Showing posts with label Auto Truck Depot. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Auto Truck Depot. Show all posts

Friday, June 15, 2018

Auto Truck Depot on Ford Tough Forum

As if you don't get enough of us here, Auto Truck Depot has expanded their online presence to another forum! The Ford Tough Forum is a support group for Canadian Ford truck enthusiasts to share their experiences and ask for help.


Whether you're looking for advice on a purchase, trying a new DIY job and need some help, or you just want to share some photos of your new Ford, this forum is a community for like-minded people to meet. On our Vendor Page, we upload a wide variety of content, from sales breakdowns, to other useful info, and we'll chime in on topics where we can be of help to those asking.

If you're looking for another place to interact with us, or with truck enthusiasts across the country, head over and check out the Ford Tough Forum!

Auto Truck Depot

107, 42 Ave SW, Calgary Alberta
Toll Free: 1-855-253-4330
Local: 403-253-4330
info@autotruckdepot.ca

Friday, June 1, 2018

Rundown: B&W Companion Fifth Wheel Hitch

The B&W Companion Hitch utilizes the single point attachment on of the B&W Turnover Hitch frame to convert your hitch from a Gooseneck to a fifth wheel hitch in minutes!

The Turnover

The Turnover Hitch frame installs underneath your truck bed, bolted directly to your frame using existing holes with no welding or drilling required. This ensures a solid mounting point to ensure a safe trailer towing experience, no matter what your truck is hauling. To find out more about the Turnover hitch, check out our Rundown of the product.

The Companion

Classified as an accessory to the Turnover Hitch, the B&W Companion Fifth Wheel Hitch utilizes the already mounted Turnover bracket to adapt the gooseneck hitch into a fifth wheel hitch, which means no mou nting rails are needed. The latching handle locks a 5/8" steel peg in place, right through the stem of the Companion, to secure the hitch. When you don't need it, the mount can be removed in minutes by pulling the locking handle out and rotating it 1/8 of a spin to lock it open. Once removed, you will have full truck bed access with no pesky rails to contend with so you can haul as much cargo as you need to. If you aren't going to use the Turnover as a Gooseneck Hitch, your can purchase a plug to fill the hole when your hitch isn't in use to keep your truck bed flat. 



The Cam Action Latching Handle allows you to easily disconnect your trailer anywhere, even on uneven ground! Its wide stance offers improved stability, and the fully articulating head allows for front to back and side to side movement for maximum versatility while towing. The hitch can even be adjusted to three different heights between 14.75" and 16.76", and has a 4" range of adjustment forwards and backwards with three couple positions. The 1" thick wrap around jaws fit a kingpin perfectly. Polyurethane brushings make for a smooth, clean, and rattle free towing experience.


With a 20,000 lb GTW and 5,000 VTW, the B&W hitch set up can haul anything your truck can, and it's the most versatile way to haul your trailer. For more information, or to purchase your Companion today, visit our website, give us a call or email, or visit our Calgary location.

Auto Truck Depot

107, 42 Ave SW, Calgary Alberta
Toll Free: 1-855-253-4330
Local: 403-253-4330
info@autotruckdepot.ca


Wednesday, May 30, 2018

Towing 101: What You Need to Know to Get Your Trailer on the Road

Setting out to haul a trailer of any kind can be a big task, especially if you've never done it before. There are a lot of ins and outs and technical details that come along with hooking up that new fifth wheel or Gooseneck trailer to your vehicle. In this article, I will outline the basic things you'll need to know to get out on the road safely. Note that this is not comprehensive, and should be used as a base to build off of.


Some Terms

Gross Vehicle Weight Ratio (GVWR) - This is the maximum loaded weight that your vehicle is designed to carry, as determined by the manufacturer. This value includes the weight of the vehicle itself, plus anything and everything inside. If this weight is exceeded, you may be putting extra strain on your brakes, suspension, transmission, and engine.

Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) - The amount of weight that can be put on your front or rear axles. This includes the vehicle weight, the weight of your passengers and cargo, as well as the weight of a trailer.

Gross Trailer Weight (GTW) - The total weight of your trailer and its cargo.

