Can You Back a Semi Into a Tight Spot?

Most beginning drivers can't. It takes training and practice. Sometimes I wake up in the morning and stick my head out of the sleeper and look at all of the trucks parked all around me. How in the world do they get them big trucks into those small places without smacking into one another?

Any idea how to back a truck
What is the best way to begin
How do you set up your truck to get it in the slot
When you first start backing a truck you have to make sure that you know what is behind you. G.O.A.L is an acronym used by many companies. Get Out and Look! It doesn't get any easier than that. Clean your windows and mirrors. Next and what I feel is the most important is to take it real slow. You can't worry about the impatient driver behind you because in the long run if you make a mistake it is going to take you longer anyway.

When you are first learning to back the truck just go up and back in the straightest line that you can. You'll discover that when backing that even a slight movement of the steering wheel will make a big change in the direction of the trailer. Just go back and forth until you get a feel of how the trailer reacts to your steering. Get a feel for how heavy the clutch feels. In tight spots your leg me become shaky when you have to use the clutch too much. A little secret that some drivers swear is bad and even more mechanics will frown upon and that is once you have mastered your shifting you can change gears both up shifting and down shifting without using the clutch.

Back to backing in. You're going back and forth and now it is time to learn how to put your trailer to a door or in a slot in a truck stop. If at all possible ALWAYS back to the driver's side of the truck. Blindside backing which is backing to the side where you can't see is too difficult and not for beginners. Go out of your way to avoid blindside backing. You can do that when there are no alternatives or you have become proficient at backing.

Set up you truck by pulling in front of the slot where you intend to back into. Continue to drive in front of the hole and pull out at about 45 degrees and continue until the trailer has completely passed the spot, but not by too much. Slowly start to back into the hole, watch the front of your trailer tandems, and line them up to a spot that you pick out. Steer back and forth to try and get the trailer to hit that spot. Never be afraid to get out and look to make sure the trailer is doing what you want it to do. Once you see that you are going to make it in to the slot then if necessary pull forward. Don't over compensate because you can take yourself out of good alignment.

After pulling up, try to get the rig as straight as possible so all you have to do is go straight back. Hopefully you had remembered to open your doors before you get in the spot. Actually I forgot to mention it so I put the blame on the reader. Open the trailer doors before you back and that will save you from walking into the customer to get loaded or unloaded and then having to go back outside to do it again.

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Bodacious Bicycling Benefits

Want to save money and reduce your impact on the planet? Want to be healthier and feel better? These are some of the bicycling benefits you can enjoy when you ride just a few days a week. No need to worry if you haven't ridden in years. Give it a try, and it will all come back to you. It's just like, well, like riding a bike!

Bicycling benefits your environment. A bicycle requires far fewer resources to produce than a car, so its impact on the environment is less right from the get-go. And bicycling produces no emissions, leading to cleaner air. It's been shown that 40% of automobile trips are within two miles of home, and that 60% of pollution from emissions happens in the first few minutes, when the engine is cold. In fact, a four-mile trip by bicycle avoids 15 pounds of pollutants.

Bicycling benefits your economy. Obviously, a bicycle costs much less than a car to buy and maintain, and there is no gas to buy -- an expense that just keeps going up with a car. Bicycling can cut health care costs, as the exercise leads to greater fitness. A study has shown that an obese person averages up to $1500 more in medical costs per year than a fit person. Fitness also reduces the need for Medicare and Medicaid payments, thus saving taxpayer dollars.

Bicycling benefits your health. In 2000, 16.6% of all deaths were due to obesity, a figure roughly equal to those caused by cigarette smoking. Bicycling helps you lose weight and improve cardiovascular fitness, reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke. The improved circulation reduces aches and pains, and the joint movement (without the pounding produced by running) reduces the risk of arthritis. You'll develop a stronger immune system to fight off illness. And bicycling reduces the blood level of cortisol, which has been associated with the mysterious Syndrome X -- a cluster of conditions and symptoms including heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, insulin resistance, and diabetes.

