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We all love cars, at least the idea of cars. They get us places more quickly than biking or walking, and they look really awesome. But some of us, both children and adults, have bodies that don’t like cars as much as our minds do. Obviously it has nothing, we hope, to do with the car itself. You most likely are suffering from motion sickness. We’ll give you a few tips to help you deal with motion sickness in the car. The holidays just passed and warmer weather will be on its way soon. That means long road trips and vacations. For some people, this is an absolute nightmare. No one likes to feel nauseated and dizzy in the car. So what can you do about it? #1: Try to Avoid Getting Car Sick There are a few preemptive things you can do to keep yourself from getting car sick. Dramamine is the drug that is in most over-the-counter medicines. Another method to avoid getting sick in the car is to eat some ginger. Ginger can be eaten as a cookie or a drink (ginger ale). You can also try to be closer to the front of the car, but if you have a past of car sickness, it’s good to keep a plastic bag handy just in case! #2: Don’t let yourself see the motion. Sometimes even just cupping your hands over your eyes can make a huge difference. Prevent yourself from seeing the motion of what it outside passing by. Even a little view of this can trigger nausea. Note: It’s better to do this BEFORE the nausea starts. #3: Breathe!! Get some fresh air. If you get car sick often, remember to take breaks in driving for a few minutes every hour or so. Fresh air is great for sickness. #4: Try to Keep It Clean If the worst happens and you actually throw up, try to make it into a container of some sort. This is best in a plastic bag, but use whatever you can. Vomiting out the window or on the floor is a huge mess and your driver will not thank you. With these tips, we hope you are able to enjoy riding around in your car even more than you already do! Of course, car sickness with kids is a whole different problem we can write tips for that another day.

Are you tired of driving around the same piece of gas-guzzling junk that you’ve been driving for years now? If you are wondering how to save for a new car? These are a few ways you can start preparing your budget for the purchase of a newer vehicle. We all know that saving money means spending less than we are earning. But much like losing weight, it sounds simple and fast, but really can be a struggle when you try to put it into practice. 1: Think about your car payment If you are thinking about a car loan, then you have to consider how much you can pay monthly. You’ll want to leave a little space for unexpected repairs or maintenance (oil changes or new tires). If you want to skip the loan and save up enough to cover the whole car, then your planned monthly payment would be zero. 2: Figure out how much you can put down If you’ll have a monthly car payment, you should take some time to calculate what you’ll need to put down. Many calculators are available online. This is a good way to figure out what kind of car you can afford. 3: When do you need (or want) the car? The sooner you need the car, the faster you’ll need to save up. More time will make things less stressful. However, if you need the car next week, you might just have to consider a cheaper option to make ends meet. 4: Save up! Having the savings taken directly out of your paycheck and into your savings account is a great way to avoid skipping on your goal each month. If you don’t have direct deposit, have somewhere where you are keeping the money saved up to avoid spending the money you meant to put towards the car. The most important thing is to do this first before spending anything. Otherwise you’ll probably blow it. 5: Don’t make life horrible You have to make the saving process better than a punishment. If you let it create negativity and frustration, you are much less likely to succeed. It’s like a diet. For your safety and the safety of others, try and keep yourself out of trouble and try to be realistic with the goals you set for yourself. If you are in the market for a car, check out our inventory of new and used vehicles at Palmen Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram of Racine.

Gifts for Jeep Drivers We've all got those people on our shopping lists. The ones who seem to have everything they need, who don't provide much or any help when we ask them what they want, and who seem most interested in their vehicle. Since we're probably not in a position to buy that person a new car (if you are, what are you waiting for?!), a great alternative is to get something related to the brand our friend or relative loves. If you're looking for gifts for Jeep drivers, or something for owners of Chrysler, Dodge, or Ram vehicles, check out our suggestions below: Jeep Jeep is one of those brands that owners tend to get a bit fanatical about. The good news there is that there is a ton of great Jeep merchandise out there, from hats and hoodies to camping gear and kids' toys, the Jeep Gear store has something for everyone -- and there's free shipping through the end of the year! Ram The Ram Outfitter online shop is running that same free shipping deal, and they've got everything from air fresheners and decals (nice stocking stuffers!) to nice twill shirts and a leather toolbelt. Got a Ram-driving lady on your list? There's plenty of Women's merchandise at the Ram shop as well. Chrysler The Chrysler Collection has plenty of great stuff for your hard-to-buy-for friend. Items include replicas of Chrysler models, travel tumblers to keep beverages hot or cold on the go, home goods, even golf gear! You'll also get free shipping on these items through the end of the year, so make sure and check it out. Dodge If you've got a Dodge lover in your life, one look through the Dodge Life online shop should have you at no loss for ideas on what to get them this year. There's plenty of apparel for both men and women, SRT-specific items, and office-related gifts like ballpoint pens, tablet cases, mugs, and paperweights.

