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On many lakes across the U.S. and Canada there are docks that are installed in the Spring and removed in the Fall. Stationary docks that are supported on the bottom of the lake on poles generally come apart in sections that are fairly light and can be carried out by hand. Sometimes large plastic wheels are permanently attached to the bottom of the dock poles. Often the fixed dock is light enough and rigid enough that a 30′ long section can be rolled right out of the lake and stored on the beach for the winter.

Floating docks typically use polyethylene plastic floats and are either made entirely of polyethylene, or have a wood, aluminum, or composite deck that sits on top of the plastic floats. Floating docks weigh significantly more per foot than fixed docks. This extra weight makes it more difficult to create a long rigid structure that is light enough to be carried out by hand. Often the longest floating dock sections are limited to about 10 feet. For long docks, the 10 foot sections are connected with flexible connectors. These docks are typically removed by taking the sections apart and hand carrying them out of the water, one 10 foot section at a time. If you have a smooth beach, you might be able to drag the fully assembled dock up the beach with an ATV or SUV. Sometimes people will use PVC pipe as rollers under the dock so the dock does not have to drag on the sand.

There are manufactures now making floating docks that can have a single rigid section that is up to 32 feet long. These docks are made from structural aluminum bolted together to form a 24″ tall truss running both the length and width of the dock. Polyethylene floats are caged inside the truss system and most common dock materials can be used as the deck. These truss type structures are light enough and strong enough to allow wheels to be mounted under the dock. If the dock is intended to be rolled up the beach, polyethylene wheels can be mounted similarly to those used on stationary docks. If the shoreline is too steep or it is not convenient to store the dock along the shore, a highway rated axle, wheels, and tires can be installed. The axle is galvanized and the bearings are usually protected with a military technology that is designed to maintain positive air pressure in the bearing cavity for one year of continuous submersion. A square or rectangular aluminum tube can be mounted under one end of the dock. This tube acts as a receiver for a 6′ long trailer tongue that will insert about 2′ and then pin into place. There is a trailer coupler on the extended end of the tongue that is designed to connect to a trailer hitch with a standard 2″ ball.

The dock can be towed along the water to a standard boat launch ramp where the tongue is inserted into the receiver turning the dock into a floating trailer. A light duty truck or SUV backs down the launch ramp until the coupler can be floated over the trailer ball. The coupler is locked on and the truck pulls the dock out of the launch ramp just like it was a boat on a trailer. The dock can be towed down the highway two miles or 200 miles. Temporary trailer lights may need to be installed depending on the distance and terrain traveled.

This new “Rolling Floating Dock” technology has dramatically reduced the hassle of installing and removing floating docks. Especially benefited are those waterfront sites that are very steep and have little or no beach. Floating Docks are available that are up to 17′ wide but can be folded up in the launch ramp parking lot to only 8.5′ wide so no special highway permits are needed. Some docks can also include a large second deck. Big docks that are easy to install and remove can make up for the beach that many lake front owners wish they had.

Some manufacturers can even license the dock as a boat allowing it to be motored around the lake with an outboard and tiller handle. These docks become a safe, fun, and mobile platform for swimming and fishing. While technology is racing around us, it is nice to see that some of that technology is giving us safe places to relax on our favorite lake with our minds at ease knowing that the task of closing up for the winter will be quick and simple.

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Source by Jack Jenson

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Are you finding reversing a car very difficult? I mean annoyingly, frustratingly difficult? Try not to be too disheartened because believe me you are not alone. In my experience, the majority of learner drivers struggle with reversing at first. The main reason, I think, is that although they have reverse gear engaged, their mind is still in forward gear! Let me explain what I mean by that.

Because it feels normal and reassuring to steer the front of the car, a lot of beginners are still trying to do that whilst going backwards! Not surprising then that they have such problems! Can you imagine driving forwards whilst looking out of the rear windscreen? Impossible, right? Even the most experienced driver would struggle to do that.

So, you have to put your mind into reverse mode as well as the car. In other words, accept that the back of your vehicle becomes in effect the front when you are reversing. That does not mean that you are not aware of things happening in front of you, but you must steer the rear of the car, which is now leading the way.

