Friday, September 2, 2011
Hitching A Livestock Trailer
Hauling Herefords isn’t like towing a sailboat. A loaded stock trailer can weigh up to 30,000 pounds, and if you hook something that heavy to a bumper, you’ll drive away
without your back end. “Gooseneck hitches are common in livestock operations,” says Joe Lewis, who has worked at Rosenberg-based Discount Hitch and Truck
Accessories since 1996.
“This design moves the tongue weight, or downward force,
toward the center of the truck, which makes it capable of
carrying larger loads.” If physics confound you, rely on
common sense: Consult your
vehicle’s owner’s manual to
determine maximum towing capacity before buying an eight-horse stock trailer.
THE TRUCK
Gooseneck hitches are typically installed on three-
quarter-ton trucks. You can install your own hitch (though
Lewis recommends leaving it to the pros), but check your service
contract before allowing someone to weld the components
to your frame. “Most manufacturers recommend bolting the
hitch in,” Lewis says. “Welding can void the warranty.”
THE TRAILER HITCH
The hitch for a gooseneck is installed in the center of the truck
bed, and like the familiar bumper mount, it uses a ball-and-socket joint. The ball, which fits into a trailer’s coupler, is generally two and
five-sixteenths inches across. Note that some older trailer couplers have wider holes; be sure your ball and coupler match. Also explore
your options: Some designs allow the ball to fold down so you have
unimpeded access to the bed when a trailer isn’t attached.
THE HOOKUP
To avoid that dent you see so often on trucks at cattle
sales, put down the tailgate. “You’d be surprised how many people
forget that part,” Lewis says. Jack the trailer up high enough
so that the coupler clears the back of the truck. Throw your vehicle into
reverse and, with a helper, slowly back up until the coupler is over
the ball. Put your truck in park and lower the jack until the ball fits securely into the coupler. Lock the ball in, hook up the safety chains, and plug in
the pigtail, or electrical wiring, so that the lights work on the trailer
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
CUSTOMER FOCUS AND TEAMWORK PUT DISCOUNT HITCH ON THE MAP...
Trucking Times is always on the lookout for accessory outlets to profile in the magazine. Sometimes, we’re personally familiar with a company; other times, we hear through word of mouth. Occasionally, someone will make a recommendation. When Greg Hooks, CEO of Curt Manufacturing, spent time with Dave Herrmeyer raving about the clean restrooms and continued growth to be seen at Discount Hitch & Truck Accessories, it piqued our interest. Here’s what Hooks had to say:
“The environment you create, whether for the consumer or your employees, is important. Cleanliness shows professionalism and the culture of the workplace. When consumers go to Discount Hitch, they can watch TV; there are reading materials, and the bathrooms are well kept and well appointed. The employees are well dressed, knowledgeable, and they look professional. That brings customers back and shows a lot of pride in the business.
“All the people in the organization know towing inside and out. What they do best is set the standard for working with consumers to help them through the purchase and put together a whole towing system. They set a high bar.”
A customer-driven culture builds reputation, repeat business
Setting the bar high is all in a day’s work at Discount Hitch & Truck Accessories. From employee training to partnering with quality-minded suppliers to branding the company’s image and running a streamlined operation, owner Kenny Owen strives to do a better job every day. Especially when it comes to customer service.
The company’s mission statement says it best: “At Discount Hitch & Truck Accessories we are customer driven. Our single most important mission is to provide the highest standard of customer excellence. It means ensuring your total satisfaction by making every experience at Discount Hitch & Truck Accessories a pleasant and rewarding one.”
While a product or price advantage may be duplicated, it’s not easy to replicate a solid customer-service culture. From Owen’s perspective, the focus on superior customer service is a proven ingredient in the company’s evolution, helping to build its reputation and repeat business.
“My philosophy is you’ve got to put yourself in your customers’ shoes,” said Owen. “We try to make people feel at home. There are fresh flowers, music, Wi-Fi and leather couches in the waiting rooms. I’m proud that you can eat off the floor in any of our stores. We shake people’s hands, ask how they’re doing, and walk them through the process. We want people to think they’re getting a great product at a great price from a great place. It’s a lot like going to a nice restaurant. If the food is good, the beer is cold and everybody makes you feel welcome, you don’t mind spending money and you’ll go back.”
The proof is in the pudding. From a small, single store operation with three employees who specialized in custom-built hitches, Discount Hitch has grown by leaps and bounds.
Recognized as a market leader -- the place to go in Texas for hitch and hitch-related products -- Discount Hitch attracts a loyal retail following that accounts for 90 percent of the company’s sales, the remainder comprised of auto dealerships, RV manufacturers and fleet accounts. To handle the volume of business, they now have 47 employees who staff eight locations scattered throughout the Lone Star State as well as a successful online sales operation.
Evolution from hand-made to ready-made
Owen’s roots in the business go back to his high school days in the mid-’70s. He worked part time for a local tool and U-Haul rental business in the Houston suburb of Pasadena, where he and the owner produced hand-made hitches for cars. They eventually began purchasing a few ready-made hitches and the business started to grow. When the owner decided to retire in 1982, he made Owen an offer he couldn’t refuse. They closed the deal within four days.
From the get-go, Owen focused his sights on trailer hitches and a handful of truck accessories. He changed the name from Pasadena Moving Center to Discount Hitch, eliminated the rental equipment, hired his younger brother, Doug, and his brother’s best friend, and set about building hitches.
The company started out catering to a local clientele keen on fishing and hunting, and in need of hitches. The three-man team worked around the clock building an average of 100 hitches per day. “We did whatever it took to get the company started,” recalled Owen. “Back then, the hitch industry was just beginning. There were only about 25 popular part numbers. We built all of the hitches from scratch. It wasn’t a big investment. Now, there are over 1,200 part numbers. It’s amazing how the industry has changed.”
And so has Owen’s business. Recognizing the growth potential as the truck market surged, he slowly began buying ready-made hitches direct from a manufacturer to augment his custom-hitch business. “That,” said Owen, “was how we got on the map. Here we were with a one-store operation, and we were going gangbusters. We were doing numbers in the quarter-million dollar range.”
That drew the attention of another hitch supplier. Though reluctant to switch vendors, Owen was ultimately convinced when the company’s rep showed him how much money he could save by purchasing ready-made hitches instead of building his own. The company also provided the training and insight needed to grow the business.
“They did a good job of teaching us how to do better, to do things the right way,” said Owen. “They showed us what markets we could make money in and what markets we should avoid. They had that knowledge and we didn’t, so it really helped us going forward.”
A few years later, Discount Hitch was approached by Curt Manufacturing. Though already doing some business with Curt, Owen decided to switch vendors again. “At the time, we were only buying colored hitches from Curt,” said Owen, “but they worked hard to earn our business. They just blew us away with their customer service.”
