Archive for the ‘Automotive Components’ Category

Motorhome Reviews & Ratings

Class B motor homes look like pop-top camper vans and are self contained but cramped compared to their big motor home counterparts. The advantage of purchasing a Class B motor home is in terms of handling and size that is if you don’t want spacious motor home. They are usually promoted as a place to sleep more than what is deemed comfortable by most people. The class B motor home can also be used as a second car. Its price ranges from $38,000 to $75,000.

Uses of Recreational Vehicles – The use of recreational vehicles offers a few advantages. Traveling is less expensive. You do not have to worry about where to stay for the night as with the RV, you are just at home. There’s flexibility and a sense of freedom of being on the open road. You can go anywhere and anytime you feel like it. You can travel light or bring along some amenities that will make your travel more comfortable.

Class B Motorhomes are also known as Campervan and are having the unique feature of making the insiders quite comfortable and relaxed as anyone can have their longer journey with the family and more of the luggage with the given space inside.

Class B Motorhomes are not only spacious but also are the luxurious choice for the buyers as they are reasonable in prices and having almost all the facilities which can be added in any of the luxurious homes!! So, very truly it can be said that Class B Motorhomes are the most lavish and at the same time most affordable Motorhome type which obviously make them as one of the most popular and searched vehicles of the automotive industries!

Frame Rail and Semi-Monocoque: The chassis under all Class A motorhomes today starts out as a basic Frame Rail, as the picture above shows. 99% of all RV manufacturers will take the basic frame rail chassis and incorporate cross braces and bridge-like construction in the bottom half of the chassis, so the strength lies not in the narrow center of the frame, but throughout its weight distribution. By doing this, the steel structure absorbs and resists the twist and turns of the road ahead without relying on non load-bearing components to do the work. This advanced engineering is challenging and time consuming but results in a safe, reliable and high-performance motorhome. This type of chassis is referred to as, “Semi-Monocoque”.

Class C’s range in side from 22 to 35 feet. With a starting rice, the class is affordable and you can get RV loans from either your bank or online. That is a good price for a new RV but if that is out of your range, consider looking for a used Class C for sale by an owner. You can save a lot of money this way since private owners are likely to be easier to bargain with.

The bus conversion is another RV type. It is actually a typical passenger bus installed with luxurious furnishing necessary for comfortable living on the road. Bus conversions are usually the biggest motor homes in the market. There’s also the Class B camper van. This is built using the typical van chassis with either a built-in coach at the back or a raised roof line. Another type of RV is the popular truck camper with back wood enthusiasts and hunters. The truck is converted into an RV by letting a camper temporarily go into the chassis or bed of the truck.

Posted by on November 21st, 2011 Comments Off

Automotive Cars: Batteries, Alternators and Fuses



A car is an electrical system that operates with the help of some essential components. These include batteries, alternators and fuses. Failure of any one of these parts may stop the working of the car or it may give very poor performance. Unfortunately, it is quite difficult to find which part is creating the problem and what is the main reason behind that. One has to examine all mechanism of the automobile in order to discover out the real trouble. This includes all characteristics of components and outlining of certain maintenance options for proper diagnosis.

1. Batteries – When any car does not start, its battery’s performance is blamed because this is the most crucial piece. Most of the automobiles are equipped with batteries that are sealed and maintenance free. This does not mean that nothing can happen to it but they require quite lees repairs. The building of corrosion on various terminals may cause failure thus fresh them with a wire brush remove them and then reattach them. Apply some lubricant to these cables in order to avoid future corrosion. If it is not maintenance free, use distilled water as per requirement in each cell. The use of high quality jumper cables is a good idea to start the car. It still one is encountering with starting problems it means the battery is completely shot. In such kind of situation the replacement is the only way left because machinery has certain life.

2. Alternators – The problems related to this part are noticed when one realize that headlights’ performance is reduced. When one is not able to see the things in front of the car, it means it has to be checked properly. A proper check of the wires associated with the Alternator is required to ensure that they are corrosion free and secure. One must carefully examine the cracks for tension free driving. If the headlights are still not working properly than replace Alternator with the help of a qualified technician.

3. Fuses – If the back blinker has stopped working but dash lights are still working, this electrical problem is related with the fuses. One can pull off this component that is generally located below the dashboard and test to find out the burnt out fuse. The car models available nowadays use fuses with blade styles that are transparent and rectangular. Try to observe each and every fuse very carefully and check for any burnt out internal wire. If these are labeled by the auto manufacturer with a circuit label, it becomes really easier to find the burnt out ones. If it is not so than one has to resolve the case by elimination process that helps in finding out the failed fuse and replace it.

Fuses and Batteries are extensively available at various supply stores that offers wide alternatives to select from. One can save a huge amount of moneys by selecting the most suitable car component at affordable price level. There are many online providers offering some great discount to their customers, one can take advantage from. Shop with those stores providing wide inventory to select from, best prices, prompt shipping and outstanding return policies.

Posted by on August 30th, 2011 Comments Off

Why Risk Poor Precision Metal Stamping Quality? Automotive Industry Averts Risk With APQP



Precision metal stampings are a critical component of so many products. Automotive components, medical devices, electronic parts – all contain metal stampings. For the part or the device to function properly, the stamping needs to be free of defects and of perfect quality.

We continue our metal stamping quality article series with a discussion on APQP.

Automotive industry refuses to take chances with precision metal stamping quality.

Poor quality is not an option with the automotive industry. That’s why the ‘Big Three’ (Ford, GM, and Chrysler) created Advanced Product Quality Planning, better known as APQP.

So what is APQP? Technically, “it’s a guide in the development process and also a standard way to share results between suppliers and automotive companies.” More simply put, it’s a way of making sure the automotive companies are involved in every step of the development and launch process with their suppliers – to ensure nothing goes wrong. Why? Ultimately, to ensure the ‘Big Three’s’ customers are satisfied with their automobiles.

APQP is typically deployed in 5 concurrent and collaborative phases:

Plan and Define Program Product Design and Development Process Design and Development Product and Process Validation Launch, Feedback, Assessment, and Corrective Action

Some of the questions that can be addressed through the APQP process are:

Can the product/process be error proofed? Can the product/process achieve a higher level of capability through tolerance design and/or process variation reduction? What controls must be developed to ensure that defects cannot reach a customer?

The APQP process actually monitors 23 topics before production is even started. Topics like design robustness, design testing, quality inspection standards, product packaging, and more.

Metal stamping companies need to be prepared.

There are a lot of suppliers wanting automotive business. Automotive manufacturers and the companies that represent them can demand that their suppliers abide by APQP processes.

And that requirement certainly applies to metal stamping companies as well. Automotive suppliers need to ensure the metal stamping companies they do business with are committed to APQP and should insist they:

Establish and continually monitor company-wide APQP processes Utilize APQP tools such as Failure Mode Effect Analysis (FMEA) to ensure quality Utilize advanced technology to verify stamping quality, thicknesses, and dimensions (sensors and gauges) Implement sophisticated quality control plans and tools to ensure consistency and zero defect parts (i.e. Statistical Process Control (SPC) Adhere to the Production Part Approval Process (PPAP)

With these controls in place, metal stamping companies can do their part to ensure the automotive manufacturers achieve their ultimate goal of customer satisfaction.

Want to know more about APQP?

For comprehensive details on the APQP process, refer to the AIAG APQP Manual available through AIAG (Automotive Industry Action Group).

Posted by on August 30th, 2011 Comments Off

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