Tag Archives: Safety

road trip checklist in jersey city, nj

Road Trip Checklist

Preparing for a road trip, especially a long one, can be overwhelming. Planning ahead helps ensure you bring the essentials to keep you and your travel companions safe and comfortable on the road. Use this checklist to help you pack for your next road trip. Read the rest of this entry >>

Best Used Cars for Teens in Jersey City, NJ

For most young drivers, obtaining a license and their first car is a huge achievement. Many teens can’t wait to finally go to school or arrive at college with a brand new set of wheels. However, parents are more concerned about their teenager’s first car being safe, efficient, and affordable. Here are some of the best used cars for teen drivers. Keep these on your radar when shopping for used cars in New Jersey. Read the rest of this entry >>

What’s GVWR And Why Is It Important To Your Pickup, SUV and Crossover?

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The term GVWR – or Gross Vehicle Weight Rating – might sound like something only professional truck drivers need to know, but it’s something every driver of a pickup truck, SUV or crossover needs to be aware of to stay safe while carrying cargo and/or passengers.

 

How do I find the GVWR in my vehicle?  It’s easy – just look on the label that’s located on the inside of the driver’s door jamb.  The GVWR tells you the combined weight of passengers, personal effects and cargo, along with the weight of the vehicle itself, as well as the tongue weight of the trailer. (See last week’s blog on the importance of proper tongue weight in safe hauling.)

 

Why do you need to know the GVWR?  Knowing the GVWR will prevent you from overloading your vehicle which cause damage to your vehicle and create unsafe driving conditions such as, broken springs and suspension components, unsafe braking, overheating and damaging the transmission and other driveline components, difficulty controlling the vehicle due to strain on the suspension and danger of tire blowout due to an increase in tire temperature.

 

How do you figure out how much weight the vehicle can carry? Follow this  example:The weight of the #2016GMCSierra1500 is 5,216. By subtracting the weight of the truck from the GVWR you know you can carry 1,884 pounds without exceeding the GVWR.  Make sure you take into account the weight of your passengers, as well as cargo.  If you have two 150-pound passengers, your available hauling capacity is 11,584 pounds.

 

It’s important to always stay within the GVWR limit set for your particular truck, SUV or crossover to avoid damage to your vehicle and to keep your passengers and your belongings safe.

 

The New Jersey State Auto Auction’s team cares about your safety.  We’re always happy to answer any questions you might have. Our family-owned business looks forward to helping you purchase your ultimate vehicle and drive it safely.  Visit our website at www.njstateautoauction.com.

 

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New Jersey State Auto Auction

406 Sip Avenue

Jersey City, New Jersey 07306

Phone: 201.355.4138

Website: www.NJStateAuto.com

Tongue Weight – the Key to Safe Towing

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Proper tongue weight can make the difference between a safe trailer-towing experience and a dangerous one.  Like the Goldilocks and the Three Bears, the tongue weight must be ‘just right’ – too little and the trailer could start swaying from side to side; too much weight and the force could overload the rear tires of the tow vehicle and push the rear end of the vehicle out of control.  Tongue weight also affects how safely you can go around corners and curves, as well as how quickly you can brake.

 

How to figure out the tongue weight? Proper tongue weight is about 10 to 15% of the total loaded trailer weight. For example, if a 2,000-pound trailer is loaded with 1,000 pounds of cargo, the safe tongue weight of the loaded trailer should be between 300 and 450 pounds or 10-15% of the total of the two – or 3,000 pounds.

 

Other important things to consider are the type of hitch and placement of the load. For example, #Sierra1500 models towing trailers with tongue weights over 700-800 pounds need to make sure they are using a weight-distributing hitch rather than a weight-carrying hitch.

 

It’s important for the load to be properly placed to ensure safe towing, with about 60% of the load centered evenly over the front half of the trailer. For example, if the 2,000 pound trailer is carrying 1,000, about 600 pounds should be in the front half of the trailer.

 

You can check that your trailer is properly balanced by visiting a public scale and weighing your vehicle and trailer a few times.

 

And of course, our New Jersey Auto Auction’s Sales and Service team is happy to advise you on how to have a safe trailing experience. Our family-owned dealership has built a reputation of customer-service excellence. We want to make sure you have a safe drive!  Visit our website at www.njstateauto.com.

 

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New Jersey State Auto Auction

406 Sip Avenue

Jersey City, New Jersey 07306

Phone: 201.355.4138

Website: www.NJStateAuto.com

2017 Audi A3 Earns High Safety Rating

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The 2017 Audi A3 received a five-star safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The 2017 Audi S3 also received top marks from the organization. Both vehicles will be on the market beginning October 2017. This spectacular safety rating applies to each edition of the vehicles, both front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive. Both high scores in the extensive testing performed. These tests include a front crash test, side crash test and a rollover crash test. These assessments allow the  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to properly administer the most accurate score possible.

The 2017 Audi A3 and the 2017 S3 have been updated with several safety features that come standard in each model. One of the features included is a radar-based system that warns drivers of potential forward collisions. This system also is equipped with automatic braking.

