11/30/23

Weight Distribution Hitches Explained - How They Work, Why You Need One


Today we delve into the black magic that is the weight distributing hitch, also called "load leveling hitch" or "weight distribution hitch." This is the ultimate trifecta of poorly understood, infrequently used, and absolutely essential...

11/25/23

Christmas is Coming - Give a Truck Accessory Gift Card on our Vaca Valley Truck Website

 



It's this easy, give a Truck Accessory Gift Card for Christmas. You may not know what to buy them, but there are many accessories available for their truck at Vaca Valley Truck & Sport Center - we make the choice easy by offering a Gift Card to give to them.

We can offer you a gift card of any amount that can be used towards the purchase of any Truck and SUV accessories we offer.

   Find the Gift Card Link at the bottom of our  website https://vacavalleytruck.com/Home Page

11/23/23

Happy Thanksgiving


Give thanks for a little, and you will find a lot. 
-Hausa Proverb

11/21/23

The world's first public two-car electric crash test by Mercedes-Benz


Demonstrating safety in an unprecedented crash test: Mercedes-Benz is the world’s first automaker to publicly conduct a frontal offset crash of two electric vehicles that simulates a real-life accident scenario common on rural roads. Take a look behind the scenes of this extraordinary undertaking that not only confirms occupant protection in the EQA and EQS SUV but also illustrates the aspirations of our real-life safety philosophy: To build cars that can withstand not only crash test scenarios, but also real-life accidents. After all, safety is not a question of drive system, but one of our core commitments to all road users we’ve taken on. [Mercedes-Benz EQA 300 4MATIC | WLTP: Stromverbrauch kombiniert: 18,7‒17,4 kWh/100 km | CO₂-Emissionen kombiniert: 0 g/km]* [Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 4MATIC SUV | WLTP: Stromverbrauch kombiniert: 24,3‒19,9 kWh/100 km | CO₂-Emissionen kombiniert: 0 g/km]* Subscribe to the channel so you get notified for new exciting videos here: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_c... ► Experience the world of Mercedes-Benz: http://benz.me/international

8 TIPS FOR WINTERIZING YOUR WORK TRUCK


 Winter weather will be here before you know it. If you’re caught unprepared, the sub-zero temperatures, snow and ice will wreak havoc on your work vehicle and its systems.

And we know it’s important that, whether your business operates one or one hundred work vehicles, you keep them all up-and-running. So, be proactive this year, and think ahead about what your vehicle(s) will need this winter.

Check out our list below to get started.

BATTERY

No one wants to be left stranded with a dead battery. So, regularly check battery cables to ensure they are securely connected and clean of corrosion. You’ll also want to perform a voltage test ahead of time. If the battery reads at the lower end of its acceptable voltage, consider taking preventative action and replacing it.

TIRES

Snowy and icy roads can be difficult to navigate safely. And worn or improperly inflated tires will only exacerbate the issue, increasing the risk of an accident. Ensure the tires have ample tread, a minimum of 4/32", and are properly inflated. To do so, you’ll need to regularly check your tire pressure, as cold temperatures make air denser, thus reducing the pressure.

And don’t forget the tire chains! This is especially important if your area receives heavy snowfall and ice or you’re travelling to an area that requires them.

WIPER BLADES AND WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID

It’s paramount, in all seasons, that you’re able to see out your vehicle’s windows, especially the windshield. And when snow, ice, sludge and salt find their way there, will your windshield wipers and washer fluid come through for you or will you be left with a streaky, or still covered, mess?

Before winter arrives, check your windshield wiper blades for cracks or loose rubber. You’ll want to opt for durable blades that will be able to handle the frequent use and heavy weight of wet snow.

The blades aren’t the only thing you’ll need to check though. Take a look under the hood at your washer fluid levels. If you’re low, or only need topped off, make sure the fluid you’re using is rated to withstand the temperatures you’ll have in your area. Otherwise, your fluid may freeze when you need it most, leaving you with low visibility and increased chances of an accident.

ENGINE/OIL HEATERS

When you park overnight and the temperature drops, your engine and oil temperatures do too. If you operate in the north, you may already have an engine/oil heater installed, either as a factory option or as an add-on accessory. Be sure to plug it in a few hours before you need to drive to help your engine start and reduce the stress on your vehicle’s systems.

If you don’t already have an engine/oil heater, but think you might need one or want to learn more, read the Rainbow Muffler & Brake’s post: Engine Block Heaters: What Are They and Do You Need One?

ENGINE OIL

Most common engine oils will perform great during spring, summer and fall. But as temperatures dip, your standard 15W or 10W oil will struggle to properly flow. With fall upon us, consider switching your normal engine oil to 5W (or 0W oil for extreme cold) to ensure your engine is properly lubricated.

FOUR-WHEEL OR ALL-WHEEL DRIVE

For regions that receive heavy snowfall, four-wheel or all-wheel drive is less of a luxury and more of a necessity. After all, you don’t want to be getting stuck on the jobsite, or traveling to and from.

