Keep Your Boat in the Water with Proper Trailer Maintenance

Posted by ericklaseca on Mar 26, 2012 7:09:44 AM

Nearly 7 million Americans own a boat with a trailer. You’ve probably seen some of those very boaters pulled over on the side of the road with trailer problems--wheels off, axles broken, people in a state of frustration and panic as their boat balances on a broken-down trailer. Truth be told, not enough of us pay the proper attention to the condition of our boat trailers. Following are a few simple tips on boat trailer maintenance which can reduce the possibility of that broken down trailer being yours. 

The Top Five Reasons for Trailer Breakdowns*:
44% - Flat Tires
20% - Wheel Bearing Failures
14% - Axle Problems
9% - Suspension Problems
5% - Tongue/Coupling Trouble
 
Tires
Trailer or ST tires are different from car tires—they’re usually of a bias ply design, which provides higher load capacity and stiffer sidewalls whereas the radial tires found on most passenger cars are more flexible.

Under inflation is the prime cause of trailer tire problems. An underinflated trailer tire won't sag like your car's tires because of its stiff sidewall construction. Tires may look normal, but you can't eyeball them accurately; check your tire pressure with a tire gauge.

Oxidation is often the next culprit for trailer tire failure. Trailer tires need to be replaced every 3–5 years of use, even if they appear to have plenty of tread left. Trailer tires often sit in one spot for weeks, if not months, and usually in sunlight where UV radiation will decay the tire. Is it any wonder that the deteriorated sidewalls blow out under pressure? Check for dry rot and crazing on the sidewalls.

Wheel Bearing Maintenence
Boat trailer wheel bearing maintenance is crucial as they are regularly immersed in water--often corrosive salt water. Even fresh water will cause the wheel bearings to rust if not properly packed with lubricant.  Very few owners check the lubrication of the hubs and bearings as often as they should (like before every road trip). Even if they do, they don’t always use the right lubricant. Fill the hubs completely with a multipurpose No. 2 grade lubricant.

One solution that will keep the wheel bearings fully lubricated is a spring-loaded hub, such as Bearing Buddies, that constantly forces fresh lubricant into the wheel bearing. Some models of Bearing Buddies even have a visual exterior reference to show you at a glance if there is enough lubricant in the hub to protect the bearings.

Even trailers not immersed in water are subject to bearing corrosion. Condensation from cooler air will be sucked into hot hubs if they are not completely filled with lubricant, causing rust and pitting. The only solution is to be vigilant about lubricating your wheel bearings.

Axle, suspension, and tongue/coupling problems
Even if your trailer has passed a visual inspection for rust and corrosion, it is still possible to have axle, suspension, or coupling problems if it is overloaded or safe towing techniques are not followed.

* according to a recent BoatUS survey

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Have You Seen This? The math behind MPH

 

SALT LAKE CITY -- Here's the question, if you are traveling at 80 MPH how long will it take you to travel 80 miles?

Taking all of that into consideration and doing some "calculations" she comes up with 58 minutes.

Close, but not quite.
Travis tries unsuccessfully to convince his wife it would take an hour, repeatedly getting this argument from her, "but you are driving faster than a mile a minute."
Then out of nowhere we get this awesome exchange:
Chelsea: "You don't know. You can guestimate just like I guestimated."
Travis: "I'm not guestimating. I'm using math and science."
Well, maybe they don't have those subjects on Venus.
(While the video has entertainment value, we do not condone or encourage using a cell phone while driving.)

Graydon Johns, ksl.com News Director

Graydon Johns manages the ksl.com news team, the daily content lineup and manages the Tech & Gadgets section on Page Two of ksl.com. He also writes and manages the Have You Seen This? feature on the website.

