Sunset Ford Dealer Blog

By now, you’ve probably already returned from your summer vacation. You probably have a nice tan and you’re feeling refreshed. Hopefully, you had a great time and nothing went wrong. But did you ever have a vacation where nothing went right? That’s where travel insurance comes in. This is a rather new thing, but it affords vacationers a number of benefits. Here are five advantages of travel insurance so you can consider it for your next trip.

1. Flight cancellations – Of course, half the fun of a vacation is driving through the country in one of the many comfortable and affordable Ford cars on the market. But if you choose to fly and something happens that causes you to cancel, your travel insurance could reimburse you for the ticket so you don’t eat those costs.

2. Lost or stolen luggage – Nothing can ruin a trip faster than losing your bags at the airport or hotel. Most travel insurance policies, however, have coverage for this. You can choose how much or how little the policy covers, too.

3. Theft or damage – Depending on the policy you choose, everything you take with you could be covered in case of theft or damage. Whether it’s as big as your biggest suitcase or as small as your toothbrush, the proper policy has it covered.

4. International safety problems – If you’re in a country that suddenly becomes hostile toward Americans or if there’s a natural disaster, travel insurance will make it easier for you to leave quickly at no out-of-pocket cost to you.

5. Medical expenses – If you get bit by a snake or if some other accident occurs, a comprehensive travel insurance policy has your medical expenses covered. That way, you can still save your money for getting home safely.

With the recent increase in gas thefts, many truck owners are turning to locking gas caps to prevent thieves from stealing their fuel. But these are nothing new. In fact, locking gas caps were invented in the 1930s when people during the Great Depression were stealing gas. It’s funny how some things never change, huh?

Locking gas caps had a renewed popularity during the fuel crisis in the 1970s. Today, auto parts stores are having a difficult time keeping up with the new demand. According to Brian Drake, an employee at Bridgeville Auto Parts near Philadelphia, the locking gas caps where just sitting around and “collecting dust” until recent months. “We can’t even get them from suppliers,” he said. “We’ve place a couple orders. We’re still waiting for them.”

Although these new caps are great for keeping thieves away from your $4 a gallon gas, some truck and car owners still aren’t impressed with them. For one thing, imagine how annoying it is to misplace the key for your gas cap and needing to call a locksmith just to put fuel in your tank. Also, some motorists have claimed that the gas cap doesn’t have enough suction power to create a seal. As a result, their engine light comes on and they lose fuel economy.

If you’re thinking about getting a locking gas cap for your Ford trucks, there are some new ones on the market that are better than the older ones. Stop by your local auto parts store and find one that fits your truck and start protecting your gas today!

There were a few times on the way to Georgia last week when I felt like I was dozing off behind the wheel. How many times have you been awakened by the rumble strips on the shoulder of the highway? I’ve been reading about new computerized systems for Ford cars and other manufacturers that will monitor the driver’s alertness and warn them when it’s time to pull over, but I didn’t have that on this trip. If you are planning a trip during these last days of summer, here are some ways to help you stay awake behind the wheel.

1. Bring some fun people. The best way to stay awake is to bring some people who you enjoy being around. The more fun you’re having, the less likely you are to fall asleep when you’re driving. You can also switch off the driving responsibilities to get some rest from the road.

2. Play road games. Yes, these are sometimes corny, but road games keep you alert and help you stay awake. Everybody knows a couple road games, including the license plate game and the “I Spy” game. Other fun road games include “20 Questions” and “Name that Artist” in which you put the radio on “Scan” and name the artist before everybody else for points.

3. Have some great road trip music. Songs that you can sing along with are the best because they keep you excited and alert. Make some mix CDs before you leave or bring your iPod. With most of the newer Ford cars, you can attach it to the speakers and go through your playlists.

Follow these suggestions and you should be able to enjoy your trip without dozing off behind the wheel.

Owners of Ford trucks are a proud bunch, aren’t they? That’s only because they have a right to be proud. You’ve probably even noticed that many of them keep their truck looking spotless with a nice little shine. Now that the summer days are winding down, here are some tips for giving your truck one last wash to help it shine as much as possible through the winter.

Park in the shade. The sun causes the soap and wax to dry quicker than usual if you’re not parked in the shade. It won’t usually damage the paint job, but it will make the washing and waxing process much more difficult.

Hose the truck down. Give the truck a nice coat of rinse water to start the process. Don’t miss any spots or else the soap won’t work as well.

