blockhead's Blog

Would a truck wash business make sense on the North West Side of Houston? Many truck drivers take a short cut on Highway Six through Texas and also heading out of town on the 290 to get to Austin or to I-35. But would a truck wash survive there without actually being on I-10 or I-35?

Well indeed I am familiar with this region of our nation and know where that is and have done much business with the Auto Dealership in Hempsted there, before they sold out to the large consolidator auto dealership. And I have certainly also have noticed the truck traffic on that Hwy 6 from my travels and business;

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If a truck wash was placed on or near the cross roads area of Hwy 6 and 290 then yes that is a good location for a 1-2 Bay Truck Wash. I agree. As a big bonus to employees and staff you might note that near Hempsted is the World Best Beef Jerky too on the southern side road, which parallels 290 back into Houston.

What advice do I have for a truck was in that location? Well keep your costs down and be very frugal on the start-up. Yes you can do this, perhaps add some Truck Detailing later, as that is a good add on and there are some Used Truck Dealers near there, and maybe some tanker truck washing later down the road as there are many food grade tanker and petroleum based tanker truck companies near there too and lots of building, as the area keeps growing out towards Hempsted, look at the construction also and they build South out of Bryan and College States. It?s all good; so, consider this in 2006.

Lance Winslow

If you are planning to shift to a new place, be it across the state or to a new country, you obviously would want to take all the pieces of furniture and stuff you had collected, which you hold special to you, instead of selling them off and buying new ones. Well then what better way to do that than to rent a truck! You can decide on the size of the truck depending on how much stuff you have.

Make enquiries about truck rental companies:

Finding a good rental company may be difficult, as there are so many these days. Here are some points that one should keep in mind while renting a truck:

? See if the rental company has branches in the same city you are moving to. This way you will only have to pay for a one way move. Many companies do accommodate that, but they ask for upfront payment, so this way you end up paying the company for the return journey as well. You may not be aware of this, as you may assume that you are paying extra for the service charge incase they do not have a branch there. Make enquiries before you book.

? It is always advisable to book the truck well in advance once you have decided on the rental company. Sometimes you may not get the truck on the day you want, especially during the peak season. So always call in advance to reserve a truck for yourself, preferably a week or two in advance.

? Make enquiries about the rental charges in different rental companies to find out which price suits you best. Some companies may also charge more for new and well maintained trucks, than they do for old trucks. You have to decide based on that, which one you want. Some truck rentals may also offer special services as compared to other companies. Find out the distance to be traveled, as they may charge according to distance, and for every extra mile you travel, you may be charged extra.

? The size of the truck will be based on the number of rooms to be moved. Generally, a 26 foot truck will accommodate a 4?plus bedroom house, and a cargo van or trailer can be used for shifting small offices. It is always better to book a larger truck, this way you can be sure all the goods will fit in.

? The rental companies may also offer optional insurance plans such as cargo insurance, accident insurance, and loss and damage insurance. Find out about all the coverage from all different companies, and then decide which one you think is best for you. Make sure that you call your credit card companies before signing the agreement.

Go for it!

Rental trucks are convenient, and the good part is you do not even have to shell out a lot of money for your shifting. They are a cost effective way to move your stuff to your new place. It's as simple as renting a car to move about the city - you just have to decide on the rental company, and rent their truck to transport your belongings. The rental cost all depends on the size of the truck and the distance to be traveled. Some of the rental companies even have major branches in all the different cities, thus saving you money by just paying for the one way truck rental.

Article by Stefan Rockhaus. Visit Truck Rentals for further info on moving truck rental and cargo van rentals. You may reprint this article as long as no changes are made, and this resource box is left intact. Find related resources at Information Point

Published reports are indicating that General Motors will move up the production of their updated line of GMC and Chevrolet pick up trucks by three months with the new models making their debut in October 2006. Some are calling this move an act of desperation on the part of GM which has been socked by extensive criticism over its product line, while others are hailing it as a bold, strategic initiative. Regardless, this is an unusual move for the world?s number one automaker, one that could help the company get back on its feet. Let?s take a look at the new trucks and what they will offer to you, the consumer.