Seems pretty obvious, right?
Well, a young couple (husband and wife) are traveling from Logan to Boise debating this exact question.
The fact that they were even discussing this is more evidence of how blah! that drive is.
Anyway, the husband, Travis is trying to convince his wife, Chelsea that the math is pretty simple. But she seems to think it takes a rocket scientist to figure out.
She gets into tire rotations: "(A tire) turns about 400 times per mile."
She talks about running the mile: "When I am really in shape it takes me about seven minutes (to run a mile), and I'm running like 10 miles per hour."

12 Tips for a Perfect (and Profitable!) Yard Sale

Posted by b_oneill on Mar 20, 2012 7:09:44 AM

 

'Tis the season for yard sales! With warmer temperatures, longer days and spring cleaning well under way, thousands of Americans will be having a garage sale this spring. Unfortunately, simple mistakes like mispricing merchandise or failing to “stage” your garage or yard sale can hold you back from receiving top dollar for your goods. Whether this is your first solo yard sale or you’re an experienced pro, follow these 12 garage/yard sale tips to ensure an easier, more profitable sale.

1. Determine your goal.
   Are you trying to make money? Or do you just need to get rid of old junk? Many first-time sellers are surprised to learn that they can often sell more items (and make more money) when pricing things lower.
2. Get the word out for free.
   The first step to a successful yard sale is advertising. List your sale on Craigslist, post professional-looking signs on community boards (your local coffee shop and the message board at your kid’s school are good starting places), and email your neighborhood, work and school list serves. You can also use your Facebook page to get the word out to your local social network. Advertisements in local papers can be expensive, and in today’s digital age, they generate little to no return on investment.
3. Direct people to your sale.
   Post signs along major roads near your home, at the entrance to your neighborhood and along your street. The signs should feature large, simple text that’s easy to read when driving – do your own drive-by with a sign to ensure the important information is legible. Be sure to check local signage ordinances to ensure you are not in violation for posting signs in public spaces.
4. Timing matters: check the forecast and avoid holiday weekends.
   Think Memorial Day weekend is a great time for a yard sale? Think again: turnout is traditionally much higher for non-holiday weekends. When everyone is on their way to the beach, the last thing families have time to do is spend their morning shopping. And check the forecast – it goes without saying that turnout will be poor on a rainy day.
5. Decide what to sell far in advance.
   Parting with your belongings can be one of the toughest parts of holding a successful yard sale. Even if you don’t want that dusty old stack of vinyl records, watching your collection disappear for $1 a record can turn stoics into sentimentalists. This year, do your spring cleaning early and place everything you plan to sell in boxes in the garage. Wait a few weeks before holding your sale. Did you need or miss anything in the boxes? Did you find yourself taking items out – or even remember what you put in? Mentally preparing to sell your belongings ensures that you’ll get top dollar for your treasures.
6. Check for recalls.
   In 2009, the Consumer Product Safety Commission issued new guidelines that hold sellers accountable for selling a defective or recalled product. While the agency doesn’t have the manpower to police yard sales, the rules are an important safety reminder. If you aren’t sure about a product’s safety (such as an old car seat, crib or plastic toy) take a few minutes to research the product online. It’s always better to be safe than sorry – and this way if your customer asks if the product is safe, you can answer with a definitive “Yes!”
7. Organize and display your wares.
   The night before your sale, take a little time to organize all your items into similar groups and apply price stickers. This will make the morning set up go much faster. In the morning, arrange books on a bookshelf and hang clothes on a wardrobe hanger. Just like at a store, your customers should be able to easily browse items, rather than digging through bags or bins. After all, if a customer can’t see an item, how can you sell it?
8. Set a fair price.
   A good rule of thumb is to price used items in good condition at a third of their original retail price. If you have a popular children’s toy or kitchen item, cut out an online listing of what the item sells for new, and then place this next to your discounted price. This helps potential buyers better see the value in your gently used items. Remember, it’s easy to negotiate down, but never up. If you want to sell an item for $5, price it for $7, and if it hasn’t sold by midday, drop the price.
9. Sell old or damaged items for a flat rate.
   If you have stacks of old clothes or cheap plastic toys, it can be a pain to price every item, especially if the prices are low, like 25 cents each. Instead, offer customers the option of fitting all the clothes or toys they want into a paper bag for one flat rate. You’ll sell more items because customers can’t resist the “bargain” of getting an entire bag of clothes for only $5!
10. Make it easy for shoppers to test your items.
    If your old Game Boy needs batteries to turn on, make sure it has them! If a microwave needs a plug, run an outdoor extension cord from your house to the electronics table. Buyers who can test an item before purchasing are more likely to pay top dollar.
11. Sell more by attracting a crowd.
    The longer people browse your sale, the more likely they are to make a purchase. Keep customers around by offering free ice water in plastic cups and inexpensive baked goods, like cookies. A sugar fix and a cool drink will put everyone in a good shopping mood! Plus, nothing attracts a crowd… like a crowd. Customers driving by a sale are far more likely to stop if they see a large group of people; this signals that there are bargains to be had!
12. Keep your money in a fanny pack.
    Yes, it’s not the most attractive fashion accessory, but a fanny pack or hip purse ensures that your money (including any spare change) stays with you at all times. Yard sales attract both honest bargain hunters and shady characters; never leave money in a cash box and never leave your possessions unattended.

