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Tips to safely tow a camper Summer is a time for adventure and enjoying the outdoors. One of the best ways people like to do those things is by camping! Camping allows you to travel to a new place and totally immerse yourself in nature. Learn how to safely tow your camper this summer right here! more Read More: What should I pack in the car for my road trip? Safety tips for towing a camper There are a number of things you can do to ensure you are safely hauling your camper (or any kind of trailer!). Check out these safety tips: Make sure your vehicle is equipped to tow what you need. Just because your truck or SUV has a tow hitch, doesn't mean you can hook up anything you want! Pay attention to your vehicle's towing capabilities and weight of your camper to ensure your vehicle is equipped to handle the load. Don't forget to consider the weight of your luggage and passengers in the vehicle as well! Try to pack light. Any supplies that you can get when you arrive at your destination will help you have a lighter load on the road. Get food and water after you set up camp if possible, and pack light for clothes and gear. Line up your mirrors for the best vision possible. You will likely have to adjust your side and rearview mirrors in order to gather a better view around your camper, so don't forget to do this before you hit the road! If you regularly tow large items, it might be wise to invest in towing side mirrors that are larger and give you a better view around your camper. Slow down, and drive consistently. When you are carrying a heavy load, using caution on the road is the best advice you can follow. Take it slow, and never slam on the brakes to avoid jackknifing. View Our Truck Inventory We hope these tips help you travel safely with your camper this summer! For all of your automotive needs, come to Palmen Motors!

How to make a Car Emergency Kit Being prepared can help alleviate some of the stress in emergency situations. That's why we recommend you have an emergency kit stashed in your car to help you be prepared should the worst happen. Check out these lists of items to include in your emergency kit! more Read More: What should I pack in the car for my road trip? Items to include in Car Emergency Kit There are a few types of kits you can make and stash in your car to help you be prepared. One is more geared toward car issues that could arise, like a flat tire or getting stuck in a snowy ditch, while the other is geared toward first aid and personal safety items! Items to include for car-related issues include: LED flashlights/headlamps Emergency radio Reflective emergency blanket/vest Duct tape Fleece blankets Tarp Paracord/rope Extra batteries Multi-purpose tool Work gloves Collapsible bag or backpack Jumper cables Flares or reflective triangles Pepper spray Whistle Winter clothes (seasonal – can be removed in warm months) Shovel (seasonal – can be removed in warm months) Items to include in a Personal Emergency Kit It is also a good idea to have an emergency kit that includes personal items that can help if any people in your car become injured. Items for a personal emergency kit include: Personal medications Aspirin or ibuprofen Antibiotic ointment Bandages in a variety of sizes and shapes Gauze pads in a variety of sizes Hand sanitizer Latex (or nonlatex) gloves Toilet paper Baby wipes Feminine protection Non-perishable food items Bottles of water Walking shoes Having these items stored in your vehicle, organized in a container in your trunk or in the rear seat for easy access can help you in the event of an accident or emergency. Before any long-distance trips, you should also bring your vehicle in for a service appointment to make sure it is running smoothly. For all your automotive needs, come to Palmen Motors today!

Winter is here and so are the cold temperatures. From below-freezing temperatures to wind chill advisories, 'tis the season for frigid days. On cold days like these should you warm your car up before you drive? Is it a positive thing or are you doing more harm than good? more Can warming up your car harm the engine? Everyone has a very different idea of what it means to "warm up" their car. For some it means to have the heater cranked on in an effort to warm up the vehicle's cabin and engine at the same time. For others, it means to let the vehicle idle in order to warm up the engine. There has been a common misconception today that drivers have to warm up their vehicle before they drive by letting it idle. This idea was popular when most vehicles used a carbureted engine, which did need some time to warm up before you could drive the vehicle. You can still find these engines on classic vehicles. Thirty years ago, if you didn't let your car with a carbureted engine under the hood idle for a few minutes the car could stall on you. Read More: Tips for driving in sleet or icy conditions Today, most vehicles on the road use an internal combustion engine. The best way to "warm up" a vehicle with this type of engine is by driving it. To do this, you can let the vehicle idle for about 30 seconds, then slowly start to drive. The last thing you want to do is rev a cold engine. With that said, will you harm your car, truck or SUV if you don't let it idle for 30 seconds? No. By the time you turn your car on, scrape some ice from the windshield and then get back behind the driver's seat and you will be ready to roll. Read More: 5 warning signs of a dying alternator Do you have another question for our team of experts about automotive maintenance? Let us know in the comments below! From all of us at Palmen Motors, thanks for reading!