Best winter accessories for Jeep If you're a Jeep driver, one of the things you probably looked for when you purchased your vehicle is the all-weather, terrain-conquering capability that makes owning a Jeep both fun and rewarding. When winter comes, there are a number of additional challenges to getting out there and enjoying the current season, but it's nothing you and your Jeep can't handle. Today we'll tell you about some of the best winter accessories for Jeep vehicles that will help you make the most of the snowy season and keep your Jeep in good health at the same time. Slush mats -- One thing you probably experience all-too-often getting in and out of your Jeep in winter is a soggy carpet area if you've got regular mats trying to stave off all the melted snow and slush that gets dragged in on your boots. A set of slush mats have deep ribs to help trap and hold water til you clean them out. When summer rolls around, the same functionality helps trap sand after trips to the beach until you take them out for a rinse! Splash guards -- Splash guards are another great winter Jeep accessory to help you protect your vehicle against the elements no matter where you're headed. Contoured to your Jeep and offering great protection against road debris and that salt that gets all over everything in winter, these can be a very wise investment for minimizing seasonal wear and tear. Roof racks -- Of course, no winter adventure with your Jeep would be complete without roof racks to help carry skis, snowboards, or both to wherever you're headed to hit the slopes. Made for easy loading and unloading from other side, the Mopar roof racks available to order will definitely get the job done securely so you can concentrate on having fun outside this winter. If you'd like any Jeep accessories ordered or installed, please don't hesitate to contact our service department today!

How do I get the most trade in value for my car? If you've decided that it's time to trade in your vehicle for a new or used model that's more in line with what you'd like to be driving, there can be a lot of questions about how to make sure you're getting a good deal. Here at Palmen Dodge Chrysler Jeep of Racine, we do our best to offer a fast, fair appraisal process that gets you behind the wheel of your new vehicle, but there are definitely some steps you can take ahead of time to make sure you're getting maximum value. If you're wondering, " How do I get the most trade in value for my car?," these quick tips from our dealership should be helpful! 1. The first thing you'll want to do is collect your records. We hope you've been keeping  detailed record of all service center maintenance and repairs, complete with receipts for work done, or your own bookkeeping records if you do most of your own work. This shows any potential buyer, including a dealership, that your vehicle has been well-maintained. 2. Next, you'll want to do some digging to get a clear idea of what your vehicle is probably worth. You'll want to look not only at the big name sits like Edmunds and Kelley Blue Book, but also take a look in your local area to see what private sellers and dealerships are selling a vehicle like yours for. An understanding of your car's likely value in the current market will keep you from having unrealistically high (or low) expectations of what you'll be able to get for it. 3. Clean it up! Alright, a crumb-free interior and shiny paint might not be a huge boost to the value of your trade, but when it comes to looking like a nice, attractive-t0-buyers used model, every bit helps in making your car look as appealing and well taken care of as possible. 4. Finally, if your vehicle is still under warranty or if there are relatively inexpensive repairs to be made, get that done before having it appraised. Now you're ready to trade! Come check out our huge selection of new and used models here at Palmen Dodge Chrysler Jeep of Racine!

Tips and Advice for new car owners Whether it's your first time owning a new car or it's just been a while, there are some things to keep in mind just after buying a new car that could help you a lot down the road, particularly if you think you'd like to sell or trade it in at some point. You want to help your vehicle retain as much value as possible, though it's important to be realistic about auto depreciation. Your new car will never again be worth as much as it is in the moment before you drive off the lot, but there's a lot you can do to help it hold on to as much value as possible. Here are our top tips and advice for new car owners: 1. Read your owner's manual. Yes, read the entire thing. If that sounds crazy, we counter with this: Maybe it's crazy to own such a complex and valuable thing and not know how it works and how it's meant to be taken care of. In the manual, you'll find out valuable nuggets like how often your specific vehicle needs an oil change (hint: it's not always 3,000 miles), how various features work, and of course the ever-lingering question of how to change your clock for daylight savings time. It's all there -- read it! 2. Speaking of scheduled maintenance, you need to be keeping a detailed record of your service appointments. That is, save and file all receipts from oil changes, tire rotation, check-ups, and repairs. If you can produce this at the time of a potential sale to show that you took care of your vehicle and maintained careful records, this is a huge boost for your credibility as a seller and proof that you didn't neglect your vehicle. 3. Drive nice! Whether you've got a lead foot or a case of recurring road rage, resolve to create new habits with the acquisition of this new vehicle. Nothing adds unnecessary wear and tear to all systems like aggressive driving. When it comes time to sell, these habits will show in the condition of the vehicle, and it'll cost you. Questions about how to take the best possible care of a new vehicle? Feel free to ask our sales or service representatives for more tips!