Reality check: learning to grow smart
Many things in Texas are super-sized. Austin boasts the largest state capitol building in the U.S. The King Ranch, near Corpus Christi, is bigger than the state of Rhode Island. And in true Texas style, Owen thinks big as well. He has always envisioned being a major player in the hitch market.
Having earned an associate degree in business administration while attending night school at San Jacinto Community College, Owen started by creating a business plan. The purpose: To put his vision into focus. His goal: To have stores in 10 or more states within 10 years.
He embarked on his expansion plan with a 6,000 square foot store in Arlington, a Dallas suburb. Owen then added stores in San Antonio and Austin, plus two more in Houston. One is a 15,000 square foot flagship facility. It boasts a 10,000 square foot showroom chock-full of trailer hitches, fifth wheels and related components along with toolboxes, racks, custom wheels, tires, flip-down TVs and more.
Corporate headquarters were next relocated from Pasadena to Rosenberg, an upscale Houston community. The 7,100 square foot facility includes a showroom and four bays. It also serves as home to the company’s Internet sales operation, which is run as a separate business. An adjacent warehouse supplies all of the Discount Hitch stores. More recently, Owen opened new facilities in Austin and the Dallas suburb of Lewisville.
“Our Houston super store is the only one that has the capability to do more things, like tires and wheels,” said Owen. “The rest of the stores primarily do hitches, fifth wheels and a few truck accessories, such as nerf bars, bike racks and tool boxes. That’s the key part of our business. Internet sales have also become a huge part of our business, more than $1 million in sales in the last year and a half. A lot of that has to do with our customer service,” he added. “We drop ship to the customer’s house, offer same-day delivery and free freight over $75. Overall, our business just keeps growing.”
While Owen has kept busy expanding his Texas-based empire, he still had his eye on other markets. During the 1990s he opened stores in Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma, Colorado and elsewhere. The Florida store flourished and was immensely profitable selling just hitches and related products. But then things took an unexpected turn.
“We can go in and dominate a market based on being really good at what we do. But, for some reason, we decided to go into the truck-accessory business,” said Owen. “We leased and moved to a huge property. We had the commitment from our hitch vendors, but not from truck-accessory suppliers. So we did well with hitches, but terribly on truck accessories.” The end result: After five years, Owen closed the Florida operation.
“Our Atlanta store did really well, because we kept it small and focused on our key strengths. But both stores were so far away that once we closed the Florida store, we closed Atlanta, even though it was very profitable.”
He had a similar experience in Colorado and Oklahoma. The Denver operation was hugely successful. The one in Oklahoma City was not. It was a different market and a different clientele. “Oklahoma City is only two hours from Dallas, but people there are totally different, and we were not willing to adjust,” said Owen. So once again, he pulled in his horns, and closed both locations.
The lessons learned proved valuable, and Owen believes others can benefit from his mistakes. “At one time, we had 17 locations and our sales were over $25 million a year. We thought that was the greatest thing in the world. But my Dad always said it’s not about how much you gross, it’s about how much you’ve got in your pocket.
“The biggest challenge was we grew fast, but we didn’t grow smart. It’s not about being in seven states. It’s about doing a great job in the markets where we’re strong. The hardest part has been admitting that we had to refocus and do it right.”
Ever the optimist, Owen continues to see room for growth. He plans to open two more stores in Texas this year, and still has his eye on Denver. “Our plan is to dominate the Dallas-Ft. Worth market,” said Owen, who noted that the new Lewisville store, which opened in 2009, has been successful since day one. “Denver is still on our radar for the future,” he added, “because it’s such a good place to do business.”
Team building, vendor relationships, and added value
Just as Rome wasn’t built in a day, Discount Hitch wasn’t built singlehandedly. In fact, Owen believes his employees are his most valuable asset. It is through their dedication, skills and initiative that his company has prospered and continues to move ahead. “The key to our company is our employees,” said Owen. “I give them all the credit in the world,” he added, noting that his wife, Janica -- who runs the Internet sales operation -- is the backbone of the business.”
To ensure that employees have the resources, knowledge and expertise to succeed, Owen implemented a training program, spearheaded by his brother, Doug. As a first step, new employees first work at the corporate headquarters in Rosenberg, where they undergo extensive training and have to pass a written test.
The process covers such key elements as understanding how to correctly handle paperwork, learning technical skills, acquiring product knowledge and mastering the essentials of good customer service -- knowing how to properly meet, greet and engage customers. Employees also learn if there’s a problem, it’s up to them to find a solution. “No one is going to micromanage them,” said Owen. “If they mess up, they mess up. It empowers them to be like the owner.”
Many of Owen’s employees have worked at Discount Hitch for years, even decades. By providing growth opportunities, he rewards both their loyalty and their expertise.
The shop foreman at the Rosenberg store, for instance, started out 14 years ago as a trainee and worked his way up. The manager who runs the new Houston “super store” began pushing a broom while still in high school and is now married with four children. “It’s important to create opportunities where they can realize their potential,” said Owen.
He gave his eldest son an even greater opportunity. Nicholas Owen, now 30, got his start in the business as a youngster sorting nuts and bolts. Two years ago, his father gave him the chance to own two stores, one in Austin, the other in San Antonio. But there was a catch. He first had to prove his ability to run them successfully. He did just that and now owns both stores. Said Owen: “Nick loves the truck accessory business and has always had a passion for it. He does a really outstanding job and is making a killing.”
Just as skilled employees are essential to the company’s success, so, too, are quality vendors. As Owen sees it, quality trumps price every time. “One of the keys to our company is that we’ve always sold quality products. We never would buy from the cheapest manufacturer, always the best manufacturer.”
Even in the ’80s, when there were numerous hitch companies competing for market share, Owen was savvy enough to know that buying cheaper products would be a problem. “We’re in it for the long haul. If you’re going to be a successful businessperson, you need to partner with very good vendors, with good product and good customer support. When you work with good vendors that are on top of their game, it helps you stay on top of yours.”
Targeted marketing reaps benefits
For a company to become known as a market leader, it has to do a lot of things right. One of the areas where Discount Hitch excels is in its marketing strategy. From trade shows and open houses to advertising and community involvement, Owen puts Discount Hitch front and center.
One his most successful ventures targets the RV and outdoor-activities market. The company has a long history of exhibiting at RV, hunting and fishing shows held throughout the state. The shows typically attract enthusiasts, outdoorsmen and mainstream consumers, and are an effective way to build the company’s image and drum up future business. Employees hand out business cards and a glossy, product-filled, 600-page catalog to qualified customers. “We do well at the shows, because we project an image that we’re professional,” said Owen.
The shows also have proven fruitful in another way. Over the years, Owen also has built relationships with many of the RV manufacturers. By offering them a discounted labor rate on hitch installations, Discount Hitch generates an additional revenue stream. “They send us referrals year ’round, and it keeps us really busy,” said Owen. The work also helps to spark future business. “Because we do the installations quickly and do them right, the customers are impressed with our work. The next time, they think of us when they buy another RV.”
