SAFETY and driver convenience were the focus of Kenworth Truck Company’s newest T2000 high-tech tractor, which was unveiled at the 2000 Mid-America Trucking Show March 23-25 in Louisville.

Kenworth is once again utilizing a T2000, the company’s premium on-highway model, as its “smart” truck. (Kenworth’s previous high-tech truck, introduced at last year’s Mid-America Trucking Show, proved so popular that it now costars in TNN’s top-rated action drama “18 Wheels of Justice.”)

“Kenworth’s new T2000 High-Tech Truck is designed to provide better information in two key areas: to other drivers in the vehicle’s vicinity and to the truck driver,” said Ed Caudill, Kenworth general manager and PACCAR vice-president. “This will help to promote safety and driver efficiency and comfort.”

The truck especially emphasizes safety. Kenworth’s objective is to explore technologies that can help make trucks safer both for truck drivers and for other vehicles sharing the road.

The vehicle features a number of safety-related items:

*A vision sys- tem uses miniature video cameras with monitors in the cab to aid the driver in making lane changes, backing up, and turning tight corners. Cameras in the side mirrors provide rear-viewing images, and a sleeper-mounted, passenger-side camera offers a curb view.

*Forward-looking infrared night vision extends the driver’s vision farther down the road and outward onto the shoulder.

*A drowsiness monitor tracks the driver’s performance in keeping the vehicle in its lane and gives an alertness rating based on that performance. When that score falls below a predetermined threshold, the system beeps an audible warning and displays a “stop driving” message.

*A clutchless, automatic transmis- sion makes the truck easier to drive and helps reduce driver fatigue.

*An electronic navigation system lets the driver enter a destination and get visual directions. Verbal directions also are available, helping to keep the driver’s attention on the road.

The money you spend in buying your recreational vehicle is an investment for a lifetime. Buying a good RV needs proper research that includes a good estimation of your wants and a great deal of market survey that helps you in zeroing down to a dealer that offers you exactly what you had been looking for. All this hard work and the money spent can be at stake with a sudden accident, act of vandalism, theft or any incidence that ends up damaging your RV.

That’s why RV insurance is vital. Insuring an RVs not only covers you from potential damage risks but also lets you camp without worries. However, most RV’ers do not have a clear idea in regard to the various factors determining the price of a RV insurance cover. So before you go ahead with RV insurance, it is wiser to consider the various factors that affect the insurance rates.

The location of your RV, when not in use is a vital determinant of the premium rates. So if it is located at a place where it is more susceptible to damage, the premium rates are bound to increase. Some insurance companies also take into account the type of RV. Thus insuring a bigger RV with good utilities might be expensive than insuring a smaller one with less utilities. Moreover, drive safe to avail lower premium rates because your driving history is one of the major inputs that influence the premium you pay. Do consider the frequency of your travel. A full timer and a once-in-a-while traveler should go for different coverage. And yes, a good credit rating surely helps.

There are also some perks associated with some of the factors that bring down the premium rates considerably. A higher age is taken as a higher driving experience that might bring down the premium rates. A dealers with a RV association sometimes offers you a discount on the premium rates. Owning a home and your marital status shows the level of your responsibilities which in turn can influence the insurance rates. Discounts on premiums can vary from company to company and so you should check out the applicable discounts with your agent.

Once you have opted for coverage, make sure you follow some simple steps for hassle free claims. Retain all the receipts and take clear pictures of your RV just before you camp out. In case of damage, take the post-damage pictures and also determine the cost of damage. Always keep the policy number along with the details of the insurance company handy. And more importantly, never ever try to fool your insurance company. There are experts in their business.

While ATV riding is an extremely fun and exhilarating past time and sport, it can be dangerous for youths too. Therefore, it’s not surprising that youths may need more ATV parts replacements than adults. Technically, they are just not as careful as adults and therefore, there are more small mistakes that could prove to be costly. To ensure that you don’t end up changing ATV parts for youth every other week, you can either send them for ATV riding training or you could actually teach them how to take care of their ATVs properly. Knowing how to care for and use their ATVs properly is the first step you should take to save on Youth ATV parts.

