7/14/10

A.R.E. Truck Caps Plant Tour On Inside Industry - Part 1


Tab Brown of Inside Industry gives us an informative and entertaining plant tour of A.R.E.'s Mt Eaton, OH facility where they manufacture A.R.E. Deluxe Commercial Truck Caps and design their fiberglass truck caps.

This is part one of a most excellent and deep look into how truck caps and some tonneau covers are made at one of the world's largest manufacturers of those products. To see the whole product line, go to http://www.4are.com/.

Part 2 is next. . .

7/12/10

Operating Pace Edwards JackRabbit Retractable Truck Bed Tonneau Covers h...


Our last post was on the ever popular, but changing tonneau cover. This is another great tonneau cover from Pace Edwards: The JackRabbit Retractable Tonneau Cover. The video shows how easy it is to operate and that it has numerous locking positions so you can have it closed, all the way open, or open anywhere in between. Notice that this one hides a fifth wheel, but when towing, the cover is opened all the way, then when not towing, it hides the fifth wheel. That's a pretty cool setup. Give us a call at 707-447-9905 and we will be happy to show you just how inexpensive this great setup can be!

7/10/10

Pace Edwards Tonneau Cover Utility Bedlocker For Service Truck Beds


Here's a great idea for the typical service body/utility body to help protect things in the bed area and also keep them out of sight: The Utility Bedlocker by Pace Edwards. Vaca Valley Truck & SUV has a lot of experience with a wide range of great tonneau covers and their applications. Give us a call at 707-447-9905 and we will help you get the perfect cover for your truck.

6/30/10

Westin Off Road Lightbar


About The Product:
This light bar is constructed from 2 inch steel tube. It also provides mount tabs for up to (4) 8 inch off road lights for the full size truck applications and up to (3) 8 inch off road lights for the mid size truck applications. Positioned above the bumper to position the lights at the truck grille elevation, this product provides the maximum in off road user lighting.

Facts:
• Vehicle specific applications
• 2 inch diameter tube
• Mount up-to 8 inch lights
• Polished Stainless - LIFETIME WARRANTY
• Black Powdercoated Mild Steel - 3 YEAR WARRANT

http://www.westinautomotive.com/index.html

6/17/10

Onki Volcano Running Board


It has taken a little bit of time but time well worth the wait. Onki is proud to introduce the latest in its running board lines, the all-new: Onki VOLCANO.

The Onki VOLCANO was conceived to be a price point model using lightly textured black powder coated mild steel as the main material with a 3 inch half tube on the leading edge for the traditional nerf tube look with the safety of a full step board. One can say that the Onki VOLCANO is the budget version of our top-selling Onki Nerf Board model, this time with a trapezoidal end cut.

The design and name of the Onki VOLCANO were inspired by the numerous volcanoes and lava flows found in Hawaii. The multiple traction holes strategically laid out on the 6 ½" wide top step of the board look like miniature volcanoes. The openings provide an engineered traction design on the metal sheet itself for basic safety. Additional traction comes from the replaceable black/orange rubber pads that also give the boards a more finished look. The Onki VOLCANO will be initially available in 7 lengths: 100”, 88”, 78”, 68”, 55”, 37”, and 21”. As has been our practice, all Onki VOLCANO running board sets come with our universal bracket kit.

Check out the all-new Onki VOLCANO.

6/10/10

Billet Candy for Your Ride

AMI has one of the largest selections of aftermarket car and truck parts.

New for 2010:

Rock It Hard Jeep Accessories
Toyota FJ Accessories
New Fuel Doors
The New "Big Stick" Antenna
Windshield Washer Covers
Grille Emblems


6/03/10

Drop-in versus Spray-on Bedliners

The spray-on bedliner industry would like you to believe that the number one advantage of purchasing a spray-on bedliner versus a drop-in bedliner is the permanent bond between the truck and the truck bed, eliminating rust and corrosion. This is actually just one of many myths perpetuated by the spray-on industry designed to confuse the consumer. In actuality, the drop-in liner business has taken a bad rap, even though there has been over 25 years of technological developments that have addressed even the most minor concern.

Myth 1) Drop-in bedliners cause rust and corrosion to the truck bed. The truth is the patented high tensile strength rib design of the Duraliner® promotes ventilation between the bedliner and the bed of the truck preventing moisture accumulation. It features the highest ribbing of any drop-in liner in the industry to improve airflow. Spray-ons require the truck’s original finish and rust protection to be disturbed, usually by sanding or scuffing the surface in order for the spray to adhere to the sheet metal.