To reach a broader audience, Owen advertises on sports-radio stations in his primary markets. As part of his effort to target the state’s large Latino community -- which includes having a bi-lingual manager or assistant manager in every store -- he also advertises on Spanish-language radio stations.
Discount Hitch hosts open houses as well. At a recent event, Owen brought in a pro football player to sign autographs. Employees gave away T-shirts and tickets to a local NFL game. Other activities included a football throwing contest, and for the children, a special guest appearance by Spiderman.
“The radio advertising and open houses give us a lot of exposure,” said Owen. “Having Spanish-speaking people on staff can also make some customers feel more comfortable. We try to tailor our efforts to the audience we’re trying to attract, and it works.”
Owen is also community-minded. A life-long baseball fan, he advertises with Little League teams and encourages his store managers to support high school sports teams in their communities. He’s also coached and held fundraisers for a Little League division for disabled children, and runs ads in local high school yearbooks.
“I don’t do it for the recognition. I believe you’ve got to give back to the community,” said Owen. “That’s a marketing concept that a lot of folks don’t use. It shows a community spirit and our customers recognize that.”
Recipe for success
Much has been written and said over the past few years about the toll the economic downturn has taken on the automotive industry. It’s also had a trickle-down effect on the specialty equipment market, particularly the truck-accessory segment where many companies have struggled to deal with fewer sales and skimpier margins. Not so the case at Discount Hitch.
“I think anybody who complains about the economy needs to step back and evaluate what they may be doing wrong and make progress on that. You can’t be afraid to make decisions. The customers are out there. You just have to be willing to do what it takes to get them to come through the front door.”
It’s also a matter of due diligence, looking at what can be done to improve processes and streamline the operation. In Owen’s case, despite the sluggish economy, the company has experienced dramatic growth, which he attributes to paying more attention to business basics.
“Store for store, we had a 52 percent growth. Of course, we have new locations. But I believe we’ve had great growth because we decided to buckle down -- look at how we could be more efficient and do a better job than we did before -- and we’ve gained market share. We’re already looking for 2011 to be better than 2010.”
The story of Discount Hitch & Truck Accessories is a chronicle of how one young man with big dreams and a passion for his life’s work has created a company and a corporate culture that places high value on its employees and its customers. For Kenny Owen, it’s a proven recipe for success.
After 37 years in the business, Owen still derives satisfaction from going to work each day. For him it is, and always has been, a labor of love. “I still wake up every day with a passion for what I do,” he said. “I still want to make progress, do a better job today than I did yesterday, take care of my employees and do what’s right for our customers. If you go out and do a better job than you did before, people will respond and you’ll gain market share.”
As J. Willard Marriott Jr., head of the Marriott hotel chain, once said, “Motivate them, train them, care about them and make winners out of them… they’ll treat customers right. And if customers are treated right, they’ll come back.”
www.discounthitches.com 1-800-841-4661
“The environment you create, whether for the consumer or your employees, is important. Cleanliness shows professionalism and the culture of the workplace. When consumers go to Discount Hitch, they can watch TV; there are reading materials, and the bathrooms are well kept and well appointed. The employees are well dressed, knowledgeable, and they look professional. That brings customers back and shows a lot of pride in the business.
“All the people in the organization know towing inside and out. What they do best is set the standard for working with consumers to help them through the purchase and put together a whole towing system. They set a high bar.”
A customer-driven culture builds reputation, repeat business
Setting the bar high is all in a day’s work at Discount Hitch & Truck Accessories. From employee training to partnering with quality-minded suppliers to branding the company’s image and running a streamlined operation, owner Kenny Owen strives to do a better job every day. Especially when it comes to customer service.
The company’s mission statement says it best: “At Discount Hitch & Truck Accessories we are customer driven. Our single most important mission is to provide the highest standard of customer excellence. It means ensuring your total satisfaction by making every experience at Discount Hitch & Truck Accessories a pleasant and rewarding one.”
While a product or price advantage may be duplicated, it’s not easy to replicate a solid customer-service culture. From Owen’s perspective, the focus on superior customer service is a proven ingredient in the company’s evolution, helping to build its reputation and repeat business.
“My philosophy is you’ve got to put yourself in your customers’ shoes,” said Owen. “We try to make people feel at home. There are fresh flowers, music, Wi-Fi and leather couches in the waiting rooms. I’m proud that you can eat off the floor in any of our stores. We shake people’s hands, ask how they’re doing, and walk them through the process. We want people to think they’re getting a great product at a great price from a great place. It’s a lot like going to a nice restaurant. If the food is good, the beer is cold and everybody makes you feel welcome, you don’t mind spending money and you’ll go back.”
The proof is in the pudding. From a small, single store operation with three employees who specialized in custom-built hitches, Discount Hitch has grown by leaps and bounds.
Recognized as a market leader -- the place to go in Texas for hitch and hitch-related products -- Discount Hitch attracts a loyal retail following that accounts for 90 percent of the company’s sales, the remainder comprised of auto dealerships, RV manufacturers and fleet accounts. To handle the volume of business, they now have 47 employees who staff eight locations scattered throughout the Lone Star State as well as a successful online sales operation.
Evolution from hand-made to ready-made
Owen’s roots in the business go back to his high school days in the mid-’70s. He worked part time for a local tool and U-Haul rental business in the Houston suburb of Pasadena, where he and the owner produced hand-made hitches for cars. They eventually began purchasing a few ready-made hitches and the business started to grow. When the owner decided to retire in 1982, he made Owen an offer he couldn’t refuse. They closed the deal within four days.
From the get-go, Owen focused his sights on trailer hitches and a handful of truck accessories. He changed the name from Pasadena Moving Center to Discount Hitch, eliminated the rental equipment, hired his younger brother, Doug, and his brother’s best friend, and set about building hitches.
The company started out catering to a local clientele keen on fishing and hunting, and in need of hitches. The three-man team worked around the clock building an average of 100 hitches per day. “We did whatever it took to get the company started,” recalled Owen. “Back then, the hitch industry was just beginning. There were only about 25 popular part numbers. We built all of the hitches from scratch. It wasn’t a big investment. Now, there are over 1,200 part numbers. It’s amazing how the industry has changed.”
And so has Owen’s business. Recognizing the growth potential as the truck market surged, he slowly began buying ready-made hitches direct from a manufacturer to augment his custom-hitch business. “That,” said Owen, “was how we got on the map. Here we were with a one-store operation, and we were going gangbusters. We were doing numbers in the quarter-million dollar range.”
That drew the attention of another hitch supplier. Though reluctant to switch vendors, Owen was ultimately convinced when the company’s rep showed him how much money he could save by purchasing ready-made hitches instead of building his own. The company also provided the training and insight needed to grow the business.
