Automotive

What Should you Have in a Vehicle Winter Emergency Kit? Read more

DuraStart Batteries: American Products, American Story DuraStart is proud to operate a massive, 520-acre single-site battery manufacturing complex in both Berks County, Pennsylvania, and Corydon, Iowa, with world-class facilities that are the most advanced in the industry.... check out their recycling process and the facilities that power it here. They employ over 8,000 people, and for over a decade, they have been one of Pennsylvania's Best Places to Work. Many DuraStart employees have over 20 years of tenured service, and the DuraStart story, like most, decent American stories, starts in a garage. Durastart offers long-lasting, affordable batteries that power everything. Check these out. World War II: DuraStart Beginnings DuraStart began as a dream of the Breidegam family. In 1946, DeLight Jr., a young Air Force veteran, started a batt... Read more

You have to understand your vehicle's maximum towing capacity before you tow. To exceed the manufacturer's rated capacity is to create an unsafe driving situation. This could possibly lead to damage to your vehicle's engine, transmission, rear axle, brakes and wheel bearings. It will definitely void the manufacturer's warranty. That's why we put this blog together... so we could answer the age old question: How do I determine towing capacity? If you're looking to buy a trailer, you can submit a quote request here, and we will work to get your order filled as soon as possible.  When considering the capacity you will need, always buy high, meaning get more than you think you will actually use you don't want to be out in the middle of Neihart in winter wondering if loading an extra horse will put you over the maximum towing capacity. Buy h... Read more

Built for every ATV or utility need you might have, North Star Trailers make quality trailers that come in a variety of sizes. Rugged-tough, these trailers feature top-of-the-line powder coating on carbon steel frames which ensures the trailer’s durability. Watch the video below to learn more. Hi. My name is Aaron Scoff from North Star Trailers. Welcome to our booth today. Just a little bit about North Star. We've been in business for about 20 years. We have a trailer for every ATV need or utility need. We have small trailers, large trailers. Something that kind of sets us apart is our pricing and also the quality of our trailers. We have top of the line powder coating on carbon steel trailers. Have trailers that can fit up to three ATVs and all the way down to one. Read more

No chains. No straps. No cable tows. And, no snapping. Using kinetic energy, the Ditch Pig can stretch the momentum that gets put into the pull end of the rope. This allows for a much safer way to pull out a distressed vehicle. With the Ditch Pig Recovery Rope, you can pull and go. Watch the video below to learn more.   Good morning, my name's Bob Christiansen with TSSI. We are the rep company that handles MIBRO for Mid-States here. What we're going to show today is the MIBRO ditch pig kinetic energy recovery rope.   This is a new concept in vehicle recovery systems. You're probably used to seeing chain tows and strap tows and cable tows. One of the inherent issues with those types of vehicle recovery systems is the danger of them eventually snapping, either the whipping effect of them breaking and hitting somebody or pulling... Read more

When it comes to motor oils, the debate rages around whether or not to opt for synthetics. When this question came in for #AskNorth40, we went to Jerrad White, one of our store managers, for a quick overview. He advocates synthetics over standard oil for numerous reasons, some of which are more mileage between oil changes, less overall oil changes and better-operating temperatures. Those all sound nice- but what does that really mean? Let's get into it. The Structure of Synthetic Oils VS Standard Oil To begin, standard oil is a byproduct of natural oil. It is the result of a process called frictional distillation. First, it is extracted from the ground and then it's refined to remove impurities. It's made of non-uniform molecules and has a mixture of hydrocarbons which include: sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen, and metals like nickel. The oil ref... Read more