The other important thing to mention is speed, or rather lack of it. Most beginners, without really wanting to, attempt going backwards around a corner faster than they would forwards! Remember that when reversing, there is a delay in the turning of the steering wheel altering the direction of the rear of the car, because it is only the front wheels that are turning. You have to adjust to that time lag and if you are going too fast, you will not be able to judge it correctly, and will probably turn too early or too much.

Another common mistake made by learner drivers is to look too close behind the car or even at the car itself as they are reversing. Try to look up at the horizon much as you do(I hope) when you are driving forwards. Sometimes I ask a person I suspect of making this error if they know how to play pool or snooker. Most people have at least had a go. So then I ask them if they look at the cue ball or the object ball when making a shot. They usually reply “The object ball, of course!” So, do you get the point I am making here? Your car is the cue ball and the horizon, or at least some distance behind you, where you intend your car to go, is the object ball.

So, to sum up, it is vital that you think about the following points when learning to reverse a car:-

1. Keep control of the speed, using clutch control in a manual car, or the foot brake in an automatic vehicle so that you can accurately steer and allow for the time lag between you turning the steering wheel and the back of the car changing direction.

2. Always steer the rear of the car however tempting it may be to look around at the front to steer.

3. Remember to look a long way behind you and not at where your rear wheels are!

If you keep in mind these important points and keep on practising I hope and believe that you will soon start to see improvements in your reversing abilities.Once you get comfortable reversing and steering the rear, then you will find that you can start to go a little bit faster and even look around at the front of your vehicle.The difference is that you will not be looking in front to steer but only to check that your car is not causing problems for any other road user as you start to turn.

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Source by Anthony Farby

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Do you ever just look at cars and wonder how they got to the point of beauty they are at now? They have come a long way since the very beginning and it’s good thing for future generations.

It’s surprising to think that the first car or automobile designed only had one cylinder. Can you imagine how slow that is compared to the cars we have now? Not to mention how much fuel consumption it might have taken due to the heavy materials.

Most of the cars designed before the WWII era were steam powered and incredibly huge. That was the time when they discovered internal combustion. It’s odd to think that the cars available to us now have the engine neatly packed into a small area of the car.

Although, they improved the earlier cars to be lightweight, they still had a few problems that would not work in the present. The wheels used to be very thin and seemed to struggle under the strain on the car. They were also top heavy so it wouldn’t won’t work well with all weather conditions. This is probably the reason why so many cars had become convertibles or had roofless mechanical systems.

Before the war they also started manufacturing cars with larger engines. This is understandable since tanks had also started becoming the major projects for automobile companies.

Another interesting aspect about the older models is that they didn’t have indicators on the sides of the car. In those days, not many people owned a car so indicating which direction you were going wasn’t a big concern on the roads.

It’s easy to find a car now that is light in weight and doesn’t consume too much power or fuel. As we have evolved so has science thus allowing us to find easier ways to live life to the maximum.

Although, not all inventions and models of cars have been smart in terms of economy.

Cars with more cylinders are likely to consumer more fuel. You often see a model with a 2.6 litre V-8 with a turbo engine. This is how much fuel your car consumes once its gone through the ignition and compression cycle of the pistons. It starts again once the gases go through the outlet. It may be uneconomical but it sure is exhilarating to drive a car that has power. However, for economical purposes the hybrid car was created. The forces and movement that power this type of car charge the electrical component in case you run out of gas.

Another type of vehicle that causes havoc to our roads but is essential for logistics are trucks. This simply due to their weight and excessive carbon emissions. But there are advancements in this area that could change the future of trucking.

Wheels and tyres have always been dynamic when it comes to automobiles. Some things that have been improved are the type of rubber used, the treading and the depth. Technology has been a great friend to us when it comes to automobiles.

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Source by Morne Lourens

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While planning to buy a car, you must have come across the terms: ‘Cost of buying a car’ and ‘cost of ownership’. Let’s understand the difference between the two terms.

· Cost of Buying a Car: It involves the retail price of the car that you pay to the dealer in order to purchase it. It is also called the MSRP (Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price).

· Cost of Ownership: It means the amount that you need to pay for the car during a year. The cost of owning a car includes the cost of fuel, depreciation, service, maintenance, etc.

