Automotive News

If you're a serious towing enthusiast, you probably already know the reasons why you should add a truck air ride suspension system to your heavy-duty truck: a quality truck air suspension system helps by cushioning a bumpy ride, leveling your vehicle, reducing wheel hopping, limiting trailer bucking and adding stability during braking. And, an air ride suspension system helps you protect your investment in your heavy-duty truck by preventing the harsh wear and tear caused by heavy towing. Adjustable "helper" springs. This type of system is generally comprised of an add-on helper spring that aids in leveling the truck and reducing vehicle bounce, dip, or bottoming out when hauling a heavy load or towing. The air springs can be adjusted, often with a service station air hose, to the truck's load condition for more control and leveling support.

Complete towing suspension system. This type of system is designed to both level the truck and improve the overall ride. Installing these kits involves removing the steel leaf spring on the truck and replacing it with an entirely new air spring. Some manufacturers also replace front and rear shocks for optimum performance. As with any product, each truck air suspension system claims to have the "latest and greatest" features and benefits. It's easy to get caught up in all the hype, but when you come right down to it, there are a few things that are more important than others. Here's a list of major features and options to consider when comparison shopping.

Does the manufacturer use high quality premium parts that will hold up over years of heavy hauling? Avoid plastic fittings and lower grade materials that may wear out or need to be replaced. Quality materials translate to greater reliability and a longer life for your air ride suspensions system, even under the harshest towing conditions. Is the system easy to use? Can you easily adjust your suspension level? Are there in-cabin controls to help you determine air pressure and load information? An air suspension system that's difficult to level and adjust will cause you added stress and unpredictability.

Look for the towing capacity of the air suspension system and be sure it can adequately handle the load you plan to tow. When it comes to towing capacity, the bigger the air spring, the more weight it can handle. Keep in mind that your truck and trailer load should never exceed the gross combined weight rating (GCWR), which is the total weight of the trailer under fully loaded conditions, including food, water, gear, etc.

How is the system installed? Does your truck's frame need to be altered to install the system? Do holes need to be drilled? Can the system be removed if necessary? Before you buy, be sure that installation won't be a problem for your or your truck. Find out if you can install the system yourself or if it will require manufacturer assistance. If assistance is required, does the manufacturer provide you with a manual or access to a dealer or installation specialist?

Does your system provide a warranty that won't expire before you've had time to really test your system with a long haul? Does the manufacturer stand behind the product? Does the manufacturer offer a no-risk guarantee if you are not satisfied with the system? Do a little research up front and you'll avoid unnecessary wear and tear on your truck - and costly repairs down the road. Your main consideration should be overall ride performance, safety and stability during heavy towing. If you're serious about towing, you need to be sure you are buying an air ride suspension system that can do more than level the ride; it needs to be suited for heavy towing. Like many things in the automotive industry, using an inexpensive aftermarket part often yields less than optimal results.

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If you own a home, then you are well aware of the importance of home insurance. It is something that we all need in order to give us a sense of protection. It can be essential if a dire situation was to occur. If you get robbed or you have a house fire, home insurance could prove to be essential.

If you own a home, it is a requirement of most mortgage companies that you provide them with proof of home insurance coverage. If you do not have this then you are very likely to be unable to get a mortgage for the house you are interested in.

When it comes to home insurance there are some things that are wise to think about. To reduce the premiums that you pay, you may want to consider having a higher costing deductible. This amount is what you will have to pay when you actually make a claim. If it is higher it can make the premiums that you pay a good bit lower.

Also look into the prices that are offered by a company if you have more than one type of insurance policy with them. Many companies offer good discounts to customers that have multiple insurance policies with them. You may pay lower prices for more than just your home insurance by choosing to do this.

People tend to get their home insurance and not look at it again until a problem comes along. It is far better to look at your home insurance policy annually and check to see if there are any better priced ones around that you can find. Also, there are things that people do to their homes that may reduce the premiums that they pay. This is something a lot of people forget about.

When you purchase insurance, you are investing in knowing that if a crisis were to come up you would be ok. Make sure that the home insurance you buy has replacement value stipulated in it. This will help you if it comes to a situation where you will need to replace your home. No matter how old your policy is and what you pay for it, if this is on it you can have the house replaced for you. The costs that generally increase over time will be fully covered.

These are just a few of the things that people need to think about when it comes to home insurance. There is a lot of information that can be found on the internet about this as well. Take some time to look into the options that you have and be a wise consumer and shop around. It may be well worth it.

Author: Ken Henry has some great suggestions on finding the answers to your insurance questions. Get homeowners insurance advice and quotes from 5 top companies, plus get an exciting tip sheet on auto and homeowners insurance

Pay As You Drive insurance is taking off in popularity. This insurance program is based on the number of miles you drive. The less you drive, the cheaper your insurance premiums. In the current tough economy, the idea of paying less for what can be a big expense is appealing. However, Pay As You Drive Insurance does have some disadvantages.

First of all, in order to utilize Pay As You Drive insurance, you have to consent to having your vehicle?s mileage monitored. There are costs associated with these monitoring programs. These costs are paid for by the driver, not the insurance provider. These costs could outweigh the potential savings gained from Pay As You Drive Insurance. In addition, drivers would have to install a new monitoring device every time they change insurance providers. That makes Pay As You Drive insurance inconvenient, and it makes shopping for a better deal difficult and frustrating for drivers.

Secondly, the companies that make the odometer tracking devices also charge a periodic fee for transmitting data. So, not only do you pay for the device, you pay to use it. This, again, possibly can eat away any savings from driving less when you use Pay As You Go.

Third, the insurance companies have had an opportunity to develop a completely new price structure when they offered Pay As You Go. This has allowed them to pass off new costs to drivers, again, canceling out the benefits of your careful and frugal driving.

There are also concerns about how odometer data may be used. While it may be true that the monitoring devices will only provide the data needed to compute premiums, there is always the possibility that the monitors could be modified to tell the company not just how far you drive, but where, when, and how often. This information about where you could go could then be used to raise your rates, or for some other purpose entirely.

Supporters of Pay As You Drive plans assert that driving less will result in fewer accidents. However, the correlation between miles driven and number of accidents is not necessarily simple. Low-mileage drivers are not necessarily safer drivers. It is just as easy for a Pay As You Drive driver to get into a crash as a driver covered by a more traditional insurance program.

On the surface, the cost savings of Pay As You Drive seem quite attractive. Drivers who are considering Pay As You Drive, however, should ask detailed questions before signing up for the plan. Gather as much information as you can to determine whether Pay As You Go is really right for you.

Tom Martens is the content syndication coordinator for Carinsurancesa.co.za. South Arica?s leading car insurance portal.