High gas prices, quality problems, and a perception that the company offers products that no one wants has been plaguing General Motors for much of the past year. With plant closures coming, layoffs pending, and market share decreasing, little good news has been focused on ?the general? by the automobile press. Fortunately, GM is battling back with fresh models set to be released including SUVs and trucks, which are the ?bread and butter? vehicles of the company. Here is what you can expect to see when the new trucks enter the market in Autumn 2006:

1. Fresh sheetmetal. All new exteriors with a modified and sportier front end.

2. Modified engines. Traditional work horse engines which have powered GMC trucks for much of the past decade are expected to return. However, displacement on demand technology, which shuts down unneeded cylinders at certain times [city traffic being one example] is expected to be incorporated on some motors. This technology effectively increases gas mileage without sacrificing performance.

3. New steering. Just as the SUVs will receive new rack and pinion steering when they make their debut in Spring 2006, the large pick up trucks should receive similar enhancements.

4. Interior upgrades. Changes to the trucks? interior as well as to packages offered will be some of the ?inside? changes noticed by consumers.

General Motors has its work cut out for itself as an eroding market share is threatening the very viability of the company. Part of the reason for the move up of production is to thwart the new models expected from Nissan and Toyota that compete directly against the GMC pick ups. Both Japanese automakers have stated that they, too, are moving up the production of their popular full sized pick ups, therefore General Motors is reacting in part to their anticipated moves.

Beyond GMC trucks, the automaker will be releasing the Saturn Sky convertible, revamping its entire line of full sized SUVs, and overhauling several other lines of vehicles in a bid to win over customers. All of these changes are steps in the right direction, but the unanswered question remains this: how will consumers respond? The answer isn?t likely to be known for at least one more year.

Copyright 2005 -- Matt Keegan is a contributing writing about GMC Parts for PitStop Auto Parts a retailer of Kleen Wheels Dust Shields, EBC Brakes, and other fine parts.

Nissan hits hard when they remodel their vehicles. The new Frontier is no exception. This truck finally has the power and looks to rival any of the competition. I wanted to help you in your shopping by pointing out the features I saw the other day on my test drive.

The 4.0 DOHC V6 puts 265 hp down and 284 lb-ft of torque. It feels like it can pull a house down. The new engine has an aluminum block and is very smooth. The 4-cylinder is no slouch. It puts down 154 hp and is much more balanced for a smooth like comparison to the V6.

The new, boxed frame is similar to the big brother Titan?s full size frame. The welded in cross members add to the midsize trucks rigid handling. Nissan went all out. This truck has a double wishbone suspension and leaf spring rear suspension. Drives like a car in the city, but the structure of a big truck for work or off road time. Speaking of off roading ? your 4x4 guys will like the 10.1? of ground clearance. Nothing is hanging down anymore. Add a skid plate to the 4WD model and some optional off road tires and you are ready to climb a hill with just the push of a 4WD button.

Technology was put into this bad boy, too. 4 wheel limited slip so that the wheels don?t loose traction and a vehicle dynamic control. It keeps your truck in control by braking and engine controls to help maintain total vehicle control. Of course, it may not prevent an accident, but it sure could help on a rainy day.

My friend got the NISMO Frontier. It has the off road package and some special graphics along with Bilstein shocks. The interior was a unique as were the wheels. His was an automatic, and although he doesn?t take it off roading, it sure did ride nice and it wasn?t that much more with all of these options. He had a bed protector and the utili-track bed rail system. The tie down locations were limitless. It has two glove boxes. Yes, in the front where you only get one. The Nissan also had neat under seat storage and the front passenger seat folded up to provide a desk type surface.

The truck has been really well thought out. There are tons of air bags for protection on the sides, window curtains, and of course in front. ABS and brake assist (helps you apply more braking force if necessary) features along with the brake distribution (applies more braking power to the rear wheels balance the weight) helps remove safety as a concern.

The truck is truly a world-class midsize pickup and leads in most categories. I wish you had to opportunity to drive one as I did.

Stuart Simpson
http://www.nissan-trucks-review.com/