If you think youth ATV parts are less expensive that the adult version, you’re wrong. You see, one of the things with youth ATV parts is that they are specialty items which make them all the rarer. And as you know, the harder the youth ATV part is to find, the more expensive they can be.

ATV parts manufacturers offer training for youths If you’ve just bought your children a new ATV, check if the manufacturer or the TV offer training for youths. These ATV part manufactures are actually giving the training for youths for free. ATV parts manufacturers, like Arctic Cat, Bombardier, Honda, John Deere, Kawasaki.etc recognize the need to train youths on how to properly ride and take care of their ATV. They also know that it could be frustrating for the parents to have to constantly look for and purchase replacement ATV parts.

So, if you’ve just gotten your youth a new machine, ask to see if the ATV parts manufacturer actually offers training for youths.

How do I know which Youth ATV parts manufacturer is reliable?

The general rule of thumb is that you ought to keep to well-known brands when it comes to youth ATV parts. The more well-known and established the brand is, the higher the possibility that their products are reliable. Youth ATV parts in the market are priced somewhat the same with very little difference between the good ones and the mediocre ones. Cheap youth ATV parts are easy to find too and even though the price is good, they are not as reliable as the more established brands. For one thing, they don’t offer customer support or adequate protection against defects in the product or malfunctioning of the Youth ATV parts that they sell.

Motorbikes are considered heartthrobs in the automotive world. Bikes are conventional, and normal bikes are used by ordinary, middle-class people who cannot afford to buy themselves a car. It would not be an overstatement that 90 percent of people who step into their professional lives and start earning buy a motorbike as a means of transportation. They can take their feet off the ground and flutter away on their vehicles.

These motorcycles are economical in many ways. Some third world countries have started producing their local scooters and bikes so that almost any person who manages to save a little amount of money can afford a scooter easily.

This goes for countries that are on their way towards development. Motorbikes are not hard to assemble and there are people who have managed to build their very own bikes.

It does not consume as much fuel as cars do and they can easily adjust themselves between cars in the parking lot!

It is hard to categorize bikes because now the ordinary Yamahas are beginning to come in the markets with the same features as those of trail or heavy bikes. Not exactly the same but a lot of features are being installed in all kinds of bikes. They are now more comfortable and smooth to ride on.

Bikes are of numerous types. An ATV drift has become dominant over the past few years. In ATV, there is a raptor 700R GYTR edition; its key features are much more advanced. It is appealing for bike lovers as it has special graphics system, all new skid plates and more powerful engine that can make this bike race in all sorts of riding environments. It is capable of riding smoothly in deserts, dunes and even thick woods. It is basically a sports bike and it is used in bike racing and over the years it has earned the reputation of the best racer in the world.

Monaco RV and the Monaco Corporation have long been recognized as some of the top recreational vehicles on the market. Not only do their vehicles have a strong customer appeal, they also work to improve customer service and customer relations with their buyers through a number of different activities and institutions including rallies, magazines, conventions, all women social gatherings, and roadside clubs. Through these events, magazines, and other means they solicit feedback from Monaco RV owners to know what they can do to better improve their product-and they follow through with improvements to current models and also integrating new ideas into their new Monaco RV models.

There are quite a variety of Monaco products on the market; both Diesel and Gas Class A Motor Coaches and Class C mini motor homes. There are 9 diesels: Dynasty, Signature, Executive, Windsor, Camelot, Diplomat, Knight, Cayman, and La Palma (diesel.) There are 2 gas powered including La Palma (gas) and Monarch SE. The sole Monaco RV Class C mini motor home is the Esquire.

To get a better description of the Monaco products you can visit the company website which has detailed information about each model including floor plans, color scheme, standard features and accessories. They also have information about owner clubs and activities that Monaco owners might be interested in.

Monaco RV pairs with industry leaders for some of their parts, accessories and featured interior products. They work with Goodyear tires, Cummins engines, Sirius Satellite, Bose Stereo, Corian countertops, and so on and so on. By doing this they can not only attract some of the more discriminating buyers, they can also distinguish themselves as an industry leader.

One thing that the Monaco RV Corp. does to make its products durable, safe, and comfortable is to custom make the chassis for not only each model, but for each floor plan as well. This provides the best support for all of the appliances, etc, in the right location rather than just a general support frame. The Roadmaster Chassis is a patented Monaco RV exclusive product.

