Automotive Trucks information on net.

Much like car covers, a high quality custom fitted truck cover can protect your pick up truck from a whole cluster of nasty insults to your truck’s body. Even if you park your truck in a garage and give it regular washes and polishes, your finish can soon diminish and your truck quickly show its age without the added benefit of using a truck cover. Let’s take a look at some of the advantages of owning a truck cover and what you need to look for when considering purchasing a high quality product.

When you choose your truck cover, you will soon discover that even just one manufacturer can make several assorted covers for the same truck model. Simple covers offer partial protection from the elements while first-rate truck covers offer far-reaching protection.

The following are some of the key features found in a high quality truck cover:

Today, the aftermarket gives truck owners more performance options than ever before. However, all the new truck performance products and gizmos can be a little hard to sort through. What you need for your specific truck's performance will depend on what type of truck you have and what you use it for.

What is performance? Basically, it is the word used to describe speed, fuel consumption rate and towing ability. Performance is primarily measured in terms of horsepower (HP) and Torque.

Horsepower, or HP, is by definition, the power of an engine in comparison to horses. For example, a truck with 100 horsepower is as fast as 100 horses all rolled into one. Horsepower is often indicative of a truck’s top speed. Horsepower does not necessarily mean that a truck is fast from a standing start (see torque) but instead it is often indicative of the speed attainable by a particular truck. This being said other factors such as weight and grade will impact the final speed achieved. In more scientific terms, HP is the common measurement when rating an engine's power. One horsepower equals 500 ft-lbs. per second, which is basically the power needed to lift 550 pounds one foot off the ground in exactly one second or the power needed to lift 33,000 pounds one foot off the ground in exactly one minute.

Torque refers to a truck’s ability to generate pick up. Torque is one of the most important factors at the beginning of any non-rolling start. It is the ability of the truck to send power to the wheels and turn them - moving the entire truck forward. The dictionary defines it as: “The moment of a force; the measure of a force's tendency to produce torsion and rotation about an axis…”. The most important thing to remember is that torque is what gets the truck rolling and is very important in towing.

The basics of performance, of course, center on your engine. Think of your engine as basically a big air pump. It breathes air in through the air intake and breathes it out through the exhaust. The easier your engine can breathe the more performance it will deliver. The stock engine you received from the factory comes with OEM air induction and exhaust. Modifying these two areas is relatively easy and can deliver significant increases in both HP and torque. One other primary factor affecting your performance is the engines computer. The stock OEM computer your truck came with is set to a “safe mode” to protect the truck against virtually any driver error…e.g., redlining. Although these settings are meant to protect the truck, they can impede performance significantly. Tweaking your truck’s computer can significantly increase HP and torque while still providing safety to the engine. We’ll look at each of these three performance enhancements below.

Air Intake

The air intake primarily consists of your vehicle’s air filter. Stock air filters are made of pleated paper. The problem with pleated paper is it often tends to become clogged which greatly reduces the airflow. Fragments of paper are ingested or sucked into the intake system creating a hole for gritty contaminants to enter the engine. In addition, these filters have to be replaced often to maintain a basic level of performance. Aftermarket filters are made of cotton gauze or engineered foam. These filters, made by companies like K&N, Airaid, Green Filter and True Flow significantly increase the flow of air through the filter. In addition, these filters defend against dirt at twice the rate or more than their paper counterparts and most come with a lifetime warranty…that’s one filter for the life of your vehicle. Installation of these filters is super easy…just replace your existing factory air filter.

The second factor effecting air intake is the temperature of the air coming into the engine. You’ve probably noticed that your truck runs better on cold days. That is because the air is denser and denser air allows more combustion when mixed with fuel and ignited. Stronger combustion means more power to move your piston in the cylinder. Aftermarket companies…many of the same mentioned above…have developed systems called “Cold Air Intakes”, that move the point of air intake from the top of your engine, which is normally very hot, to a point outside the engine. The result is that the air being sucked into your engine is much cooler than it would be using the normal air filter location. Cold air intakes require a little more handyman skills that just replacing a filter. However, they can be installed easily by anyone that has basic tools.

