Dye Autos Denver Area Truck and Automotive Blog
The holiday season is upon us. As you might suspect, the holidays are, indeed, less safe than typical driving periods. According to a recent study, holidays see, on average, a 34% increase in crashes. Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve are even higher. You owe it to yourself, your family, your friends, and even other drivers on the road to dedicate yourself to driving safer during this holiday season.
We’ve compiled a list of holiday safe driving tips to mitigate mishaps and help you enjoy your holidays.
1. Avoid peak travel times.
AAA predicts Thanksgiving travel will be busiest in 12 years. With more travelers comes — you guessed it — more traffic. Travel times could be a whopping four times longer than usual. The worst congestion is expected in the evenings Thanksgiving week.
And the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, avoid if at all possible — it is historically the busiest travel day of the year.
The day before Thanksgiving, New Year’s Eve, and Christmas Eve tend to be the busiest travel days so avoid traveling during peak hours.
2. Leave early.
If you’re in a rush, or impose a strict time deadline, you’ll be inclined to drive faster or neglect certain safety standards to meet that deadline. Wake up a little earlier, manage your time, and don’t be afraid to be a little late if it means driving safer.
3. Buckle up.
A seat belt won’t prevent a collision, but it will save a life.
4. Stow your cell phone.
Many distractions exist while driving during the holidays. Cell phones are already top distraction because so many drivers use them for long periods of time each day but during the holiday, it’s even worse.
Almost everyone has seen a driver distracted by a cell phone, but when you are the one distracted, you often don’t realize that driver is you. Keep your phone stowed away so you’re not tempted. It can save your life!
5. Avoid eating while driving.
Everyone is busy during the holidays and everyone enjoys holiday food.
Finishing your breakfast or enjoying a holiday brownie on your way to pick up family from the airport may seem like a time-saver, but it means you are less attentive to the drivers around you. Food spills are a major cause of distraction.
6. Remain alert and awake.
If you feel any deviation in your normal levels of wakefulness or alertness, don’t drive. If you’re tired or distracted, your risk of being in a collision will increase. Don’t push through just because you want to get home faster. If you are drowsy, pull off the road. Even 20 minutes of sleep can help you feel more alert, and prepare you for a safer drive.
7. Avoid alcohol consumption.
This is the season for family get-togethers and company Christmas parties and if you think you might be tempted to let loose with a beverage or two, plan ahead.
Even a couple of drinks—which will likely put you below the legal limit for driving—can instantly double your risk of being involved in a collision. At and above the legal limit (0.08 BAC; 0.02 BAC if you’re under 21), your risk triples.
Ride-sharing apps like Uber and Lyft make it super easy to avoid driving while you’re impaired.
8. Be prepared for an emergency.
If you are involved in an accident, it pays to have an emergency kit ready. This is especially important during winter months, when you’re more likely to be stranded (and when conditions are harsher). Make sure you have emergency flares and lighting, water, jumper cables, and a phone charger or other way to get help.
And finally, practice patience.
The holidays are a time to celebrate and spend time with loved ones. By planning ahead, driving safer and having a little extra patience when out on the road, you can ensure that this holiday season is a safe and happy one with plenty of comfort and joy.
If it’s a truck you wanna buy, you’d better call Dye!
Call us at (303) 286-1665.
We’re heading into the winter months and as Thanksgiving is just around the corner, people often reflect on the things they’re thankful for. It may sound crazy but there are pretty good reasons to be thankful for your pickup truck.
1. Your Pickup Truck Handles It All.
All it takes is a couch or armoire that needs to be moved from “here” to “there,” and next thing you know, you’re thinking you really should own a pickup truck. There are so many other activities that a pickup truck is perfect for:
- Trucks are the perfect weekend adventure vehicle.
- Trucks have the power to tow whatever you need.
- Trucks haul everything from groceries to lumber to tools.
- Trucks are a camper’s dream.