If you've always dreamed of a hybrid minivan with great fuel economy ratings and truly eye-catching style, 2017 might just be your lucky model year. The design team at Chrysler-Fiat are rolling out a new minivan that is said to achieve 80 miles per gallon on the highway, and feature a wide variety of high-tech features. There are quite a few family vans in the automotive marketplace these days, but none compare with the excitement that is the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid. more 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid Seating Capacity Sleek and aerodynamic, the Pacifica is a hybrid with space for the whole family inside. Seating for up to seven passengers means you can pack up the kids for a weekend road trip, or fold down the rear seats to make room for extra cargo. The 2017 Chrysler Pacifica has two front bucket seats, and easy tilt seating in the rear. This means your rear passengers can climb out of the back with a simple push of a button. Read More: 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan With Seating for Eight! Safety Features Inside 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Several safety features are available for the protection of you and your passengers inside the 2017 Pacifica. Some features include the Blind Spot Monitoring System, and available Rear Cross Path Detection. Lane Departure Warning and Lane Keep Assist help add confidence to your daily drive, while adaptive cruise control makes it more relaxing. Other available active safety features include Forward Collision Warning with Active Braking. Read More: 2016 Chrysler Town & Country Review A Surround View Camera works with the first-row LCD screen to give you the optimal view of the space around your Chrysler Pacifica. There's little room for worry when you're lucky enough to sit behind the wheel of this high-tech minivan. Test Drive the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica in Kenosha WI If you find yourself looking forward to getting behind the wheel of the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica, we would love to help! Check back as often as you can to see the latest information and updates on the arrival date of the 2017 Pacifica Hybrid from the team here at Palmen Motors. We will be sure to let you know as soon as we find out that the Chrysler Pacifica is on its way so that you can be one of the first to test drive!

When you venture onto the roads in the winter, there are always dangerous situations that you should be prepared to face. Wisconsin can throw some unpredictable weather your way, so when it comes to sleet and ice, it's important to be ready. We'll give you our best tips for driving in sleet or icy conditions. Read on to find out your best bet for a safe drive this winter. more Three Tips for Driving on Icy Sleet Roads Tip 1: Slow Down You might think that slowing down is a natural reaction when the roads get slippery, but a lot of drivers try to continue driving at their normal speed. It's well worth adding a few minutes to your travelling time if you are able to ensure that your vehicle and all the passengers arrived safe and sound. Slowing down gives your vehicle a better chance of stopping if you need to make an emergency stop and it also lessens the damage to your vehicle if a collision cannot be avoided. Read More: Tips for Staying Awake Behind the Wheel Tip 2: Plan Ahead We aren't asking you to plan ahead for the weather, but to plan ahead while you are driving. If you can see a turn coming up or a corner ahead, it will help you to slow down your vehicle and keep the movements in control throughout the turns and curves. Control is your friend when it comes to icy roads, so whatever you can do to keep some, will make your driving experience much safer. Read More: 3 Reasons to Keep Your Car in the Garage Tip 3: Avoid Steep Hills When you can't avoid driving in icy weather all together, we suggest you do your best to avoid steep hills. Searching through the internet, there are tons of videos of cars sliding down icy hills, and gaining momentum like that can be extremely dangerous if there are other vehicles on the road or if you collide with anything at the bottom. It's in your best interest to avoid steep hills when the roadways are coated with ice. Other Safety Blog Posts!

