick to your guns and remind them that is not what was agreed. If they don’t back down,or at least give you a concession, then it is up to you if you want to accept the difference.

• A rule of thumb is to never wait until your car is broken down and you are desperate – not only are you not thinking as clearly at a time like that, but the salesman may sense your desperation and take advantage of you. On such a major decision, try to force yourself to take action when you realize your car has issues, but while it is still running.

• Do your research before going in and subjecting yourself to high-pressure tactics. Don’t fall for any deals where you are required to make an on the spot decision. This is a big commitment and you need to be on top of the game.

Jamie Snodgrass is an online marketer for many sites such as
Car Buying Tips and
Article Directory


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If you are a pick up truck or SUV owner, one of the most popular accessories for these types of vehicles are running boards. Running boards are particularly useful as they allow easier access to your truck’s cabin in addition to simply “lookin’ good”. You can outfit your vehicle yourself with running boards by following three simple steps. Depending on the brand of running board you purchase, the procedures involved may vary somewhat.

Lund running boards are industry hot sellers and the company helps make installation a breeze by outlining how to get the job done:

1. Insert the square head bolts into the extruded channels on the underside of the board, then attach the Multi-Fit brackets loosely with supplied washers and nuts.

2. After determining mounting position on the truck, the end caps and step pads are attached with matching black rivets.

3. Mounting methods vary slightly with application. Multi-Fit Running boards are bolted in place with clip nuts and bolts at factory holes. Tighten after determining alignment is correct.

That’s it! Before you know it your running boards are securely in place and ready for use.

When shopping for running boards, please note that the quality of the products marketed can vary. A top of the line running board such as those sold by Lund or Westin running boards is typically made out of tough polymer materials or diamond plated aluminum and will, therefore, adequately hold your weight and resist deterioration. You can order running boards that light up, choose boards that have a wide step area, and even select running boards that allow you to paint the shell yourself.

Running boards are made for SUVs from the Kia Sorento to the Ford Expedition, and for trucks from the Toyota Tacoma to the GMC Sierra Denali. Mounting kits are usually sold separately, so before completing your order make sure that all the parts as well as instructions are included with your shipment.

By shopping with a reputable online retailer and installing the running boards yourself you can save plenty of money and have the satisfaction of knowing that you did the installation.

Your American license is exchangeable for a French license if it is from one of the following states: Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Pennsylvania and Kentucky (Please note this list can change at any time!). If you think I missed a state, then call your local Préfecture or sous Préfecture or French embassy/consulate. They will tell you if your license is exchangeable. If you do have a license from one of the states listed, you have one year from the date you entered France: the date stamped on your passport or Carte de Séjour, to make the exchange. If you wait more than a year, all is lost; you will have to obtain a French driving license ‘from scratch’, a difficult process. The process, starting from scratch is expensive and a nuisance. This is the process:

Find a driving school – Not an easy course in and of itself, because so many go out of business. I went with L’Ecole de Conduite Francaise(ECF)a chain, to obtain my license. It was fortunate that I did. The other independently owned school I looked at went out of business. There are some schools in Paris that teach classes in English. Classes taught in English are expensive. When you sign-up with your driving school you pay a flat fee for the written test, in my case about $220 US. Then you pay by the lesson, $35 US per lesson, for the practical.

Written test – The written test is made up of forty multiple choice questions. You have thirty seconds to answer each and must answer 35 or more correctly to pass. What I found the most difficult about the written test, was that more than one answer could be correct on some of the multiple choice questions. This along with the fact that some questions are in two parts makes the written test in reality more than forty questions.

Your driving school will give you a textbook for the written test that explains, if that is possible, the French driving code. All of your in class preparation for the written test consists of taking a practice test and then going over the test question by question, with the instructor. The practice tests have the same type questions, but more difficult, than the actual test. The time constrains are the same.

I spent a little over a month getting ready for the written test. I was not working and went to my school almost every day. The school had self-teaching CD ROMs available during the day and classes at night. Some schools have classes through out the day with no CD ROMs.

I was not able to take the written test when I wanted to. First there was a problem getting back my paperwork from the Préfecture. I was told it would take a month, but because I was outside the norm, a foreigner, it took longer. Then when I finally received the test date, the test was canceled because there was the smell of gas in the examination center. In France, unlike the states, you cannot choose the test location. Your school is given exam dates that it then gives to the students. Sometimes if demand is great, schools only have dates every few weeks.

If you get frustrated at times with studying for the written test, just remember that the actual test is easier than the practice tests. A friend of mine, the day before she took the written test, missed fourteen on a practice test, yet she passed when it counted.

After writing all the above it is possible to study on your own for the written test. No one I know has; but my local Préfecture said I could. There are plenty of CD-ROMs that teach the written test.

Driving test – If this is the part you think will be the easiest, think again. It took me nine one hour lessons before I was “ready” for my driving test. That was with already driving for fifteen years! French driving schools make most of their money from driving lessons, they run about $35 apiece, and so in no time you will have spent a few hundred dollars.

The test lasts twenty minutes: you may be asked to parallel park, go through a few intersections that are yield right, drive on the highway, just about anything that you might do driving. Like the written, the driving test is not as difficult as your instructor will make it out to be. My instructors were very strict; you had to do everything exactly as asked. For example when you change lanes, you need to look in your mirror, look over your shoulder, then look in the mirror again. Also you need to be constantly looking in your mirrors, about every ten seconds, so you know what’s behind you, your instructor will nitpick like crazy and it will not be nice. One major frustration: I was told to forget a lot of what I learned in studying for the written test. Another frustration and most French will attest to this, no one drives like they are taught in France.

You are going to spend a few months, my case three, to obtain a French driver’s license. Then you will see on a daily basis drivers running red lights, driving way over the speed limit and other infractions.

Enjoy!

For more information see =>http://www.americansinfrance.net/driving_study_guide

Jeff Steiner – http://www.jeffsteiner.com/
I’m an American living in France, Reignier (near Geneva) at the moment. Over the last ten years I have learned a lot about living and traveling in France. Which is why I created http://www.americansinfrance.net I’m originally from Los Angeles and have lived outside the United States before – Nicaragua in the early 1990’s.