Begin washing. Use a soft sponge or rags. Old t-shirts work great if they are made cotton because they are soft and absorbent. Give the truck a rich, full layer of quality soap. Some companies even make special soap with soft abrasives that help get the dirt and grease off easier. Take your time with this step of the process as it’s the most important step.

Rinse the truck. Make sure to get all the soap off the truck before letting it dry. If soap is left on the truck, it will show streaks and marks.

Dry the truck. Grab a couple soft towels and just start drying. There isn’t much of a process to this, but using a circular motion works best.

Give it a good waxin’.A good wax job is the key to keeping your truck shiny and glossy for the coming months. Make sure to get all the wax off or else it will leave streaks.

My last two blog posts discussed my pet peeves with other drivers as a result of my frustrations from driving this rental vehicle across the country instead of one of the Ford cars the company had on the lot. But luckily, I’m not one of those types of people who have ever been the victim or the aggressor in a road rage situation. Although you can’t make others control their anger, there are some things you can do to make yourself less angry on the roads.

1. Get enough sleep. Being drowsy and driving does not mix. In addition to being dangerous, it also makes you more irritable and less patient with other drivers.

2. Know where you’re going. Few things make you as impatient and irritable as trying to find something you can’t find. Plan your route before you leave to save yourself from getting angry at other driers.

3. Respect other drivers. Many road rage cases occur because a driver thinks the road was built only for them. But if you think of the road more as something we share, you’ll be more courteous and patient with others.

4. Stay calm. Everybody makes mistakes, but road rage typically occurs when one driver gets mad and takes it to the next level. If someone makes a mistake, let it go. In a few seconds, you won’t even remember it.

5. Be observant. When you know what’s around you, you can adapt to the situation and avoid getting mad or making others mad. Just know how many cars are around you at all times and look ahead for potential hazards.

Follow these suggestions and we can all enjoy safer roads so we can make it home to our families every night.

One of the best ways to give your Ford trucks that “finished look” is to get a tonneau cover for it. Tonneau covers are great for adding extra space to your truck for hauling groceries and other materials. They give the bed of the truck more protection and security than just leaving it open. If you’ve never bought a tonneau cover or if you don’t know what to look for, here are five questions to ask yourself to help you make the best decision.

1. What type of cargo am I going to be hauling?
If you carry a lot of construction materials that stick out the top of your truck, a soft cover tonneau cover is probably best for you. They are easier to remove than the hard covers because they aren’t as heavy.

2. What type of security do I need with my tonneau cover?
Soft covers aren’t very secure. They are nice for bringing groceries home, but if you’re carrying tools and stuff and leaving your truck unattended, somebody can cut through the cover and steal stuff. Hard covers provide more security and they even come with a lock on the latch.

3. What type of seal do I want?
Most of the inexpensive soft-cover tonneau use snaps or Velcro to attach them to the truck. But this can let water leak inside and ruin anything that’s inside the bed of the truck. Other soft tonneau covers have rubber seals that eliminate this problem.

4. What type of material do I want?
Fiberglass tonneau covers are heavier, but they are also more secure. You can also get them painted to match the color of your truck. Vinyl tonneau covers are more lightweight, but they are easier to remove. You can also choose aluminum which offers the best of both worlds.

5. Do I want a retracting cover?
Retractable tonneau covers give you the option of having a cover on your bed or not. They simply roll into a storage box when you’re not using it.

Owners of Ford trucks certainly take pride in their vehicle. They want to make it look nice and keep it looking nice for as long as possible. That’s why you see so many of them with bed liners in the back. But if you own a truck, do you know which type of bed liner is better – the spray-in or the drop-in? Following are some facts about each one to help you make an informed decision for your truck.

The Advantages of Drop-In Bed Liners

• Drop-in bed liners tend to protect against damage better than spray-on bed liners. They create a buffer between the stuff you’re loading and the metal of the truck. Spray-on liners allow more dents in the bed of the truck.
• Drop-in bed liners are removable. If you want to switch them out, it’s easy to do. With spray-on bed liners, it’s permanent.
• Drop-in liners are less expensive than the spray-on counterparts.

The Advantages of Spray-On Bed Liners

• Spray-on bed liners prevent scratches on the bed of the truck because of the protective coating. With drop-in bed liners, the liner often rubs against the bed of the truck and leaves scratches that become vulnerable to rusting.
• Spray-on liners have a coating that helps prevent objects from sliding around in the back of the truck. Drop-in bed liners aren’t as good at that.
• Spray-on bed liners look more professional and give your truck a finished look. Drop-in liners look cheap and temporary.