And for the items you do plan to keep, protect them with personal property coverage.

Allstate Community Blog : FAQ: Picking the Right Bright Light

Are you still using traditional incandescent bulbs in your home? If you haven’t made the switch to energy-saving light bulbs yet, don’t worry. Like you, I knew that switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) could result in significant energy savings, but I wasn’t sure where to get started. Between wattage ratings, lumen ratings and coloration, I felt overwhelmed just looking at the light bulb aisle! Good news: even if you’re like me, picking the brightest, most efficient bulb is actually pretty easy. Follow these tips to get started.

Q: Does switching to energy efficient bulbs really make a difference?
A: Absolutely! Just swapping out a few bulbs in your home could save you up to $500 a year. Now, imagine the impact on energy use if EVERY home in the United States did this. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, if every home replaced just one incandescent light bulb with an energy efficient bulb, the energy savings would be enough to power 3 million homes for one year! That’s the equivalent of $650 million in annual energy cost savings. Swapping out bulbs is also good for the environment – replacing one bulb in each American home would result in 9 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emission savings. That’s the equivalent to taking 800,000 cars off the road!

Q: How do I select the right energy-saving light bulbs for the light fixtures in my home?
A: To get started, you will need to determine the wattage of your existing incandescent light bulbs. A watt is a measurement of energy consumption. Your bulb also produces a minimum light output, known as a lumen. When switching from traditional, incandescent bulbs to energy-efficient CFLs, you will need to look at both the wattage and lumen measurements for your light bulbs. For example, your bedside lamp at home may currently use 60-watt incandescent bulbs.

This means that the lamp provides a light output of 800 lumens. You can enjoy this same light output (800 lumens) with only a 13-watt energy efficient CFL. That’s a pretty big energy savings! When selecting a CFL replacement, look for the wattage and lumen ratings. Many bulbs include both a “soft white wattage” number (that’s the equivalent of your 60-watt traditional bulb) as well as a CFL wattage (13-watt). The lumen value will be the same, 800 lumens.

Q: Do CFLs emit a harsh, bright light?
A: This is one of the most common myths about CFLs, and a big reason why homeowners (myself included) are reluctant to switch out bulbs in light fixtures for the home. Sure, harsh lighting has its place in office buildings and classrooms, but when it comes to my bedside table, I want a nice, soft reading light. In reality, CFLs emit a wide range of light. Some bulbs do provide a bright white light, while others offer a softer light similar to traditional incandescent bulbs. What gives? CFLs are rated on the Kelvin scale. Bulbs closer to 2700K emit softer lights, while those at the higher end (6500K) emit a brighter, harsher light. When selecting your light, look for the Kelvin rating.