Exhaust Systems

Exhaust is the “exhale” to your engines lungs. The more twists and turns in the exhaust, the less your vehicle can breathe easily. Exhaust systems come with three primary elements…the muffler, exhaust pipes and muffler tips. The first two are the main ingredients that effect HP and torque. OEM factory exhausts are well made, but not designed to deliver maximum performance. Aftermarket systems from companies like Magnaflow, Banks and Gibson are engineered specifically for each truck and are designed to get the most out of your vehicle. In addition to more power, these systems also deliver an enviable “roar” that will let others know you have tricked out your truck. I do not recommend installing an exhaust system unless you are a true gear head and are prepared for cutting and welding. Although most muffler shops do not carry these products, they will be glad to install them for you.

Computer Chips and Programmers

Your truck’s computer is technically referred to by gear heads as the Engine Control Unit (ECU). The ECU that controls the engine is very complicated. OEM's program them to satisfy emissions requirements, meet EPA fuel economy requirements and protect the engine against abuse. The computer does this by controlling many aspects of the vehicles performance, but primarily controls the ignition, fuel injection and spark time. As mentioned above, the OEM’s set the default value of the ECU to an “ultra-safe” mode to insure adherence to government guidelines and to protect the engine from abusive driving. Aftermarket companies like Hypertech, Edge, Unichip and Superchips manufacturer chips and programmers that will either plug into your ECU or programmers that will alter the factory settings. Chip manufacturers set the products for each specific vehicle to a default performance setting. Programmer manufacturers allow more versatility in that they allow custom modifications to compensate for other performance add-ons like cold air kits and exhaust systems. These systems are relatively easy to install by anyone that has a little mechanical knowledge.

Until the late 1970’s, no one had even heard of tonneau covers, also known as truck bed covers. A plastic tarp, the kind you buy at Wal-mart, was what most of us used to keep the stuff in our truck beds away from the rain and wind. Then, in 1977 while working at a canvas company in Syracuse, Gerald Downey had an idea and constructed the world's first aluminum framed tonneau cover. If you are considering a bed cover for your truck, this article will help you understand the benefits of a tonneau and the various types of covers available.

Benefits of a Truck Bed Cover
A tonneau has a multitude of benefits including protection of your cargo from the elements and theft. Those of you who have run into a down poor while hauling boxes, luggage and the like understand what a pain it can be. You load up your truck thinking, “I’ll unload this before I get into rain”. The next think you know, you’re pulling to the side of the road fighting off the wind and rain trying to get your cargo inside your cab…if it will fit that is. How about those times you put a new purchase in your truck bed and ran into the grocery store for “just a minute” only to return and find your new item was stolen. A tonneau can significantly help with both of these problems and is the primary reason they are purchased.

Another major benefit often overlooked is the savings a truck bed cover will deliver at the pump. That’s right. A tonneau will save you gas…between 5% and 10% according to several studies. Just do a little math and you’ll soon find your purchase will be paid for in just a few months. Take a truck that gets 15 miles to the gallon. If the driver travels, say 12,000 miles per year and gas costs $2.50 per gallon, he’ll save between $150 and $300 per year. Now considering that most trucks don’t even get 15 mpg and most drivers travel more than 12,000 miles per year, the savings can be even more substantial.

A tonneau cover can add substantially to the appearance of your truck and is a great way to hide your scratched up bed or the junk you haul around in it. I even use mine when I camp. I just roll out the sleeping bags under my roll-up tonneau. I can keep it unrolled to gaze at the night sky and quickly roll it up if the weather turns bad.

Finally, a truck bed cover adds to the resale value of your truck. In fact services like Kelly Blue Book, www.kbb.com, indicate a tonneau can add anywhere from $100 to $200 to your resale value.

Types of Tonneau Covers
The benefits are obvious. The hardest decision is which cover is right for you. Your choice will depend primarily on two things: 1) Do you want a hard or soft cover; and 2) How much are you willing to spend.

Hard truck bed covers have traditionally been made of fiberglass. The benefits of fiberglass are appearance. Some of these covers, like those from A.R.E., are molded to include lines that complement your trucks appearance. In addition, fiberglass can be painted to match your vehicle. The downside of the fiberglass cover includes cost, proneness to damage, and weight. These covers typically cost between $800 to $2,000. In addition, they weigh between 80lbs and 150lbs requiring two men to remove them. They are easily scratched and can easily be damaged if dropped or if a heavy weight is placed on them…e.g., your 5 year old son and his friends decide to play king of the hill.