“They did a good job of teaching us how to do better, to do things the right way,” said Owen. “They showed us what markets we could make money in and what markets we should avoid. They had that knowledge and we didn’t, so it really helped us going forward.”
A few years later, Discount Hitch was approached by Curt Manufacturing. Though already doing some business with Curt, Owen decided to switch vendors again. “At the time, we were only buying colored hitches from Curt,” said Owen, “but they worked hard to earn our business. They just blew us away with their customer service.”
Reality check: learning to grow smart
Many things in Texas are super-sized. Austin boasts the largest state capitol building in the U.S. The King Ranch, near Corpus Christi, is bigger than the state of Rhode Island. And in true Texas style, Owen thinks big as well. He has always envisioned being a major player in the hitch market.
Having earned an associate degree in business administration while attending night school at San Jacinto Community College, Owen started by creating a business plan. The purpose: To put his vision into focus. His goal: To have stores in 10 or more states within 10 years.
He embarked on his expansion plan with a 6,000 square foot store in Arlington, a Dallas suburb. Owen then added stores in San Antonio and Austin, plus two more in Houston. One is a 15,000 square foot flagship facility. It boasts a 10,000 square foot showroom chock-full of trailer hitches, fifth wheels and related components along with toolboxes, racks, custom wheels, tires, flip-down TVs and more.
Corporate headquarters were next relocated from Pasadena to Rosenberg, an upscale Houston community. The 7,100 square foot facility includes a showroom and four bays. It also serves as home to the company’s Internet sales operation, which is run as a separate business. An adjacent warehouse supplies all of the Discount Hitch stores. More recently, Owen opened new facilities in Austin and the Dallas suburb of Lewisville.
“Our Houston super store is the only one that has the capability to do more things, like tires and wheels,” said Owen. “The rest of the stores primarily do hitches, fifth wheels and a few truck accessories, such as nerf bars, bike racks and tool boxes. That’s the key part of our business. Internet sales have also become a huge part of our business, more than $1 million in sales in the last year and a half. A lot of that has to do with our customer service,” he added. “We drop ship to the customer’s house, offer same-day delivery and free freight over $75. Overall, our business just keeps growing.”
While Owen has kept busy expanding his Texas-based empire, he still had his eye on other markets. During the 1990s he opened stores in Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma, Colorado and elsewhere. The Florida store flourished and was immensely profitable selling just hitches and related products. But then things took an unexpected turn.
“We can go in and dominate a market based on being really good at what we do. But, for some reason, we decided to go into the truck-accessory business,” said Owen. “We leased and moved to a huge property. We had the commitment from our hitch vendors, but not from truck-accessory suppliers. So we did well with hitches, but terribly on truck accessories.” The end result: After five years, Owen closed the Florida operation.
“Our Atlanta store did really well, because we kept it small and focused on our key strengths. But both stores were so far away that once we closed the Florida store, we closed Atlanta, even though it was very profitable.”
He had a similar experience in Colorado and Oklahoma. The Denver operation was hugely successful. The one in Oklahoma City was not. It was a different market and a different clientele. “Oklahoma City is only two hours from Dallas, but people there are totally different, and we were not willing to adjust,” said Owen. So once again, he pulled in his horns, and closed both locations.
The lessons learned proved valuable, and Owen believes others can benefit from his mistakes. “At one time, we had 17 locations and our sales were over $25 million a year. We thought that was the greatest thing in the world. But my Dad always said it’s not about how much you gross, it’s about how much you’ve got in your pocket.
“The biggest challenge was we grew fast, but we didn’t grow smart. It’s not about being in seven states. It’s about doing a great job in the markets where we’re strong. The hardest part has been admitting that we had to refocus and do it right.”
Ever the optimist, Owen continues to see room for growth. He plans to open two more stores in Texas this year, and still has his eye on Denver. “Our plan is to dominate the Dallas-Ft. Worth market,” said Owen, who noted that the new Lewisville store, which opened in 2009, has been successful since day one. “Denver is still on our radar for the future,” he added, “because it’s such a good place to do business.”
Team building, vendor relationships, and added value
Just as Rome wasn’t built in a day, Discount Hitch wasn’t built singlehandedly. In fact, Owen believes his employees are his most valuable asset. It is through their dedication, skills and initiative that his company has prospered and continues to move ahead. “The key to our company is our employees,” said Owen. “I give them all the credit in the world,” he added, noting that his wife, Janica -- who runs the Internet sales operation -- is the backbone of the business.”
To ensure that employees have the resources, knowledge and expertise to succeed, Owen implemented a training program, spearheaded by his brother, Doug. As a first step, new employees first work at the corporate headquarters in Rosenberg, where they undergo extensive training and have to pass a written test.
The process covers such key elements as understanding how to correctly handle paperwork, learning technical skills, acquiring product knowledge and mastering the essentials of good customer service -- knowing how to properly meet, greet and engage customers. Employees also learn if there’s a problem, it’s up to them to find a solution. “No one is going to micromanage them,” said Owen. “If they mess up, they mess up. It empowers them to be like the owner.”
Many of Owen’s employees have worked at Discount Hitch for years, even decades. By providing growth opportunities, he rewards both their loyalty and their expertise.
The shop foreman at the Rosenberg store, for instance, started out 14 years ago as a trainee and worked his way up. The manager who runs the new Houston “super store” began pushing a broom while still in high school and is now married with four children. “It’s important to create opportunities where they can realize their potential,” said Owen.
He gave his eldest son an even greater opportunity. Nicholas Owen, now 30, got his start in the business as a youngster sorting nuts and bolts. Two years ago, his father gave him the chance to own two stores, one in Austin, the other in San Antonio. But there was a catch. He first had to prove his ability to run them successfully. He did just that and now owns both stores. Said Owen: “Nick loves the truck accessory business and has always had a passion for it. He does a really outstanding job and is making a killing.”
Just as skilled employees are essential to the company’s success, so, too, are quality vendors. As Owen sees it, quality trumps price every time. “One of the keys to our company is that we’ve always sold quality products. We never would buy from the cheapest manufacturer, always the best manufacturer.”
Even in the ’80s, when there were numerous hitch companies competing for market share, Owen was savvy enough to know that buying cheaper products would be a problem. “We’re in it for the long haul. If you’re going to be a successful businessperson, you need to partner with very good vendors, with good product and good customer support. When you work with good vendors that are on top of their game, it helps you stay on top of yours.”
Targeted marketing reaps benefits
For a company to become known as a market leader, it has to do a lot of things right. One of the areas where Discount Hitch excels is in its marketing strategy. From trade shows and open houses to advertising and community involvement, Owen puts Discount Hitch front and center.
One his most successful ventures targets the RV and outdoor-activities market. The company has a long history of exhibiting at RV, hunting and fishing shows held throughout the state. The shows typically attract enthusiasts, outdoorsmen and mainstream consumers, and are an effective way to build the company’s image and drum up future business. Employees hand out business cards and a glossy, product-filled, 600-page catalog to qualified customers. “We do well at the shows, because we project an image that we’re professional,” said Owen.
