Car Camping

If you love the outdoors and want to go camping but just need a few more creature comforts, read on.  This is a happy medium, not to be confused with “glamping” or hard-core camping. It’s an easier way to enjoy the great outdoors.

Even if you like to fly by the seat of your pants, a little preparation can make your trip much more enjoyable. Do a little reconnaissance about the area so you know what’s easily available and what you must bring or do without. When deciding on a campsite, investigate what amenities they have and their guidelines for campers. 

First of all, make sure essentials like a first aid kit, several flashlights or lanterns, extra batteries, bug repellant, sunscreen, collapsible chairs, plenty of garbage bags, disposable plates, utensils and cups are packed. Headlamps are a worthy investment for light so you have both hands free to do things after dark.

If activities like hiking, biking, canoeing or horseback riding are desired, search for popular places nearby. For fun around camp, pack a Frisbee, football or fishing rods. Don’t forget the guitar and other musical instruments. In case of rain, including things like a deck of cards and games for kids and adults can really make a difference while you wait it out.

Getting a good night’s rest is important, especially if you’re going to be doing activities. Pack a mat for under your sleeping bags or better yet, a blow up mattress. Battery operated and car charger inflators are available.  Prior to departure, set up your tent and sleeping arrangements to air it out, check for potential damage or missing equipment and make sure everything fits accordingly including pillows and blankets.

A good rule of thumb for any kind of travel is to bring earplugs and an eye mask. You never can tell what kind of neighbors you may have or what unexpected noises you may experience. On that note, if playing music is something that you’ll enjoy while cooking up dinner, please be mindful that sound travels much more in open spaces, so keep it moderate for your neighbors.  Too much noise may also deter wildlife from coming around.

Cooking can often be a highlight of the trip. For others eating out is preferable. Depending on your locale, it may be a way to enjoy some of the local flavor. Either way, you’ll still want to bring other provisions. Pack twice as much water as you think you’ll need. You’ll drink half; the rest will be required for cooking, cleaning, first aid and possibly even bathing. Since you don’t have to haul it anywhere by foot, this is not an area to skimp on as water shortage can have dire consequences.

Be prepared for hefty appetites to surface with the outdoor activities. Easy things to prepare over a campfire are pasta, rice, hot dogs or Italian sausages, anything on a stick really. Some things that don’t require cooking are cereal, milk, PB & J, bread, a variety of cheeses and cold cuts.  Snacks could include anything from olives, granola bars and trail mix to candy bars, cinnamon buns and potato chips. Of course, it’s simply NOT a camping trip without making s’mores. Ice down the food and beverage coolers well before departure.

Depending on where you are, critters tend to roam, especially at night, looking to raid your food. Do not ever take food into your tent. A common misconception is keeping provisions in your vehicle is a safe solution. If you’re in bear country. they’ve been known to break in and not only will your food disappear but your car will be damaged.  Some campsites have “bear boxes”.  If they don’t, hang your food at least 10 feet off of the ground.

Some campsites will have grills in which case you’ll need charcoal and lighter fluid.  For fire pits, collecting wood should be easy enough. Come prepared with kindling in case it’s damp. Pack several lighters and matches in various locations so if one is compromised by, say, weather, the others are still useable.

No matter what you may encounter during your adventure, hopefully these tips will help make your trip much more comfortable and less daunting. Be safe and have fun!

Tech and the Auto Industry

 

Today the use of technology is prevalent throughout society and it is only continuously growing. Car companies are partnering with major companies to develop technology so the driver can use their mobile devices to interact within their vehicles. The tool that is already used for many of everyday tasks is now finding a way to help people along their commute.  Many new vehicles feature a GPS system, hands free communication, and the ability to sync music, but the development is only continuing to move forward.

The question that will be an issue for car companies and the public is how this may become another distraction for drivers. While many benefits outweigh the negatives the possibility of dangers it may cause to drivers on the road is always a concern to consider. What do you think of the development of this technology? Do you think it will better assist drivers or cause additional problems on the road?

5 Facts About Kids and Car Safety

 

Kids are the future of our nation, the bubble gum popping and bike riding youths of the new world.  Keeping them occupied in the back seat of a moving vehicle is difficult enough.  Today, in our weekly blog, we describe 5 facts about kids and car safety. 

1.)     Most accidents happen near home: Most accidents occur on residential, rural roads that are local, during a routine trip to the grocery store or day-care center.  No matter what, always buckle your child into their seat, even if the drive is two minutes away.  "Always buckle your child up, no matter how near or far you're going," says Marilena Amoni, associate administrator for research and program development at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). "And never forget to use your own seat belt. Kids watch everything that you do, so it's important that you set the right example."