Q: My old incandescent light bulbs have not yet burned out. Should I wait until they do or replace them immediately?
A: There’s no need to wait! According to the U.S. Department of Energy, replacing your old incandescent bulbs is an energy-smart choice. For each bulb you replace, you will save up to $65 per year. Swap out a few bulbs in your living room and bedroom, and you could be looking at over $500 a year in savings! Save your old incandescent bulbs for use in a closet, where they would only be used for a few minutes at a time.

Q: I am having difficulty finding CFLs that work with my dimmer switches and recessed lighting. Where should I look?
A: A limited number of CFLs currently work with dimmer switches and recessed lighting fixtures (called ‘recessed cans’). These are available at major home improvement stores and can easily be ordered online, as well.

Utahns Concerned About Child Identity Theft

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Story posted 2012.01.31 at 07:35 PM MDT

(KUTV) SALT LAKE CITY - It's a form of identity theft that can go undetected for years and takes even longer to fix.

But now, parents in Utah have a first-of-its-kind tool to fight child identity theft.

Child identity theft affects more than 140,000 children each year in the United States, according to a study by ID Analytics.

What makes child ID theft so difficult to stop is that the typical means of detection aren't effective.

"We are literally in the 1,000's in Utah alone on kids who have been compromised," said Richard Hamp with Utah's Attorney General's office.

Even more troubling, most parents don't realize their children's identities have been stolen until the crime has gone on for years, usually when a child applies for financial aid or other credit as they enter college.

Utah's attorney general's office teamed up with TransUnion, one of the three major credit reporting bureaus, to provide parents a way to protect their child's identity.

The program is called Child Identity Protection or CIP.

"This is a groundbreaking public/private partnership dedicated to specifically protecting children from having their good names and future credit ruined by identity thieves," Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff said.

Through a secure website, parents can enroll their children in the program, which essentially ties the child's name and age with their Social Security number.

Once the child's information is registered, TransUnion will search its database to make sure someone hasn't already used the child's Social Security number fraudulently. If so, TransUnion promises to take steps to delete the incorrect files.

For those identities that haven't been compromised, TransUnion will add them to a database of high-risk Social Security numbers. This will require potential creditors to take additional steps to verify identity before granting loans and other lines of credit.

TransUnion will keep the child's identity in the database until the child's 17th birthday.

"I was completely shocked," said Jennifer Andrushko about finding out her son's identity had been stolen. "I was just left wondering how this could even happen to us."

Andrushko's son was only 3-years-old when she discovered the fraudulent activity on his Social Security number.

An undocumented worker had been using her son's identity to gain employment. The fraud started five years before her son was even born.

"Just feeling very helpless," said Andrushko about the situation. "I was emotionally sick."

After contacting the credit bureaus, Social Security Administration and police, Andrushko realized there were no agencies equipped to fix the problem.

Two years after the discovery and Andrushko says the fraud continues and the identity thieves continue to try to use her son's Social Security number.

The program will only protect children against identity theft for creditors that use TransUnion. The other two credit reporting agencies, Experian and Equifax, are not participating in the program.

Also, Utah's program does not protect against fraudulent use of Social Security numbers for employment verification, such as the case with the Andrushko family. The Attorney General's office Tuesday called on the Social Security Administration to toughen its system to protect the identities of children.

Utah's program is free to use. To access the secure site go to: https://webmail.allstate.com/owa/,DanaInfo=.awfdpenrwzxnKmyz79r.xTx-9,SSL+redir.aspx?C=dc2d4d694f6942bdbfd8b3448917fa3f&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.idtheft.utah.gov.

(Copyright 2012 Four Points Media)

KUTV :: News - Fresh Living - Family - St. Patty's Day Fun

KUTV :: News - Fresh Living - Family - St. Patty's Day Fun

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• Open windows heighten danger of child falls

SALT LAKE CITY -- New research shows tens of thousands of kids are landing in the emergency room after falling down stairs.