A new breed of hard tonneau covers were introduced a few years ago and are made of a composite polymer (plastic). These covers have several major benefits over their fiberglass counterparts. Cost typically runs $650 to $800. These covers are also light weight. At around 58lbs, one of the most popular, the Undercover, can easily be removed by one man and hung on the garage wall. Finally, this new type of hard cover is very resistant to damage. I recently saw a demonstration where a sledge hammer was driven down on this cover and the only resulting damage were the sensitive ears of those around. They are super tough. Presently the biggest drawback to these covers is paintability. The first versions of these caps are black and come with a textured finish. They can be painted, but don’t have the smooth look of fiberglass. However, I am told that Undercover has recently introduced a smooth version of it’s top that can be painted and has the finish of fiberglass.

Soft covers, like those made by Extang and Downey, are the most popular of all due to their price and flexibility. If you’re not stuck on the smooth painted look of a hard cover, a soft cover is probably right for you. These covers come in a variety of styles starting with the traditional “snap” or “zip” covers. These products use detachable cross-bows to create a frame over your trucks bed and then the tonno is stretched and snapped into place. The snap cover is the entry level in soft tonneaus and comes with an attractive price tag starting at around $200.

The roll-up truck bed cover, like those made by Access Cover and TruXedo, offer much more functionality than a snap. The cross-bows of these covers “rollup” with the cover and secure to the front of the trucks bed in less than 20 seconds. In addition, they can be locked into place and cannot be opened without opening the tailgate. If you have a locking tailgate, the roll up provides much of the security a hard cover does. The roll-up has a clean taut look and uses “tensioners” to keep the cover tight in all types of temperatures. If you’re willing to spend a little more, starting at around $350, I highly recommend this type of cover. In fact, it is the one I chose for my truck.

Other, less popular, varieties of soft truck bed covers including folding, aluminum and lift top to name a few.

In conclusion, the protection and fuel savings a tonneau cover offers are an easy purchase justification for any truck owner. The type of tonneau you should purchase will depend greatly on your budget and your need for looks and function.

If you are moving across the country or just across town, using a truck rental may be an option that you have looked in to. Renting a truck to move with can solve so many problems before they even occur, weather and theft are just two of the pitfalls of moving. However, there are a few things to consider before you visit the rental company.

1- First and foremost, you need to figure out how much space you will need. A loose general rule is that a typical room of household furnishings will require approximately five feet of cargo space inside the truck. Your personal needs will vary depending on how much stuff you actually own, as compared to the normal household.

2- Once you know the approximate size of the truck you will need, you can then start to call rental companies to inquire about the sizes they have available for you. Some of the most common sizes that may need to be reserved early are the cargo van and the small cargo trucks.

3- When you are ready to reserve the truck, it is best to avoid the busy times, thus allowing yourself the widest range of vehicles and options to choose from. Try to avoid the end and the beginning of a month, most leases end and start at these times; avoiding them will help ensure that the vehicle you want will be there for you.

4- Check your personal insurance policy to ensure that you will be covered for a truck rental; many auto policies do not include this. If yours excludes this type of rental, it is a wise idea to accept the insurance that is offered by the rental company.

5- Finally, before you pull out of the parking lot after renting the truck, ask if there are directions available for the use of the vehicle. If there are, be sure to read them. If possible, try to get someone from the rental company to personally show you anything that you will need to know to complete your trip safely.

Whether you are moving across the country or just across town, it might be wise to consider a moving truck rental to get your belongings from place to place. Renting a moving truck can prove to be quit cost effective when compared to multiple trips back and forth with a vehicle you already own.

1- Shop around and inquire about prices and specials as well as other options that may be offered to you when you rent a moving truck. Look for a company that has high standards for their trucks as well as their towing equipment, this may be more expensive, but worth it in the long run. Ask if the company offers unlimited mileage, if not, find out how much extra miles will cost you.

2- Today's technology makes it easier than every to reserve a moving truck. It is possible to do almost all of your research and to make reservations either online or over the phone. While this technology can make doing business easier, it is always a wise decision to actually speak with the company that you want to do business with face to face. This will help to avoid any misunderstandings.

3- Before you agree to rent a truck, inspect it. The rental company will have a standard form for you to fill out. While doing the inspection, look for things such as dents, scratches and rust. Be sure to check out the latches and locks on the doors as well. By documenting the items wrong with the truck before you rent it will mean that you won't be charged for the damage later.

4- While you are in the reservation and renting process, the company will offer you optional insurance to cover the vehicle. There will be a few options available to you when renting a moving truck, these could include accident insurance, limited loss and damage waivers and cargo insurance. It's always a good idea to speak with your auto insurance carrier to see if you already have these overages. If you don't, it could be a wise idea to buy them from the rental company, especially if you are traveling very long distances.