Let’s understand the cost of ownership in detail. According to a comprehensive report, the cost of ownership is more than $8,500 per year. Do you believe it is too big a number to keep the car running? Well, here are different aspects that contribute to it:

· Service and Maintenance: The service and maintenance cost of the car depends on the manufacturer and the warranty policy. The rest depends on how you use it. On an average, the yearly service and maintenance cost sums up to $914 including the cost of tires.

· Fuel: Considering that the car travels an average distance of 12000 miles in a year, the fuel price may range up to $1682 for one year.

· Insurance: The insurance payments are constant and you can calculate the cost for the same easily. On an average, the insurance amount is $1115 per year.

· Depreciation: The depreciation rate of a car depends on the purchase price of the car, its current age and its life span. If you use a car to travel a distance of 15000 miles, with normal wear and tear, the depreciation amount will be $3655 per year.

· Other costs: Finance charges and fees related to license, registration and taxes cost around $1334 per year. Car buyers often ignore the registration fees and charges. But, in reality, the costs contribute heavily to the cost of ownership.

· Additional costs: Accessories that you install after the purchase of the car contribute to the expenditure. Also, parking tickets contribute to the overhead charges. The parking tickets may cost you a lot more than you can imagine. Plus, if you live in a metropolitan such as New York City, you will have to pay an additional charge for the parking space.

The cost of ownership shows you how much you need to save for a car. Buying a car is a big responsibility. Plan well and make judicious decisions so that the car doesn’t become a burden for you.

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Source by Kaitlin Miller

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With all the employee pricing being hyped and advertised

on the media I thoughtI would write a short article on the

subject. I have also gotten a lot of questions in emails about the subject.

Here’s the deal: Employee pricing is the lowest price you will

ever be able to purchase a vehicle for period.

Employee pricing is usually several hundred dollars below

invoice.

So how is the auto dealer making any money selling at employee

pricing?

It’s simple… They are reimbursed from the auto manufacture.

For example General Motors gives $1500 to the dealer for every

car sold at employee pricing.

When you combine employee pricing with the rebates your getting

the very best deal possible.

Obviously the dealer is still going to try and up his profit

margin in several other ways.

If you are trying to trade in a vehicle then the dealership is

going to try and offer you even less than he normally would.

Because of employee pricing everyone and their brother is

buying a new car right now and the dealerships are stuffed with

used car inventory. Therefore unless they can “steal” your

trade they are really not that interested in taking in another

used car in their inventory.

If you want to buy a car at employee pricing then this would be

the best time to try and sell your trade in vehicle yourself

and save yourself the headache of muddying the water with your

employee price purchase.

The other question I get asked a lot lately is, “How do I know

I am getting the actual employee pricing?”

They are doing national advertising for employee pricing and it

is coming from the auto manufacture. When the actual auto manufactures come out with an incentive program the dealers

must adhere to it! If they tried to be dishonest and sell you

the car you want above the employee pricing they would be

in extreme hot water with the manufacture, could lose their

franchise, and get sued.

Therefore you don’t have to worry about not getting the actual

employee price if it is advertised. The only time the numbers

can get skewed is when you throw in your trade vehicle which

you owe money on. Again, this is why I encourage you to sell

your vehicle yourself.

Last but not least, just because there are great deals at

employee pricing does not mean you should go out and buy a new

car. If you can’t afford the car or the payments then it does

not matter how good a deal you got.

You’re still putting yourself in financial hardship. Think

before you buy!

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Source by Peter Humleker

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Among the five largest automakers in North America composed of the Honda Motor Co., the Toyota Motor Corp. and the Detroit Big Three, which participated in the latest Harbour Report, Toyota led the pack with the best overall manufacturing productivity. Additionally, the Honda of America Manufacturing Inc.’s Marysville assembly plant has received top stamping productivity commendation from an auto researcher.

Honda’s Marysville plant, where the company produces the Accord sedan and coupe and Acura TL sedan, topped the list for stamping productivity. According to the Harbour Report, an annual study closely watched by Wall Street and industry analysts, the Japanese automaker also landed in first place for overall assembly performance in North America. The report divulged that each vehicle takes 21.1 hours to assemble.

Marysville-based Honda of America runs plants in Marysville, Russells Point, Anna and East Liberty and a research-and-development center in Raymond. The company makes the Honda Accord, Civic, Element and CR-V models and Acura TL and the RDX vehicles at its Central Ohio plants. About 13,700 workers in the area work on the improvement of its Honda body parts and product lines.