It's easy to reap those bicycling benefits. Most people have been riding a bike since they were kids, so there's no new skills to learn. It's just a matter of getting started. It's not like hard, strenuous exercise -- it's an enjoyable activity you can do with your friends and family. And if the weather's bad, you can put your bicycle on a trainer and ride indoors. Make a commitment to bicycle several times a week, and these bicycling benefits are yours!

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Which Side Of The Road Should You Ride Your Bike On?

When you are riding a bicycle along a public road you need to decide which side of the road that you are going to be on. The two major concerns that you need to worry about are which side of the road will be safer for you, and what are your legal obligations?

When riding your bicycle down the road, you should always ride with traffic (except where local laws state otherwise) because it is much safer for you. In most areas, you must follow all of the same laws as any other traffic and it is illegal for you to ride your bicycle on facing traffic. You are also obligated to follow posted speed limits and must obey all traffic signals and stop signs.

You should always use hand signals before you make a turn to let traffic or other cyclists know what you are going to do. Always ride in single file, and if there are vehicles parked on the side of the road then ride in a line to their left rather than weaving in and out of the road. Predictability is important.

Some specific reasons that you should ride with traffic are because...

...in the US it is illegal to ride opposing traffic.
...you are more likely to escape collisions without a serious injury.
...if everybody did this, then you would not have to worry about passing somebody going in the other direction while two cars are also vying for road real estate at the same time.
...drivers expect you to be riding along with them and predictability makes you safer.
...drivers would often not have enough time to react to your being on their side of the road if you were both going at each other with any sort of speed.

When you plan your routes in an area where traffic drives on the right side of the road, try to make them go in a (generally) clockwise direction so that you will be riding with traffic and will not have to cross traffic as often. If traffic moves along the left side of the road, then you should run in a (generally) counter-clockwise direction.

You should not ride your bike on a sidewalk because in most places it is illegal. If there are bicycle lanes between the road and the shoulder, you should stay within the bicycle lane but still be traveling in the same direction as traffic. If you are on a bicycle path or trail, then you should ride on the same side as traffic moves along the roads (right side in the United States, left side in the United Kingdom.) This will make it less confusing if you are passing runners, roller bladders, or other cyclists. Again, predictability will make you safer.

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Finding Good Tire Discounters

You should take a look at how much you drive your vehicle before you decide to get more tires. Brand new tires can cost several hundred dollars. That's something you may or may not be able to shell out when the time comes. If you can't get a brand new set of tires, your next option would be to find tire discounters.

Finding The Deals

When you start your search, look for dealers or retailers that can offer you a deal. The deal should be something that can fit into your budget. A reputable dealer or retailer will not try to convince you to purchase something that's more than you can afford. They will help you choose the right set that will be a right fit. It will also be right for your budget.

In order to get business, the dealers and retailers will promote their merchandise for sale with ads. Sometimes, they use coupons to lure people to buy or at least come in and look. These coupons are usually valid only for a specified time.

You can find seasonal deals at different places. In order to take advantage of this, you have to be diligently watching for the sales. If you're shopping online, there may be ads from the dealer or retailer offering discount prices on tires. As usual, they specify a limited time period to purchase.

Auctions And Online Shops

You can also try finding them at places like eBay. You'll want to check the seller's feedback and reputation before you purchase. You can find some good deals there. You just have to be consistent and search for them.

Shopping online can be very convenient for those who don't like to shop at brick and mortar retailers. If you have enough information, you can order the set you need and have them delivered to your home in a matter of days. Make sure that the online retailer is reputable and stands by their word. Check their money back guarantee and warranty information on their website.

If you need assistance with your purchase, you can either e-mail or call a representative from the dealer or retailer. They will be able to assist you with your concerns and advise you about your selection. They can also assist you with the right fit for your vehicle. You have to provide them with the pertinent vehicle information.

Choosing The Right Set

You should take into consideration the weather conditions in which you use your vehicle on a regular basis.

If you live in a rainy or tropical area, you will need tires that you can drive on in wet weather. For this, you should consider tires that are used for all four seasons. If you live in a snowy area, you should have a set for winter that you can use when it gets cold.