Now that you know some advantages and disadvantages, protect the bed of your Ford trucks with the one that sounds best to you.

When I left on my road trip this past weekend, I was hoping the rental car company would’ve given me one of the Ford cars on the lot to drive. But alas, that didn’t happen. That’s probably what set me off in a bad mood and made me notice people’s annoying driving habits on the way to Georgia. I posted four of my pet peeves on Monday, but here’s four more.

1. Speeding in general – I already mentioned that people who speed through residential neighborhoods tick me off, but what about the ones who speed on the highways? We’re all trying to get somewhere as fast as we can, but we obey the laws. Everybody else should, too. Regardless of how slow you go, your destination will still be there. But if you go to fast, you may never make it there.

2. Oblivious drivers – These are the people that simply don’t know what’s going on around them. You run into these people everywhere, but it’s most dangerous on the roads. They’re the ones sitting there until you honk when the light turns green or the ones who turn in front of you without even seeing you.

3. No turn signals – Is it really that hard to turn your turn signal on? You don’t even have to take your hand off the steering wheel to do it. It’s such an easy maneuver that saves everybody around you the guesswork of what you’re going to do.

4. Giving the unconventional right-of-way – This might seem nitpicky, but I hate pulling up to a four-way stop seconds after the car perpendicular to me stops. He then gives me the wave to go before him. Just go already!

Now that I’ve vented, I feel much better. What do other drivers to you that annoy you the most?

While driving across the country from California to Georgia this weekend, I’ve noticed some people doing some really stupid things behind the wheel. Some of these things are downright dangerous but others are simply pet peeves of mine. I’m sure some of you have the same pet peeves as I do.

1. Children without seatbelts or car seats - I’m not a kid person, but that doesn’t mean you should leave them to fly through the air when you hit your brakes. Don’t leave your driveway or the parking lot without securing your children in the car. It’s just not right.

2. Cell phones – I think I’m the only person left on the planet that doesn’t have a cell phone. Maybe that’s why it annoys me when I see people talking on their cell phone while going 80 mph. As if that’s not bad enough, many of them are even texting as they speed down the expressway! Are these people really that important?

3. Tailgaters – I’m not talking about the people who sit in stadium parking lots and grill hot dogs and burgers. These are the drivers that are so close to your back bumper that their paint’s rubbing off on your car. Unfortunately, I think I’ve been guilty of this at times, but I try to keep it to a minimum.

4. Speeding through neighborhoods – There’s simply no reason to go 50 mph through a residential neighborhood. That’s where kids are playing and jumping out into the street without any notice. Slow it down! Wherever you’re going, it will still be there if you go 30 mph or less.

This is just the beginning of my pet peeves. I’ll have four more tomorrow. Feel free to let us know what some of your driving pet peeves are, too. It’s always fun to discuss them and blow off some steam. Of course, if you’re driving one of the comfortable and fuel-efficient Ford cars on the market today, other drivers won’t seem to annoy you as much. Test drive one today and see what I mean.

You’ve read all of the suggestions and tips for saving fuel, but did you ever think about protecting it? With gas prices as much as $4.65 in some places, it’s a precious and valuable commodity. That’s why thieves are stealing gas from gas at an unbelievable rate. These days, they are poking holes in the gas tank and draining the gas into containers. And they are targeting trucks because they are easier to climb under. Don’t be a victim of these hoodlums, though. Follow these tips for protecting Ford trucks.

Use your garage. If you have a garage at your home, clean it out and make room for your truck. This is the easiest and most effective way of protecting your fuel tank.

Park near the front when in parking lots. There was a time when parking at the end of the parking lot was good s you could walk farther and get more exercise. But if you part far away these days, it gives gas thieves an isolated spot where nobody will notice them stealing your gas. When you come back and all your gas is gone, you’ll be doing a lot more walking than you thought.

Take note of the fuel gauge. Some people can’t even trust their own neighbors. These days, everybody is looking out for themselves. That’s why you should look at your fuel gauge every time you get in your truck. That will tell you if somebody has stolen some of your gas overnight.

Install a sensitive alarm. Most alarms won’t detect minor vibrations or bumps, but a more sensitive alarm will act at the slightest sign of trouble. Unfortunately, though, people have become desensitized to car alarms so don’t rely solely on this.