Monthly Archives: April 2017
Using This App Can Save You Hundreds Off a Price of a Car
Purchasing a used car is a big risk. You never know what it’s actually been through nor how its owners have treated it. Sites like CarFax are good but they’re not completely bulletproof. They only show data of documented car accidents, but as we all know, not every minor accident gets documented or filed for an insurance claim. So, how can you be sure that the car you’re planning on purchasing is exactly as described? Thankfully, there’s now a simple and easy way. The name of the app is Accident Scan.
Think of it as your personal know-it-all mechanic who is able to travel everywhere with you. You obviously can’t take an actual mechanic with you everywhere you go as it costs a small fortune to do so, and even he might miss on some important parts. What you can do however, is take your smartphone and get the Accident Scan application. The way it works is relatively straightforward. You simply take photos of the car, the app analyzes the various components, including the paint job, and it pinpoints different areas where it might be compromised. Over the course of all completed scans to this date, it’s had an accuracy rate of 97%, a figure which no other application or site can match.
You simply take a photo of various areas such as the fenders, doors and bumpers, the app identifies variations in the paint and pinpoints the exact areas which have been involved in an accident. It’s really useful and efficient since everything is done in real time. You don’t have to take it to a workshop and you don’t have to bring your mechanic buddy with you. It not only saves you time, but a lot of money as well. After you have taken the pictures, the app will let you know how much you can deduct off the price of the car. The Accident Scan app is 90% more affordable than comparable sites like CarFax, and because it doesn’t rely on previous history records or insurance claims, it’s a lot more precise as well.
The only two requirements are that you take the pictures in daylight, so that the app can do its job efficiently, and that the camera is not more than 1 inch away from the area you’re taking a photo of. The app can be used everywhere in the world, not just the U.S., as it doesn’t rely on any database or records site per say. The cost of this amazing personalized take-anywhere app? Just $3.99 in the iTunes App Store. The best thing is that you can use it over and over again on every subsequent car inspection or purchase you make. You pay once and use it whenever you need it. Forget spending hundreds and even thousands of dollars on expensive sites like CarFax or mechanics, Accident Scan is the way of the future. For more information about the Accident Scan App, you can follow the link.
Which Is Best – Steel or Aluminum Hitch Cargo Carriers?
When you have a good receiver hitch cargo carrier attached to the back of your car, it becomes extremely easy to transport extra luggage and stuff. Things like beach chairs, tree stumps, tools, garden supplies, cooler, luggage, diving gears, trash cans and every other thing that won’t fit in your car or SUV can fit on a cargo carrier.
There are two types of material used in cargo carriers: steel and aluminum. There are reasons some folks choose one over the other. If you are looking to buy a hitch mounted cargo carrier and you are confused on which one to choose, here is what you need to know.
Steel Hitch Cargo Carriers
Pros: If you want to have a receiver hitch cargo carrier that is sturdy and able to withstand highways that are not so smooth or even mountainous terrain, then you need a steel hitch cargo carrier. Many car owners trust this carrier because it is capable of hauling whatever they require for their outdoor adventure.
Apart from being very sturdy, steel hitch cargo carriers are known to have massive load bearing capabilities. Regardless of what is being placed on the tray, they can secure them thereby making them a perfect match for hauling serious effects from camping trips. However, they have their shortcomings.
Cons: One major area of concern for most customers is weight. These cargo carriers are generally known to be weighty. These carriers can weight up to 60 pounds. Also, they are not corrosion resistance and this often affects their overall appearance. As a result, must customers may be forced to spray paint their carrier every couple of years.
Aluminum Hitch Cargo Carriers
Pros: Weight is simply one of the most prevalent advantages of the aluminum hitch cargo carrier over the equivalent steel version. This type of trailer hitch cargo carrier is generally known to be lightweight. As a result, little effort is required to lift and install it to the back of the car. Even a single person can do this just fine.
The aluminum hitch cargo carrier tries to eliminate the need of paint or fancy coating to protect it because it doesn’t rust. These carriers are less expensive as their steel counterparts. There are really no disadvantages with this type of cargo carrier. It will both be able to carry items up to its rated capacity.
Both steel and aluminum hitch cargo carriers will get the job done in nearly all cases.
How to Safely Use Jack Stands?
A jack stand is used to prop up a vehicle once it is raised using a floor jack. Placing the jack stand completely could mean the difference between making repairs on your can or having routine maintenance and a terrible accident. Working under a floor jack without a jack stand is very dangerous.
How to Lift a Car onto Jack Stands?
Precautions:
Before you start using a jack stand there are a few things that you will need to ensure. First, you need to check that the jack stand is rated to support the weight of your vehicle. Using a jack stand whose weight rating is less than your vehicle is a potential for disaster and will likely lead to an accident. You can check the weight rating of the jack on the manual. The second precaution to take is to never place the jack stand beneath non-structural components of the car. Do not place it under pans, for example. This can be very dangerous.
Even before you start working, you need to find a flat surface level to work on. Working on an inclined or uneven surface will likely lead to an accident as the jack stand can tilt and give way. Finally, always put your car brakes on before you prop up a vehicle and work beneath it. This is an important safety procedure that will definitely save your life.
Using the Jack Stand:
Using a jack stand is fairly simple. You need to first use a floor jack to raise the vehicle slightly higher than your desired height. Once you have done this, the next step is to place the jack stand underneath the jacking point of the vehicle. This position needs to be as close to the floor jack as possible. Once again, lift up the jack stand slightly higher than the desired height and let the cradle rest against the locking mechanism of the jack stand. The next step is to remove the jack stand once you are finished working on your vehicle.
To remove the jack stand, you need to lift the vehicle slightly with the floor jack so you can be able to lift the cradle up. This is a necessary move because you need the cradle to disengage from the locking mechanism. Once you have reached this point in the process, the next thing that you need to do is to lift the lock handle. This will cause the cradle to collapse into the stand.
Conclusion:
The importance of a jack stand cannot be emphasized enough. Working underneath a vehicle can be a very dangerous and daunting task. You always need to be sure that all grounds are covered so that the vehicle does not collapse on top of you. One of the safety precautions is to always use a jack stand alongside a floor jack. It is the difference between safety and a bizarre accident when you are working underneath your vehicle. Now that you know how to use the jack stand, you can teach others to do it as well for the sake of promoting safety.