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Where to celebrate the Fourth of July 2018 in Racine The Fourth of July is one of the most celebrated holidays in our nation. As a result, there is no shortage of things to do in our community to celebrate! Racine's Fourth Fest is a day-long event that includes a variety of events and activities to get everyone in the community involved in the festivities. Learn more about Fourth Fest 2018 here! more View Our Inventory Racine's Fourth Fest 2018 Parade and Fireworks The Fourth Fest event takes place every year in Racine. This year, the theme of Fourth Fest is "A Storybook Parade" and features parade floats with storybook characters, like Kings and Queens, Dragons, Princes and Princesses and more! The parade route is 2.5 miles long, starting at the Main Street and Goold Street intersection and ending on 14th Street just past the Golden Rondelle. Arrive early! The Parade starts at approximately 8:30 a.m. You can learn more about Fourth Fest here. Once the parade ends, folks are encouraged to head to North Beach to grab the perfect spot to watch the show! The fireworks show will start at dusk on July 4th (approximately 9:20 p.m.) and last for about 40 minutes. We hope you have a fun and safe Fourth of July!

Best vehicles for camping If you are an avid camper, you know that having a vehicle that has the space and power to bring along all of your gear is important so that you don't have to leave anything behind. Jeep, Dodge and Ram all have models that make great camping companions. Check them out here! more Read More: Navigate construction zones safely this summer! Best Jeep, Dodge, and Ram vehicles for camping 2019 Jeep Cherokee: The 2019 Cherokee has a powerful engine that gets up to 31 highway mpg, meaning you can go further on a single tank of gas. It also features plenty of safety and security to give you confidence behind the wheel, like available Blind Spot Monitoring, Keyless Enter 'n Go™ and more. The Cherokee offers Trail Rated® models that feature enhanced capabilities in the areas of traction control, water fording, maneuverability, articulation and ground clearance. 2018 Jeep Wrangler: The Jeep Wrangler is probably the first model that comes to mind when someone says "Jeep" for most people. The iconic model is incredibly capable when it comes to keeping up with your adventures. It also features Trail Rated® models, and has a couple of 4x4 systems to give you more control on the road. The Wrangler can tow up to 3,500 pounds, allowing you plenty of power to bring along a small trailer or boat. 2018 Dodge Durango: The Durango offers a spacious interior, with seating for up to seven passengers. The Durango SRT trim can tow up to 8,700 pounds ensuring you won't have to leave anything behind. The Durango also gets up to 26 highway mpg, giving you plenty of efficiency to get where you need to go. 2019 Ram 1500: With best-in-class towing of up to 12,750 pounds, the Ram 1500 is a powerhouse when it comes to capability. The 2019 model also features a comfortable interior, with seating for up to five passengers and advanced technology that allows everyone to stay connected and entertained on the road. You can browse our current inventory and set up a test drive for your favorite model online before you come in to see us at Palmen Dodge Chrysler Jeep RAM of Racine!

How to keep spiders out of your car For many people, spiders are a pesky annoyance. But when you encounter a spider in an enclosed space such as your car, it can be downright dangerous. Many people have a fear of spiders, so finding one in your car while driving can cause you to panic and potentially get into an accident. If you've ever dealt with spiders in your car, check out these tips to keep them away! more Read More: What do Hill Start Assist and Hill Descent Assist do? Tips to get rid of spiders in your car Spiders like dark, warm places, making your vehicle a perfect place for them to set up camp. Follow these tips to keep them out of your car! Thoroughly clean the interior of your car. Spiders love a bit of dirt, so making sure you regularly clean out your car, including vacuuming floor mats and underneath your seats, can be helpful to deter them. Wipe down surfaces with an all-purpose cleaner. Try to do this as regularly as possible. Check your door seals and keep your windows rolled up whenever possible. Spiders can enter your car through small holes, so check the rubber seals on your car to make sure there are no holes or cracks for a spider to sneak through. Try using non-toxic spider repellants. You can find non-toxic spider repellant sprays at home improvement stores, or make your own using a combination of water and a few drops of citrus, rosemary, garlic, peppermint, or lavender essential oils. Spray the repellant along the seams of your doors and windows, as well as around the hood of your car to help deter spiders from finding their new home in your car. View Our Inventory We hope these tips help you keep your car spider-free this summer! For all of your automotive needs, come to Palmen Dodge Chrysler Jeep RAM of Racine!

