Tips to Tow in Your 2014 Chevrolet Silverado

We’ve heard the buzz about the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado for some time now.  The roomy cabin gives everybody more space and makes the family trips more of a delight. What will you do in your new 2014 Chevrolet Silverado?  If you said tow your family boat or camper, then today’s post is for you. 

This should go without saying, but the best way to get your family safely to the vacation destination while towing, is to adjust your driving.  No need to put unnecessary wear and tear on your vehicle by speeding.  Take turns slower than you normally would and last but not least, merge with the consideration of the additional length of your tow.  Safety is just as important as the way you attach the cargo to your vehicle.

Size matters in operating a vehicle for a specific task.  Make sure you have the proper size truck for the proper weight.  If you are looking for a truck to tow something already in your possession, be sure to bring along the specifications to the dealership while you are shopping.  Your consultant will be able to better assist you with your needs.  If you have a truck and you’re looking for a boat or camper, make sure to research what your vehicle is capable of handling before a major purchase. 

The hitch on your truck is just as important as knowing the tow capacity.  A class III hitch can handle up to a 5,000 pound capacity and a class IV hitch can handle up to 7,500 pounds.  The hitch will have a receiver bar that you connect the draw-bar to.  Then a pin slides through both pieces and then holds them in place with a clip.  If your vehicle is too tall, you have the option of purchasing a draw-bar that drops so your tow is level.

If you need further assistance we are always here to help: http://bit.ly/XBVln1

This is a Test, a Test of Your MPG

With gasoline costing a pretty chunk of change, we see a lot of people choosing economical cars with more miles per gallon.  Smaller cars with more bang for the buck at the gas pump has an appeal to us. What happens when the miles per gallon start to decrease over time? 

It is good to test your actual miles per gallon from time to time and this is the best way to find out for yourself:

  - -  Next time you fill up your tank, reset your odometer.

    - You can fill up your tank any time after and it doesn’t have to be on empty.  However, the latest EPA’s considerations for mpg are per 100 miles.  

  - -  Take the number of miles listed on your car’s odometer and divide that number by the amount of gallons listed on the pump or the receipt.  

- -  Write down the number of miles per gallon in your car log. 

     - This reading can be tested as much as possible, but it’s good to perform at least once a month.

If you notice fluctuation or that the number of miles per gallon is decreasing, you might want to bring your vehicle in for a checkup.  It could be as simple as a tune-up to fix the issue, but it’s good to get the diagnoses from a pro.  Here is a link to our service center: http://bit.ly/18JAKSj 

MyChevrolet App

     

                       

You have most likely seen the commercial of a couple faced with a parking lot of unending vehicles.  Fortunately, they have the Parking Reminder feature on the MyChevrolet App. Within the app you can contact roadside assistance, schedule service and access vehicle information at the push of a button. Shottenkirk Chevrolet’s information is stored in the MyChevrolet App so that you can quickly schedule a service appointment. If you’re on the road, the app locates the nearest dealer and makes contact easy with the touch to call feature. As the commercial shows the MyChevrolet App stores your exact parking location.

Click here to learn more or download the MyChevrolet App.

 

Getting Out of a Ticket

Just when you think you know all the laws in your state, you might be surprised.  There are many ins and outs of the state’s driving rules and regulations and laws can change without any notice.  Who has the time to know which laws passed and which ones didn’t?  Knowledge is the best policy in preventing a costly ticket. Let’s talk about how to avoid a ticket.

The best way to get out of a ticket is to not get a ticket at all.  That’s right; it is our responsibility as drivers to avoid getting a ticket by knowing the local laws.  When you move to a new state, it is wise to familiarize yourself with the laws of the land.  Every state is different, so knowledge is power.  Tickets are an unnecessary expense that can easily be avoided.  Get to know your state’s laws here: http://bit.ly/14dX3PI

 

There are many online resources that you can utilize to familiarize yourself with the need to know information.  Your local DMV will have this information readily available for you.  If you are uncertain after reading up on the requirements, you may want to take a driver’s education class.  Being proactive in a driving situation is better than being reactive to a moving violation. 