The shows also have proven fruitful in another way. Over the years, Owen also has built relationships with many of the RV manufacturers. By offering them a discounted labor rate on hitch installations, Discount Hitch generates an additional revenue stream. “They send us referrals year ’round, and it keeps us really busy,” said Owen. The work also helps to spark future business. “Because we do the installations quickly and do them right, the customers are impressed with our work. The next time, they think of us when they buy another RV.”
To reach a broader audience, Owen advertises on sports-radio stations in his primary markets. As part of his effort to target the state’s large Latino community -- which includes having a bi-lingual manager or assistant manager in every store -- he also advertises on Spanish-language radio stations.
Discount Hitch hosts open houses as well. At a recent event, Owen brought in a pro football player to sign autographs. Employees gave away T-shirts and tickets to a local NFL game. Other activities included a football throwing contest, and for the children, a special guest appearance by Spiderman.
“The radio advertising and open houses give us a lot of exposure,” said Owen. “Having Spanish-speaking people on staff can also make some customers feel more comfortable. We try to tailor our efforts to the audience we’re trying to attract, and it works.”
Owen is also community-minded. A life-long baseball fan, he advertises with Little League teams and encourages his store managers to support high school sports teams in their communities. He’s also coached and held fundraisers for a Little League division for disabled children, and runs ads in local high school yearbooks.
“I don’t do it for the recognition. I believe you’ve got to give back to the community,” said Owen. “That’s a marketing concept that a lot of folks don’t use. It shows a community spirit and our customers recognize that.”
Recipe for success
Much has been written and said over the past few years about the toll the economic downturn has taken on the automotive industry. It’s also had a trickle-down effect on the specialty equipment market, particularly the truck-accessory segment where many companies have struggled to deal with fewer sales and skimpier margins. Not so the case at Discount Hitch.
“I think anybody who complains about the economy needs to step back and evaluate what they may be doing wrong and make progress on that. You can’t be afraid to make decisions. The customers are out there. You just have to be willing to do what it takes to get them to come through the front door.”
It’s also a matter of due diligence, looking at what can be done to improve processes and streamline the operation. In Owen’s case, despite the sluggish economy, the company has experienced dramatic growth, which he attributes to paying more attention to business basics.
“Store for store, we had a 52 percent growth. Of course, we have new locations. But I believe we’ve had great growth because we decided to buckle down -- look at how we could be more efficient and do a better job than we did before -- and we’ve gained market share. We’re already looking for 2011 to be better than 2010.”
The story of Discount Hitch & Truck Accessories is a chronicle of how one young man with big dreams and a passion for his life’s work has created a company and a corporate culture that places high value on its employees and its customers. For Kenny Owen, it’s a proven recipe for success.
After 37 years in the business, Owen still derives satisfaction from going to work each day. For him it is, and always has been, a labor of love. “I still wake up every day with a passion for what I do,” he said. “I still want to make progress, do a better job today than I did yesterday, take care of my employees and do what’s right for our customers. If you go out and do a better job than you did before, people will respond and you’ll gain market share.”
As J. Willard Marriott Jr., head of the Marriott hotel chain, once said, “Motivate them, train them, care about them and make winners out of them… they’ll treat customers right. And if customers are treated right, they’ll come back.”
www.discounthitches.com 1-800-841-4661
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Different Types of Trailer Hitches at Discount Hitch & Truck Accessories http://www.discounthitches.com/
When you go shopping for towing equipment, one of the most bewildering choices you face is selecting a hitch. There are many different options available, and it's easy to become confused about the details of each kind and class of hitch.
The most common trailer hitch classes, with information about the maximum trailer weight and tongue weight allowed. In this figure "WC" stands for "Weight Carrying," meaning a basic ball mount and coupler. The "WD" ratings are higher, and those limits require you to use a Weight Distributing ball mount. "TW" stands for Tongue Weight, which is the weight on the trailer coupler when the trailer is fully loaded.
Class 1 Through Class 5 Trailer Hitch Receivers
The receivers are the most commonly used towing solution. However, both lighter and heavier-duty options are also available. The following definitions will help you understand the full range of options. The definitions are listed in order from lightest duty to heaviest, followed by definitions for Weight Carrying and Weight Distributing hitches and Front Mount receivers.
Bumper Mount
The most basic trailer hitch for a passenger car, SUV, or truck is simply the vehicle's bumper. Most truck bumpers and many SUV bumpers come equipped with a hole in the center of the bumper sized to accommodate a standard trailer ball. If your trailer needs are limited to less than 1,000 pounds and 100 pounds of tongue weight, this style of hookup and some basic wiring may be all that you need. Although some bumpers are rated for towing, use caution and never exceed the capacity of the lowest rated towing component.
Bumper Hitch
One of the problems with a Bumper Mount for a trailer ball is that unless you purchase a quick-change trailer ball, you're limited to one ball size. Sooner or later, you'll need to tow a trailer with a different-sized coupler. A light-duty solution is a basic bumper hitch. These devices are available in a variety of designs that bolt to your vehicle's bumper and provide a standard 2-inch ball mount receiver and safety chain attachment points. While these devices resemble a class 1-5 hitch, remember that they do not add any weight-bearing capacity to your vehicle. Your basic bumper rating is still in effect. Weight distribution hitches cannot be used in conjunction with this type of hitch.
Class 1-2 Receivers
These light-duty receivers are generally designed for passenger cars and smaller Crossover SUVs, but can be found for many makes and models. These classes use a smaller 1 ¼-inch receiver tube for the ball mount. Class 1 hitches are rated to tow trailers up to 2,000 pounds with 200 pounds of tongue weight, and Class 2 can handle 3,500 pound trailers with 350 pounds of tongue weight. It's important to remember, however, that these hitches do not increase the total weight that a given vehicle can tow.
Class 3 Receivers
The most common receiver class installed on full-size pickup trucks and SUVs. If your full-size truck is equipped with a tow package, it's probably a Class 3. These receivers have a 2-inch square receiver tube. Class 3 receivers can handle up to 8,000 pound trailers and 800 pounds of tongue weight with a weight carrying ball mount, or up to 12,000 pounds and 1,200 pounds of tongue weight with a weight distributing hitch. This generally exceeds the towing capacities of most non-commercial vehicles, so a Class 3 hitch is rarely the limiting factor when towing.
Class 4-5 Receivers
Add new XD hitches and include increased capacity in copy below.
These receivers are the heaviest-duty trailer hitches that can be installed at the rear of a tow vehicle. A Class 4 hitch can carry 10,000 pounds and 1,000 pounds of tongue weight with a weight carrying hitch, or up to 12,000 and 1,200 pounds with a weight distributing hitch. Class 5 receivers can carry up to 14,000 pounds and 1,400 pounds tongue weight. Need to correct the following sentence - Class 4 & 5 receivers use the same 2-inch receiver tube as a Class 3, but some Class 5 receivers use a 2 ½-inch receiver tube. To go beyond the capacity of a Class V receiver, you need to install a Gooseneck or Fifth Wheel design that places the trailer's tongue weight in front of a pickup truck's rear axle.