5- At the time of rental, you will need to show certain personal documents. These will include a driver's license, your personal proof of insurance and a major credit card. These documents are needed to prove that you are of legal age to rent the truck (usually 25), that you have personal auto accident insurance available, and that they can secure payment from you.

6- Depending upon the size of the moving truck rental, you need and where you are traveling, you may need to stop at weigh stations along the way. It's best to ask the rental company if they have any knowledge of the truck being big enough for this requirement. Also, call the state police in all the states you will be traveling through to get the specific requirements for each state.

7- Lastly, before you drive off the rental lot with your moving truck, you will need to get copies of all of the important documents from the rental company. These could include the rental agreement, a driver trip report, a truck inspection sheet and any other paperwork that the rental company suggests. Check to be sure that the proof of insurance and the registration are also in the truck.

A truck is a common vehicle choice for men and women of all ages. A truck is often purchased for convenience. Many individuals will need a truck to move or transport large items that will not fit into a traditional car.

The need for trucks is increasing and they are highly popular among many consumers. The prices of all vehicles, including trucks, have been on the rise. Purchasing a truck, for personal or work use, is a fairly large investment. To protect that investment many truck owners are using a truck bed liner to protect their asset. It is a known fact that the better a used vehicle is, the more money will be obtained later on from a trade in.

Truck bed liners can come in a wide variety of different styles and options. A truck bed liner can be a drop in model that is specifically designed for specific truck makes and models. The drop in style truck bed liner is nice because they can be removed and reinstalled whenever needed. These models are often plastic.

Although the previously mentioned truck bed liner is a popular choice, the most common form of truck liners used today is are spray on. Just like the name, a spray on truck bed liner is sprayed on the bed of the truck and it literally comes a part of the truck. A spray on truck bed liner can be installed personally or by a professional.

A spray on truck bed liner can typically be finished in less than one day. The majority of individuals will choose to a have a professional install their bed liner. There are supplies and the option to prepare the bed liner yourself, but it is somewhat difficult to do. Many professionals have a system already down. This allows them to produce quality work in a little bit of time. Many professional truck bed liners can be installed in around two or three hours. Another benefit to having a spray on truck bed liner professional done is that their work is often guaranteed or insured. This would come in handy if a mistake was made or damaged occurred to the truck during the procedure.

Each brand of a spray on truck bed liner will be different and may contain different chemicals. The majority of all spray on bed liners will be strong and durable. Just like a traditional truck bed liner, a spray on liner will protect trucks from a wide variety of scrapes, scratches, and other debris marks. A spray on truck bed liner is popular among construction workers, farmers, and everyday individuals.

Spray on truck bed liners can come in a wide variety of different colors to go with any truck or owner preference. It is important to remember that although spray on truck bed liners are popular, there are still other bed liner options available. Protecting your truck is an easy and convenient way to ensure itís value will not decrease more than it should.

In the performance parts industry, people tend to use the words parts and accessories interchangeably, while others see a difference. So what’s the difference, for example, between truck parts and truck accessories if many of them serve the same basic function? It depends on who you ask.

Because the words parts and accessories each encompass a large number of products that overlap and can therefore be categorized as either, people tend to the use the words interchangeably without any regard to the difference. In reality, when dealing with the performance parts industry, the word only overlaps in certain instances, and even then opinions will vary as to which factors apply. Truck parts and truck accessories each have their own list of included products, which ‘meet in the middle’ depending on their intended use, as well as their categorization as an OEM or aftermarket product.

A truck parts advisor for example, may tell you that a truck part has a more generic definition, and includes everything from repair, maintenance, and restoration, to interior and exterior enhancement. Such products may include oil filters, air filters, shocks, spoilers, or headlamps, as they in effect, are part of the truck. So long as they are the original part of the truck, or even a replacement or repair product, it can be described as a part whereas an aftermarket part created to enhance the vehicle after the initial purchase tends to fall into the accessory category.

In the meantime, the same parts advisor may tell you that the word accessory is synonymous with the word part when referring to a product in general, but the specific make and use of the product will determine which category it falls into.

Car covers, sun shields, make-specific paraphernalia and such products that serve mainly to enhance a car or truck (such as lift kits) would most likely be considered solely accessories. A sport utility rack could potentially fall into either.