In 2006, General Motors and Honda posted the largest productivity gains among North American automakers, narrowing the gap with industry leader Toyota. GM also had a first with the most efficient plants in three of four categories measured in the study.

Toyota reclaimed the top spot from the Nissan Motor Co. in the Harbour Report. This was despite a two percent rise in the number of labor hours it took Toyota to build a vehicle. GM was fourth overall and highest among domestic manufacturers.

Toyota required 29.93 hours to build a vehicle last year, including stamping body parts, building the engine and transmission, and assembly. Nissan did not participate in this year’s study, but Harbour estimated it needed 29.97 hours – 1.5 more than in 2005 – based on the number of workers versus output.

Honda increased by 2.7 percent to 31.63 hours, and GM 2.5 percent to 32.36. DaimlerChrysler improved 2.4 percent, to 32.9 hours, and Ford 1.9 percent, to 35.1. The domestic automakers, meanwhile, continued to narrow the gap with the Japanese automakers. In 2002, GM needed nearly eight more hours than Toyota to build a vehicle, and now it is less than 2.5. GM has knocked nearly 16 hours off the time it takes to build a vehicle since 1997, and Toyota has trimmed less than two.

Ron Harbour, the president of Harbour Consulting of Troy, Mich., predicted that massive job cuts this year at the three domestics would lead to additional productivity gains because fewer workers will build nearly the same number of vehicles. Harbour noted that several UAW locals have adopted such agreements, which also will be an issue this summer in contract talks.

GM was able to improve more because it had further to go, Harbour said. “When you get down to Toyota’s level, you’re not going to make double-digit improvements,” he said. “It’s really started to pay off.”

Dan Sieger, a spokesman for the Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, would not comment on its productivity slip but said: “We look at a lot of different metrics, including our own studies, and we are always looking for ways to improve.”

Toyota has expanded rapidly in North America and elsewhere and produced more vehicles than GM in the first quarter for the first time. Some analysts wonder whether Toyota is stretched too thin, but Sieger said, “There’s no doubt our growth is a big challenge, but by all metrics our quality is still good and getting better.”

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Source by Katie Jones

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While most people are unaware of it, intermodal freight transport has been around for quite some time, going all the way back to the 1780s in England. The method of moving a container holding freight from one vehicle to another without having to handle the freight itself has grown from ships and rail to include trucks and barges as technology has evolved. The use of standardized containers, or ISO containers, has allowed shipping across country and nations to flourish, thanks to the time and money saved by crossing land bridges.

Land bridge is a reference to an intermodal freight shipment that starts on a ship then crosses a body of land for a significant part of the trip en route to its final destination. The land portion of the trip is referred to as the land bridge, with rail typically being the method of transport while crossing. There are, of course, different types of bridges – standard bridges, mini bridges, and micro bridges.

Land Bridge

A standard bridge is when an intermodal container shipped by ocean vessel from point A to point B crosses over an entire country before reaching its final destination. For example, a container is being shipped from Japan to England is loaded onto a ship in Japan which then docks in Los Angeles where the container is transferred to a train and taken to New York where it is put on another ship and completes its journey to England.

Mini Bridge

A mini bridge is when a container is similar to a standard land bridge with a minor change. Whereas a standard bridge involves the container starting and ending its voyage on a ship, only crossing over a country in an effort to get to another ship, a mini bridge takes the second ship out of the equation. Using our example from above, a mini land bridge would be if the containers final destination was in New York instead of England.

Micro Bridge

A micro bridge is close in definition to a mini land bridge, with the exception being that, still using our example from above, that whereas a mini bridge would extend to New York, a micro bridge would see the container end up somewhere like Chicago or Denver, an interior land destination.

Global Shipping

Thanks to intermodal shipping and land bridges, moving freight that once would have had to make large detours to avoid land masses is now possible via the most direct route. This allows companies to save time and money which can then be passed on to their customers.

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Source by Steve Falco

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If you are planning to build a double carport, you will of course need to figure out how much space you need in order to build your structure. I have done some research into the common sizes for a double carport for those of you needing to store more than one vehicle.