Before snow hits, test your system to ensure the differentials, hubs, bearings and other components are in top-working condition.

PAINT AND FINISH

Today’s work vehicles receive top-notch corrosion protection through their paint and undercoating. This is especially important in the winter, as harmful salts and chemicals are deployed on the roads to melt snow and ice. Eventually, these treatments find their way onto vehicles and expedite corrosion and rust, if not addressed. To keep your vehicle looking its best and structurally sound, regularly wash it, including the undercarriage, to prevent a build-up of salts and chemicals.

COLD WEATHER KIT

A cold weather kit can literally be a lifesaver if you get stuck and cannot get help immediately. In this kit, you should pack a thermal blanket, flashlight with additional batteries, matches, bottled water, jumper cables or a jumper box, windshield scraper and brush, tow straps or chains, roadside flares and a first aid kit.

MAINTAINING YOUR WORK VEHICLE YEAR-ROUND

Curious what preventative maintenance you should be doing regularly to keep your work truck or van working hard? Check out our blog post here.

11/15/23

Electrifying the Harvest in Sonoma County | Ford Pro™


In this video, you'll see how three Sonoma County winegrowers are using Ford Pro™ electric vehicles, charging and telematics software to help them make strides towards their goal of becoming more sustainable. Watch as members of Bevill Vineyard Management, Vino Farms, and Dutton Ranch discuss the importance of harvest and reflect on how Ford Pro™ is helping them increase productivity with a more efficient fleet that will help support their farms for generations to come.



11/12/23

From the Floor of Kentucky Truck Plant | Delivering Quality Through Teamwork | Ford


Meet Austyn Sailings, a team leader at Kentucky Truck Plant. In this video, he talks about how teamwork is essential for delivering quality to our customers. He’s a role model for his team, keeping everyone motivated and making sure they have everything they need to do their job. Across all our Ford plants, there are passionate employees, just like Austyn, who bring out the best in their teams. Learn more about Ford here: https://ford.to/3PyS1dh

11/09/23

Upgrading to an Electric Fleet | Customer Interview | Ford Pro


Watch the video to find out how upgrading to Ford Pro electric vehicles helped Grade A Construction save more than $3,300 per month on their fleet, making it one of their best business decisions. Learn more at https://ford.to/3Pf3IGd. SUBSCRIBE: https://ford.to/SubscribeFordPro #FordPro #CustomerInterview #GradeAConstruction

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11/06/23

Top 5 Work Truck Safety & Security Trends


By James Muiter, Product Line Manager, Reading Truck Group

With a pulse on the customer needs and innovation in the work truck sector, James Muiter, Product Line Manager at Reading Truck Group, shares his top five industry trends on safety and security.

  1. Operator safety. Employers are carefully considering how to keep their operators injury-free, so avoiding accidents around the truck is just as important as on the road.  Proactive measures on a work truck can include installing safety steps and grips so that the operator can maintain “three points of contact” at all times when entering and exiting the vehicle.  At Reading, we’ve begun to see these concerns migrate from the very largest fleet operators and governments, into corporations and vocational fleet buyers.
  2. Visibility. Keeping the truck and its surroundings well-lit and visible helps protect workers from accidents on the side of the road and keeps crews productive when they’re working after sundown, especially in the winter months.
  3. 360° coverage. Chassis OEMs are bringing safety innovations like 360° cameras, and accident-avoidance technologies like collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and blindspot monitoring, which used to be only on luxury cars, into the commercial truck segment.  For example, every Ford Transit is now shipping with lane-departure warning and forward-collision warning camera systems.
  4. Securing tools and gear. A typical work truck now provides at least two layers of ‘locking’ protection.  Compartment doors will use power locks or three-point locking for additional points of contact and pry-proofing.  And these measures can be augmented with a “bar lock” or master locking feature, where a single padlock can secure all of the compartment doors to keep tools and equipment safe.  Additionally, Reading’s remote keyless entry locking system, called Latch-Matic, can now be integrated with the power locks on the chassis.  A driver can now lock and unlock both the body and chassis with a single key-fob.  Using just the chassis fob, for example on a Ford Super Duty or Ford Transit, gives our customers the convenience they have been asking for.  
  5. Ergonomics. For better ergonomics, handles and steps are no longer considered a special add-in, they’re becoming a standard offering across the board.  As an example, fixed steps that don’t have to be manually unfolded by the operator will help meet evolving safety requirements and might even lower insurance costs.

By James Muiter, Product Line Manager, Reading Truck Group as published in Fordpros magazine




Crazy New Feature On Ford Trucks!


Today I show a safety feature with Ford's column shifter on the 2023 Ford F-150! Ask For Kellen: https://www.kengarfffordaf.com/

11/03/23

2023 Sierra AT4X | Outside & In | GMC


The New 2023 GMC Sierra AT4X—the Peak of Premium Off-Roading. Equipped to conquer the great outdoors and welcome you to the great indoors. Part of the New Sierra lineup of exceptionally premium and capable vehicles. https://s.gm.com/svabmm