How do Hill Start and Hill Descent Assist features work? Many new cars are offering more and more features that enhance the vehicle's safety and give you more confidence behind the wheel. Especially in vehicles that are often taken off-road, adding safety features like Hill Start Assist and Hill Descent Assist can be very beneficial in helping to keep you safe. But what do these features do exactly? Let's find out! more View Our New Inventory Hill Start Assist Hill Descent Assist We hope these videos helped you get a better idea of how these features can be useful to have! For all of your automotive needs, come to Palmen Dodge Chrysler Jeep RAM of Racine today!

DIY Father's Day 2018 Craft Ideas Father's Day is right around the corner, and you might be wondering what kind of DIY crafts you can do with your kids to make the perfect Father's Day gift! Check out these craft ideas here! more Read More: What kind of gift do you get someone that loves cars? We hope you have a happy Father's Day celebrating the dads in your life!

2019 Ram 1500 Interior Features The 2019 Ram 1500 is a bold, capable model that features a plethora of updates inside and out. The Ram 1500 has an updated front fascia with an aggressively stylish grille, powerful stance and sleek character lines along the body. Inside, premium materials keep everyone comfortable. Let's take a closer look at the interior design and technology features on the 2019 Ram 1500! more Read More: How powerful is the new Ram 1500? 2019 Ram 1500 Interior Design Features The cockpit of the 2019 Ram 1500 is driver-centric, putting all of the pertinent controls within easy reach of the driver. An available dual-pane panoramic sunroof features 10 square feet of space and allows you to let in more fresh air and keep the cabin feeling open and breezy. Each trim level of the Ram 1500 offers different combinations of materials and colors that perfectly blend to create a luxurious look and feel. Gloss Black chrome and solid wood accents, premium cloth and leather seats are available depending on the trim level you choose and meticulous attention to detail ensures that every trim is comfortable and stylish. A rear seat center console folds down from the middle position, adding convenience with cupholders and armrests for rear passengers. The rear seats also boast class-exclusive available reclining seats, and best-in-class rear legroom at 45.1 inches of space. The front center console is spacious and versatile, giving you room to store file folders, charge up to five devices, fit a 15-inch laptop and more. 2019 Ram 1500 Interior Technology Features The 2019 Ram 1500 has a largest-in-class 12-inch touchscreen display that features Uconnect® 12.0 with Navigation, split-screen capability, pinch-and-zoom capability and physical controls. A Harman/Kardon® premium sound system offers 900 watts of power, 19 speakers and genuine stainless steel speaker grills. The 2019 Ram 1500 will be available soon at Palmen Dodge Chrysler Jeep RAM of Racine. In the meantime you can Browse our inventory and set up a test drive for our current Ram models online today!