When you are looking for a recreational vehicle of any type, you should take a look at Monaco Corporation. At a dealer or on their website you can find information that you will need to make an informed decision if this make of recreational vehicle is for you.

With so many ATVs out there designed for different purposes deciding which one is right for you can be tough. This guide will help you determine what type of ATV will be most suitable. It then goes on to explore what to look for in a used ATV to help you make the right buying decision.

It never ceases to surprise me how many ATV owners do little research before visiting a dealer or buying an ATV for sale online. Are they mad? A little research will ensure you don’t make the same mistake and enable you to get the machine that best fits your needs, abilities and budget. The more research undertaken the happier you will be with your purchase. More times than I care to remmember I have made a purchase only to find a couple of weeks later a product that would have suited my needs much better. You simply can’t afford to let that happen with an expensive product like an ATV or Four Wheeler.

The first thing to consider is your budget. How much can you afford to spend on your ATV? If you haven’t previously owned one don’t forget to make an allowance for the ancillary equipment that you’ll need e.g. helmet, boots and gloves etc and a proper training course. Your budget will determine whether you should buy new or used although my preference would always be a used ATV as there are plenty of great deals available ATVs available and you don’t take such a hit on vehicle depreciation.
The next most important consideration is the intended use of the ATV. You are unlikely to want a 4 stroke 4×4 if you are looking for a machine that is suitable for racing. Likewise you won’t want a 2 stroke lightweight racing machine for towing things around the farm. This might sound obvious and it is obvious but I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve seen machines bought that did not meet the owners requirements (especially online purchases).

There is also a need to take account of your local riding conditions. Where do you intend to ride your ATV? If you don’t know check out the local trails and see what sort of machines your fellow riders are using. Get their opinions. An interesting all round machine that suits quite a few different environments is the Polaris 400 4×4 which has a 2 stroke engine (very unusual in a 4×4). A great all round ATV for most trail blazers. It’s biggest limitation is push and pull where a 4 stroke engine definitely has an edge due to it’s greater torque What riding experience do you have? Make sure that the machine you buy matches your experience. If you’ve never ridden an ATV before please book yourself on a proper and extensive training course. It’s a great investment and will help you get the most from yourself and your machine. As I have expressed a preference for used ATV I thought it would be helpful to put together a check list of things to look out for and check with the owner before you buy.Start by checking there is a full service history. Don’t even go near a machine without a service history - you’ve been warned.

A strange new motorcycle has recently been seen by some motorists - a motorcycle trike. They encounter it at gas pumps and on the interstate highways. They see the motorcycle trike glistening way up ahead on the road and can’t quite figure out what it is. They speed up to get a better look.

Kids roll down the windows and yell, “Hey, what is that thing?”

The owner of this likeable 3-wheeled vehicle just smiles back and says, “It’s a trike.”

For most people this is not enough information. If they happen to see you standing next to your motorcycle trike at a gas pump or in a parking lot, they come over briskly before you know they’re there and barrage you with questions. If you desire the solitary life with your motorcycle, never convert it to a motorcycle trike.

I knew that motorcycle trikes were attention getters but you really find out when you own one.

When I converted my white 1998 Gold Wing SE motorcycle to a trike for my wife, I found that I was totally ignored and everyone was drawn to her trike as if it were a magnet. Then when I found that the advantages of the trike were starting to become more obvious to me, I decided to convert my own 2000 Gold Wing SE to a trike also. Double trouble! Now we had to field questions about both conversions.

The following are the stock motorcycle trike questions we get asked all the time. Please memorize these so you can help inform your own friends and family should you come upon a trike minding its own business:

To be honest, I don’t like the fact that most cars of today look the same because I love stylish cars. In my opinion, every car should have an individual personality. The classic American cars certainly have this unique attributes. Pontiac, Cadillac, Chevrolet and the names of other classic cars conjure up an image of speeding down the freeways and neighborhoods.

However, people who are concerned with the environment do not patronize big, brash cars because they tend to be gas-guzzlers. For instance, a Hummer SUV gives a staggering nine miles to the gallon. Since I am also an environment minded person, American cars offer me a conflict of interest.