spring cleaning for your car We are all sick of the cold and blustery Wisconsin winters and the toll they take on our trusty vehicles. The snow and ice and salt from the roads can really turn your car into a rolling crust-wagon. There’s no denying that a spring cleaning for your car will have your car and you feeling much more prepared for the may flowers and sunny summer ahead. more Doesn’t it feel like winter has been dragging on forever? We’re not quite through it yet, but there is always the hope of a warmer and sunnier future in the spring and summer months. Here in Wisconsin, we know more than anyone that our vehicles have a rough time getting through the freezing cold and we appreciate them for the days that they power through the struggle. So, the best thing you can do to keep your car running through many more winters is to take the time to clean it up each spring. First, you have to wash the car. From top to bottom, your vehicle takes a beating in the winter months. Cleaning the undercarriage and all the outer surfaces is important to keep the salt and sand from causing corrosion and wearing on the paint on your car. It is also suggested that you give it a coat of wax to ensure that things stay cleaner during the rainy spring and summer. Then, change things out and give your car a fresh start. Make sure all the liquids are topped off, as winter can deplete those more quickly (especially windshield wiper fluid!). Changing the wiper blades and the oil will help to make sure that you start the summer off on a good foot. Some people suggest taking your car in for a full tune-up and getting tires rotated as well! It really depends on the amount and type of driving that you do during the winter. Finally, check to make sure your tires and filled up and your tread looks good. Slippery rainy weather can make bald tires really dangerous. If you want to get your car prepared for the spring that is surely coming, give us a call at Palmen Motors. We would love to take a look at your car and get it running at its best for an affordable price. Looking to trade up to a newer car for the summer months? Check out our full online inventory!

Winter Service Specials in Kenosha WI And all of a sudden, Wisconsin has realized that winter is here. With such cold temperatures making life a little more white and icy lately, it is important to keep your car running in top shape to avoid any issues. Nobody wants to stand outside in the blowing winter wind. We’ll tell you about some winter service specials in Kenosha WI that are sure you help you get your car shaped up. more That wind sure is nasty. The best feeling is being able to hop in a warm car and get where you need to go without any problems. But what if your car doesn’t start? That is a nightmare that can be avoided more easily with a little preemptive car servicing. Don’t wait for the problem to arise. Get your car checked out beforehand to save yourself worries and stress down the road. Cold weather really takes a toll on our cars. Luckily there are a few things we can do to make the chances of trouble a little smaller. Doing the small things like replacing your windshield wiper blades and getting an oil change can help your car to feel and run its best. Right now at Palmen Motors in Kenosha WI, we have several specials that will save you money in the service department. For only $79.95 you can bring in your car for an oil and filter change, tire rotation, and a set of new wiper blades. Hurry in and take advantage of this deal before time runs out! If you missed this special, don’t fret! Check out this page to see what service specials we have going. We keep this updated with the latest specials to save you time and money. It doesn’t matter what time of the year, Palmen Motors is working to keep you and your car happy. If you are interested in bringing your car in for maintenance, contact us here to set up an appointment and answer all your questions. The friendly and professional staff at Palmen Motors is looking forward to seeing you!

