While I do a lot of shopping online for various products it seems like I'm a luddite when it comes to buying car parts. Typically I just use what the mechanic suggests or I go to my local auto parts store and pick something up in person. The reality though is that today car part stores are as advanced when it comes to ecommerce as any other type of merchant. Here's our tips for what to look for when shopping for car parts online.

It might be obvious – big knobby tires are better at gripping rugged surfaces than smooth ones. After all, you wouldn't put a pair of racing slicks on your truck and take it out on the trail, would you? The reality though is that for most of us, the right choice of tires is more about balance than absolutes. That's why I really like this set of Grabber A/T X that General Tire sent me to check out.

What was it like the first time you hitched something to the back of a truck and hauled it away? If you are anything like most people, I'm sure you were pretty nervous that you did it right and pretty excited to be on the road headed to your next adventure. While it's really not that complicated to safely hitch a trailer to your truck, there are some basic things you should know to make sure you do it properly and safely.

For some, a vanity license plate is the epitome of wasting money to show off your wealth and perceived status but for others it's simply an easy way to remember your plate numbers. Whatever your reasoning for choosing a personalized vanity plate, it's something that shouldn't be taken lightly. For better or worse, the name you pick will define both you as the driver as well as the vehicle for years to come. 

Changing your oil is one of those things that most people just take for granted and don't really consider anything more than the fact that they have to do it every few months. While I'll never been on an pit team, most of us "have a guy" that can do it and a few of us even have actually done it themselves. But most of us really have never considered why we do it and what that oil actually does for us. For me, the first time I saw the difference between clean engine oil and the dirty stuff on my dipstick, I was amazed.