In the past, we were never too concerned about how many miles we were getting to the gallon. A few decades ago, the government didn’t pile the tax on driving costs because fuel was cheap and there was no welfare state to support. However, the price of gas has steadily increased and more people are now concerned about the impact of American cars on the environment.

European cars, such as Saab and BMW, which are more economical to run, are now becoming more popular. However, some people still consider these cars as American cars because some of them are manufactured in the US. These cars represent a necessary lifestyle change, even if they may not be as much fun.

There are a few American cars that have entered the culture as icons. Some American cars have made a contribution to many movies and TV shows. For example, the cherry red Ford Gran Torino was like another character in the “Starsky and Hutch” series. This car is known affectionately as the striped tomato. It screeched around corners and skidded sideways as the two detectives chased after the bad guys.

If you have made up your mind about learning to fly ultralight airplanes, you must be now standing at the cross roads unable to make up your mind on what kind of ultralight aircraft you want to fly! This is a very important decision and it should be made with some thought. The training you undertake will entirely depend on the type of ultralight aircraft you want to fly. So it would be wise to pause and consider well before launching yourself on your course.
Ultralights can be categorized into 3 axis control aircrafts and weight shift control aircrafts. The 3 axis control aircrafts have stick, ailerons and rudders to control the direction of flight. Weight shift control planes are controlled by the pilot moving his weight relative to the wing of the airplane.

Weight shift control planes include powered hang gliders(trikes) and powered parachutes(Aerochutes). In this type of ultralight aircraft the crew pod and engine are suspended under the wing. The control of this aircraft is largely physical and consequently they are slow.

3-axis ultralight airplanes are ‘traditional style’ ultralights or ‘de-facto GA’ types. The former have high drag and low inertia and the latter are larger, heavier and very expensive. These aircraft are further classified irrespective of their price or size as nosewheel and tailwheel ultralight airplanes. Nosewheel aircrafts are supported on ground levelly by a largish nosewheel and two mainwheels in the aft. The latter sits on the ground in a tail down attitude as it has two main wheels in the forward and a light tailwheel at the back.

It should be remembered that learning to fly a heavier machine can become a handicap later if you want to buy a hang glider (trike) or even a traditional style machine. If you plan to go in for a heavier machine later, you could still train on a traditional style machine and migrate to the heavier machine with ease. It is a mater of personal choice and each student must choose for himself.

The exact kind of charter aircraft that would be appropriate for your trip is decided by a number of factors like:
The no. of passengers traveling with you
The amount and nature of cargo/baggage
The destination
Your aircraft preferences
Your budget

The most important question is how many passengers will be making the trip and the destination? The number of passengers will decide what size aircraft you’ll need and your destination will indicate the required range. Some high-altitude airports have limited accessibility, or accessibility that changes seasonally depending on the aircraft.

A small jet powered pressurized turbo-prop aircraft that can fly over most types of weather. These aircraft usually have a curtained potty to insure comfort. These aircraft are well suited for up to 6 passengers flying trips up to 700 miles.

Large Corporate Jet - Speed: 500 MPH

A large corporate jet with maximum seating for up to 19 passengers with average seating for 12 to 14. All have standup cabins, enclosed lavatories, full galley’s and flight attendant quarters. The non-stop range is 3,200 to 7,000 miles.
The 1960’s saw the arrival of the first small jets, such as the Learjet. The Learjet was adopted by some of the first “jet” air charter operators, such as Hop-A-Jet and Clay Lacy. Both companies still exist today as larger charter management firms.

Beginning in the late 1990’s the air charter interest moved into main stream media and discussion with the growth and advent of several key factors:
Very Light Jets Manufacturers

Eclipse Aviation
Honda Aviation manufactures the Honda Jet.
Adam Aircraft Industries
Safire Aircraft was a small airframe manufacturer that discontinued operations after it could not secure additional funding.

Aircraft manufacturers, such as Eclipse Aviation and Adam Aircraft Industries, and others maintain that the construction of cheaper, smaller and faster jets will enable inexpensive point-to-point private aviation, creating a new industry