When it comes to picking the engine for your vehicle, what should you choose? A powerful six-cylinder, or a fuel-efficient four-cylinder? Surely, the six-cylinder is better, right? Well, not necessarily. Engines have evolved just as fast as the vehicles that use them, and it can make the choice difficult to make when it comes down to it! Continue reading to learn more! more Four and Six Cylinders: The Basics Four and six-cylinder engines are the most common engines found in passenger vehicles, with four-cylinders typically having under three liters of displacement, and six-cylinders having over. This typically means that you can get more power out of a six-cylinder engine than a four-cylinder while the four-cylinder might have better fuel-efficiency. However, even among these engine types, there is a diversity of configurations! For instance, an inline four-cylinder is the most popular and common engine around, and that's just one of many different four-cylinder times. Add in the Turbocharger: The Engine Equalizer Additionally, when you add turbocharging into the equation, the engine lines blur even further. A four-cylinder engine with a turbocharger can beat out some six-cylinders in terms of power, while still being more fuel-efficient. These systems make engines provide more torque, reduce emissions, give more power, and provide an improved fuel economy. When you add one of these systems to an engine, even if the engine is smaller, it can often push out just as much performance as a larger caliber engine, making a four-cylinder a competitor with any available V6. So, is it worth having the upgrade from a four-cylinder to a six-cylinder engine in your vehicle? While, it really depends on the vehicle, the person, and if the engine has a turbocharger option. Sometimes, upgrading from the four-cylinder to a six-cylinder provides more power for a little extra money, other times the decreased fuel-efficiency and price increase just isn't worth it. Read More Blogs Here! To find out more on the topic of engines, or to see a turbocharged engine in action, contact us at Palmen CDJR Racine today! You can come test drive the latest models and speak to our agents to learn more!

Outdoor Activities near Racine WI Summertime is finally here! Now that the weather has heated up, it’s a perfect time to get outdoors and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. Check out these outdoor activities you can do around the Racine area! Racine North Beach Location: 100 Kewaunee Street, Racine, WI Hours: Lifeguards on duty daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Root River Location: Access points throughout Racine Activities: Canoing, kayaking, hiking trails, golfing, fishing, bird watching, bicycling Racine Zoo Location: 2131 N. Main Street, Racine, WI Hours: Open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Cost: Adults: $8.00; Children 15 and younger: $6.00; Seniors 62 and older: $7.00; Military with ID: $4.00 We hope you have a safe and fun summer!

What does Jeep's Trail Rated badge mean? If you are a Jeep admirer, you've probably seen some models have badging that denotes it's "Trail Rated". So what does it mean exactly for a Jeep model to be Trail Rated? Let's find out! more Read More: I4 vs V6 engines: Which is right for me? About Jeep's Trail Rated Badging Each Jeep 4x4 model earns a Trail Rated badge by succeeding in five core areas through a variety of off-road tests. These categories are Traction, Water Fording, Maneuverability, Articulation, and Ground Clearance. These models are tested both at Jeep's state of the art facilities and on challenging terrain around the world. This ensures their Trail Rated® badge will keep up no matter where you take your Jeep. Let's look at each of the test categories. Traction Jeep Trail Rated® vehicles can handle some of the harshest weather conditions no matter how unpredictable it gets. From driving in a snowstorm to taking on the toughest terrain, a Trail Rated® Jeep can get you through it. Water Fording This category allows you to power through bodies of water that would stop any other vehicles in their tracks. Jeep Trail Rated® models have sealed electrical connections and body openings to protect your vehicle when driving through deceptively deep puddles, streams or creeks. Maneuverability Jeep Trail Rated® models have precise steering and optimized wheelbases which make it easy to navigate sharp turns and emergencies. Articulation This category relates to suspension flexibility. It allows you to get over potholes, construction obstacles, or off-road situations when one or more of your tires may come off the ground. Ground Clearance Trail Rated® Jeep models have a higher ground clearance to keep the underside of your vehicle safe in off-road conditions. Browse our Jeep inventory and set up a test drive online for your favorite model today!

Jeep and Ram win awards at annual "Mudfest" competition Jeep and Ram vehicles won multiple awards at the annual Northwest Automotive Press Association (NWAPA) Mudfest competition. Of the six vehicle categories available, Jeep and Ram won three of them. Let's learn more about these Mudfest awards! more Read More: Check out the award-winning 2018 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid! Which awards did Jeep and Ram win at Mudfest? The Jeep Wrangler was given the top honor of the competition when it was named the 2018 Northwest Outdoor Activity Vehicle of the Year. It also won the Compact and Mid-size Utility Vehicle and Extreme Capability categories. The 2019 Ram 1500 Rebel was named the winner of the Pickups category. According to John Vincent, President of NWAPA, "Jeep has taken the Wrangler to a new level, adding safety, technology, and on-road refinement to its unparalleled off-road prowess... The 2019 Ram 1500 once again raises the bar for full-size pickup comfort and refinement. It features a cabin that rivals luxury cars, and capability to do any work that it is asked." What is Mudfest? Mudfest is a competition that the NWAPA hosts every year that tests the on- and off-road capabilities of 26 different vehicles from 16 manufacturers. There are six categories that vehicles can win in: Subcompact Utility, Compact and Mid-size Utility, Family Utility, Premium Utility, Trucks and Extreme Capability. There is also an overall award that is dubbed the Northwest Outdoor Activity Vehicle of the Year. For more information about these awards, check out the FCA press release announcing the Jeep and Ram winners here. Drivers looking to get behind the wheel of a Jeep or Ram model can set up a test drive online today!

