The Ultimate Maintenance Guide!

Sponsored by

Maintenance is vital, especially if you want your car to last for years. However, sometimes, it can be overwhelming. You might find yourself lost with so many components to keep track of, and the stats show.

40% of all maintenance in the US is reactive instead of preventive, and it doesn’t have to be this way. So, we decided to create the ultimate maintenance guide. Also, since we like spoiling our readers, there’s a freebie at the end of this newsletter!

Key Takeaways

Don’t have much time? Here’s the summary of what we’re talking about:

• 10% of used car buyers delay maintenance, with a third citing lack of time and 30.3% finding it too costly. However, it’s essential. In this issue, we give you the ultimate car maintenance guide!

• The Ford Ranger's popularity has surged, leading to questions about its best and worst model years.

• Our first-ever sponsor, Offroam™, offers sturdy, vehicle-specific phone mounts for offroad driving, requiring no drilling for installation.

• Descent assist controls in modern vehicles aid in safely navigating steep hills while offroading. Here’s how to use it! 

• News includes a recall by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and GM's strategies to step out of Tesla's shadow.

• A free car maintenance checklist is available for easy tracking and management of vehicle upkeep.

KERN’S CORNER

The Ultimate Maintenance Guide!

A survey from IMR revealed that around one in ten people who buy a used car will delay maintenance. A third of those people do so because they can’t find the time. In a very close second place is cost, as 30.3% of people find car maintenance too expensive. 

That’s how most people perceive car maintenance: an obligation and one that’s not cheap. Ironically, that’s the key to a long-lasting vehicle. If you want your car to last long, keeping it in top shape is vital. 

Some of the most common aspects of maintenance are oil changes, filters, and brakes, just to name a few, but the reality is that there are plenty of components you must inspect every year. Let’s take, for example, wiper blades. They’re often overlooked when, in reality, you should change them once or twice a year. 

They say the devil is in the details; in this case, it’s no different. Keeping track of everything you must do in your car is hard. That’s why we decided to create the ultimate car maintenance guide and provide some insight on the topic.

BEST AND WORST

What are the best and worst years for the Ford Ranger?

The latest Ford Ranger Raptor is a serious leap in performance, and it also reminded us that the Ford Ranger was once extremely popular in the US. Now, the latest generation of this famous truck has caused a surge in interested in the older models. One of the most frequent questions we get at Four Wheel Trends is: what are the best and worst years for the Ford Ranger? Here they are!

SPONSOR SECTION

Offroam™designs and makes phone mounts that are shaped to fit the make, model, and year of your vehicle. That’s why our mounts are the sturdiest money can buy.

Your phone will never fall, even on tough 4x4 trails. No drilling, no glue: you shouldn't need to drill your truck - all Offroam mounts are installed in 30 seconds with a provided tool. 

TIPS AND KNOW-HOW

When To Use Descent Assist Control: Here’s Everything You Need To Know!

Let’s say you’re offroading and find yourself near a steep hill. It’s the only way out, and you must descend it. One of the most intrusive thoughts drivers get is whether they’ll get down from there safely. Fortunately, as vehicles have become much more advanced, many come with descent assist controls, which make going downhill safer. So, how do you use them? Read more to find out!

NEWSBITES

Every week, we scour the web for the most essential news. Here’s what you need to know this week:

• Here’s why the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recalled almost 2 million vehicles

• GM really wants out of Tesla’s shadow, and here’s how they plan to do it

• This Italian startup wants to save more lives on wet roads. Here’s how it plans to do it.

FREEBIE!

We know that keeping track of your maintenance is challenging. So, we created this free maintenance checklist. All you have to do is click, then save a copy, and it’s yours!