- Pickup trucks help you work hard and when it’s time to relax, they help you do that too!
Think of all the incredibly cool things you could be doing with a pickup truck that are impossible with the car you might be driving now.
2. Your Family Rides in Safety Without Sacrificing Luxury
While all vehicles these days are loaded with safety technologies such as airbags and side impact beams, driving a pickup truck is still a safer bet. Why? Sitting up high offers great visibility of the road and other drivers.
Most pickup trucks are heavier than a coupe or sedan and many SUVs. Physics will tell you that when two objects collide, mass does matter. Pickup trucks are the larger of the two vehicles, thereby increasing the chance that you’ll walk away unharmed.
“In its studies, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has found that a heavier vehicle will typically push a lighter one backward during the impact,” explains Edmunds.com. “As a result, there is less force on the occupants of the heavier vehicle and more on those in the lighter vehicle, according to IIHS. The organization’s fatality data bears this out.”
Today’s pickup trucks come with all the creature comforts you see on luxury car models.
If you have a family or want to take a group of people with you, you don’t have to contend with cramped rear seats. Models with cabs make it easy for adults to get in and out. The middle rear seat isn’t some pathetic cushion only large enough for a teddy bear – it can accommodate a full-grown adult.
Legroom, headroom and shoulder room are also ample, which is a luxury you just don’t get in many vehicles.
3. You Can Make Extra Money with Your Pickup Truck
Pickups are the BEST vehicles to own for a side hustle or a small business.
From hauling to delivering, a pickup truck is a versatile piece of equipment that’s got plenty of business opportunities…if you just get a little creative.
Many people are already paying for a pickup truck and even though dealers like us at Dye Autos have lots of affordable pickups, it’s still a monthly expense. But using the following money-making ideas, your pickup can pay for itself – plus some!
You can even turn some of these into a lucrative side hustle or small business for part or full-time income.
- Get paid to haul stuff away
- Provide local business deliveries
- Haul building supplies
- Make garage sale deliveries
- Offer landscaping services
- Snow plowing service
- Large appliance repair pickup and delivery
‘Tis the Season to Give Thanks…
Pickup trucks are invaluable. Anyone who’s been stuck in the snow, needed to haul stuff, or uses their truck for work understands the benefits of driving one. As we take time this year to give thanks, don’t forget to include your trusty pickup truck!
Pickup trucks are affordable. Used pickup truck models are especially affordable and often retain their value. At Dye Autos, we’ve got a large inventory of affordable pickup trucks for every budget.
Are you ready to take advantage of all these pickup truck benefits? Call us at (303) 286-1665.
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Photo credit: State Farm
Halloween is a fun time of year for kids (and adults). It can also mean smashed windows, slashed tires, scratched paint or worse for pickup truck owners, because someone pushed their tricks a little too far.
According to the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), approximately 81% more vehicle vandalism claims occur on October 31st than the average.
Protect your pickup truck.
Help prevent slashed tires, smashed windows, and deliberate car damage on Halloween — and every other day of the year—with these tips:
1. Check your surroundings.
Where you park your pickup truck affects the likelihood of it being vandalized.
- At home? Park in your garage.
- If you don’t have a garage, install motion lights that will deter vandals and alert you and neighbors to activity near your vehicle or driveway.
- Away from home? Park in a well-lit, populated area—preferably a gated lot or secure parking garage. For added protection, park away from objects that could help conceal vandals, such as large vehicles, dumpsters, big trees or shrubbery.
2. Eliminate temptations.
Remove valuables and any evidence of them from your vehicle. For example, clean GPS suction rings off your windshield, remove stereo faceplates, and store cell phone chargers in the center console.
Remove objects from the truck bed or top racks. If you own a truck or other vehicle with an exposed bed, remove all objects from the rear cargo area. If you have toolboxes or locking covers for your truck bed, double check to make sure they are secure. Thieves and pranksters can simply and easily take advantage of anything left in site.