How to avoid carsickness on a road trip Summertime is a great time to take road trips and experience more of the country. But for some people, motion sickness can put a damper on the trip and make it uncomfortable and stressful. Learn some tricks to help avoid or beat carsickness here! more Read More: Take away the distractions in the car! Symptoms of carsickness There are many different symptoms associated with feeling carsick, but some of the more common ones are nausea, dizziness, vomiting, sweating and a general sense of feeling unwell. These symptoms can come on gradually or happen pretty quickly depending on a person's sensitivity to their sense of balance and equilibrium. View Our Inventory Tips to avoid carsickness There are many things you can do both before and during your road trip to avoid feeling carsick. Check out these tips! Before your trip: Be mindful of the food and drink you consume. Highly spicy, heavy or fatty foods can worsen feelings of carsickness, as can liquids like alcohol. Pack medicine geared toward easing the symptoms of motion sickness to help you beat symptoms you might feel coming on once you hit the road. During your trip: Choose your location wisely. In a car, it is best for you to sit in the front seat, and make sure to keep your eyes forward to avoid turning around and facing the opposite direction of travel. Try to choose mild food and drink while you are on the road. Foods with strong smells and fatty, spicy or rich foods can bring about nausea and other symptoms, so keep the food mild and avoid smelly foods. Reading or looking at your phone or tablet should be avoided if you are prone to carsickness. While you might think it is a distraction, it can actually make your symptoms worse! Keeping your head up and eyes on the road can help you avoid negative reactions. If you start to feel symptoms coming on, opening a window can help alleviate them. Take breaks to stretch your legs and give your body a break from moving as often as you need to. Schedule a Service Appointment We hope these tips help you avoid feeling carsick on your next trip! Get out there and explore the world around you this summer!

2018 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid wins environmental awards Recently, it was announced that the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid won two awards from the Automotive Science Group (ASG): Best Environmental Performance and Best All-Around Performance. These awards were a result of the ASG's 2018 Automotive Performance Index™ study. Let's take a closer look at what these awards entail and learn more about the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid! more Read More: How efficient is the Chrysler Pacifica? What is the Automotive Science Group 2018 Automotive Performance Index™ study? The ASG is an environmental policy consultancy that researches and provides data-driven findings that help consumers make more environmentally-friendly purchasing decisions. The ASG's environmental performance analysis looks at vehicle data inputs that include environmental, social and economic performance indicators as well as conventional specifications. The Pacifica Hybrid outperformed the average vehicle in its segment by 34 percent, blowing away all of its competitors to become the clear winner of the Best Environmental Performance and helping it achieve Best All-Around Performance as well. About the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid The 2018 Pacifica Hybrid revolutionizes the world of hybrid minivans, offering incredible functionality, versatility, styling, and efficiency. The Pacifica Hybrid has a class-exclusive plug-in hybrid powertrain that allows it to reach 84 MPGe in electric-only mode and 33 miles of all-electric range. Inside the Pacifica Hybrid, premium materials keep passengers comfortable and the available Uconnect rear seat entertainment system ensures long trips will fly by. The 2018 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid is available now at Palmen Dodge Chrysler Jeep RAM of Racine. Browse our inventory and set up a test drive online today!