Fifth Wheel Hitch
These heavy-duty hitches mount in a pickup or commercial truck bed forward of the rear axle. Fifth wheel hitches are similar in design to those used by commercial 18-wheeler tractor-trailer rigs. Fifth wheel trailer capacities range from 16,000 to 30,000 pounds and up to 5,000 pounds of pin weight (tongue weight), depending on the design of the hitch, and the rating by the manufacturer. Fifth wheel hitches are commonly used in large campers, or travel trailers, and car haulers. Fifth wheel trailers are prized for their ease of maneuverability and stability, which is why they're a common choice for large campers. Most fifth wheel hitches have some "pivot" capability to absorb bumps and contours of the road. Fifth wheel hitches are the only type of hitch where the coupling device is part of the hitch and not the trailer.
Gooseneck Hitch
Like the fifth wheel, this hitch design moves the trailer's tongue weight forward of a pickup truck's rear axle. The Gooseneck ball mounts vertically on the truck bed. Some designs can be folded down or quickly removed to allow full access to the truck bed when the trailer is not hooked up. Only trailers designed for use with a Gooseneck hitch can connect to this style of hitch, and they cannot connect to any other style of hitch.
Typical applications for a gooseneck include livestock trailers, car & toy haulers, and industrial/commercial trailers. Gooseneck hitches can haul up to about 30,000 pound trailers with 6,000 pounds of tongue weight. Goosenecks are typically installed on 1-ton trucks with dually (4 wheel) rear axles to handle that level of weight. Gooseneck hitches cannot be installed on passenger cars, SUVs, vans, or RVs, but are frequently installed on commercial truck conversions.
Weight Carrying Hitch
Any ball mount inserted into a receiver of any class, or a ball installed on a bumper or bumper hitch is considered a weight carrying hitch. The name means that all of the trailer's tongue weight is being carried on the ball and receiver. Tongue weight is one of the key limits to any receiver's towing capability, so weight carrying hitches cannot pull as much trailer weight as a weight distributing hitch installed on the same receiver. Weight distributing hitches add stability and increase the towing capacity of most weight carrying hitches.
Weight Distributing Hitch
A weight distributing hitch (also called a "load equalizing hitch") is designed to distribute the tongue weight of a trailer across all four wheels of the tow vehicle. Weight distributing hitches are used in the same Class 3-5 receivers as a weight carrying hitch. Any vehicle with a Class 3-5 receiver can use a weight distributing hitch. There are a couple of key differences between these units and weight carrying models. The main difference is that a weight distributing hitch uses long rods called "spring bars" ( #2 on the schematic above) to exert leverage on your tow vehicle's frame, transferring some of the tongue weight to the vehicle's forward wheels. Without a weight distributing hitch, heavy tongue weight tends to lift the tow vehicle's front wheels and weigh down the vehicle's rear end. With a weight distributing hitch, your entire towing rig will ride level and be more stable on the road. Weight distributing hitches are also adjustable for different trailer heights. You can also add sway controllers to a weight distributing hitch. While WD hitches can help reduce some sway, they are not sway controls themselves. Only a sway control can significantly reduce or eliminate sway.
Front Mount Hitch
For certain applications, having a trailer hitch receiver at the front of your vehicle may be convenient. For example, a front-mounted hitch allows you to easily use a boat ramp by maintaining close control of your trailer. Front mount hitches may be of any class, and are easily installed on most full-size pickup trucks, vans and SUVs.
Discount Curt Trailer Hitches & Truck Accessories
www.discounthitches.com
1-800-841-4661
When you go shopping for towing equipment, one of the most bewildering choices you face is selecting a hitch. There are many different options available, and it's easy to become confused about the details of each kind and class of hitch.
The most common trailer hitch classes, with information about the maximum trailer weight and tongue weight allowed. In this figure "WC" stands for "Weight Carrying," meaning a basic ball mount and coupler. The "WD" ratings are higher, and those limits require you to use a Weight Distributing ball mount. "TW" stands for Tongue Weight, which is the weight on the trailer coupler when the trailer is fully loaded.
Class 1 Through Class 5 Trailer Hitch Receivers
The receivers are the most commonly used towing solution. However, both lighter and heavier-duty options are also available. The following definitions will help you understand the full range of options. The definitions are listed in order from lightest duty to heaviest, followed by definitions for Weight Carrying and Weight Distributing hitches and Front Mount receivers.
Bumper Mount
The most basic trailer hitch for a passenger car, SUV, or truck is simply the vehicle's bumper. Most truck bumpers and many SUV bumpers come equipped with a hole in the center of the bumper sized to accommodate a standard trailer ball. If your trailer needs are limited to less than 1,000 pounds and 100 pounds of tongue weight, this style of hookup and some basic wiring may be all that you need. Although some bumpers are rated for towing, use caution and never exceed the capacity of the lowest rated towing component.
Bumper Hitch
One of the problems with a Bumper Mount for a trailer ball is that unless you purchase a quick-change trailer ball, you're limited to one ball size. Sooner or later, you'll need to tow a trailer with a different-sized coupler. A light-duty solution is a basic bumper hitch. These devices are available in a variety of designs that bolt to your vehicle's bumper and provide a standard 2-inch ball mount receiver and safety chain attachment points. While these devices resemble a class 1-5 hitch, remember that they do not add any weight-bearing capacity to your vehicle. Your basic bumper rating is still in effect. Weight distribution hitches cannot be used in conjunction with this type of hitch.
Class 1-2 Receivers
These light-duty receivers are generally designed for passenger cars and smaller Crossover SUVs, but can be found for many makes and models. These classes use a smaller 1 ¼-inch receiver tube for the ball mount. Class 1 hitches are rated to tow trailers up to 2,000 pounds with 200 pounds of tongue weight, and Class 2 can handle 3,500 pound trailers with 350 pounds of tongue weight. It's important to remember, however, that these hitches do not increase the total weight that a given vehicle can tow.
Class 3 Receivers
The most common receiver class installed on full-size pickup trucks and SUVs. If your full-size truck is equipped with a tow package, it's probably a Class 3. These receivers have a 2-inch square receiver tube. Class 3 receivers can handle up to 8,000 pound trailers and 800 pounds of tongue weight with a weight carrying ball mount, or up to 12,000 pounds and 1,200 pounds of tongue weight with a weight distributing hitch. This generally exceeds the towing capacities of most non-commercial vehicles, so a Class 3 hitch is rarely the limiting factor when towing.
Class 4-5 Receivers
Add new XD hitches and include increased capacity in copy below.