3. Lockdown.
If you are not in the habit of locking your truck, take special precautions on Halloween night. If your truck is equipped with an alarm system, ensure that it’s armed and ready.
It’s also an excellent idea to make sure your windows are closed all the way to avoid additional ways in, or anything from getting inside of your vehicle. If you do not have a locking garage available, it’s best to park in your driveway or as near to your house as possible.
4. Have a gameplan to protect your truck’s paint.
Halloween is a good reminder that protecting your pickup truck’s paint is good practice all year long.
If you drive a newer vehicle, you might not have to worry too much (but hey, why tempt fate?). In the past 10 years, automakers have developed clearcoat paint specifically designed to resist the type of acid that comes from eggs and pumpkin guts.
If you drive an older truck (or just want to keep your truck looking good), there are steps you can take to protect it from Halloween pranks.
- Wax on. The week before Halloween is a perfect time to wax your pickup truck. Get yourself on a regular 2-3 month wax schedule so you can protect your truck from all the other types of road grime all year long.
- Take cover. Shield your pickup against finish-destroying man-made and natural hazards. Also, covers act as excellent theft deterrents.
- Keep your hose ready. If your pickup truck gets hit on Halloween night, immediately rinse off any solid residue such as eggshells. (The heat of the sun speeds up chemical reactions and can severely harm the paint). Then, most importantly and as soon as possible, give your truck a thorough washing.
- Be prepared to clean off any small mess quickly. Keep a small spray bottle of water mixed with a dedicated car-washing soap handy. A spray-on car wax will also work well. Then, whenever you find a contaminant on the paint—whether it’s the morning after Halloween or after a bird dropping at the beach—you can spray the solution on the car, and wipe away the mess with a soft towel. Even if you can’t remove it right away, just spraying the solution on the mess will dilute the acid and minimize damage, if there is any.
- Pro Tip: If you’ve accidentally left the offending substance on your truck, go see a professional detailer right away. They have special tricks of their own to make your truck look new again.
Halloween is a fun time of year. These tips will help make it worry-free so you and your family can enjoy yourselves.
Have you been thinking about buying a pickup truck for yourself? Give Dye Autos a call at (303) 286-1665 and we’ll help make this your best Halloween ever!
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There’s a lot of talk in the news about self-driving cars and ride sharing. So much so that it’s easy to forget about our day-to-day realities as drivers. News outlets urge us to consider our environmental impact or spend less time behind the wheel. But that’s caused us to forget the #1 reason most of us buy vehicles today – practicality.
Want to know what’s the most practical vehicle out there? The pickup truck.
It will be years before self-driving cars will be safe on the road and while ride-sharing can work in certain circumstances, most of us need our vehicles to take us through our daily lives. There’s no better vehicle to handle all that life brings than a pickup truck.
If you’re in the market for a vehicle and you’ve only thought about a car, here are 4 reasons to buy a pickup truck instead.
#1: Pickup trucks support every activity
All it takes is a couch or armoire that needs to be moved from “here” to “there,” and next thing you know, you’re thinking you really should own a pickup truck.
But there are so many other activities that a pickup truck is perfect for:
- Trucks are the perfect weekend adventure vehicle.
- Trucks have the power to tow whatever you need.
- Trucks haul everything from groceries to lumber to tools.
- Trucks are a camper’s dream.
- Pickup trucks help you work hard and when it’s time to relax, they help you do that too!
Think of all the incredibly cool things you could be doing with a pickup truck that are impossible with the car you’re now driving.
#2 Pickup trucks are safer
It may seem obvious that larger pickup trucks are safer than small cars, but there are studies to back this up.
“In its studies, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has found that a heavier vehicle will typically push a lighter one backward during the impact,” explains Edmunds.com. “As a result, there is less force on the occupants of the heavier vehicle and more on those in the lighter vehicle, according to IIHS. The organization’s fatality data bears this out.”
