The pros of drop in bed liners include the ease with which they may be installed and removed. A drop in bed liner will typically come with a rigid and thick body that will give a decent amount of protection to your truck’s bed, reducing the risk of dents and bumps and scratches. They will last a long time and won’t take too much trouble to clean. Additionally, you can mount them underneath the bedrail, or if you choose, above it, to provide more protection. There are also some drop in bed liners made from more flexible materials; physically hold and manipulate a drop in bed liner before buying it if you can.

Cons of drop in bed liners are that some do not fit as well as they should, making them prone to shift about in the bed of your truck. In contrast, a more rigid bed liner may scuff paint on your truck bed. Additionally, they can let in dirt and sand, increasing the likelihood of scratches. Finally, it is possible to gouge or break a drop in bed liner.

The pros of sprayed on bed liners include the fact that they will not shift on your truck bed, as they are designed to stick to the body panels of your truck. As they are considerably thinner than drop in bed liners, they do not offer the same levels of protection, but they do reduce the risks of tiny dents. Additionally, you can apply sprays to any body panel on the truck, which includes floor and interior panels. Furthermore, you can easily clean a sprayed on bed liner and you can also find them in many colors, which is a bonus if your bed liner is primarily designed to be aesthetic. They are typically considered to be sleeker, visually speaking, than drop in bed liners.

The biggest con of a sprayed on bed liner is that you cannot remove it. Additionally, the lack of protection they offer compared to a drop in bed liner is considerable. Furthermore, you may not be able to remove stains such as spilled paint from your sprayed on liner. Additionally, they are typically more difficult to correctly install and have look professional unless you actually have a professional bed liner install one.

The bottom line is that today’s pickup truck bed liner market is saturated with a host of models to choose from. To help you when next you decide to purchase a bed liner, consider questions related to your needs. How do you typically use your pickup truck? How much protection will you require from your bed liner? Enough to protect the truck from a constant barrage of heavy objects in the bed? Or perhaps you only plan to haul the occasional chair or mattress. Or perhaps you aren’t hauling anything, and the bed liner is purely for aesthetics? Shop around, whether online or in person, and keep asking questions. It’s the best way to ensure you get the best bed liner for your pickup truck.

Here is what to look for when shopping for used car extended warranties:

• Time, miles, or both – Just like new car warranties, used car extended warranties expire based on time, mileage, or a combination of the two. In most cases, it is a matter of whichever condition is reached first. Often used card extended warranties come with the promise of coverage for years or months, but an unreasonably low number of miles. Using automobile leases and insurance estimates as a guideline, it would seem reasonable to suggest that the average car owner drives approximately 30 to 35 miles per day on average. Thus, a 1 year used car extended warranty should last between 11,000 and 13,000 miles unless your specific driving needs exceed that of the average car owner.

• What is covered and how much – Just because a used car extended warranty says that it is good for 1 year or 10,000 miles does not mean that everything is covered for 1 year and/or 10,000 miles. In fact, most warranties, including new car warranties, take their nomenclature from the longest portion of their warranty. So a 10 year/100,000 mile warranty does not typically mean that bumper to bumper coverage is available for 10 years and/or 100,000 miles. Instead, it generally means that only one component of the coverage lasts the titular duration, and other coverage ends well before this point. Even items that are covered are not necessarily covered in full. Again, read the fine print on any extended warranty for used cars.

• Deductibles – A deductible is the amount of money that has to be paid by the vehicle owner whenever the vehicle needs covered repairs. Used car extended warranties come with several different types of deductibles, just like new car warranties. There is a major difference in how the deductibles can be calculated with used car warranties, unlike new car warranties. Used car warranties may have deductibles based on either the repair or the visit. This means that if 10 items need repairs in a single visit, an end user might need to pay ten deductibles or one deductible.

• Transfers – Not all used car extended warranties are transferable, and those that are transferable may have certain limitations. For example, some extended used car warranties can only be transferred to a spouse or immediate relative, while others cannot be transferred under any condition. This might play a significant role in the decision making process if the vehicle is likely to be resold before the expiration of the used car extended warranty.

