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Responsible Car Care

Do you remember what it felt like the first time you were left with your own car? I remember just feeling so happy and free, and so I decided to try to help my own teenagers get a car of their own. However, after we found the right cars to buy, it was immediately clear that they needed to learn how to take care of their vehicles. In addition to talking with them about regular maintenance, I also started focusing with my kids to figure out a routine maintenance schedule that would help. They were great to work with, and now I can honestly say that their cars are beautiful inside and out.

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Gooseneck Hitches: A Look At The Pros And Cons

by Bessie Fox

Comparable to the fifth-wheel hitch and relied on by a lot of commercial vehicle owners for towing, gooseneck hitches have been around for a while. These hitches are designed to fit right down into the bed of a truck and connect to heavy trailers more securely than hitches attached to standard hitch receivers can. If you are looking at your options because you want the best towing option possible, it is well worth getting more familiar with a gooseneck hitch. Here is a look at some of the pros and cons of gooseneck trailer hitches to guide your buying decisions. 

Pro: You can haul heavy trailers with a gooseneck hitch.

One of the greatest advantages of installing a gooseneck hitch on a truck is the fact that it allows you to haul some pretty hefty loads. Gooseneck trailers connected by a hitch arm in the center of a truck bed are exceptionally stable. They are not going to be putting a ton of excess weight on just the rear axle of the truck because the gooseneck hitch distributes the weight of the trailer across both axles. With the trailer hitch shifted more to a central location on the vehicle, you gain the ability to haul more weight. 

Con: You have to have a vehicle designed to accept a gooseneck hitch. 

If there is a downfall to gooseneck trailers and hitches, it is this: not every type of truck can carry a gooseneck trailer and it may not be set up properly to accept installation fo a gooseneck hitch. In general, gooseneck hitches can only be installed in truck beds on heavy-duty vehicles. 

Pro: Gooseneck trailer hitches are not as complex as a fifth-wheel connection. 

Many people try to use fifth-wheel and gooseneck interchangeably, but these two trailer connections are actually very different. A fifth-wheel hitch has a vice connection that is far more complicated than the gooseneck's connection, which simply has the typical ball that the trailer slips over. A gooseneck hitch is the better option if you will be connecting and disconnecting your trailer frequently. 

Con: It may not be possible to haul certain travel trailers on a gooseneck hitch. 

Travel trailers are commonly equipped with a gooseneck connection. However, not every type of travel trailer can be connected with one of these hitches; some actually require a fifth-wheel connection instead. This is especially true in larger models, and it may be a requirement if you plan to have people in a travel trailer while it is being towed. 

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