At some point or another, you may have to place something in the back for your truck that, unfortunately, is longer that your truck bed. Usually, you try to strap it down and pray it doesn't fall off. While this can work, the person driving behind you might not be so confident in your tie down skills. Thankfully, there's a way to extend your truck bed for those awkward length items. And better yet, you can do it yourself. Make your Truck an Extended Bed w/ Erickson Big Bed Extender First off- my automotive skills are glaringly lacking, so when this project came down the pipeline, I said, "WHAAAAAAAAAATT. Vehicles?" Let's say if my life was a video game- my car skills are Level Zero. Here's a Father's Day project you might fight interesting... the Ranchero Rebuild. But that's doesn't even matter when it comes to the Erickson Big Bed Exten... Read more

Have you ever had a flat tire and changed it out with your spare, only to get another flat tire before the first one was fixed? Attempted to put your spare on and realized that it was also flat? Or, didn't have a spare tire? We've all seen vehicles alongside the road on three wheels and a jack, and maybe some of you have had the misfortune of being in that situation. Either way, having the right equipment and knowing how to repair a flat tire can sometimes be the difference between driving or walking. Whether you are on the shoulder of the road or working in your garage, here are a few options for fixing that flat tire: Sealants - LiquiTube's Premium Tire Sealant helps maintain air pressure, extends tire life, and seals all forms of air loss Shop our sealants by clicking here. Installation should be near an air compressor so the tire c... Read more

Self Reliance: How Father's Lessons can go a Long Way As Father's Day approaches and I think about everything that my dad has done for me and taught me, the most significant trait that stands out is self-reliance. As a kid I spent most of my childhood growing up in the farm and ranch lands of Montana. In the country, self-reliance is a necessity, if your car or truck broke down you couldn't always run it to a mechanic, you had to buy the parts and figure it out for yourself. While a lot of my classmates parents were farmers and ranchers. My dad drove semis for a living and so he had a vast knowledge of engines and all things automotive. Looking for automotive parts and maintenance supplies? When teaching my brothers and I how to do anything, my father's philosophy was tell us what we needed to do to accomplish the task, show us how to ac... Read more

Originally developed for use in military aircrafts, AGM, or Absorbed Glass Mat batteries are the go-to option for applications like snowmobiles, marine batteries and RV batteries. When you opt for an AGM, you're going to be able to see (and feel) an immediate difference over flooded batteries. Flooded batteries, also called "wet-cell batteries," are the original type of rechargeable battery. They're commonly found in aviation, electric utilities, and energy storage or cellphone towers. The battery contains a liquid electrolyte that is "flooded" such as sulfuric acid, a dangerous corrosive liquid that damages what it comes into contact with AGM is different because this fluid is contained in each inner "cell" of the battery rather than being "free-floating" in the battery's shell. Top 4 differences when going with an AGM over wet-cell bat... Read more

Using diesel fuel presents many challenges. Diesel fuel is lower in lubricity, has a higher cloud and pour point and will gel-up faster. What's that mean? You can check out our selection of fuel additives online here. It means if you don't treat your fuel with anti-gel additive, you are looking at more fuel system wear, more gelling, less power and lower MPG. What your Diesel Fuel Needs to Work well in Winter When you work out in this cold in a diesel, whether it's a ¾ ton pickup, a 1 ton flatbed or even with tractors, you will know what a gel point is, and you know without a fuel additive, you can't work. This means in winter, truckers and ranchers, everyone driving a diesel, needs a fuel additive to keep their vehicles running.   "I grew up with my dad using Power Service and Power Service 911 so that's where I turn... Read more

After you've figured out the towing capacity of your trailer, you will need to select the right tires for your trailer. Tires are critical for any type of trailer. Whether you are hauling cattle, horses, cars or boats, you need to be sure your tires are up to the job if you want to get the most out of your haul. With the right tires, you and your cargo will be safer on the road. There are many accessories you need when you start thinking tires, and you can find a selection of those items here. If you overload your tires, your trailer becomes a dangerous liability. At any point, the tires could blow out, or the load could sway so much that it actually flips over. It is paramount that you select the appropriate tires for your trailer. 1. Key Terms when Looking at Trailer Tires Let's get started with a few definitions you'll need to become ... Read more