Staying Awake Behind the Wheel We all know that we’ve had to make a trip when we weren’t feeling very energized and awake. This usually results in a struggle to avoid nodding off on the road. Falling asleep while driving is extremely dangerous ( especially in the snow!) and should definitely be avoided. Read here for some tips and ideas for staying awake behind the wheel. more It is important for your safety to make sure that you’ve had enough sleep before getting behind the wheel, but sometimes even with enough sleep, we get drowsy. If that is a struggle you face, here are a few tips to get you through: #1: Eat or Drink something Exciting No, we don’t mean that the food has to be difficult to eat. What will help you stay alert is to eat or drink something that engages your senses. Some suggestions are things like sunflower seeds, ice chips, or chewing gum. The idea is keeping your mouth, and therefore your mind, too busy to fall asleep. The trick is to avoid too much sugar, as it will lead to a crash or higher level of drowsiness shortly after consuming it. #2: Eat or Drink something Slowly Again, keeping your body busy is key for keeping your mind awake! Drinking coffee in sips or eating chips one piece at a time can keep you focused on eating for a longer period of time. #3: Cool Everything Down You know when it’s hard to fall asleep? When you are slightly uncomfortable. That is why cooling things down in the car can make drowsiness disappear. Open a window or turn on the air so that the feeling in the car is just a little colder than you’d like. For an instant cooling effect, wipe your face and neck with a wet wipe or cloth. Even that little shock to your system can help keep your mind awake. #4: Blast some Music Listen closely here. You don’t want to play your favorite music. Since you know all the words and enjoy the music, your brain isn’t going to pay much attention to it, giving you a chance to nod off. Turn on something you either don’t know or dislike. For example, a big country fan might throw on some rap music really loud. Now, obviously there are other methods to keep yourself awake, but having a few tricks in the bag never hurts! Drive safe. Stay Awake!

How does the Chrysler 200 handle in snow? It would be an understatement to say we've seen a lot of interest in the new 2015 Chrysler 200 here at Palmen Motors. They've been a great part of our lineup this year, and we really stand by all the comfort, capability, and durability that this new model has to offer. One question we tend to get a lot, though, being a Wisconsin dealership with customers throughout the surrounding area, is " How does the Chrysler 200 handle in snow? " Since the model was released during the warmer months, we haven't had a chance to show our customers in person, so we'll tell you the same thing we told them: It's going to be a great winter car. more How do we know? Well, there are a number of factors that make us confident that the new 2015 Chrysler 200 will perform well during the snow-covered mornings, afternoons, and evenings we'll undoubtedly experience this upcoming winter. Let's start with the big one that everyone thinks about up front: all-wheel drive. Yes, it is available on the 2015 Chrysler 200! It's not always something you would know to ask about on a sedan, but this is one of the intrepid ones that offers the advanced drive type perfect for helping you get that grip you need on slippery surfaces. Not only is AWD drive available on the Chrysler 200, but it's the most advanced system of its kind in the 200's class. This isn't the type you engage and turn off when a situation arises -- it's always active and will actually engage and disengage automatically by detecting the conditions. Then there's the four-channel electronic stability control, which helps you stay safe and in control of your vehicle in any number of adverse circumstances. Want to come in and test drive the new 2015 Chrysler 200 here at Palmen Motors? We haven't even shown you the interior yet (you'll love it)! Call or stop by today!

At Palmen Motors, we take safety very seriously. While we pride ourselves on selling vehicles with great capability and safety ratings in the event of an accident, we know that the best thing for everyone is not to have an accident in the first place. As winter solidifies its icy grip on our driving lives this season, we need to be more vigilant than ever in preventing accidents. Here are some of our top tips for staying safe this winter. more 1. Maintain your tires and tire pressure. If you’ve been putting off getting your tires replaced because you don’t want to pay for them, you’ve already waited too long and are putting yourself, your passengers, and everyone else on the road in danger by not taking care of this necessary and serious maintenance issue. Winter accidents happen when people lose control of their vehicles, and one of the largest factors in your ability to stay in control is the quality of your tires. It’s worth the money, and we can help you find good, affordable tires here. Tire pressure is also a serious issue in winter. During times of extreme cold, your tire pressure can drop by over a pound an hour that your car isn’t garaged. The recommendation is that you add air once a week to prevent dangerous flats and blow-outs. 2. Slow down and keep a safe following distance. This one is for everyone, no matter what you drive. Even if you’ve got the most capable, hearty, all-terrain, off-road wonder of a vehicle and would feel totally comfortable cruising along at summertime highway speeds, think about it. Are you the only person on the road? Do you think the roadway is more or less safe when you drive aggressively amongst drivers of all vehicle abilities and experience levels in dangerous conditions? Please err on the side of safety for everyone. We’re all out there doing our best. 3. Never use cruise control in winter. Just pretend you don’t have it. Seriously. It’s a great feature for normal, safe driving conditions, but it’s not appropriate on a snowy, icy winter highway. 4. Lights on at all times. It’s shocking how many vehicles out on the road today don’t follow this simple prevention measure. The use of your lights during the day will significantly improve other drivers’ ability to see where you are and gauge their distance from you, and it’ll also improve your own ability to see. Turn ‘em on. 5. Spend time teaching younger drivers how to drive in winter. This may not be directly related to your own driving, but it’s definitely connected to all of our safety. Some of the most dangerous drivers on the road today are young people without enough experience to know how to handle the difficult conditions. Please spend some quality time with the ones in your life  making sure they are informed and confident on how to drive safely. We’ll all be better for it.

