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Hitches first started as an accessory purely for trailer pullers and have since been adopted by nearly everyone who owns a vehicle. Nowadays there are hitches for every situation, making finding the right one for your needs fairly difficult. Luckily, TSA Custom Car & Truck is here with a list of the different types of hitches and the jobs they perform. While this list may not cover all the hitches out there, it does cover the most common and frequently used types on the market.
For all your Reno hitches and Carson City hitches needs, contact TSA Custom Car & Truck today.
Rear Receiver Hitch
The most common and easily recognizable hitch is the rear receiver hitch. Although most commonly used to tow trailers, the rear receiver hitch has a wide range of applications, thanks to its square receiver tube. A wide variety of things can be inserted into a rear receiver hitch making it very versatile.
Generally, a rear receiver hitch lands on a 5 class scale system from 1 being light duty and 5 being super heavy duty. The receiver tube can come in 3 primary sizes, 11/4” x 11/4”, 2” x 2”, or 21/2” x 21/2”. Usually, a hitch’s class goes up along with the size of the receiver tube, although in some cases this is not true, so always do a double check to be safe.
Front Mount Hitch
Much like a rear hitch, a front mount hitch bolts to the frame of the vehicle. You can use a front mount winch for a variety of applications. With a front mount hitch, you can insert a winch, hook up a snow plow, reverse park a trailer, or insert a cargo carrier.
Front mount hitches do not use the same rating scale, so check to make sure your hitch is rated for the appropriate task you’ll be using it for.
5th Wheel Hitch
A 5th wheel hitch is used to pull large campers, trailers, and car haulers. Unlike the previous hitches, a 5th wheel hitch mounts to the bed of a truck over the rear axle. Furthermore, the coupling device is attached to the hitch and not the object you’re pulling. You attach the kingpin from your trailer to the hitch and secure it with the hitch’s jaw.
A major feature of most 5th wheel hitches is their pivot mechanism, allowing your haul to contour with the road and absorb bumps better.
Gooseneck Hitch
The gooseneck hitch is a less intrusive version of the 5th wheel hitch. It still mounts to the bed of the pickup truck but takes up significantly less space – giving you full use of your bed. Typically, a gooseneck hitch is used for towing livestock, large flatbeds, and both commercial and industrial trailers.
Pintle Hitch
The pintle hitch’s hooking system consists of two parts – the pintle and the lunette. The pintle is attached to the vehicle either directly to the frame or to a mount that slides into a receiver hitch. The lunette is a ring that is attached to whatever you are hauling. These hitches gain pretty good weight ratings at the expense of being a bit noisier.
You’ll commonly find pintle hitches used for construction.
Bumper Hitch
A bumper hitch is a simple attachment that provides a square receiver tube for a vehicle. Because the hitch is attached directly to the bumper it can’t pull much weight, so it’s more useful for lighter jobs.
Weight Distribution Hitch
A weight distribution hitch does just that, distribute weight. These types of hitches spread weight that’s usually consolidated on the tongue across your whole vehicle and what you’re hauling, making them very useful with camping RVs. Long rods called “spring rods” in the hitch move the weight across the whole vehicle, allowing for easier steering.
TSA Custom Car & Truck carries all the top Reno hitches and Carson City hitches in the Northern Nevada area. Contact us today so we can get you started!
If you are looking to ditch your truck’s OEM factory headlights, you may be overwhelmed by the number of different custom truck accessories and headlight options to choose from.
Generally, custom headlights are grouped into 3 main groups: Halo-style, Euro-style, and Projector-style. Unfortunately, there can be confusion between what a custom headlight is referred to as. For example, just because a headlight is one kind does not necessarily mean it doesn’t have the features of another. A Halo styled headlight can also have LED bulbs or projector lights. So which custom headlight is right for you?
Ultimately, your choice in headlight comes down to your own personal preferences. What you may find stylish may not be what others find stylish, and with so many custom options it can be overwhelming. You can always come into TSA Custom Truck Accessories or contact us at (number) and our staff will help you narrow down the list.
To help you understand the variety of custom headlights, we’ve explained the basics of the 4 main groups below. Remember that features can crossover from headlight groups, so if you like aspects of 2 or more groups then there is a custom headlight out there that fits the bill.