Tongue Weight (TW) - The amount of downward force or weight on a towing vehicle by the trailer or other towable load. Proper tongue weight should be 10 - 15% of the GTW, and is affected by the way cargo is loaded. It's important to observe this weight, as it greatly effects your control of the trailer and the vehicle. 

Before going forward, you should always make sure you know the towing capacity of your truck, and ensure the thing you're towing doesn't exceed it. Check out our blog post on finding your truck's towing capacity.

Measuring Tongue Weight

Surprisingly enough, you can measure the tongue weight of your trailer with a simple bathroom scale. If you'd rather, tongue weight scales can be purchased at most towing supply stores as well. Your local trailer dealer may also be willing to let you use their tongue weight scale, as you shouldn't need to check it often. Finally, you can use a roadside vehicle scale to determine tongue weight. Call ahead to make sure your nearby scale will allow you to. Then pull up and measure the weight of your vehicle on its own. Then hook up your trailer, keeping the wheels off the scale. Subtract the weight of your vehicle from the weight or your vehicle and trailer to get your tongue weight. Remember that your tongue weight should only be 10-15% of your GTW.

If you expect the tongue weight to be less than 300 pounds, simply rest the trailer's tongue on a bathroom scale to measure the weight. If you expect a higher tongue weight, you will need to set up a system of pips and boards outlined on CURT Manufacturing's site in order to determine the tongue weight.

When loading your trailer, the best way to distribute cargo to achieve optimum tongue weight is evenly. Unless specified by the trailer manufacturer, 60% of your weight should go to the front of the trailer, and 40% should go to the back. The more cargo is at the front of your trailer, the heavier your tongue weight will be.

It's also important to make sure that your vehicle is set up with brake controllers. Without them, hard stops can be a devastating incident on the road, as they control and apply trailer brakes at the same rate as your towing vehicle's to ensure an even stop and help you maintain control.



Air Springs are also very helpful when trowing large trailers, or close to capacity loads. While they are made in a variety of different styles, they all work on the same premise. They are designed to take some of the weight off of your vehicle and provide a soft air cushion between the axle and the frame, which reduces suspension fatigue from carrying heavy loads regularly. They improve your vehicle's ride, improve steering control, level out your headlights, and improve tire wear.

Weight Distribution Hitches are another great way to minimize strain on your vehicle when towing large loads. They take some of the tongue weight off of your rear axle and distribute it evenly distribute it to your trailer's axles and to your front axle to improve steering control and decrease wear and strain on your rear axle.

As long as you observe your vehicle's weight restrictions and stay mindful of safety while towing, you shouldn't have a problem. So get out there and enjoy the summer outside. Check out our collection of towing accessories, or head over to CURT Manufacturing's website for even more details on towing. See you out there!

Auto Truck Depot

107, 42 Ave SW, Calgary Alberta
Toll Free: 1-855-253-4330
Local: 403-253-4330
info@autotruckdepot.ca

Friday, May 25, 2018

Rundown: B&W Turnover Gooseneck Hitch

The B&W Turnover Gooseneck Hitch has got to be one of the most innovative, in-bed trailer hitches on the market. In this post, I will outline the details of the hitch so you can decide for yourself if this is the product for you.

What is the Turnover Gooseneck Hitch?


The groundbreaking feature of the Turnover Gooseneck Hitch is that the only portion of this heavy duty product that takes up space in your truck bed is the hitch itself. The durable, powder coated mounting frame bolts to existing holes in your trucks frame underneath the bed with no drilling or weldingf. The only alteration that needs to be made is a 4 inch hole cut into the base of your bed. Once done, the hitch's frame sits up against the underside of your truck bed, and the solid, one-piece machined receiver socket is then accessible. The 2 5/16" ball comes through that hole to allow hooking up your trailer. Installation is made as simple as possible, and people often feel comfortable enough to get in and do it themselves. If not, let our professionals get it installed and ready to go for you!


When you need to haul a trailer, your hitch is there and ready to go, but you can still pack your truck bed full of other gear. The ball is secured to the hitch frame with a 5/8" steel locking pin that goes straight through the ball, ensuring security and safety of your hitch, truck, and trailer.



Not hauling a trailer today? Simply pull the release spring out and give it a 1/8" turn to lock it open, then pull out the ball, turn it over. The Ball drops straight into the receiver socket, leaving a completely flat surface where the hitch used to be. You can then replace the lock spring, securing the ball. No more hitch balls bouncing around in the back of your truck, and full truck bed access in seconds!