The 2017 Audi A3 also has standard antilock brakes, a rearview camera, traction control and stability control. There is also a new feature called Audi Pre Sense Basic. This feature automatically tightens seatbelts and closes windows if it senses a potential frontal crash. Another option available on specific models is active lane keeping assist. This system alerts drivers if they begin to stray from their lane if they are traveling over 40 mph. Numerous other safety options are available on the Audi A3.

As Audi continues to increase the safety with the addition of new technology to their new vehicles, you can expect the same level of safety and quality engineering from a pre-owned Audi. To view a wide selection of pre-owned models, visit New Jersey State Auto Auction.

 

#NJSAA

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#NJStateAutoAuction

New Jersey State Auto Auction

406 Sip Avenue

Jersey City, New Jersey 07306

Phone: 201.355.4138

Website: www.NJStateAuto.com

Why Brakes Need Oil

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The brakes of a used vehicle are arguably one of the most important and vital components of the safety and security of any vehicle, which translates to the safety and security of you and your family. Always keep in mind that no matter the power of the vehicle, the brakes must be kept well and in regular maintenance at any cost and under any circumstance. The brakes are essential to keep in check, and need a regular oil and brake fluid check. Brake oil fluid is imperative for the brakes to last for a longer duration of time, and to function well.

The brake oil ensures that the constant friction of the brakes do not inundate the brakes through constant use. The brakes are one of the only parts of the vehicle that are subject to such intense friction. The constant use of brakes is obvious to cause friction, which in turn obviously causes a lot of heat between the brake pad and the brake disc. Any additional friction would wear out the brake components rendering it useless. However, the brake oil regulates the temperature and life of the brake parts and ensures that all the brake parts are cooled down before it burns out and is useless.

The use of brake oil also ensures that the brakes remain smooth and do not turn jagged through overuse. To know when the brakes of your used car need oil, visit New Jersey State Auto Auction today.

 

#NJSAA

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New Jersey State Auto Auction

406 Sip Avenue

Jersey City, New Jersey 07306

Phone: 201.355.4138

Website: www.NJStateAuto.com

How to Know When to Change Steering Fluid

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The steering fluid is a vital part of steering and handling maintenance of a used vehicle. It is extremely important to have a good upkeep of your steering liquid in order to avoid any steering jam or rusty functioning. The steering liquid is crucial as it is imperative to ensure the safety of you and your family while driving. The steering liquid is one of the most important checks to be made amongst others while servicing your vehicle. There are some evident signs to lookout for while checking and changing your steering fluid.

The dipstick

Once you have located the reservoir cylinder under the bonnet of your vehicle, you must use a dipstick in order to check the levels and color of the steering fluid in the reservoir cylinder. Typically, dipsticks would be part of your car purchase, or else it is easily available at any automobile store. Once you have the dipstick, dip it into the cylinder and check the level of steering fluid. Always subscribe to the levels suggested in the owner’s manual. Once you are done with the level, check the color of the fluid. If it is too dark, change the liquid and fill in a new batch which should be a dark amber color.

Funnel it

Use a funnel to add fresh steering fluid according to the recommendations in the owner’s manual.

To know more, visit the New Jersey State Auto Auction today.

 

#NJSAA

#NJStateAuto

#NJStateAutoAuction

New Jersey State Auto Auction

406 Sip Avenue

Jersey City, New Jersey 07306

Phone: 201.355.4138

Website: www.NJStateAuto.com

What to Look for in a Family Car

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Reliability, safety, economy and handling are some of the parameters that you have to take into consideration while looking for a family car. Sometimes you have to take into account your personal preferences as well, like the ease with which you can install the seat or the cargo space area. Depending on these parameters, you can go for an SUV or a minivan or a mid/large-sized sedan. SUVs are sturdy, attractive, spacious, responsive, and powerful. It is an ideal choice for hauling trailers. The driver seats are usually placed high, for the convenience of short drivers, as well as for an all-around visibility. It can handle a number of terrains as well. When it comes to safety, nothing beats an SUV. However, SUVs usually consume a lot of gas.

Minivans used to be the ultimate family vehicle before SUVs were introduced. As of now, minivans have lost their family appeal, however, a few car companies are trying to bring it back with improved features. The best thing about a minivan when compared to an SUV, is that their center of gravity is lower than that of an SUV. This means, in a crash, minivans are less likely to roll over. A sedan is affordable and has a large trunk space. It is very easy to handle as well. If you have children, then it will be much easier to handle them in a sedan rather than in a minivan or an SUV. You can also opt for a station wagon as well, in terms of affordability.

Visit New Jersey State Auto Auction, to choose the right car for your family.

 

#NJSAA

#NJStateAuto

#NJStateAutoAuction

New Jersey State Auto Auction

406 Sip Avenue

Jersey City, New Jersey 07306

Phone: 201.355.4138

Website: www.NJStateAuto.com/?ibp-adgroup=SE_Target