How to clean windshield wipers When it comes to proper car care and maintenance, sometimes it feels like there's just too much to remember and somehow we're going to end up messing something up that will cost us. Here at Palmen Dodge Chrysler Jeep of Racine, we sure hope that isn't the case but we do know it can be difficult to keep track of everything that needs to be done to keep your vehicle in good working order. That's why we try to offer advice on matters great and small to help our friends and customers to be the best vehicle owners they can be. Today we're going to get into something a little smaller that can have a big impact on your life on the road: how to clean windshield wipers. Chances are you're regularly washing your windshield, but how about those all-important wiper blades? They need attention, too, especially during the winter months! All you really  need is a rag, or even a sturdy paper towel will do the trick. Get it a little bit wet -- just warm water is fine -- and wipe down the length of the entire blade. You'll probably see dirt and residue when you do this, so feel free to repeat the process one or two times. You should aim to do this as often as you wash your car. Another issue that may be in play if your wipers still don't seem to be doing the trick is that you might not be cleaning the windshield itself often enough without the use of the blades. That is, with a squeegee at a fuel station or at home. You should be doing this regularly to remove bugs and other tough spots that your blades might not be getting. This will prevent additional wear and tear on your wipers. If you think your blades might be in need of replacing, just ask us about that next time you come in for an oil change. We can certainly let you know if its time and help you with replacing them if so.

Ways to get better fuel economy Getting good fuel economy is important to all of us, and here at Palmen Dodge Chrysler Jeep of Racine we like giving our helpful tips and tricks for all things automotive. Today we've compiled a list of ways to get better fuel economy that are simple and easy to remember. They might involve adjusting your current habits a bit, but when there's cold hard cash to be saved, it's definitely worth a try! Okay, we'll get the big one out of the way that will probably be he most difficult for people to change: Play nice! Aggressive drivers are harsher on fuel, and it's not hard to see why. Hitting the gas hard is doing just that -- using more fuel -- and for what? Often you're really just getting to the next red light a little faster. Slow down a little, take it easy, and your wallet will thank you along with the other drivers with whom you share a road. Use your cruise! Now, we don't recommend cruise control on snowy, icy roadways, and so if you're with us here in Wisconsin this might not be a year-round option for you. When you can do so safely, though, use cruise to regulate fuel use. Also, if you have a vehicle that lets you switch between 2- and 4-wheel drive, stay away from the 4x4 unless you really need it. Keep it light. When you need to haul a bunch of stuff, you need to haul a bunch of stuff. We get it. But whenever possible, keep your cargo load light to improve fuel economy. Had that box of stuff from the garage in your trunk for months? Get it out of there! Finally, stay on top of your tire pressure. This can be a huge factor in winter because we lose pressure faster and it's a lot more daunting to get out and check in the biting cold. Make sure you do it, though, because this can help you save big. Drive safely!

Ram 1500 trailer towing Take it away! So you want to start putting your Ram 1500 to some real use and see what its impressive towing capacity is all about. If you've got a trailer and you're wanting to safely and effectively hook it up to your Ram 1500 for towing, we've got some basic guidelines that will help get you started, as well as resources for further detailed instructions and information. First, a basic overview of Ram 1500 trailer towing will include the following: A good start to towing begins with an even load. The side-to-side weight distribution should be as close to equal as you can get, as this will help you a great deal when it comes to swaying issues. As for the front to back distribution, the general rule of thumb is that you want about 60% of the weight toward the front of the trailer and the other 40% in the back. Your exact trailer specifications may differ from that, in which case you should defer to the manufacturer's recommendation. After you've loaded your cargo and ensured that everything is tied down and secured properly, you'll want to get hooked up to the truck, and that's going to depend on what type of hitch you've got. For that, we'll refer you to Ram's site so you can watch one of the three videos that will tell you how to hook up a receiver, fifth wheel, or gooseneck hitch. From there, it's all about safe and careful driving. Make sure to always go slow, give generous following distance, swing wide on turns being careful to check the surrounding area, and slow down before going down a hill. Think steady and gradual throughout your journey. If you have any questions about preparing, hooking up, or driving with your trailer attached to your Ram 1500, give us a call or stop in here at Palmen Dodge Chrysler Jeep of Racine and we'll be happy to give you some pointers in person.