Myth 2) Drop-in bedliners crack, split or warp. The truth is all Durakon drop-in bedliners are guaranteed not to crack, split or warp for as long as you own your truck, even at 60 degrees below zero.

Myth 3) Drop-in bedliners lose their shiny color. The truth is that Durakon’s drop-in bedliners are more resistant to ultra-violet rays than spray-on liners. The primary feature of the Duraliner is its thermo bonded polyethylene top layer which provides a satin finish that retains a deep rich black color for the life of the liner.

Myth 4) Drop-in bedliners are not as resistant to scratches, dents and abrasions as spray-ons. The truth is Duraliner offers a uniform thickness of high-density polyethylene that protects the truck bed from deep dents and gouges. It even features a reinforced front wall design for added bulkhead protection. Spray-ons are only as good as the person that applies the material. Most cannot match the thickness and tensile strength of a drop-in liner. Duraliner has literally twice the wear resistance as compared to the nearest premium bedliner competitor.

Myth 5) Drop-in bedliners do not reduce load slippage. The truth is Duraliner has better skid resistance than the nearest premium drop-in bedliner competitor.

Myth 6) Drop-in bedliners cause noise and road vibration. The truth is Durakon’s liners form a secure, tight fit to the truck bed. Durakon is an original equipment supplier to Ford and other automotive manufacturers. With proper installation, there is absolutely no noticeable noise that occurs from road vibration.

Independent testing has shown the Duraliner outperforms the competition in appearance, weatherability, skid resistance and wet grip. The deciding factor for most who are trying to choose becomes one of style and money.

5/27/10

Tool Boxes

Vaca Valley Truck & SUV offers one of the largest selections of boxes around, from white steel to black steel to powder coated to aluminum chest. We will get the box you need, right the first time. So, if it's a work truck or an RV tower you're trying to set up, stop by so we can help you set up your truck of trailer with the storage you need. Some of the manufacturers we offer are WeatherGuard, Daw's Better Built, Dee Zee, Hiway Products, Delta and Buyers. We can even have custom boxes build specifically to suit your needs.

5/20/10

Whether you're a contractor or the weekend kayaker, we are sure to be able to get the rack system to suit all your needs. Some of the brands we have available are Rack-It, Cargo Master, Weatherguard, Yakima, Thule. With over 45 years combined experience in sales and installation, if you need a rack system for your truck, van or SUV, Vaca Valley Truck & SUV is your only source!




5/13/10

Shells

If you're looking for a camper shell, we are your one stop shop. We offer a huge selection of shells and options from painted to match fiberglass to a full line of industrial commercial grade shells. We have the experience and customer service that sets us apart from the others. Some of the manufacturers we sell are:

Vista & Vision by Fast Tops: A.R.E., A.R.E. DCU, Tradesman by Access

2007 GMC 1500 4x4 Crew Cab Short Bed with A.R.E. MX Shell. Driver and passenger window doors with shelving. Chrome overlay handles, mirrors, gas door. Painted bushwaker pocket style flares, chrome front bug shield, Amp research power drop down steps

Suisun City Fire Command Vehicle with A.R.E. DCU shell painted to match factory color. Driver and passenger side dual lift up doors with built in tool boxes on both sides with drop down shelf

A.R.E. DCU Commercial Shell with Bedslider. Front compartment is open to the bed area and rear compartment has shelves.

5/06/10

Tonneau Covers

From painted to match fiberglass & ABS solid covers to covers that retract into cannisters, Vaca Valley Truck & SUV offers the most options & style of any facility in the area with professional installation on every thing we sell.

Painted to match Fiberglass Tonneau Cover

1994 Ford Ranger custom painted with color matched A.R.E. LS Tonneau Cover with Sport Wing and LED brake light, plus stainless rocker panels, painted to match roll pan and painted to match power sport mirrors.

White Toyota Before

White Toyota After

4/22/09

The Importance of Trailer Servicing

During the winter months, travel, boat and utility trailers typically don't get used. When a trailer sits, it can develop problems with wiring, brakes and electrical. The last thing you need is to find a problem right before that big trip.

I recommend before the trip to hook up and test the entire trailer system so you don't get stuck in the middle of nowhere with repairs that can get very expensive.