These receivers are the heaviest-duty trailer hitches that can be installed at the rear of a tow vehicle. A Class 4 hitch can carry 10,000 pounds and 1,000 pounds of tongue weight with a weight carrying hitch, or up to 12,000 and 1,200 pounds with a weight distributing hitch. Class 5 receivers can carry up to 14,000 pounds and 1,400 pounds tongue weight. Need to correct the following sentence - Class 4 & 5 receivers use the same 2-inch receiver tube as a Class 3, but some Class 5 receivers use a 2 ½-inch receiver tube. To go beyond the capacity of a Class V receiver, you need to install a Gooseneck or Fifth Wheel design that places the trailer's tongue weight in front of a pickup truck's rear axle.
Fifth Wheel Hitch
These heavy-duty hitches mount in a pickup or commercial truck bed forward of the rear axle. Fifth wheel hitches are similar in design to those used by commercial 18-wheeler tractor-trailer rigs. Fifth wheel trailer capacities range from 16,000 to 30,000 pounds and up to 5,000 pounds of pin weight (tongue weight), depending on the design of the hitch, and the rating by the manufacturer. Fifth wheel hitches are commonly used in large campers, or travel trailers, and car haulers. Fifth wheel trailers are prized for their ease of maneuverability and stability, which is why they're a common choice for large campers. Most fifth wheel hitches have some "pivot" capability to absorb bumps and contours of the road. Fifth wheel hitches are the only type of hitch where the coupling device is part of the hitch and not the trailer.
Gooseneck Hitch
Like the fifth wheel, this hitch design moves the trailer's tongue weight forward of a pickup truck's rear axle. The Gooseneck ball mounts vertically on the truck bed. Some designs can be folded down or quickly removed to allow full access to the truck bed when the trailer is not hooked up. Only trailers designed for use with a Gooseneck hitch can connect to this style of hitch, and they cannot connect to any other style of hitch.
Typical applications for a gooseneck include livestock trailers, car & toy haulers, and industrial/commercial trailers. Gooseneck hitches can haul up to about 30,000 pound trailers with 6,000 pounds of tongue weight. Goosenecks are typically installed on 1-ton trucks with dually (4 wheel) rear axles to handle that level of weight. Gooseneck hitches cannot be installed on passenger cars, SUVs, vans, or RVs, but are frequently installed on commercial truck conversions.
Weight Carrying Hitch
Any ball mount inserted into a receiver of any class, or a ball installed on a bumper or bumper hitch is considered a weight carrying hitch. The name means that all of the trailer's tongue weight is being carried on the ball and receiver. Tongue weight is one of the key limits to any receiver's towing capability, so weight carrying hitches cannot pull as much trailer weight as a weight distributing hitch installed on the same receiver. Weight distributing hitches add stability and increase the towing capacity of most weight carrying hitches.
Weight Distributing Hitch
A weight distributing hitch (also called a "load equalizing hitch") is designed to distribute the tongue weight of a trailer across all four wheels of the tow vehicle. Weight distributing hitches are used in the same Class 3-5 receivers as a weight carrying hitch. Any vehicle with a Class 3-5 receiver can use a weight distributing hitch. There are a couple of key differences between these units and weight carrying models. The main difference is that a weight distributing hitch uses long rods called "spring bars" ( #2 on the schematic above) to exert leverage on your tow vehicle's frame, transferring some of the tongue weight to the vehicle's forward wheels. Without a weight distributing hitch, heavy tongue weight tends to lift the tow vehicle's front wheels and weigh down the vehicle's rear end. With a weight distributing hitch, your entire towing rig will ride level and be more stable on the road. Weight distributing hitches are also adjustable for different trailer heights. You can also add sway controllers to a weight distributing hitch. While WD hitches can help reduce some sway, they are not sway controls themselves. Only a sway control can significantly reduce or eliminate sway.
Front Mount Hitch
For certain applications, having a trailer hitch receiver at the front of your vehicle may be convenient. For example, a front-mounted hitch allows you to easily use a boat ramp by maintaining close control of your trailer. Front mount hitches may be of any class, and are easily installed on most full-size pickup trucks, vans and SUVs.
Discount Curt Trailer Hitches & Truck Accessories
www.discounthitches.com
1-800-841-4661
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
AM I CAPABLE OF INSTALLING A TRAILER HITCH?
Am I capable of installing a trailer hitch myself? Were not talking about putting together toys on Christmas morning or fixing your kids bike, a trailer hitch is part of a larger picture. It is one of the most important parts of a towing system. It must be installed correctly and to the manufacturer’s specifications. Anything short of this is dangerous and you should know what you are getting into before you consider purchasing the trailer hitch to attempt the installation of the hitch yourself.
Here is a list of things you can do to help you make your decision-
1. Print out the manufacturer’s instruction sheet for the hitch you are considering to purchase (available at www.discounthitches.com). Each trailer hitch will be different and each installation will vary on installation time, materials required, and level of expertise. Take a look at it, visualize the installation and ask yourself if you can are capable of the requirements.
2. Look on the manufacturer’s instruction sheet and see how long it should take to install the hitch. Trailer hitches come in different shapes, sizes and difficulty of installation. Some require no drilling with a quick installation time period, where others require drilling and a longer install time. This may aid you in the decision of installing the trailer hitch yourself.
3. Make sure you have all the tools necessary to complete the installation. You can usually do this by looking at the vehicle and the “Tools Required” section on the manufacturer’s instruction sheet.
4. Do you have a torque wrench or have access to one if required to complete the installation?
5. Do you possess the skills necessary to complete the installation? If you are a mechanically inclined person or a mechanic than you probably do. However, if the installation and the manufacturer’s instructions look like it is more than you can handle, consult the local professional and let them install the hitch for you.
If you decide to attempt the trailer hitch installation yourself and have any questions along the way, give us a call. We’ll help you out even if you didn’t buy it from us. Remember to always consult a professional with questions you may have and follow manufacturer’s instructions with your trailer hitch installation.
Discount Hitch & Truck Accessories offers expert installation & repair of all truck hitches and accessories for your vehicle even if you didn't buy them from us. Call us at 1-800-841-4661 or visit us online at www.discounthitches.com where we offer the lowest prices available and FREE SHIPPING!
Here is a list of things you can do to help you make your decision-
1. Print out the manufacturer’s instruction sheet for the hitch you are considering to purchase (available at www.discounthitches.com). Each trailer hitch will be different and each installation will vary on installation time, materials required, and level of expertise. Take a look at it, visualize the installation and ask yourself if you can are capable of the requirements.
2. Look on the manufacturer’s instruction sheet and see how long it should take to install the hitch. Trailer hitches come in different shapes, sizes and difficulty of installation. Some require no drilling with a quick installation time period, where others require drilling and a longer install time. This may aid you in the decision of installing the trailer hitch yourself.