Euro Headlights
A “Euro” style headlight refers to a style of housing of headlights. Euro headlights have been around since the 50’s, but they entered the U.S. in 80’s, where they grew to become fairly common. In their original inception, Euro-style headlights were nothing more than a basic flush covering of glass over the bulbs. Now, Euro headlights have become more complex. Many feature high-tech compositions and have ditched the 90’s frosted glass look with clear glass.
Traditional European-style Chevy Silverado headlights. Notice how the entire headlight is encased in a glass material
Unlike typical factory headlight housing, which is bland and simple, Euro headlights can feature stylish arrangements of lights, reflectors, and multi-faceted mirrors, all inside a black or chrome base. Some custom Euro headlights can also have a “smoked” lenses, which creates a more tinted (but also potential illegal) headlight.
Modern Euro-style headlights have gotten more complex and stylish. These crystal Spyder headlights use mirrors to add a sleek design.
Euro style headlights can also feature any number of bulbs, such as LED, Halogen, or HID bulbs. Some can even have halo lights.
Halo Headlights
Over the last several years “halo” headlights have risen in popularity. And why wouldn’t they? These stylish and sleek custom lights add a certain modern sharpness to the entire vehicle.
To break it down, halo lights feature rings of light circled around a headlamp bulb. The halo ring bulbs can use simple incandescent bulbs, LED bulbs, or even CCFL (Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lighting tubes), though incandescent bulbs usually lead to inconsistent illumination from the entire ring.
With multiple halo lights and a little wiring, you can customize how and when your halo lights illuminate. Single or multiple lights can turn on for headlights, running lights, turn signals, or even parking lights.
It’s important to note that most halo light assemblies also feature projector headlights as well, but will almost always be referred to as halo headlights when together.
Unique Halo Lights
Halo lights don’t only come in a perfectly circular pattern. Some halo lights feature unique designs such as:
U-Bar headlights feature a rounded U-shaped halo light. Some variations have the U-bar rotated at different angles.
Many modern halo lights contor the halo light along the edge or bezel of the headlight frame. These can be more expensive with less options depending on the vehicle.
Certain halo lights let the driver change the color of the lights, allowing for a more customized experience. Unfortunately, this may lead to some street legality issues.
Projector Headlights
Around the same time Euro headlights started receiving some visual tweaks, many manufacturers were experimenting with multi-faceted projector beam bulbs. Projector bulbs use an elliptical reflector to focus the light towards a single focal point rather than scattering light in all directions. Furthermore, they are built to aim light more rightward and away from oncoming drivers. Essentially, projector lights offer a more focused beam of light than OEM lights.
With the upgrade in technology comes a decrease in the overall size of the bulb itself. This means that the actual bulb takes up less space in the overall headlight assembly, freeing up room for more artistic headlight designs.
Finding the perfect custom headlight doesn’t have to be difficult. With a little bit of research and time, you can find the perfect set of headlights for your vehicle. For more questions about custom truck headlightss or other Reno truck accessories we have to offer, contact TSA Custom Car and Truck.
If you’re looking for power in your next vehicle then look no further than diesel performance trucks. We gathered a list of the top 5 best diesel performance trucks on the market. Check them out!
Getting a new truck? We’ll customize it.
2018 RAM 1500 EcoDiesel
Starting off this list is the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel. The 1500 can tow a solid 9,200 pounds with 420 lb-ft. While that may seem underpowered compared to other trucks on this list, the EcoDiesel excels in offering an upscaled interior, a smoother ride than most competitors, and good gas mileage to boot.
Overall, this truck is perfect if you’re transitioning to diesel-powered trucks because you want to, but don’t necessarily need to.
2018 Ford F-150 Diesel
Not surprisingly, the F-150 secures a spot on this truck list. In this case, the 2018 Ford F-150 Diesel nabs the spot with its impressive tow capacity and sheer number of options. The 2018 F-150 has six engine options available, including the 3.0-liter Power Stroke turbodiesel V6.
When equipped with the new diesel V6 engine, your F-150 will be able to tow up to 11,400 pounds with 440 lb-ft of torque. Along with towing power, the F-150 Diesel exhibits a nice 22 mpg in the city and 30 for the highway.
2018 GMC Sierra 2500/3500 HD
With stronger diesel performance comes a larger price tag. And while the 2018 GMC 3500 HD may be very powerful, you’ll need to be ready to commit to the cost.
Adding a diesel engine bumps the price of the regular gas-powered Sierra 2500 up an additional $9,390 from the starting tag of $38,800. With that cost, you’ll be able to reel nearly 23,300 pounds with 910 lb-ft of torque. Unfortunately, 4-wheel drive is going to cost you extra as well.