If you'd like more technical information on this product, take a look at the Owner's Manual.


Accessories

I wouldn't be able to call this the most innovative in-bed truck hitch if it weren't versatile, and it most definitely is. B&W has thought of nearly everything when it comes to accessory capabilities for the Turnover. 



That includes ball upgrades to a 3" or even a high rise ball to make sure that your new hitch is compatible with anything your truck can haul. That includes the more uncommon hitch types, like inverted ball hitch inserts, Kingpin inserts, and even eyelet inserts for extra tie down positions. Did you lose your hitch ball? 



Had to remove it for some reason? You can even get a socket plug that will just leave you with a flat truck bed; and yes, they sell replacement 2 5/16" balls as well. But what if you've got more than one trailer? Maybe you've got one trailer that uses a gooseneck, and another that uses a fifth wheel. Well don't worry, B&W has thought of that too. If you have a Turnover Gooseneck Hitch installed, you've already got the mounting plate ready to receive B&W's Companion Fifth Wheel Hitch. Stay tuned for an upcoming Rundown with more details on the fifth wheel accessory.

Maintenance

One of the great things about this set up is that it requires almost no maintenance. With the frame tucked away inside your truck's frame, raised off the ground and also covered from the elements, the frame should last the lifetime of your truck. The powder coated finish provides another barrier against premature wear, and B&W offers a limited lifetime warranty in case something happens.


The most important part of maintaining your B&W Turnaround is greasing the post corners with lithium grease as needed. The time frame will vary depending on the amount of use and other environmental factors, so keep an eye on the hitch to make sure it doesn't seize.

If Your Hitch Seizes

Do not use heat. Temperature changes can alter the temper of the metal and impact the durability of your hitch. Start by soaking it with penetrating oil for a few days. If that doesn't loosen it enough to easily pull it out, try lightly tapping the ball with a hammer. Do not hit hard, as this can cause damage to the ball, or decrease its durability. If you still can't remove it, you may have to remove the center section from your truck and have the insert pressed out.


The B&W Turnover Hitch is one of the most versatile hitches on the market. With a wide range of accessories, you can use the frame mounted hitch to haul anything that your truck can carry. With such a low footprint in your bed, you can still fill your truck with all kinds of gear, whether you're towing your trailer or not! To find out more, or to order your Turnover Gooseneck Hitch today, visit our website, give us a call or email, or come visit our Calgary location.

Auto Truck Depot

107, 42 Ave SW, Calgary Alberta
Toll Free: 1-855-253-4330
Local: 403-253-4330
info@autotruckdepot.ca


Wednesday, May 23, 2018

Wash Away Winter with Auto Truck Depot's Professional Detailing

You know that we sell a wide variety of truck and automotive accessories, but did you know we also offer auto care services as well? Shed winter off your car and start summer with a sparkle; let us give your car a full, Professional Detail session!


We offer three tiers of auto detailing: Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Each tier offers more TLC and attention to detail than the last, but no matter which you choose, our experts will make sure your car comes out spotless. The components of the package listed below are for our Platinum detail. For information on our other packages, please click here.

Interior Clean

We start off the interior clean by spraying down your door jams, fender wells and floor mats. Once that's done, we do a full clean of your dash, cup holders, console, door panels, glove box, rocker panels, and weather molding. We then vacuum and shampoo all carpets and seats, as well as the trunk. Then we finish off by Scotch Guarding your seats, performing treatments of all leather and weather molding, and wash all the windows.

Exterior Clean

After the interior is done, we will start with a degreasing treatment of your engine, wheels, and tires. Then we will hand wash and hand wax the entirety of your vehicle's exterior, including a wax and polish of chrome rims and other chrome components. Finally, we will do a tire treatment and a final polish and wax pass, hang a new air freshener, and roll out your vehicle as good as new.


Now is the perfect time to get your vehicle detailed. The streets have been cleared of most of the debris from winter, but your car still holds onto the salt and grime and dust from those long cold months. Let Auto Truck Depot help you fall in love your ride again. Give us a call, check out our website, or visit our Calgary location.