Auto recall check Kenosha WI It can't hurt to check. A lot of people feel confident that they’d definitely be aware of a recall on their vehicle. And in most cases, they’d be right. But recalls that go unnoticed by consumers can be dangerous, and the necessary information falling between the cracks happens more often than you might think. Here, we share some reasons you might not be aware of a recall on your vehicle and give you advice for how and when to perform a check. more Consumers are generally informed of a recall by first-class mail from the manufacturer. This creates the possibility that the mail may not reach the intended recipient for a variety of reasons: -- The owner has recently changed addresses -- Postal service error -- The owner discarded the mail by accident -- Vehicle was in the process of being bought or sold when notification took place It can be hard to stay organized, but that doesn't mean it should be hard to stay safe! Those are only a few of the many reasons why people sometimes don’t find out about a recall on their vehicle. It’s important to occasionally check to make sure you’re not one of the owners who did not find out about a recall on your current vehicle. In just about all cases, you are able to receive the repairs necessitated by the recall for free, so it’s in your best interest to find out. At Palmen Motors, we encourage buyers to find out about the status of their vehicle with regard to recalls, and are more than happy to assist them in getting the prompt and accurate information they need. Want to know whether your Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, or Ram,  vehicle is recalled? Please fill out the form here, and we’ll get back to you in about one business day to let you know the results of your query. At Palmen Motors, we care about helping you and your family stay safe! Thank you for choosing us!

Where Should My Dog Sit in My Car? Sure he wants to sit here, but it's actually not good for him. Here at Palmen Motors, we sell some very pet-friendly vehicles. And for many drivers, there’s nothing like heading down the open roads with their best friend next to them. But if that best friend is a dog, there are some things to keep in mind to make sure that he or she is safe in your vehicle. For many, it’s a simple answer to the question “ Where should my dog sit in my car?” more We’ve all seen a dog with its head hanging out a vehicle’s window, catching the wind in its face. Or even a dog that is riding in the bed of a truck. While the dog may seem to be enjoying both of these situations, they actually aren’t the safest spots for a dog to be in a car. Obviously, the bed of a truck can be very dangerous as the dog will likely get injured or worse if the vehicle stops abruptly. But many people don’t know that letting a dog stick its head out the window is pretty unsafe as well. Can we all agree that this isn't safe for a dog? When a dog has its head out the window, it can easily be hit by debris or even fall out of the vehicle. Prolonged exposure to the wind can also irritate the dog’s mucous membranes or blow dirt and grit into its eyes. It’s okay to give the dog a quick sniff of the outside air or to have its head out briefly, but a prolonged period of time can damage the dog’s health and be risk for injury. What is the Safest Spot for a Dog? So, where should my dog sit in my car? Well, the back seat is actually the safest spot. A dog in the front seat can be distracting and it can also be dangerous for the dog in the event of a collision. Whereas the back seat keeps the dog safest in the event of an accident and keeps the distractions at bay. It may be tough to deny him of his favorite seat, but it’s worth not putting him in harm’s way.