Even oil filters, brake pads or rotors, or air filters could fall into either category. The standard, OEM version will typically be considered a truck part whereas a performance-based aftermarket version thereof will more likely be considered a Truck accessory (such as K&N oil filters, which take advantage of advanced filtration technology you won’t find in its standard OEM counterpart). A lift kit, which isn’t something that’s included with the truck but rather used as an enhancement will typically be classified as an accessory, though some will still call it a truck part.

The items that tend to be categorized specifically as accessories are aftermarket products made to enhance (whether it be performance or aesthetic). For example aftermarket air filters, high quality seat covers, and floor mats for trucks are typically considered truck accessories if they are not the original OEM part. The issue becomes even more clouded once you get into OEM-made accessories vs. aftermarket accessories or even aftermarket parts, but that’s a completely different article.

In the end, the difference between the two will always vary from person to person, even among truck enthusiasts and professionals within the repair or performance parts industry.

This may be a refresher course for some of you since the 2006 models have been out for awhile, but here are reviews of some of the newly-introduced 2006 pickup trucks, from small size to mega size as well as a couple limited additions for 2006.

For a small-size truck, Isuzu has introduced the all new i-280 and i-350. The i-280 is a two door, 2WD model with an extended cab, 2.8-liter, 4 cylinder I-4 (in-line 4-cylinder) engine with 175 HP, 185 lbs-ft of torque and a max payload of 1532 lbs. It comes with a standard 5-speed manual transmission (4-speed automatic is optional). Safety features on this model are optional and it comes with 3 optional packages. Pricing starts at $14,239.

The i-350 is a four door, 4WD model with a crew cab, 3.5-liter I-5 engine with 220 HP, max payload of 1190 lbs and a tow rating of 4000 lbs. It comes with a 4-speed automatic transmission, and expanded list of standard amenities and an optional limited package with upgrades including power-heated seats, 6-disc CD changer and leather seats. Pricing starts at $24,608.

In the mid-size range, we have the Mitsubishi Raider. Mitsubishi offers the Raider in a 3.7 liter V6 with 210 HP and 235 lbs-ft of torque or a 4.7-liter V8 with 230 HP (a leader in it's class) and 290 lbs-ft of torque. The Raider comes either with an extended cab with small access doors or a double cab 4-door. You can choose between 2WD or 4WD with 3 transmissions, 6-speed manual, 4-speed automatic or 5-speed automatic. The Raider sports rack-and-pinion steering and tows up to 6500 lbs. One trendy option offered on the Raider is it's High Output Audio Package, with a 508-watt audio system including a 6-disc CD changer with MP3 capability, 9 speakers and Sirius Satellite radio. Pricing starts at $19,180.

Where do we put the Honda Ridgeline? It's in a class all it's own. This pickup is designed for comfort for everyday driving but it's also tough enough to keep up with the "big boys" in towing and payload demands. Ridgeline comes in 4WD only, with a 3.5-liter V6, 247 HP and 252 lbs-ft of torque. It has a total payload of 1550 with it's 8.5 cubic foot bed and 5000 lb. towing capacity. It seats 5 easily with 4 full-size doors. It's also the only 4WD pickup to achieve the highest government crash test rating (5 stars) for both frontal and side impact tests. It also has a unique dual-action tailgatge which swings down like most pickups but also swings to the side. Pricing starts at $27,700.

In the full size truck category, we have the new Dodge Ram Mega Cab. Ok, the Dodge Ram isn't new, but with the largest pickup cab ever at 143.2 cubic feet and 111.1 inches long, it certainly is worth mentioning. The Mega Cab has a total seating capacity of 6 and, depending on which model you're looking at, comes in a 2WD or 4WD. The 5.7-liter Hemi V8 has 345 HP and comes in a 5 speed automatic, rear or 4WD, with 375 lbs-ft of torque. The 5.9-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel six-cylinder comes in a 6 speed manual, with 325 HP and 610 lbs-ft of torque.

Of course, what is distintive about this truck is not only it's mega cab, but the exceptional storage space it provides as well. The cab has been lengthened by 20 inches. With folding rear seats, you'll find 7.5 cubic feet of storage beind the rear seat. On the comfort side, the rear-seat bench also reclines. Built tough to handle almost anything, the Mega Cab also offers luxury options such as a rear-seat DVD entertainment system, power sunroof and full-screen navigation system. So there you have it - mega power, mega space, mega luxury. That's ONE MEGA TRUCK! Pricing starts at $32,760.