Auto Truck Depot

107, 42 Ave SW, Calgary Alberta
Toll Free: 1-855-253-4330
Local: 403-253-4330
info@autotruckdepot.ca

Monday, May 21, 2018

Our Legendary, Risk-Free Guarantee

We understand that you want your vehicle to live up to some high expectations. Whether it's at work or at play, with your car, your truck, or some other class of vehicle, it has to perform to your standards. That's why we are proud to offer a 30-Day Risk Free Trial.


Our Risk Free Trial allows you to enjoy using the product you've purchased for up to 30 days, and see if it performs to your standards. If not, you can return it within those 30 days for a full refund. We won't surprise you with any hidden fees or charges. It's a level of customer service unparalleled in the automotive industry. We do it because we are confident in our products. We do it because, if we were in your shoes we would want it too.

Restrictions

While we are very open with our return policy, we do place a few restrictions that we believe to be fair on any returns.

1) Notify Us Within 30 Days.

If you haven't informed us that your product is being shipped back to us, or that you are coming in to return it within the 30 day limit, we cannot accept the return.

2) Return in the Original Packagin

Please ensure all returns are wrapped up in their original packaging. If they are not, a restocking, or repackaging fee of 20% may be applied.

3) "As New" Condition

We expect that you will test out the product. Install it on your vehicle, take it for a spin, load your gear up on it, use it as you would. However, we cannot accept damaged, excessively used, or excessively soiled items. 

Processing

Once the product has arrived at our Calgary location, we ask that you give us 48 hours to inspect the product, to ensure "As New" conditioning. Once your return as been approved, we will issue a credit to your PayPal account or credit within 5 business days. Depending on your card issuer's policies, it could take up to 5 days for the refund to appear.

We know that you are serious about your truck, and so we are equally serious about our return policy We strive for the highest level of customer service and customer satisfaction in our products. And if you're not happy, we want it to be as easy as possible for you to get your money back. 

Warranties

Sometimes things happen that are just beyond anyone's control. If for any reason you receive a product that is in less than perfect condition, please call or email us right away and we will do our absolute best to remedy the situation.

Typically, manufacturer's warranties cover faults in workmanship or materials as long as the product has been used in its intended manner. Defects resulting from negligence, misuse, accidents, or abnormal wear and tear are not covered.

Auto Truck Depot

107, 42 Ave SW, Calgary Alberta
Toll Free: 1-855-253-4330
Local: 403-253-4330
info@autotruckdepot.ca

Friday, May 18, 2018

Stay Safe on the Highways with the Tekonsha P3 Trailer Brake Controller

Some risk-taking is necessary to make progress in this world, but hauling a trailer without a brake controller is not one of those moments. With no brake controller, you could lose control of your trailer with much less application or brakes than you would think.

The Tekonsha P3 is a top of the line electronic brake controller designed for trailers with 1 to 4 axles. It features a bright, easy to read LCD display with multiple colour and contrast customization options, ensuring the best visibility in any conditions. It can even be programmed to display in English, French or Spanish. It's compact design and easy-to-use clip mounting system are all engineered to ensure the least amount of lost space and simple user interface. It can be disconnected quickly to store if you're not towing a trailer, freeing up extra leg space, and it even comes with a storage pouch.

The controls are placed right on the front, easy to find and easy to read. Advanced, yet simple to understand, roadside diagnostics are built in so that you always know what's going on with your brakes, no matter where you are. The integrated Boost feature allows several levels of customized braking options, including the ability to switch between electric and hydraulic brakes.

When it comes to driving, don't take the risk. The Tekonsha P3 slows down your trailer and truck at the same rate, preventing loss of control over your vehicle or trailer, keeping yourself and everyone else on the road safe when you inevitably have to hit the brakes hard.

For more information, or to order your P3 Brake Controller, head over to our website, give us a call, send an email, or visit our Calgary location.

Auto Truck Depot

107, 42 Ave SW, Calgary Alberta
Toll Free: 1-855-253-4330
Local: 403-253-4330
info@autotruckdepot.ca

Wednesday, May 16, 2018

What is the Auto Truck Depot Price Match Guarantee?

If there's a lower advertised price on the same product in Canada we will match it. That's the short answer. Auto Truck Depot won't be undersold. We shop our competition, and we negotiate hard on your behalf to get the best deals on all of our products, from top-tier brands to no-name products.