3. Make sure you have all the tools necessary to complete the installation. You can usually do this by looking at the vehicle and the “Tools Required” section on the manufacturer’s instruction sheet.
4. Do you have a torque wrench or have access to one if required to complete the installation?
5. Do you possess the skills necessary to complete the installation? If you are a mechanically inclined person or a mechanic than you probably do. However, if the installation and the manufacturer’s instructions look like it is more than you can handle, consult the local professional and let them install the hitch for you.
If you decide to attempt the trailer hitch installation yourself and have any questions along the way, give us a call. We’ll help you out even if you didn’t buy it from us. Remember to always consult a professional with questions you may have and follow manufacturer’s instructions with your trailer hitch installation.
Discount Hitch & Truck Accessories offers expert installation & repair of all truck hitches and accessories for your vehicle even if you didn't buy them from us. Call us at 1-800-841-4661 or visit us online at www.discounthitches.com where we offer the lowest prices available and FREE SHIPPING!
Friday, January 29, 2010
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Weight Distributing Trailer Hitches The other day I was on the highway headed to town, when I saw, for the first time ever, a trailer situation that scared me! There was a big white SUV towing an even bigger travel trailer, and the trailer was so heavy that the front end of the SUV was visibly lifted higher than normal, and the hitch and trailer tongue were much too close to the ground. Clearly, this guy needed a weight distributing hitch.
What exactly is a weight distributing hitch, you ask? Well, in very simple terms, its extra equipment, including spring bars that you use when hitching your really heavy trailer. What it does is distribute the tongue weight of your trailer to the axles of the trailer and the front axle of the tow vehicle to level things out when your tongue weight is too high for your hitch.
How do you know when you need a weight distributing hitch? Without hitching up your trailer and checking your vehicle for level, you can look at the numbers and figure it out. You need to know your tongue weight (TW). Compare the TW of your trailer with your hitch’s TW capacity, and if you are over that number, you need a weight distributing system.
Your receiver hitch (class IV and class V) comes with two weight limits for both TW and GTW (gross towing weight). The lower numbers are the weight carrying limits (without weight distributing hitch) and the higher numbers are the capacity with weight distribution. Use those numbers to find the weight distributing system that has the capacities you need.
For example, a vehicle that can tow a trailer with up to 750 lbs. TW and up to 7,500 lbs. GTW with a standard Class IV weigh carrying hitch could possibly tow up to 1,200 lbs. TW and up to 12,000 lbs. GTW with a weight distributing hitch. However, please remember that these weights are hypothetical, and your towing capacity depends on your specific vehicle. Consult your owner’s manual for towing capacities of your vehicle.
With a weight distributing hitch, not only will you look a whole lot smarter than the guy with his front end up in the air, but you’ll find your ride is smoother and your braking and steering control better as you get down the road.
If you have any questions call us at 1-800-841-4661 or visit us at www.discounthitches.com
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Stretch Your Gas Dollars!
Fuel economy is all about efficiency. That's why performing routine maintenance is very important to save gas and really maximize your MPG. But maintenance is not just about changing your oil. This should also involve diagnosing your ignition system, air and fuel filters, exhaust system, sensors and emissions, tires and suspensions, and other parts which are essential in achieving better gas mileage.
Discount Hitch & Truck Accessories brings you a wide selection of replacement and performance parts to provide you with improved fuel economy-at the lowest prices. We carry only top-quality brands. Browse our online catalog now and find out how our top-class parts can help you save gas!
Tonneau Cover Reduce rapid fuel consumption while making your ride more aerodynamic by outfitting it with a tonneau cover.
Spark Plug Avoid wasting fuel by changing your old spark plugs to ensure that your engine emits more power.
Cold Air Intake A cold air intake does not only keep engine temperature in check but also participates in the effective burning of fuel.
Throttle Body Spacer Install a throttle body spacer to speed up your airflow and improve your fuel burn.
Tire Pressure Sensor Keep track of your tire's pressure with a Tire Pressure Sensor, and watch your vehicle's fuel economy improve.
Fuel Tank Cap Contaminated fuel can hamper engine performance. Keep a lid on this by ensuring your vehicle a quality fuel tank cap.
Tailgate Net The drag brought by wind resistance on your tailgate can greatly affect your fuel economy. To solve this problem, use a tailgate net.
Fuel Filter Change your fuel filter to rid your fuel of dirt and experience more efficient fuel consumption.
Power Programmer Electronically tune your car's performance systems by using a power programmer. This component also helps enrich your car's fuel economy.
Exhaust System Reduce backpressure and improve power and fuel efficiency by upgrading to a quality exhaust system.
Air Filter Improve your fuel efficiency with a new air filter for an optimal air-and-fuel combination.
Ignition Wire Set Replace your ignition wire set and restore output and fuel economy.
Fuel Saver Get a fuel saver to optimize your car's airflow. This auto part efficiently channels air to all the corners of your intake.
Oxygen Sensor Don't let your engine eat too much gas. Make sure to replace your oxygen sensors to ensure accurate fuel consumption.
Discount Hitch & Truck Accessories brings you a wide selection of replacement and performance parts to provide you with improved fuel economy-at the lowest prices. We carry only top-quality brands. Browse our online catalog now and find out how our top-class parts can help you save gas!
Tonneau Cover Reduce rapid fuel consumption while making your ride more aerodynamic by outfitting it with a tonneau cover.
Spark Plug Avoid wasting fuel by changing your old spark plugs to ensure that your engine emits more power.
Cold Air Intake A cold air intake does not only keep engine temperature in check but also participates in the effective burning of fuel.
Throttle Body Spacer Install a throttle body spacer to speed up your airflow and improve your fuel burn.
Tire Pressure Sensor Keep track of your tire's pressure with a Tire Pressure Sensor, and watch your vehicle's fuel economy improve.
Fuel Tank Cap Contaminated fuel can hamper engine performance. Keep a lid on this by ensuring your vehicle a quality fuel tank cap.
Tailgate Net The drag brought by wind resistance on your tailgate can greatly affect your fuel economy. To solve this problem, use a tailgate net.
Fuel Filter Change your fuel filter to rid your fuel of dirt and experience more efficient fuel consumption.
Power Programmer Electronically tune your car's performance systems by using a power programmer. This component also helps enrich your car's fuel economy.
Exhaust System Reduce backpressure and improve power and fuel efficiency by upgrading to a quality exhaust system.
Air Filter Improve your fuel efficiency with a new air filter for an optimal air-and-fuel combination.
Ignition Wire Set Replace your ignition wire set and restore output and fuel economy.
Fuel Saver Get a fuel saver to optimize your car's airflow. This auto part efficiently channels air to all the corners of your intake.
Oxygen Sensor Don't let your engine eat too much gas. Make sure to replace your oxygen sensors to ensure accurate fuel consumption.
We'll hook you up with any decision you make at Discount Hitch & Truck Accessories with any fuel saving products!
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