There are also two new limited-edition trucks for 2006:

Chevy Silverado Intimidator SS

This limited-edition truck is a collaboration between Chevrolet and Dale Earnhardt Incorporated. The Intimidator comes with a race-inspired spoiler, unique silver front grille and a lowered ride height, not to mention the performance-tuned suspension, two-stage multi-leaf springs, Tenneco shock absorbers, a stiffer front stabilizer bar and stiffer front jounce bumpers.

The exterior is complete with a black monochromatic color scheme and 20-inch chrome wheels. The Vortec 6000 V8 engine has 345 HP and 380 lbs-ft of torque. Based on the 2006 Silverado SS, the Intimidator also has available features such as a 4-speed electronically controlled transmission, 3.73 final drive ratio, locking differential, cruise control, split bench seats, power seat adjuster, power windows, rear-wheel, 2-wheel rear drive as well as other amenities available on the 2006 Silverado SS.

The interior features Dale Earnhardt's signature on the white-faced gauge cluster, black leather seats, plenty of Intimidator badging and Dale Earnhardt's Legacy logo embossed into the headrests. Chevrolet only plans to have 1,333 of these beauties in production, and a portion of every sale is going to the Dale Earnhardt Foundation.

The 2006 Ford Harley-Davidson™ F-150 SuperCab

In a continued collaboration between Ford and Harley-Davidson, this limited-edition truck features a 5.4-liter, three-valve Triton® V8 engine with a specially tuned exhaust system, 300 HP and 365 lbs-ft of torque.

The SuperCab sports a 6 1/2-ft. Styleside bed, smoked-out tail lamps, blacked-out bumper, chrome tie-down hooks, slash-cut chrome exhaust, chrome billet grille, blacked-out headlamps and badging on the fenders and tailgate. Other stand-out features are the special chin spoiler and it's mammoth 22-inch polished aluminum rims with split 5-spoke design, a first for the F-150.

The SuperCab exudes power with it's black and chrome color scheme. The exterior high-gloss piano black is accented with LOTS of chrome, giving it an aggressive, albeit stylish look that sets it apart.

Accenting the interior, you'll find once again the high-gloss piano black with splashes of chrome highlights on the instruments, handles, vent rings, floor shifter and door pulls. Black leather front captain's chairs and the Harley-Davidson logo give styling to the SuperCab in the spirit of the Harley motorcycle. Ford and Harley-Davidson plan a production of only 10,000 SuperCabs.

A Tonneau cover is a truck accessory that is made of a heavy duty vinyl that covers the entire bed of your truck whether it is a small size truck or a full size truck. They come in all sorts of colors that will match the exact color of your truck or you may choose one that is a slightly different shade. The choice is yours. The cover lets you unlatch and lift the Tonneau cover up so that you will have full access to the back of the bed without taking the cover off.

When installing the Tonneau cover there is no drilling required which makes it very simple to attach to your truck bed. These covers can be purchased at almost any truck accessory store or over the World Wide Web. Searching for Tonneau covers online can sometimes get you a much better deal on the price than if your purchase those from your local truck accessory store in your area. By purchasing them online, you have a wider selection and this allows you to price shop and find the best price to fit your budget. Some websites will even offer you free shipping if you order your Tonneau cover over the web.

Tonneau covers are available for Chevy, GMC, Mazda, Dodge, Isuzu, Ford, Jeep, Nissan, Mitsubishi, and Toyota trucks. When searching for Tonneau covers, make sure that you are searching for the one that will fit the exact measures of your vehicle. Always have the make, year, and model of your truck when you go to purchase a cover at your local truck accessory store as well as online or over the phone. This will ensure that it will fit perfectly and save you from having to return it and get another one.

Truck tents are meant to fit at the back of a regular family truck and are simply a great choice if convenience is all that the user is looking for. Perfect for a road trip or even for an undisturbed weekend in the woods, truck tents have evolved with the rising need of travelers and adventurers who seek a quick bohemian escapade. Truck tents can be customized according to the kind of truck the user owns. Some tents are built in order to fit on top of any truck and therefore come with a hefty price tag attached.

Meant to be extremely durable, truck tents are usually available in nylon and polyurethane and also come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. They are mostly windproof as well as waterproof, but using these tents in a monsoon-like climate wouldn't be a good bet.