Price matches are restricted to products sold in Canadian stores, in Canadian dollars. Prioce matching must be within 30 days, and we will even honour our own prices! If one of our products is reduced in price within 30 days of your purchase, bring in your receipt and we will issue for the difference on the same model. We cannot match:


  • Special sales such as Black Friday, warehouse sales, Boxing Day, etc.
  • Employee discounts
  • Mail-in or instant rebates, coupons
  • Liquidation sales or auction pricing such as Kijiji, eBay, Amazon, etc.
  • Membership club stores
  • THI products
  • Other restrictions may apply
Our experienced employees don't work on commission; their goal is to determine what your needs are, and then provide you with the most suitable product for those needs. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to visit our Calgary location, or get in touch via email or phone.


Auto Truck Depot

107, 42 Ave SW, Calgary Alberta
Toll Free: 1-855-253-4330
Local: 403-253-4330
info@autotruckdepot.ca

Friday, May 11, 2018

Not in Town? Not a Problem!

Auto Truck Depot is committed to offering our customers the best service, the best advice, and the best prices, no matter where in Canada do you are. That's why we are proud to have a simple and effective Free Shipping Policy set up for our customers. This offer applies to any order over $200 before taxes that is shipping anywhere in Canada, on nearly all products we carry. Please note that extra charges may apply for over-sized items, or when shipping to remote areas. We will be sure to contact you about these charges before shipping is confirmed.


Processing and Timeline

Please note that our shipping process has a couple of steps. Once you order, the shipping request is sent immediately to our Shipping Department, who work Monday to Friday. They will process your order, and confirm with the courier, and send along any information they receive within a couple of business days. Once the shipping request has been confirmed, a tracking number will be sent to you, and you can expect to receive your package within 2 - 10 business days, depending on where you live.

Catalin N., Red Deer, Alberta: Purchased an Undercover Flex Tonneau Cover online
"I ordered a cover yesterday and I got it today! It was awesome. Thank you very much. Great service!"

Shipping Methods

All Free Shipping orders are run through standard ground carrier services on regular shipping routes. We use a variety of different couriers, and we will be sure to ship your product to you using the most convenient courier at the time of your order to prevent delays.

With an active online presence through our website, with regularly updated products and content, you can have access to competitive pricing country wide. Whether you live in Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec, Nova Scotia, or as close as small town Alberta, we want to be able to offer you great prices on high quality products.

Auto Truck Depot

107, 42 Ave SW, Calgary Alberta
Toll Free: 1-855-253-4330
Local: 403-253-4330
info@autotruckdepot.ca

Friday, May 4, 2018

Access Tonnosport May Sale


The Access Tonnosport is an affordable, high quality tonneau cover that's made to work hard for you. The reinforced, double-coated vinyl is durable and sleek, offering a low profile look that helps improve your truck's fuel economy by as much as 10%. The cover seals on all sides, keeping water, snow, dirt, dust, and much more out of your truck bed and off your cargo.


The easy-to-use trigger finger latch allows you to open the cover with one hand for quick access to your truck bed. The cover can be rolled up by one person, from one side of the truck and secured against the cab when you need full truck bed access. When you're transporting small cargo that could be stolen, blown away, or damaged by the elements, the cover unrolls and locks into place at the tailgate for a firm seal.


The Access Tonnosport can be installed or removed in minutes without any damage to your truck bed, and a built in tension dial allows you to adjust the vinyl until taut, keeping it safe from damage and looking great. A simple wash with the occasional Tonno Tonic treatment will keep it in great shape for years to come.

For more information on taking care of your vinyl tonneau cover, check out our related blog post! To take advantage of this great deal on the Access Tonnosport, check out our website, give us a call, or visit our Calgary location!

Auto Truck Depot

107, 42 Ave SW, Calgary AB
Toll Free: 1-855-253-4330
Local: 403-253-4330
info@autotruckdepot.ca


Wednesday, May 2, 2018

What's so Great About the CURT Spyder Gooseneck Hitch - On Sale Now


Summer is just around the corner, which means it's time to start pulling out your trailer, checking it and prepping it for the next camping season. Or maybe it's time to buy a new trailer. Regardless of your situation, when towing a trailer, you want to make sure that you have the best security for yourself, your toys, and others on the road around you. The CURT Spyder Gooseneck Hitch is a versatile, durable fifth wheel hitch that mounts to any standard fifth wheel base rail set, and it's on sale now for 21% off!