2018 Ram 2500/3500 HD
We’ve moved to business from pleasure. You aren’t going to spend time hauling campers and boats with the Ram 3500. No, this is for the big league projects.
The 2018 Ram 3500 HD has an insane max towing of 30,000 pounds with 800 lb-ft. If you aren’t hauling construction machines and equipment then you aren’t using this truck to its fullest.
2018 Ford Super Duty
Here we are at the top. The Ford Super Duty is America’s ultimate diesel performance vehicle. This is the sandbox of truck customization.
To fully unlock the Super Duty’s power, you’ll need to shell out an extra $9,120 on top of $42,000 base price for a 6.7- liter Power Stroke turbodiesel V8 engine. A whopping 840 horsepower lets you push out an incredible 925 lb-ft of torque. And the towing capacity? A staggering 34,000 pounds.
What’s the point?
A remote start system is a simple, yet elegant device that can allow you to start your vehicle from up to 2,000 feet away. The device will elevate your daily commute to a more convenient experience. In addition to starting your car and saving you time, the remote starter can preheat or cool the interior before you even get in. Looking for a remote starter installation? TSA can help. Give us a call or email!
How it works
- Visit TSA for your remote starter installation
- Push the Button on your Key chain
- The car will turn on for a Predetermined time
- Drive off like James Bond
Benefits
Improve Resale Value
Car owners don’t often think of their vehicle in the same way they think of their home. Adding special gadgets and gizmos can truly improve the resale value of it. The remote starter isn’t tacky and can be seen as a value to virtually anyone.
Saving Time
We live in a world that doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. Knowing that you can conveniently start your car in the middle of winter while you brew a cup of coffee is a wonderful treat.
Safety
Speaking of winter, the remote starter will give you peace of mind knowing you can let your car warm up before treading the icy roads. It’s important to let your car’s oil warm up for better lubrication.
Why should I care?
TSA Custom Car & Truck wants you to start the New Year in style. For a limited time we are offering 20% off until January 31 for your remote starters system. Our starter system includes an auto start. Other options include compatible security systems, keyless entry, one or two way transmission confirmation, and command ranges anywhere from 2000 feet to a mile. Interested in our other deals? Contact TSA today
at 775.883.0477
There always seems to be an intriguing luster experienced when a limo drives by and you are left wondering who the special person is on the inside. Even at celebrity red-carpet events or diplomatic processions, paparazzi and groupies eagerly await curbside for someone to step out of the mysteriously dark vehicles.
OK, so maybe you aren’t a celebrity, diplomate or even a VIP. Fortunately, window tinting is not reserved for the elite. Not to mention that window tinting serves to do more than maintain privacy and create mystery.
What are a few benefits that come from window tinting?
Protection from harmful UV rays.
Add up all the time you spend in your car during a normal week. Your car gets you virtually everywhere you need to be, and with the AC on, you might not realize just how much time that means you are sitting in direct sunlight.
Even lower level window tinting can eliminate up to 99.9% of the harmful UVA/UVB rays that are flowing into your car. Tint will also protect from direct and indirect glare, which can be more harmful than just sunlight and cause driving distractions. Glare can come from snow or water or other cars and will intensify the effects of harmful rays.
The same rays that are harmful to your skin and eyes are also harmful to your car’s interior. It can cause leather to crack and upholstery to fade.
Protection from potential theft and glass shattering.
With your windows tinted you can rest a bit more assured when parking in a sketchy neighborhood. By making it harder to see inside your vehicle lessons the chance of a passerby spotting that iPhone you left on your seat and breaking into your car.
In the event that your window is broken in an accident or vandalization, the tinted film acts as a binding agent keeping shards of glass held together.
What laws does Nevada have concerning window tint laws?
Many states have tough laws surrounding window tint. Nevada however, does not.
VLT% is the unit of measurement that describes the darkness of the tint shade. It measures the amount of visible light that is allowed in through the tinting film and light combined.
On cars in Nevada, you may have any level of tint on your rear window and your back side windows. On the front side windows, only a tints with more than 35% VLT are allowed. Only non-reflective tint above the manufacturer’s AS-1 line is allowed on your windshield.
Now that we know the rules, take a look at some examples of different tint percentages…
Contact us if you need any more information or to set up an appointment to get your windows tinted.
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