In order to house two vehicles comfortably, you first need to decide whether you require a building which is over sized, so that you can accommodate larger vehicles such as pickups, vans or even a motor home, or whether you require a building on the smaller end of the scale, to accommodate small economy cars or ATVs and motorbikes.

Let’s start with the standard size for a single carport – 10×20 or 12×24 feet are the two most common sizes for single carports. The larger size is convenient if you have wide swinging doors, or tend to drive larger vehicles like vans or pickup trucks. Some people have said that the smaller size really is too small – there is very little extra front to back room, and it is too tight for cars with long doors.

So a double carport standard size is about double the width of a single carport. 24×24′ makes a nice size carport, although you could get away with a bit narrower, since you probably won’t be opening both vehicle doors at the same time.

If you drive larger vehicles, or are planning to store even larger equipment, such as a boat and an RV, a double-width carport will still suit your purposes, but you will need to increase the size of your carport appropriately so that the larger vehicles can be properly stowed with enough clearance room around each vehicle to make getting in and getting out convenient.

The height of your double carport will also be dependent on the type of vehicles you need to store. Typical carport height is either 8 or 10 feet, although if you own trucks, vans or motor-homes you will probably want to go with a 12′ ceiling (remember that is the inside height, your peak will be higher). If you are storing an RV, remember to add extra height for any roof appliances, such as fans, satellite TV receivers or air conditioning units.

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Source by Adam Pink

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When someone purchases a new or used vehicle, they are given the opportunity to also secure a roadside assistance plan. Although this is an additional cost, it is a service that is highly recommended to everyone; and can actually save a person money in the long run. These companies work from all areas of the city and provide a wide variety of advantages and emergency services. Continue reading to learn the top three benefits of outsourcing a roadside assistance service for your car or truck.

Flat Tire Service and Repair

Let’s say a person is driving down the interstate, on their way to work, when all of a sudden a piece of fallen debris from another truck has rapidly blown the tire out. This person flips their hazard lights on and makes their way to the side of the road. Now what? In most cases, they would have to call a friend or family member to come pick them up, then they would have to contact a towing or auto repair company to pick up the vehicle and take it in for repair. Not only will this person have to pay for tire replacement and service, they will also accrue the cost of the towing service. In top of all this, they have made a friend or family member take time out of their day to pick them up and take them to the auto repair shop. All this and more could have been avoided if this person had a roadside assistance plan.

In this case, the person pays a monthly fee that allows them to call the company for help any time. Once the vehicle is pulled over on the side of the road, they would simply need to place a phone call to the pertaining roadside company and wait for a technician to come. The technician would be dispatched immediately and arrive in minutes. They will change and replace the tire for free, so the person can be back to their day within 30 minutes or less. This is a wonderful advantage of a roadside assistance service contract.

Fuel Assistance

Have you ever run out of gas on the road? This is a silly mistake made by thousands of drivers everyday. It has happened to almost everyone at one point in time. When this happens to a person without a roadside assistance plan, they are forced to wither walk to the nearest gas station, fill up a jug of fuel, and haul it back to the stalled vehicle and refill; or they can call a friend or family member to pick them up or bring them fuel.

With a roadside assistance plan, a person simply needs to contact their corresponding roadside service company and a technician will be there within minutes to refill their tank enough to make it to the nearest gas station; for free! This is a fantastic benefit to have; especially for long road trips, adolescent drivers, and senior citizens.

Dead Battery Assistance

If a person’s vehicle gives out because the battery has died, they will need to take whatever resources they have available to get their car battery recharged. This would entail calling a friend or family member, waving down a stranger for help, or calling an automotive repair company for pick up and repair service. All these options are tedious and costly. If a person has a roadside assistance plan, they could simply call their company and wait only minutes for a friendly and professional technician to come and charge the car battery backup. For most roadside assistance companies, these services are all-inclusive with the monthly payment, not obligating clients to pay on the spot for every service they need or request.

These are just a few of the most commonly used services of a roadside assistance company. Their services do not stop here. Most companies also provide lockout services, towing, radiator services, pickup and drop off services, and much more. It is highly recommended to outsource a roadside assistance company for emergencies on the road. These plans are especially helpful for teenage drivers and elderly drivers, as mentioned before.

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Source by Sarahbeth Kluzinski