You will also have to check the treads to examine the longevity. You can ask the dealer or retailer how long the tires are expected to last. The information comes from the manufacturer and it's usually an estimated time frame.

The time frame can be short or it can be long. The time has to be set according to governmental regulations. If the life of the tread is high, then your tires will last longer. If the life of the tread is low, then the life of the set will be brief.

You can find good tire discounters if you look hard enough. It will take time and patience to find the right ones.

Tire ware house

Forget Used, Buy Discount Auto Parts Instead

The average online shopper looking to buy auto parts inexpensively will mostly likely first think, "Used is the way to go." What's unfortunate about this scenario is that this unassuming customer probably isn't aware of the auto part's life story; how and from where it arrived at the shop, and the ways it might put their safety at risk. Yes, "used" can be synonymous with "cheap," however "safe does not a cheap auto part make."

Here's why.

1. Used auto parts are most often taken salvaged from wrecked, or accident vehicles, and studies show that these parts require the highest rate of failure and repair. Unknowingly installing a faulty part from an accident vehicle may not just affect safety. Depending on your auto part, your comfort, gas mileage and other factors could be affected and go unnoticed.

2. It's difficult to have used auto parts properly tested. Very few agencies, government or otherwise, regulate used auto part testing. While some do exist, locating an agency is likely an effort you'll want to forgo. Fortunately, you can focus your efforts on searching for discount auto parts instead; these are always new, safety tested and ready for install.

3. The most in-demand used auto parts are also the most safety deficient. The most expensive auto parts, are those that are the most sought after at discount prices. These parts are usually smaller, important internal components. Replacing these with used, untested, refurbished or junkyard counterparts pose the most risk to your safety, given their importance to the over all proper functioning of your vehicle. For example, while a discount air filter can easily be found used, these are typically not expensive anyhow. A general rule of thumb is that the more expensive the part, the more risk there is posed by untested replacements.

4. Salvage Yards don't offer safety. While appropriate for body parts like fenders and doors, internal components can vary in quality from "junker to junker" and verifying safety just isn't an option. Wrecks resulting from faulty parts require more spend than simply purchasing new parts at a higher up front cost.

So what's the alternative? Buy new auto parts at discount prices.

Here are a few methods of finding cheap auto parts online without sacrificing quality or safety:

Look for Online Stores Labeled "Discount."

By lowering overhead costs and reducing profit margins, online auto part sellers can reduce prices on brand new auto parts in order to stay competitive. These sellers own what are called "discount stores." Even if an online seller isn't labeled as "discount," if the price is right, (and the auto parts aren't used) it's a safe bet that "cheap" in this case doesn't equal unsafe.

Discount sellers most often operate online since doing so significantly decreases cost, allowing them to offer quality auto parts at affordable prices.

Buy Direct From a Wholesaler.

Many online stores operate as dealers for the direct manufacturer, and these stores will mark up costs for profit. You can bypass online stores directly when looking for discount auto parts by searching for auto parts wholesalers online. Most reputable wholesalers will have an online storefront, offering you wider product selection, lower prices, ease of ordering, and quick service. Be sure to exercise due diligence prior to ordering. Talk to someone directly if possible.

Discount Tire Sales

Save Money With Discount Tires Direct From the Supplier

If you want to skip all the headache of buying tires at your local tire shop, it's a good idea to look online first. When you start your research, you'll see that there are thousands of tires stores, both offline and online, competing for your business. But the key to finding the right tire shop is to find one that not only delivers a great discount, but is also able to deliver it directly to your door.

The beauty of tires is that they come in predetermined sizes, so you can purchase your tires from anyone who has your particular tire size in stock. It'll be a very heavy order, but you'll be able to ship your tires directly to you, or an independent installation shop, from any tire website that has a shipping option. The only caveat is that tires are pretty tough to ship internationally, so look for a store in your country to get the most cost effective shipping available.

Although tires are made differently, and even though there are a lot different brands of tires, they are pretty much made the same way. So you really don't have to worry much about the quality of the tire you are getting or where you get it from. The tire shop right down the street from you carries pretty much any type of tire you need, so have them call in an order, and deliver your tires directly to you.

