Buying a Commercial Vehicle

There are various types of vehicles available in the market, but a good buying decision always stems from a thoughtfully prepared budget. Here, it is important to determine the return on investment, break-even, and the utility one can derive from the vehicle in the long run. All these factors have a direct implication on the budget.

Features – Needs Vs Wants

If one does not select the features of the vehicle cautiously, one may land up indulging in a costly proposition. It is important to note here that even minor adjustments to the truck might lead to huge costs. One should ensure that the features sought for, are an absolute requirement for the optimal performance of the vehicle.

What will be the primary use?

It is essential to outline the primary purpose of the vehicle. Once the primary attributes are defined, the rest of the features can be woven around those aspects. Will it be a heavy duty cargo carrying vehicle or a lightweight pickup van? Then, the frequency of use, mileage, and the safety facets, are to be considered in arriving at a prudent decision.

Will there be a secondary purpose?

At times, ice-cream trucks are also used to haul raw materials, such as milk and fresh fruits, to the factory. On similar lines, one should paint a long term picture for the possible functions the vehicle may be used for. This helps in reducing costs of making tweaks to the vehicle in the future. Of course, it also aids in increasing the return on investment.

The dimensions and build

After determining the budget, the primary job, and the secondary uses, one may now move on to the dimensions and build of the vehicle. Transporting medicines may not require much space, but it is essential that the entire system is refrigerated. On the other hand, transporting furniture may require a larger area as well as a decent payload handling capacity. Hence, it is important to know the contents of the cargo and the features required for securely delivering it to the clients. Accordingly, one may decide the dimensions of the vehicle to be purchased.

Inspect Your Vehicle for Road Trip

Light the way

If you don’t often drive at night, you may not have noticed that your headlights are not as bright as they used to be. Any vehicle inspection should always include a check on the condition of the head light lenses, since the lenses become clouded and pitted over time. If your headlight lenses are in a less than perfect condition replace them, and have the focus adjusted to make sure you can see what’s ahead of at all times.

Keep the engine cool

As with head lights, a vehicle inspection must include a proper inspection of the engine cooling system. Cooling system problems are the second biggest cause of road side breakdowns, so make sure that the coolant contains fresh anti-freeze, that the coolant level is up to the mark, and that there are no fluid leaks anywhere in the cooling system. Repair all leaks well before departure to give you enough time to confirm that repairs had been successful.

Service now, rather than later

Schedule a multi-point vehicle inspection before you leave. This type of vehicle inspection can uncover multitude of defects, or issues that you may not have been aware of, and if you have the vehicle inspection done early enough, you can get all faults repaired in good time. Choose a vehicle inspection plan that includes checks on the following as a minimum;

• suspension rubbers/bushings
• condition of the shock absorbers
• all hoses
• all drive belts
• wipers and windshield washer
• battery/charging system
• brakes- including the parking brake

If your vehicle is nearly due for and oil change, you may as well have it done during the vehicle inspection. There is no harm in changing the oil and oil filter a few hundred miles early; moreover, you will have the peace of mind that comes with knowing that your engine is lubricated with fresh oil.

Check the electronics

Not all fault conditions will trigger a warning light on the first failure, which makes it very important that the vehicle inspection includes a thorough diagnostic check, since some fault conditions only become apparent after several fault cycles. In these cases, the fault may be stored as a pending code, which means that the fault can become active at any time. Be aware that some pending trouble codes can immobilize, or seriously affect the drivability of a vehicle when they become active, so schedule a diagnostic check-up for your vehicle to make sure that this does not happen to you.

Check the rubber

Of course, no vehicle inspection can be complete without a thorough inspection of the tires, including the spare tire. Just checking the outside of the tires is not good enough; have the wheels removed from the car to properly inspect the inside sidewalls for signs of damage like cuts, bulging, or tread separation on the shoulders.

Also, be sure to check the tread depth, but make sure that the tread is evenly worn over the entire width of all the tires. Uneven tire wear is a sure sign that something is out of alignment, bent, worn, or broken. Replace all tires that are not in perfect condition, and rotate the tires to make sure that all tires share the load equally.

Tricks to Prepare Vehicle for Winter

• Battery – A thorough inspection of your battery, cables, terminals and fluid will help to make sure your car is ready for winter. The cold weather puts more stress on your battery. Many automotive parts stores will test your battery capacity free of charge.
• Inspect Your Tires – If you’re not mounting winter tires on your vehicle, be sure to examine your current tires for remaining tread life, uneven wearing and cupping as well as checking the sidewalls for cuts and nicks to help you to know if your tires are ready for the harsh weather. The colder weather will also reduce the pressure within your tires, causing them to perform poorly in the snow. You should frequently check your tire pressures.
• Coolant – Along with regulating the engine temperature, a vehicle’s coolant system is responsible for protecting your engine against corrosion. For the winter season you will want to make sure that you are using the right ratio of coolant to water in your system as well as using the right type of coolant for your car. If you are unsure, you can check the effectiveness of your coolant with a simple and inexpensive test found at any car parts store.
• Ice scraper – Keep your ice scraper in your vehicle and always clean off your car completely, not just a little peephole in the windshield. You must be able to see all your surroundings, your side mirrors and through your back window. Snow on top of your car could slide down and cover your windshield while you are slowing down or fly off onto someone else’s vehicle while you are driving. In some states it is the law that your vehicle is clear of snow and ice.
• Survival Kit – Especially during times of slick road conditions and below freezing temperatures, you will want to keep a survival kit in the car at all times in case of emergency. Some items to consider include extra gloves, boots and blankets, flares, tire chains, a flashlight and extra batteries, car charger or portable cellphone charger, and a whistle. Also check your spare tire and make sure that your car jack is in good, working condition.
• Keep Your Gas Tank Above Half – If you get stuck or stranded, the car’s engine will be your only source of heat and you will want to be sure you have enough fuel to keep you warm. In some cases, it may be necessary to remove snow from behind the tailpipe and keep it unobstructed to prevent lethal gas from accumulating in the vehicle.

Maintain the Exhaust System Vehicle

Maintaining your car is your responsibility. Not only will it ensure that your car runs efficiently, it also saves you the cost of having to repair and install new accessories all the time. Here are some of the maintenance tips you can use for your vehicle.

Rusting starts from the inside of the pipes to the outside. This result from the moisture in the exhaust tubes which comes from the exhaust fumes that condenses in the tubes when the car is cooling off. Some aftermarket suppliers provide a chemical placed in the system to absorb moisture. It will help reduce rusting and you can always have the chemical replaced when it’s saturated.

When driving, always ensure that you do not straddle paths and pavements to prevent your tips from collecting particles that could block the system. Driving over bumps should be slow and calculated to prevent your exhaust tips from being hit. They end up becoming loose and will eventually hang out. The rubbing of the system causes holes that lead to loss of power.

As you drive, always listen to any noises coming from under your car. Loud clatter noises indicate a hole in the system; some clog on the other hand will show that the muffler has too much soot that will interfere with performance.

When the inside of the muffler is clogged, most times it needs replacement. The outside on the other hand can be cleaned together with the tips. Use a dry cloth to wipe off the soot and dirt from the outside of the muffler. If there is too much grease, use a wet cloth with some soap then dry off the muffler completely. It may not shine completely but maintains a good look on the exterior of your car and prevent clogging.

Fasteners and hangers loosen up over time and need to be tightened once in a while. There are faults that you cannot detect by merely looking under the car. Get a professional inspect your car once a year. They can either tighten the system or advice you on replacement of the faulty parts of the system. In the option of replacement, contact suppliers like magnaflow for advice on the best accessories for your exhaust system.