2.)     Kids are at more risk than babies and toddlers: If your child is between 4 and 8 years old, they are more likely to be hurt in an accident than their smaller counterparts.  Most parents strap their infants into rear facing car seats, but only 20% of kids between 4 and 8 ride in booster seats as safety experts recommend. Some children even sit in the front seat before 13 years old.  Children are the safest in the backseat, putting them far away from the impact of a frontal crash.

3.)     SUVs aren’t safer: It’s BIG, bad, and menacing, but SUVs are no safer than ordinary sedans.  They’re more likely to rollover.  The safest vehicles are low to the ground and larger (station wagons).

4.)     A car does NOT have to move to be dangerous: Parked cars are also, surprisingly deadly.  As many as 220 children per year are killed in non-traffic auto accidents.  Some are strangled by a window when they’re leaning out, inadvertently leaning on the rocker-type power window switch.  Other children, when alone, release the emergency brake, setting the car in motion.  Finally, at least 30 kids die each year when their parents leave them in the car and they suffocate from overheating. "Children should never, ever be left alone in an automobile -- not even for a minute," says Terrill Struttmann, executive director of Kids in Cars, an education and advocacy organization he and his wife started after their 2-year-old son was killed by a car set in motion by two kids playing alone inside.

5.)     Kids don’t need to be inside a car to be hurt by one:  nearly 400 children are killed each year when they’re hit by an automobile.  ALWAYS keep an eye on your little ones, no matter how many times you’ve warned them to stay out of the streets.  A survey conducted by Safe Kids Worldwide found that a majority of drivers speed in school zones, and that nearly a third violate stop signs in neighborhoods where there are kids.

Do you have any tips of your own?  Feel free to comment below:

The Best Automotive Instagram Profiles of 2013

Are you on Instagram?  Yes?  Maybe? No?  Well, for the 100+ million users Instagram has siphoning through its content on a daily basis, you’ve most likely heard of it.  Instagram is a fast, beautiful and fun way to share your life with family and friends via a picture or video.  You’re also able to add filters to your content to transform the look.  In today’s blog, we’re listing the TOP automotive Instagram users.  These individuals eat, sleep and breathe gasoline.  They’re tuned into the latest trends in automotive and provide a bird’s eye view of the automotive landscape.  Check it out:

Vossen Wheels - @vossen

Vossen is the quintessential wheel shop.  They create gorgeous photos with different makes and models accented by their beautiful rims.  It also reveals a unique lifestyle by Vossen employees as they create dynamic videos, prank each other and reveal their undying passion for the automotive industry.

Dave Nickerson - @davenickerson2

Dave Nickerson is a professional photographer of everything automotive.  He’s also an auto aficionado with a passion for high-end cars.  He captures the beauty of vehicles in still shots taken with his iPhone, revealing behind the scene shots from countless photo shoots.

Ken Block - @kblock43

Ken Block is a legend in the automotive competitive circuit.  He’s known for events like the X Games, WRC, Rally America and more. 

Auto Kings - @autokings

Autokings is a crowd-sourced Instagram profile with a wide range of vehicles.  Manufacturers range from Ferrari, to Honda to Jeep with a feeling of random automotive bliss.

Do you have any to add?  Feel free in the comments below!

What in the World is “Hypermiling”?

The focal point of personal funding woes begins at the pump.  Our recent blogs have discussed what precautions you can take to avoid high gas prices In lieu of rising gas prices; a select few have decided to go the distance.  Literally.  Some individuals have been getting above 65 mpg. Is this a typo?  With LASIK eye surgery I can honestly say it’s not.  Hypermiling has become the newest craze and in today’s blog, we delve into what it is and how it’s done.  Oh, and as a precaution: DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME!

Hypermiling is an unorthodox technique for increasing your mpg.  These techniques include coasting for blocks with the car engine tuned off, driving at or below the speed limit, pumping up tire pressure far beyond recommendations and carefully manipulating the gas pedal to avoid fuel-burning excess.  Options also include keeping the air-condition turned off, and the window cracked slightly.  Hypermilers also carry a journal that records their daily commute, gas consumption and mileage.  All in an effort to avoid the ever increasing price of gas. 

Hypermiling has become a niche, with websites dedicated to the cause.  Driving Safety advocates forbid some of their habits, but applaud others.  Some Hypermiling habits are very dangerous.  “Turning the engine off while coasting can, in some cars, leave the driver without power steering or brakes and allow the possibility that the steering wheel will lock up. Drivers can endanger themselves and others if they go too slow for the pace of traffic.” The list goes on.   

However, some Hypermilers ARE safe.  They obey all traffic laws and mix city and highway driving in a combination of strategic and gas saving options.  Using a truck for a windbreak is dangerous, but safer Hypermilers stay the recommended distance while still maintaining a saving of mpg by putting safety before mileage. 

Drive Safely!