I'll be honest with you, you don't want to go to just any tire shop. You definitely want to buy your tires from a respected tire store so that you know you are getting what you pay for at a good price. Many tire shops out there are constantly looking for ways to rip you off. Many of these shops sell used, retread tires that look like new, and charge you the price of a brand new tire. You won't even notice until your tire runs flat or falls apart completely when you're driving down the street.

The easiest way to find a tire store you can buy from is to start your search online. All you need is access to an internet connection and you're good to go. Your search will only take a couple of minutes to get reviews of the store, find your tire model, and get directions to the shop if they have a physical location.

If you're looking for normal car tires, your search will be even faster, since you can go out and find out exactly what size of tire your car needs.

Even though you know the size of tires you need, you still have decide which brand you want. Each brand and model type has its own advantages, so you may need tires that work well in wet weather, snow, or tires that get the best gas mileage from your car.

Now, all of these different style of tires also have different prices. If you find yourself a little short on cash, you may just want to opt for the basic tire model. It's more than good enough to take care of most of your driving demands, so you won't be sacrificing much at all. Now that you've determined which tire model you want, head online and search for a shop that will ship you the discount tire direct from the source.

Cars Guide Australia

Looking for a Cheap, Good-Condition Car? Try a Used Police Vehicle

What, drive around in an ex-police car? If the thought isn't quite comfortable with you, you might want to reconsider. Used police cars are actually a great choice if you want to buy cheap. If you choose well, you could get one that's well-maintained with a repair record or logbook which is probably more complete and accurate than anything you yourself have for your old reliable. Better yet, used police cars can be bought at a fraction of their value.

What to look for:

Check where the car was originally from. Most city police cars have had a tough run, while some police cars from the country may have less wear and tear. This is not a general rule, but it may be helpful.

Check for equipment that have been added or removed. It's a used police car, so expect stuff like sirens, lights, cages, gun mounts, antennas, spot lights and the like. The unit could have holes in the trunk and roof because of these. Some used police cars also have rear side windows and rear door locks that don't work – not a bad thing, but some family members or friends might find it annoying.

Speaking of sirens and lights, don't be too ecstatic about getting them on your car. Some states prohibit possession of police sirens and lights, so it's best to check with your municipality about laws and regulations concerning them. Also, removing these equipment will mean some wiring concerns and yes, holes on your unit.

Used police cars usually have rubber floors. Great if you find one with carpeting so you get more buffer from noise and heat. Check also if the car was used as a K9 unit. Yep, you have to know this. Sometimes no amount of Glade can do away with the nasty dog smell and it's just not cool driving a nice car that smells like a dog house.

Another concern would be the color of the car. Most used police cars in the auction lot are black or white or a combination of both. And then there are the blues, silvers, grays and tans, or some other color, depending on which government agency used it. If you bought one with some damage on the body, you might have a difficulty matching the color, even if you get the paint custom mixed. Also, black and white combination cars are illegal in some states.

Try to check for the average mileage in the used police car lot. If you find one with a really low mileage, you might think you've hit the jackpot, but be wary. No matter how rich you think your state is, a police agency just does not put up its used cars for auction for no reason. One risk of a low-mileage used police car is that it could have been involved in an accident, so it's best to check its background.

Just for your own security, subscribe to CarFax so you can check the history of the cars you are interested in, especially mileage noted during state inspections and any accidents they may have been involved in. However, not all used police cars involved in accidents are reported to an insurance company, which means you may not find an accident report with CarFax.

The best thing to do is check the title to see if it's been salvaged and how many times the car has changed hands. Ask a knowledgeable friend or a mechanic to help you in your decision before you conclude the deal. Ask for a copy of a repair report and records so you can see the exact damage the car sustained, when it was repaired, the name of the shop who did the repairs and the list of parts that have been replaced.

No matter what car dealers tell you, there is no such thing as a premium or deluxe used police car package. Whether they've been driven by regular policemen or top brass officers, it's really up to you to decide on your own if that used police car is a good buy.

Car Guide