Every six minutes, a child falls down stairs somewhere in the U.S., experts say. Research shows some of those accidents happen while the parent is holding the child.
Over 90,000 kids under the age of 5 end up in emergency rooms because of stair-related falls every year. Doctors treat nearly 90 percent of those kids for head injuries. The Utah Health Department says falls are the third leading cause of injury death in Utah, and in 2009, 730 children visited the emergency room for staircase injuries.
"That actually is a very low number of incidents occurring because you don't see every child that falls on the stairs," said Janet Brooks of Primary Children's Medical Center. "If you multiply that several times you'd, probably have a more accurate number of children falling."

How to prevent staricase-related injuries

• Assist small children in walking down stairs
• Have proper lighting and adequate handrails
• Install wall-mounted gates at the top and bottom
• Remove objects and toys from stairs
• Wipe spills off stairs without carpet

The ten-year study, published online in the March issue of the journal "Pediatrics," shows that more than 87 percent were young children walking down the stairs unassisted, 16 percent were babies under the age of 1 and using walkers, and more than 24 percent fell while being carried down the stairs.

"Parents carrying children up and down the stairs is one of the leading causes of falls," Brooks said. "And sometimes they're the most devastating as far as injuries, because you have two victims."
The study did show an 11 percent decline in staircase injuries during the study period, but Brooks said the statistics are a good safety reminder.
We have some work to do. It will require attention from all of us," Brooks said. Safety experts also recommend checking to make sure your staircase is built to code because while it might look normal to the untrained eye, if it is faulty the stair construction can lead to injury and death.

Nkoyo Iyamba, Multi-Media Anchor/Reporter

Nkoyo Iyamba considers herself a journalist with a flair for all things international. She lounges in the arts, fashion, and entertainment worlds. Full Bio »

Improve MPG through Hypermiling Techniques

If someone told you there was a way to improve your gas mileage by as much as 55 percent without making any modifications to your car, you’d probably think they were nuts. Now imagine it’s the U.S. Department of Energy telling you that. Some people might still hear the “nutjob” alarm going off, regardless. But according to studies they’ve conducted, you can dramatically improve MPG simply by driving the speed limit and—here comes the hard part for some—letting go of certain aggressive driving behaviors.

This is just one of a series of behavioral adjustments that many are adopting as gas prices continue to creep higher and higher. It’s called hypermiling, and it’s become something of a sport for those obsessed with getting hyper mileage from their vehicles. While there are plenty of unsafe techniques that people have put into use like removing their side view mirrors to eliminate drag or turning off their engines while coasting downhill, there are many other perfectly safe methods that’ll have a beneficial impact on your mileage.

• Keep your car tuned up and maintained. This is the U.S. Department of Energy’s second most effective tip for saving on gas, and according to their estimates can improve MPG in your vehicle by as much as 19 percent.
• Check your tire’s air pressure often. An underinflated tire isn’t only unsafe, it’s also incredibly wasteful. The amount of drag that you generate by driving around on tires that aren’t properly inflated is enough to impact your miles per gallon significantly. Air pressure should be checked at least once per month – but be sure you’re not overinflating, as that can be dangerous as well.
• Use cruise control when driving on freeways. This is an oft-used hyper mileage technique that keeps you at a steady, even speed and prevents you from unconsciously throttling up and down which can burn gas unnecessarily.
• Cut down on your idle time by shutting off your engine when you’re delayed at railroad crossings and packed drive-through restaurants.
• Clean out your car. While this might sound like something that your better half would nag you to do while trying to sell you on its benefits as a hypermiling technique, it actually works. Lowering the weight load in your car by not storing junk in the trunk and by not turning your car’s back seat into a second home can make a huge improvement.

In the end, common sense prevails. There are no real “secret" hypermiling techniques. As long as you keep in mind that your behavior behind the wheel has the biggest impact on your MPG, you can realize some sizable savings.