Even if your vehicle is bare roofed and does not have a factory installed rack, all you need is the rack itself, a fit kit, a foot pack, and crossbars that’s it. While the installation process itself is easy, depending on the vehicle, there are only slight variations to the installation process.

Tip: If yours is a small 2-door vehicle, ask for the short-roof adapter. These will increase the roof rack’s carrying capacity and also increase the gap between crossbars so that they are adequately spaced and ensure better weight distribution.

A ‘Fit kit’ is a custom-designed kit that ensures the best fit for your particular vehicle brand and model. It usually consists of a 4 strong clamps that fasten to the edges of your vehicle along with pads that contour to your vehicle’s roof.

The foot packs have four ‘feet’ and the Podium-style foot packs are most popular. Once these feet are fitted to the of your vehicle, you connect the fit kit meant for your particular vehicle and attach the rack’s crossbars.

You vehicle might either have a factory-installed roof rack mount locations or, it might have raised roof rails. In either of these two cases, the rack installation process is slightly different.

Installation of a roof rack:

First-off, there are several different types of roof racks e.g. Bike roof racks, Kayak roof racks and so forth. Let us see how each of these is installed.

• Good support to the lower back and spine so that long driving hours do not give you a sleepless night of back pains
• Easy adjustment so that driving position is most comfortable
• Correct installation so that safety is ensured, especially in case of a crash
• If you are driving a car with a baby on board, then a baby safety seat is a must

The automobile industry is going through several disruptions today which will change forever the way we operate and navigate cars. The driverless cars are a case in point. When it comes to car seating manufacturing, are there any innovations taking place that we should take note of?

Auto recycling is one of the most widespread recycling industries globally. Auto parts are recycled from end-of-life cars. Damaged and old cars have usually have no takers. Hence, instead of just abandoning them, it makes sense to recycle their parts.

How are cars recycled?

• Damaged cars are bought by auto wreckers or recyclers. They are taken to auto recyclers which are large, open spaces for such cars.
• Over here, the car is inspected to check whether it can be repaired and reused or it is a write-off.
• In most cases, the car cannot be reused. Hence, the next step is to recycle it.
• Recycling entails removal of usable parts and their sale. This is followed by disposal of the parts that cannot be reused.
• Most of the parts such as the car stereo, windshield, wipers, mirrors, headlights, taillights, etc. if not damaged are sold in the market.
• Parts such as battery are removed and used to manufacture new batteries.
• Tires are used to make pavement bases for new roads.
• Wheels are removed and sold as metal scrap.
• If the glass is damaged, it is recycled to make porcelain, jewelry, beads, tiles, etc.
• After removal of all the parts and the various oils and fluids. The next step is the disposal of those fluids in a manner so that they do not affect the environment.
• Finally, the metallic portion of the car is left. This is crushed so as to reduce its size and then it is sold to a shredder.
• Most parts of the car are intact and can be reused. Many auto recyclers get the damaged parts restored so that they can be sold.

Every car needs spare parts for maintenance at some stage or the other.

Buying recycled parts is better than buying the original because:

1. These parts are available at nearly half the price of the original.
2. Since they have been removed from original cars, they provide a good fit.
3. These parts are genuine.
4. Many sellers of used parts provide a warranty for their products.
5. Recycling car parts helps in conserving the environment. This is because it reduces the need to manufacture new parts; since most parts are reused, the landfill is reduced; The pollutants are disposed of. By using these parts, you can also contribute towards conservation.

Hence, we see that using recycled car parts is not only beneficial to us but also works for the bigger cause of saving the planet.

When a car is wrecked or damaged, what do you do with it?

Your options are repairing it and reusing it. Many a time this is not possible. In such cases, you can sell your car to an auto-dismantler. An auto-dismantler recycles the car for repairing other cars, selling used parts, etc.

An auto-dismantler removes all the functional and non-functional parts from a car. It also removes various fluids. The metallic portion that remains is crushed into a small piece and shred into pieces.

Recycling of wrecked cars has become a lucrative business option because the number of users of recycled car parts has increased.

Reasons for users of recycled car parts increasing:

• They are nearly half the price when compared to new parts.
• Manufacturers of car parts make these parts so that they are durable. This ensures that these parts last even after the car reaches its end-of-life.
• Used car parts have a good fit as they have been detached from original vehicles.
• Used car parts market caters to a wide range of cars.
• For cars whose models have been discontinued, the only option to look for spare parts is used car market.
• Vintage cars can find their spares in the used car market.

Besides these benefits, an auto-dismantler benefits the environment also. Imagine if cars were not dismantled and reduced in size, how much of waste we would generate? Cars also contain various hazardous and non-hazardous fluids which can impact the environment adversely.

Let us see what service an auto-dismantler provides to the environment:

1. Recycling of parts:

Various parts are removed from the car. Those that are intact are sold ‘as is’ in the market. Those that can be repaired are restored and sold. Others that cannot be reused as functional parts are used in other applications. This reduces wastage and saves landfill. It also conserves our natural resources by reducing the need to manufacture new parts.

2. Recycling fluids:

A car contains many fluids such as coolant, brake fluid, transmission fluid, etc. Some of these fluids are recycled and can be reused. While some other fluids can be converted into fuels, etc. and reused. This is beneficial to the environment because some of these fluids contain harmful chemicals. If they are released into the earth, they can be detrimental to the health of animals, aquatic creatures, and humans. Some fluids are inflammable and so cannot be released into the environment.

3. Recycling Steel:

Steel is required for a variety of applications. But its manufacture uses up valuable natural resources. Therefore, recycling steel reduces the need to manufacture fresh steel positively impacting the environment.

Hence, we see that dismantling and recycling a car is beneficial in numerous ways.