Light in weight, these tents are usually designed to fit two adults. Some even vouch for space that can fit two adults as well as two children. Whatever the case, the most significant drawback (if it can be called a drawback at all) that a truck tent has, would be the space. Even if a particular truck tent is built for four people, it would usually mean four people cramped within their sleeping bags with hardly any space to move. However, the ones designed for two people are a shade better since they generally tend to have some extra room, at least for a duffel bag.

Truck tents mostly have mesh windows for proper ventilation and some even come with great accessories like a changing room, a soft foam mattress (that can be inflated and deflated at will), pillows, mosquito nets and even a ladder. Placed firmly on a roof rack, they keep the vehicle cool since the roof is not exposed to direct sunlight. However, the mounting straps of a truck tent may damage the body of the truck and so utmost care should be taken while it is installed at the back of the vehicle.

In spite of such drawbacks, truck tents are the first choice amongst travelers who cherish their freedom. It is the best possible option if one wants to stop in the middle of a cross country ride and camp anywhere one wants to.

While choosing camp tents, there are a few things that should be remembered carefully. Besides his budget, the potential buyer must consider the size and capacity of his truck. Some truck tents have sewn in floors while others have no floors at all. In case of a sewn in floor, things have to be unloaded from the truck bed before the tent is installed. Tents without floors thus, are easier to install and clean.

The fact however remains that be it a truck tent with a sewn in floor or a tent with no floor, truck tents are a wonderful travel accessory that breeds a race of travelers who don't mind spending a night in the middle of nowhere, preferring to get lost in the wilderness.

If you've got a truck, adding a tonneau cover to your bed is an absolute must. Not only are tonneaus useful in any situation, they provide loads of essential benefits, including:

• Organized storage for whatever you're hauling in your truck bed, plus the bonus of keeping a lid on loose items

• Coverage from potentially damaging weather conditions, like rain, snow and extreme sun

• Complete coverage of your payload that keeps your cargo out of sight from potential theft

• An immediate improvement in gas mileage with tight, aerodynamic materials covering your otherwise drag-prone open bed

• Sleek looks that range from smooth leather grain patterns to ultra-custom color matched style

Tonneau Cover Storage Basics

You haul everything from hardware to the occasional load of groceries in the back of your truck. A tonneau cover helps keep a lid on all of it, shielding your cargo from the blowing winds of freeway driving and all kinds of pounding wet weather. It's an easy way to make sure nothing disappears from your bed while you're driving or parked.

A guide to protecting your gear from the weather with a tonneau cover

Even simple cover over your gear can help prevent weather damage. Tonneau covers take protection a few steps further though, with some ingenious design features. For instance, most tonneau covers employ strategically-placed weather seals that channel water away from your cargo. And, many models use raised and arched support bows to encourage moisture runoff. While no bed cover is completely water-tight, most will do an outstanding job of keeping your gear high and dry in nasty weather.

Tonneau Security: A Quick Reference

When your cargo is out of sight, it's out of a would-be thief's mind. Tonneau covers make the contents of your truck bed a mystery, giving you confidence that your belongings will be right where you left them.

Beyond simple coverage, tonneau covers offer higher levels of security, depending on the model. Most hinged (lift-up) tonneau covers can be fully-secured using a locking tailgate. Hard top and retractable tonneaus generally have secure key locking systems that latch closed at the tailgate.

With a variety of security measures, a good tonneau cover makes your truck bed far more versatile than ever before — ideal for use as a hauler or hiding spot.

Gas Mileage and Tonneau Covers: The Basics

Trucks are getting taller, engines are bigger, payloads are getting deeper and the traffic is thicker than ever. You can probably hear big oil companies laughing with their fistfuls of cash every time the pump takes a big bite from your spending money. A tonneau cover helps you even the score in one of the only ways you can - by prolonging your next trip to the service station.

Open truck beds can be a huge drag on your gas mileage. As air flows over the aerodynamic front end of your vehicle, it can swirl into your bed and catch on your tailgate — stealing several miles off your latest tank.

Covering your truck bed with a tight tonneau cover — even a soft model — stops the tailgate drag. Air hits the taut surface of a hard or soft tonneau cover and continues past your vehicle with nothing to catch. And, it saves you mileage without crazy tailgate removal or potentially damaging open-gate driving.

How much savings? A 5% improvement in fuel economy is the industry-wide accepted number, though up to 10% is possible. Your vehicle could see bigger or smaller effects. Still, the idea is simple: a tonneau cover will save gas and eventually pay for itself.