With over 45 years of combined experience, Vaca Valley Truck & SUV should be your only source for trailer repairs and services.

Some of the many services we offer are:

  • Complete Hitch Towing Systems
  • Gooseneck Hitches
  • 5th Wheel Hitches
  • Towing Accessories
  • Brake Controllers
  • Complete Trailer Electrical Repairs and Installations
  • Axle Replacements & Services

1/18/09

Computer Programmers for Cars & Trucks

Let’s talk a little about computer programmers for cars & trucks (sometimes called “chips”). There are literally a hundred different brands available. The brand I prefer is Superchips. It is a unit that plugs into the ECM port on the truck. The model I sell the most is the Flashpaq Tuner which comes with three options: Economy, Tow and Performance. They are available for gas or diesel; however, I sell many more to diesel truck owners.

The way the programmer works is it has enhanced programs that are loaded into the vehicle computer and it stores the original factory specs in the programmer.
After the unit is plugged into the ECM port, first it scans the computer to make sure there are no pre-existing codes. Then it gives you options such as shift point adjustment, tire size adjustments for speedometer calibrations for larger or smaller than stock tires, removal of speed limiter, rev limiter adjustments and offers fan adjustments to turn on the fan at different temperatures than the factory set.

For example, let’s use a 2007 Ford 6.0 liter diesel. On tow safe mode (always recommended when towing), you get 47 horsepower with 81 ft lbs of torque. On economy mode, you can expect an increase of 5-7% better fuel mileage and 88 horsepower and 132 ft lbs of torque improvements. In performance mode, there is an almost 100 horsepower increase with 160 ft lbs of torque.

Any time the truck needs to go to the dealer and you want the factory computer back to original settings, simply reverse the install procedure and the original settings will be transferred back to the truck’s computer while the programmer will store the optional settings for future use. This is about a 5-10 minute process. It is very important to choose a unit that won’t mess with other options and functions of the truck computer. That’s why I prefer Superchips. Also check with your dealer about potential warranty issues. Some dealers actually install such products, along with lift kits, wheels & tires and other accessories and other dealers won’t touch a truck with modifications. So always consult your dealers’ service department prior to modifications.

Last, there are over a hundred manufacturers of this kind of product and it can be very confusing until you are fully familiar with what the programmers are and how they are best utilized. Don’t make a costly mistake. Find a local supplier that is knowledgeable and rely on them to help you get the best setup. We have the knowledge and skill and have sold these for many years. Give us a call and we can walk you through the things you need to know.

1/04/09

Tow Systems, Hitches & Wiring










So you have a customer looking for a trailer tow system?

The first question is always, what is the hitch going on and how much weight do you intend on towing?

There are several classes of hitches, Class 1 through Class 5. Each one has a weight rating. Class 1 is up to 1500 lbs and Class 5 is up to 15,000 lbs with trailer and vehicle equipped properly.

All hitches have a tow weight which is the maximum pull strength for the hitch and tongue weight which is the downward weight and the capacity can increase with weight distribution systems or, as they are commonly called, equalizer bars.

Not only is the hitch limited to certain weights, all the accessories are also limited to weight.

The three components that make up the towing system are the hitch, the ball mount and the ball. Each of these items has a weight limit. So, let’s say that your hitch has a 6,000 lb rating, your ball mount has a 5,000 lb rating and your ball is rated at 6,000 lbs. The weak point is the ball mount at 5,000 lbs. This is a common problem. It is always important to make sure you explain and choose the correct parts for towing trailers with all accessories having a compatible weight rating.

Wiring. There are numerous trailer wire plugs, such as the 4-way flat, 4-way round, 6-way and 7-way. The type of plug usually determines the trailer and what electrical items are on the trailer. Your standard trailer plug (4-way) operates all running lights, brake lights and turn signals. The 6 and 7-way usually operate trailer brake systems, battery charge lines and back up lights. Most new trucks and SUV’s come with factory harnesses in place so the installer just duplicates the system to best serve the customer needs.

There is a lot to know about trailer towing. I have 25 years experience at it and still learn new things all the time.

The bottom line is when looking for someone to install towing systems, choose a qualified shop that is familiar with all facets of hitches and wiring and is familiar with the ever-changing new models that are constantly being introduced. Call me at 707-447-9905 and I'll be happy to answer all your questions!