Remember, you may need to service your car to comply with state law, feel free to schedule a service appointment with one of our certified technicians and we are more than happy to assist: http://bit.ly/18JAKSj 

Shottenkirk Chevrolet Tire Sale

Tread
The tread on your tires should never fall below 1/16 of an inch (1.6 millimeters) in depth. If you frequently drive on slick, wet surfaces, it would actually be safer to have twice the depth. You can buy a gauge or use a penny, take a Lincoln-head penny, and insert Abe's head (head-down) into the tread. If Lincoln's entire head remains visible, you don't have enough tread.

Vibration
A certain amount of vibration is to be expected, especially on gravel roads, but if you've been driving for a while, you probably know how much vibration is okay and how much means that something's wrong. Your tires may be misaligned or unbalanced, or the shock absorbers are starting to go. It could also indicate that there's some sort of internal issue with the tire. Even if the tire isn't the root cause of the vibration, the vibration will most likely damage the tire.

Tread Bar
Newer tires now have tread wear indicator bars built into the tires themselves. These bars, invisible or barely visible when the tires are new, progressively begin to appear as the tread wears down. They appear as flat rubber bars running perpendicular to the direction of the tread itself. If more than one or two of these are visible on a tire, the tread is getting low. You can even check the wet tracks your tires leave after driving through water.

Bulges
Sometimes the outer surface of the tire begins to weaken. The result can be a bulge or blister that extends outward from the surface. This weak spot can cause an unexpected blow out.

Sidewall Cracks
Not all problems with the tires are going to be in the tread. They can also appear in the sidewall. Look for tracks or cuts in the sidewall or grooves. This could be a sign that your tire is developing a leak, or that it could blow out.

Check out all our Service Deals including $100 off a set of four tires!

Appearance Modifications

There is something to be said about modifications on a Chevrolet.  For an owner it’s a sense of pride as they ride in a vehicle with personalized style.  We might enjoy our cars the way they are, but a modified car can bring out the character in our cherished metal.  Today we will touch base on appearance mods. 

There are many choices in the appearance modification genre.  Some of the choices are:

 

- Different lighting like optional under glow.  This is one modifier you might want to be cautious of because in some states it’s illegal to have a certain colors for your lighting choice. This could be helpful to see if there are any monsters lurking beneath your ride at night.

 

 - You can add a body kit to your vehicle to change the appearance altogether, like the above Disney Turbo promotional Camaro.  This modification speaks for itself. 

 -There are doors that will open up, instead of open out. This could make it much easier for parking in tight spaces.

- There are bumpers, hoods, scoops and tires that will drastically change the look of your car. In some cases, modifications such as these, could improve performance.

There are many different choices you can choose from when you want to style your ride.  What kind of modification would you choose for your favorite care in our inventory? Browse our inventory online and take the first steps to your dream car: http://bit.ly/XBVln1 

Road Rage - Safety

Do you know what to do in cases of road rage?  Most of us spend approximately an hour in our car every day to and from work.  We love our freedom so much that we hop in our car for weekend getaways adding additional hours spent in the confines of its cabin.  It is probable that, in the estimated 356 hours on the road, we’ll experience somebody’s road rage in one form or another.  How we react in these situations has more of a bearing towards the outcome than we think.

If you’re a victim of road rage, don’t get aggressive towards the perpetrator.  Reacting towards their aggression can make matters escalate further.  It is best to obey all traffic laws and be in the right.  Don’t return their gestures, their poor driving habits and definitely don’t react hostile.  If somebody gives you the bird, give them a smile.   It's better to kill people with kindness than to put yourself in harm’s way.    If they continue to act aggressively towards you, right down their license plate number, year make and model of the vehicle and call the authorities.  It might be helpful to have a passenger take a picture with their phone for reporting purposes.  Remove yourself from the situation and get to safety. 

The psychology of an aggressive driver can stem from negative events throughout their day.  People who act like monsters on the road are humans too.  They could’ve had a bad day at work, horrible news or maybe their pet hamster just died.  Send a good vibe their way and don’t partake in the obnoxiousness of the situation.  Even if they’re not thinking about their well-being, sometimes you have to think and react for yours and others’ safety.

If you are the perpetrator of road rage, take a deep breath and relax.  Use your drive time as your time to decompress from the stress, but if it is your vehicle that is stressing you out, maybe it’s time to get a new one: http://bit.ly/18682di