• How is coverage handled? In many cases, used car extended warranties will require owners to spend money out of their own pocket only to be reimbursed later. This can be a serious problem for those who are looking for used car warranties that are meant to be a form of financial risk management. If the owner has to pay the premium for the warranty and the out of pocket expenses, they may be biting off more than they can chew in the financial sense. This could result in a broken vehicle that waits to be repaired, while a job is lost and the children cannot get to school.

• Who is offering the warranty? Try to determine who is offering the used car extended warranty, and understand that they are a business. Budget warranties from no-name companies are probably worth far less than their associated price tag. Bigger name firms that appear on the Standard & Poor’s list tend to be more expensive, but it is easy to determine the quality of the company behind the warranty.

If you are looking for tips for finding an honest car mechanic, then you have come to the right place. Consider the following tips whenever evaluating different mechanics and/or garages:

• Talk to tow truck drivers – Tow truck drivers know all of the garages in town, and generally have a reasonable grasp on who is trustworthy and who specializes in exploiting car owners that lack even the most basic mechanical expertise.

• Ask for simple ways to remove corrosion from terminals – One of the most common problems that many modern vehicles exhibit is due to corrosion on battery terminals. Surprisingly, this corrosion can be fixed with nothing more than baking soda and a can of soda. If a mechanic suggests a tow instead of offering this simple and effective advice, they are probably not trustworthy. An hour of labor should not be worth customer satisfaction.

• Check with the local BBB – The local BB keeps records on all kinds of businesses, especially complaints and resolutions. Upset customers have a right to complain, and often do. As a result, it would probably be wise advice to remember not to be amazed by a high number of complaints, but do be surprised if there are a very low percentage of satisfactory resolutions. Look for garages and mechanics that have a comparatively high rate of satisfactory resolutions, as they would generally seem to value customer loyalty and happiness.

• Ask about aftermarket warranties – Many smaller garages offer extended warranties through third parties. In general, these warranties are often riddled with vague language and do not cover as much as they would seem on the surface. If the mechanic gives a sales pitch instead of suggesting that you look at it and decide for yourself, then they are certainly looking for every single advantage that they can find. How many of those opportunities will be at your expense? Honest mechanics will avoid the sales pitch and worry about doing a good job.

• Inquire where the mechanic and/or garage gets their parts – Many states lack laws that protect consumers from repair facilities that use third-party parts without notifying the customers. This allows smaller shops to save a few percent on their expenses while often charging nearly full price for parts that may not meet every single standard set by the manufacturer. If the parts do not meet every single standard, your vehicle could be back in the garage for further work before you know it.

• Does the mechanic have ‘tricks’ to help your car pass emissions? If so, watch out! Emissions testing and other government regulations are not meant to be circumvented, even if it directly benefits you. If a businessperson is willing to help you do something that is illegal and unethical, what makes you think that they are treating you honestly? Instead, look for mechanics that will suggest replacing certain parts for long-term compliance with government standards and regulations.

• Use your head and your heart – If you feel uncomfortable around the mechanic for whatever reason, it could be your subconscious telling you something. Even if your instincts are wrong, you are probably going to experience doubt and negative emotions as a result. No bargain is worth being mired down with these negative feelings, so listen to your head and your heart when looking for an honest car mechanic. It may also help to realize that honest is a relative term in this context.

Quality is important – 4×4 trucks are big, heavy vehicles that often have engines capable of performance that lesser vehicles could only dream about. This translates directly into a need for 4×4 truck tires that are high quality and likely to last a long time. Those with high performance 4×4 trucks should only look for 4×4 truck tires from reputable brands and backed by lengthy warranties. Remember that those warranties are only good so long as proper maintenance and tire rotation occurs.

Questions of application – Where will the 4×4 be going? How fast will it get there? These are critical questions that need to be answered before shopping for 4×4 truck tires. 4×4s that will be towing heavy loads need very different tires than those that will be used for the weekend trip to the lake campsite, or the 4×4 that never leaves city streets and has never used anything but its two-wheel drive mode. The fact is that truck tires used for towing heavy loads on pavement need to have special treads that are different than the treads used by those that will engage in even light off-road duty. City-bound 4×4 trucks need tires that can put up with the constant stop and go traffic.