Additionally, sitting up high gives a driver an excellent field of view. The ability to see over traffic enables the driver to identify potential accidents sooner and react with more time than passenger car drivers, whose vision is hindered by other vehicles.
#3 Pickup trucks are roomy
We know pickup trucks can haul just about anything, but people who haven’t ridden in a modern truck are always surprised by how roomy they are inside.
A four-door F-150 has a half-inch more rear-seat legroom than a Mercedes flagship luxury sedan—the $90,000+ S-Class—and much more head, shoulder, and hip room. Other full-size trucks offer similar space.
#4 Pickup trucks are affordable
Pickup trucks offer more bang for your buck than most cars:
- Enough power to tow or haul virtually anything
- More interior space than a luxury car
- Enough horsepower to get up and go
- Enough room in the bed for two people to sleep comfortably
- Surprisingly good fuel economy, given all the above
Combine all these merits into one vehicle and the result is surprisingly affordable.
Choosing the right pickup truck for you…
The only thing left to do is decide which pickup truck works for your lifestyle. We wrote a super helpful post about how to choose the best pickup truck for your needs >>here<<.
At Dye Autos, we’ve got a lot of pickup trucks – many under $20,000. We’re ready to help you determine which used pickup truck works for your lifestyle and your financial needs. Call us at (303) 286-1665 or fill out our handy online form >>here<<.
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4th of July is right around the corner. You may be planning a big BBQ celebration or maybe just a small get together with the family. Either way, the best vehicle to have for 4th of July is a pickup truck. Here’s why.
1. A pickup truck is great for organizing the celebration.
Every successful July Fourth celebration requires a strong organizer. That’s where your pickup truck comes in. You’ll find lots of models that can easily haul ALL your barbecue prep (and still have room for more).
In fact, now that we are in the swing of Summer, your pickup truck can help you organize and handle lots of activities: camping, home improvement, kids camp, or even a nice date night after a long work week.
2. You can stretch out in the bed to watch fireworks.
What’s better than hanging out in your pickup truck under the stars to watch fireworks? No much. Whether it’s your neighbor’s annual 4th of July “Extravaganza” or a show at your local high school or college stadium, nothing beats a pickup truck for getting the best view possible!
You can celebrate our nation’s 242nd birthday by enjoying the sights and sounds of a community fireworks show at one of dozens of events in all corners of Colorado.
We’ve put together a list of places to watch fireworks in Denver below (click on each link for details). Here’s a link to all the places in the Colorado where you can enjoy fireworks >>Where to Watch 4th of July Fireworks in Colorado<<
WHAT: Independence Eve
WHERE: Civic Center Park
WHEN: July 3 with fireworks at 8 p.m.
WHAT: Elitch Gardens Fireworks Extravaganza
WHERE: Elitch Gardens
WHEN: July 4 with fireworks around 10 p.m.
WHAT: Colorado Rockies Fireworks
WHERE: Coors Field
WHEN: July 3 and July 4 with first pitch at 6:10 p.m., fireworks post game
WHAT: 4th of July Firework Spectacular
WHERE: Green Valley Ranch Golf Club
WHEN: July 4 with festivities at 6 p.m., fireworks at 9:35 p.m.
WHAT: Denver Outlaws Fourth of July Celebration
WHERE: Broncos Stadium at Mile High
WHEN: July 4 with game at 7 p.m., fireworks post game
3. Independence Day pickup truck specials.
If you’ve been in the market for a pickup truck, this is one of the best times of the year to buy one.
There’s a lot of buying and selling of pickup trucks this time of year and you can take advantage of that as you shop for your pickup truck. Dealers have a lot of used trucks and when inventory is high, deals are plentiful.
Like us at Dye Autos, we’ve got plenty of used pickup trucks available and we’re ready to make a deal in time for 4th of July. Call us at (303) 286-1665 or simply fill out this easy contact form >>here<<.
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