Great tonneau cover looks: a quick guide

A smooth tonneau cover adds custom truck style to bland uncovered truck beds. Each tonneau cover we offer sports a custom fit to the dimensions of your specific year, make and model. The result is a special fit and exact appearance that was made for your truck.

Tonneau covers can add any level of extra smart appearance to your truck. Soft tonneau covers stretch tight, not just for improved mileage but also for style. With a variety of lid materials, retractable tonneau covers are the kings of the low-profile smooth factor. Hard top tonneau covers are the ultimate in custom looks: molded-over edges, seamless fitting and optional paint matching.

A Guide to the History of Tonneau Covers

Tonneau covers (also known as truck bed covers, bed lids or truck lids) have evolved from a number of versions designed for a variety of uses. Because many crude bed cover designs existed over the years, no one person or company can lay claim as the originator of the tonneau cover.

Soft covers gained prominence while playing an important roll on major speedways. Top-class sport truck racers used these flexible bed covers as a lightweight way to improve their aerodynamics and reduce drag. These racetrack tonneau covers sat flush with the top of the bed and employed the same heavy-duty materials used in today's soft covers.

Hard top tonneau covers grew in popularity as an alternative to full-size camper shells. These highly-customized truck bed lids, most commonly made from fiberglass, have evolved into tonneaus using a variety of materials and opening mechanisms.

AEG was established in Berlin during 1883, after obtaining the Edison system patent for producing incandescent lamps in Germany. The first AEG factory therefore produced lamps, which meant it entered the same sector as other major electrical component manufacturers such as the US company General Electric. It was the development of electrical supplies, electromechanical engineering and market demands that pushed AEG to develop in other sectors such as small and, later, large electric motors.

Another stage in the business development, that established the AEG brand in Europe and throughout the world, was its production of low voltage devices, switchgear and transformers for low, medium and high voltages.

With its market leading research and development centres, it became a pioneer in the development of more modern technology.

This accelerated when the company's focus and production of electrical devices turned towards the navy, the railway, white goods and electric household equipment market.

The organisation quickly became a leading force in supplying all sorts of products from industrial items such as over-voltage dischargers, relays of every type, rectifiers and measuring instruments to domestic products such as lighting, irons, vacuum cleaner, ovens and so on.

All the low-voltage electrical products were covered by the 40 or so factories that existed until 1998, when the AEG group divided into many autonomous entities with new partners.

Amacoil/Uhing has introduced a linear drive assembly providing mechanical control over linear speed and travel direction. Used in a variety of converting, packaging, metalworking and other manufacturing industries, the assembly provides automatic, instantaneous reversal without complex electronic controls or programming. Applications include bending, slitting, rewinding, scanning, folding, cutting, coating and spraying.

The drive head travel speed and direction are mechanically controlled independently of the motor, without clutches, cams or gears.

The system does not have to be slowed or stopped in order to change the travel direction or linear speed of the drive head.

This permits the use of an inexpensive single speed, unidirectional motor to drive the system.

Throughput capability is improved because production machinery may be operated for longer periods of time without having to stop and make adjustments.

Besides the on/off switch, there are virtually no other controls, which minimises operator training costs and simplifies maintenance.

The assembly is designed and built to user specifications for production managers and machine design engineers requiring subprocess assemblies for production machinery.

Spray heads, extension arms, vacuuming heads, glue guns, applicators, feed guides, cutters/slitters and other tools, may be attached directly to the load-bearing traversing drive head (nut) - a separate load carrier is usually not needed.

The linear drive which moves the drive head operates on a smooth, threadless shaft which prevents dirt and debris from collecting and clogging or jamming the system.

This eliminates the need to fabricate or purchase a shaft bellows assembly in order to protect screw threads.

The assembly also eliminates backlash because the linear drive uses "rolling ring" bearings which assure constant zero-play, point contact between the bearings and the drive shaft.

The Amacoil/Uhing linear drive assembly provides axial thrust capability ranging from 6 to 800lb, depending on the linear drive model selected.

Travel speed is up to 13ft/s, over distances of up to 16ft.

Accuracy is to within +0.005in and stroke length is user-adjustable to meet application needs.

Options include automatically self-adjusting stroke length, dwell capability and the ability to ramp down/up the tool drive head travel speed.

Amacoil applications engineers are available to provide technical and engineering support.