Going big? Be careful – Some people find the allure of oversized tires to be attractive, and that is certainly understandable for people that happen to own a 4×4. Unfortunately, deviating from the standard tire size can cause many different problems while offering a few advantages. The downside to increasing the height of the tires used in 4×4s include changes to acceleration and towing profiles, inaccurate speedometer readings, and a vehicle that may be more difficult for some people to enter and/or exit. Whenever speedometer readings change, it is likely that odometer readings will also change. On the plus side, taller tires do tend to provide a slightly smoother ride under even bumpy road conditions, and may also increase clearance and approach/departure angles by a very small amount.

Going small is no piece of cake either – Going with smaller tires may create a more tactile ride in the city, but it can also cause problems off the road. On the other hand, grandma might appreciate being driven around town a bit more if she could get into and out of the 4×4 a little easier. Again, speedometer readings will be affected by the change in overall circumference, as will odometer readings.
Spare tires – Many pickup trucks and SUVs keep their spare tires under the rear frame. There is only so much room for a spare tire regardless of where it is stored, so changing the size or shape of a tire may mean having to use something other than a full-size spare when the inevitable punctured wall or blown tire occurs. Running with three full-sized tired and one spare can negate towing and/or the possibility of tackling trails. This means being stuck with a flat at the wrong time without a full-size spare is a bad idea.

Run flats – Run flats are very popular options for many 4×4 truck owners that find themselves constantly dealing with flat tires. It does not matter if one has a jaded ex, or works on construction sites riddled with loose nails, run flat technology is a great way to ensure that a punctured tire will get a 4×4 where it needs to go. The downsides to run flats include the fact that they are expensive, not as high performing, and can only be driven at low speeds once punctured/stabilized.

Pickup trucks come in two different types. The compact pickup is a smaller vehicle that sits closer to the ground. It is aimed more towards those who are looking for a general use vehicle. A full-size pickup is geared more towards owners who will use it for work. It sits higher off the ground is used more for hauling and towing.

Full-size pickups come in three different weights. A half-ton pickup is good for light hauling and as an all around general purpose vehicle. The three-quarter ton truck is used for hauling heavier loads and pulling light-weight trailers and campers. The 1-ton is built to haul larger loads and for pulling heavier trailers and larger campers.

Engines come in three sizes: 4-, 6-, and 8-cylinders. Choosing the size of the engine should be determined by the work an owner expects to do with the vehicle. While fuel economy is better with a 4-cylinder engine, it is lacking in power when compared to the 6- and 8-cylinder engines. Pickups will also get better gas mileage with a manual transmission as opposed to an automatic. Automatic transmissions, however, are easier to use.

Trucks come with either a gasoline or a diesel powered engine. Gasoline engines are the most common while diesel engines are more commonplace in trucks used for heavy hauling and towing. A truck’s towing capacity is dependent not only on the weight of the truck and the size of the engine, but also on its gearing and whether an add-on towing package is installed.

Pickup trucks commonly have rear-wheel drive. This mean the rear wheels are what drive the vehicle and this is adequate for most drivers. If one will be encountering snow, ice, mud, or off-road conditions, a four-wheel drive vehicle will be more suitable. Some trucks come equipped with All-Wheel Drive or AWD. This allows for the front wheels to engage automatically when needed without the driver having to manually put the truck into 4-wheel drive.

Cab sizes vary. The least expensive option is a regular cab. It has two doors and minimal room behind the seat. Extended cabs can either have jumpseats or a regular back bench. The rear area is usually fine for children but adults may find it quite cramped. Trucks with extended cabs may or may not have doors to get into the back seating area. Crew cabs offer the most room. They have a full rear seat and regular doors to access the backseat.

Cargo beds in pickups range from four to eight feet in length depending on the truck style. The bed may have what is called a stepside or flairside. This is where there is an external flare to allow for the wheels giving the inside of the bed a straight box. Accommodations for the tires on a regular bed are inside the bed itself.

Modern trucks are equipped with several safety features. Shoulder and lap belts are standard as are anti-lock brakes. Driver and passenger side airbags are also available in pickups. Many new models also feature side airbags.

Extra features on pickup trucks can include rear view cameras, GPS systems and high end audio systems.

Whether purchasing a compact or a full-size pickup, careful consideration should be paid to the features that will help to meet the driver’s needs.