Can you eat and drive in Wisconsin? "Alright, now show me a parallel park." "Did someone say cheese fries?" Back in driver's ed (pictured above, that poor hungry girl) we learned a lot about paying attention while on the road. However, with so many drive-thru fast food options and the go-go-go nature of so many of our lives, it's likely that nobody ever specifically said to us "Don't eat and drive." Not even our well-meaning driver's ed instructor. It's always been generally accepted that it's a thing people do - your parents probably did it! How could they ever be wrong? Well... Alright so let's cut to the legality of the thing: Can you eat and drive in Wisconsin? Will you get pulled over for biting into your cheeseburger? No, but that doesn't mean it can't get you in trouble. You can probably eat cheese while driving. You're an expert. Distracted driving is definitely a punishable offense if it causes an accident. After all, you're neglecting your number one job when behind the wheel -- to pay attention! So while your curly fries won't single-handedly land you in the cop shop or service center, that which results in your paying more attention to them than the road certainly could. So are we saying you should never put any food in your mouth while operating a motor vehicle? Not necessarily. Let's say you're cruising along in your Jeep, you've got some snack crackers in the center console, and you can reach into the bag and snack on a few while at a stop light or making your merry way along a sparsely-populated highway. Chances are, no big deal.     We love fruit, too, but can't it wait til you get home? But if you're in heavy traffic, gripping the wheel, yelling at the kids, and biting into a big gooey donut... Yikes. Don't do that. The donut can wait. We dare say maybe even the yelling can wait (though maybe it really can't -- we'll leave you to do the parenting). In any case, the bottom line is that while you are allowed to eat behind the wheel, it's your responsibility to do so in away that doesn't inhibit your ability to pay full attention to the task at hand. There are many distracted driving dangers nowadays, and we really don't want you to be a perpetrator or a victim of any of them. We're safety folks here at Palmen, what can we say?

What to Do in Case of a Road Accident We aren’t calling the back luck. We just want to make sure that you have the tools necessary to stay safe even when an emergency happen. While on the road, the possibilities of something “out of the blue” coming your way are very real. But that shouldn't be a problem if you know what to do … and that is where we come in. Here at Palmen Dodge Chrysler Jeep of Racine, we want to make sure that you know what to do in case of a road accident in order to keep you and your family and loved ones always safe. Let's give them a good example. The best thing you can do is to keep calm and keep on driving. For example, if you find yourself drifting to the ride side of the road, don’t panic and try to maneuver the car like in an action movie. The sudden right-left-right-left movement of the tires might actually cause the car to run off the road or even flip. Just allow your vehicle to slow down, which will also give you time to regain calm. Be smooth and steer away. and .. let's just see what happens. We also recommend you to put it in neutral. Almost all passengers can do it as easily as the drivers. When does that work? When the accelerators might be stuck due to misplaced floor mats, or objects that shouldn’t really reach the driver’s side. All you have to remember is to stay calm - that’s when the ideas come in more clearly. Since every car has a blind spot, it is important that you make sure that in case of an accident you have perfect visibility so that that moment doesn’t become something worse. For that, you can even get a spotter. Get somebody with better visibility than you to tell you when to go, stop or if they are some objects on your way. Something like having a third eye but less weird. And remember that in case of an accident, always call the police. And don’t worry, any damage to you car, we will be glad to repair here at our service center. Give us a call and one of our expert representative will gladly set you up with an appointment. We are always here to help.

What to Do if Your Car Gets Stolen Sometimes we cannot help mayhem from happening. Somebody scratching one’s car, a miscalculated backup, children with baseball  bats close to our windshields or somebody deciding that your car should be theirs. Although it hurts to lose something so valuable like your vehicle, here at Palmen Dodge Chrysler Jeep of Racine, we want to make sure that you know what to do if your car gets stolen in order to regain calm and have once again a sense of security. It can happen to anybody First things first, you have to call the police. Don’t panic and just breath. We understand that some things in the heat of the moment, we don't know how to properly act in order to solve a problem. This is why it is wise to call the experts and let the police handle these type of situations. Remember that this is a serious emergency and calling the cops could help you get your car back! We just want to help you know what to do if it happens to you. We advise you to be as specific as you can when describing your automobile to the police. Tell them where it happened, the color of your car, license plate or any details that might help them identify it among the rest. You can also spread the word yourself by creating flyers about your stolen car and where people can reach you if they happen to see it. You can also search on the internet, not for your car but for pieces of it since this is what thieves often steal cars to sell theirs parts online. And last, but definitely not least, remember to always take valuables out of your car, like your wallet or driver’s license. It is not being negative … it’s being cautious. Remember that here at Palmen Dodge Chrysler of Racine, We strive to give you as many options and solutions as we can in and out of the dealer. So, give us a call. One of our expert sales representative s will be waiting to assist you.