4 Wheel Drive Zone

With ice, sleet, snow, and poor visibility, maneuvering a car in the wintertime can pose a mighty dilemma for many, as driving conditions only worsen with drastic weather changes. In order to increase the safety of you and your passengers, it is important to both appropriately prepare your car for the winter, as well as follow a few driving safety tips.

Preparing Your Car

When a car is in top operating condition, it will not only enhance the safety conditions for drivers and passengers, but also help people save on gas. One of the first things you should do is familiarize yourself with the ins and outs of your vehicle. It is important to read the owner’s manual and follow proper winterizing suggestions that involve the battery, lights, defroster, heater, motor oil, antifreeze, wiper blades, windshield washer fluid, tire pressure, brakes and brake fluid, belt, hoses, and filters.

Before hitting the road during winter travel, you must clear the snow and ice from not only all windows and lights, but also the hood and roof of the car.

When driving in the winter, it is suggested to keep your gas tank above the halfway mark in case you become delayed or stranded in a snowstorm. In the case of an emergency, a cell phone or CB radio is known as a true lifesaver. During the wintertime, it is recommended to stock your trunk with emergency supplies, including a small shovel, jumper cables, tow chain, scraper, brush, and bag of sand (or kitty litter), which provides traction for tires. Breakdown kits are also helpful, as should contain a blanket, gloves, boots, road flares, warm clothing, flashlight, extra batteries, water, and a first-aid kit.

Knowing the current road conditions also helps prevent disasters on the road. This is often accomplished by calling your local weather 411 service, viewing weather and traffic information on the Internet, checking the local news for weather advisories and traffic reports, and paying attention to flashing electronic highway signs.

On the Road

In addition to maintaining the safety level of your vehicle, you must also pay extra attention to the way you drive in the wintertime. This means staying off of the cell phone and adhering to the legal speed limit. Additionally, a driver should:

1) Always wear a seatbelt.

2) Stay alert and drive completely sober.

3) Drive with headlights on.

4) Give ample amount of time to slow down when roads are slippery. When roads are icy, it is suggested to delay travel, especially when “black ice” is involved.

5) Do not pass maintenance vehicles or plows on the right and give them at least 200 feet between them and your vehicle.

6) Avoid traveling on bridges during icy conditions.

7) Since trucks take longer to stop than cars, do not cut in front.

Avoid cruise control or overdrive in freezing cold weather.

9) Vehicles with four-wheel drive may get drivers going quicker on the road, but does not help them stop any faster.

10) Avoid pumping anti-lock brakes - it is much better to “stomp and steer.”

Two years ago I purchased a Chevy Silverado and now I can say it was a great decision. I am German and came to the USA because of a very good job at a finance consulting company in San Diego. When I look back to my first days here in San Diego, I have to admit that I spent the most time watching huge trucks and SUVs. In Germany we don’t have autos like this so I was very impressed by the giants of the street. Honestly, the real practicality of these cars is arguable but they are embodying power, strength and masculinity so I had to follow this trend. After I bought my truck, I spent a lot of time just driving through this great country and I enjoyed this time. I experienced so many new impressions, so many differences from Germany and so many possibilities that I fell in love with this country instantly. But during my little road trip, I recognized that all the trucks around me had so many more accessories at their trucks than me. From bed caps, to tonneau covers and suspension systems, I saw everything in all kinds of variety.

So I started doing research concerning the prices of all this stuff and got to know that it is not cheap to pimp your truck in all different ways. So I tried to figure out which accessories are very useful in order to protect my truck and improve my comfort. Regarding the protection of my car, I figured out that truck mud flaps are valuable and so I ended up buying them instantly. And my feeling was right. Right after buying them I experienced the benefits and they were amazing. The condition of my wheels improved so quickly because the Mud Guards stand up to anything my tires could throw, including rocks and debris. And the prices aren’t that bad too. But the comfort solution hasn’t been solved yet so I kept searching for a good accessory that would easy my getting into the truck. And after a little research I found a vast selection of truck steps on the internet, which impressed me. I did not know that there are so many ways to get into the car, but after discovering them I knew they would be a big help.

Finally I found some ways to pimp my car, even though I would say that both are less pimping and more protection of my car. I am not very down with trucks that are completely overloaded by all accessories in the truck magazines, so I think I will spend just bit money buying a truck bed cover, for instance. I drew the conclusion that if the practicality of all these huge trucks is arguable, at least the accessories should have a real benefit for the driver and its car.