This trailer hitch style has the unique ability of being able to connect to both fifth wheel and gooseneck style trailer hitches, meaning you can pull both trailers with the same pickup. Held in place by 4 secure pin and clip attachment points, the hitch can be removed in mere minutes, giving you full truck bed access for hauling cargo when you need it, and where you need it. It's low profile designed means even when towing, you can still back your bed with other cargo too!

With an impressive gross load of 25,000 lbs., a tongue weight load of 6,250 lbs., and a 2 5/16" trailer ball, you'll be hard pressed to find a trailer, gooseneck or fifth wheel, that this hitch can't haul, including livestock trailers, chopper boxes, gravity boxes, flatbeds, and much more. Finished with a carbide black powder-coating, the Spyder Gooseneck Hitch is scratch resistant, rust resistant, UV resistant, and looks sharp.You won't find a more durable, long lasting hitch anywhere.

For more information, or to order your Spyder today, get in touch or visit our Calgary location.

Auto Truck Depot

107, 42 Ave SW, Calgary Alberta
Toll Free: 1-855-253-4330
Local: 403-253-4330
info@autotruckdepot.ca


Monday, April 30, 2018

Best Day Hikes Near Calgary

Photo © Ryan Drescher 2015

In Calgary, we are very lucky to live in such close proximity to something as beautiful and raw as the Rocky Mountains and Kananaskis Provincial Park. There are very few places left in the world that are so wild and untouched, and that number continues to dwindle as our population grows and expands. In this post, I'll be outlining some of the best day hikes within driving distance from the city.

Photo © Ryan Drescher, 2015

The Ptarmigan Cirque 

5 km, 3 hours
Elevation Gain: 230m

A short but moderately challenging hike, the Ptarmigan Cirque trail head is located at the highest point of the Highwood Pass, the highest drivable pass in Canada at 7200 feet. The first kilometer is a very steep climb up a well-maintained trail, but it's worth it. Once you crest the top, the cirque goes around a high mountain bowl, and the terrain is stark and beautiful.

In the spring, summer melt makes a small meadow marshland, a creek, and small waterfalls through rocky outcropping. The area itself is flat and ion the summer it is full of alpine flowers. There are plenty of places to sit and enjoy the view overlooking the pass or higher up, overlooking the meadow.

Photo © Ryan Drescher, 2015

If you get to the end of the meadow and you're ready to turn back, you can follow the main trail around. If you're still feeling energetic, you can push forward along a small trail into the upper bowl and from there you can scramble up to the top of Mount. Rae. This section is a long stretch of scree and talus (loose shale slope) that affords a phenomenal view from the top.

Photo ©Ryan Drescher, 2015

Yamnuska

7 km, 4 hours
Elevation Gain: 435+ meters

Photo Credit Paul Jerry (Flickr)

Mount John Laurie, commonly known as Yamnuska, is an advanced hike that takes you up a steep, treed climb to the top of a ridge and eventually to the peak of the mountain located on the fringe of the Rockies. There are a variety of trails that you can follow along the slope, some steeper than others. The ridge butts up against the main peak of Yamnuska. The trails all lead around the backside of the peak, not seen in the photo above. At the back end of the bowl, things get a little bit more technical.

File:Yamnuska cabled traverse.jpg
Photo Credit Kevin Lenz

You will have to traverse a scree slope, and at one point there is a small ledge around a small cavity in the slope. This part of the traverse has a mounted chain to help you around. Once on the other side, it's an open, moderate climb to the peak. From the top, the adventurer is afforded a stunning view of both the foothills and prairies rolling out east, as well as a great look west into the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Afterwards, the easiest way down is to follow the loop, which takes you around the front of the mountain, down the scree slope face, and back into the woods below.

File:Yamnuska top of climbing route.jpg
Photo Credit Kevin Lenz 

Larch Valley/Sentinel Pass

Larch Valley - 4.3 km+ in the valley, takes about 4 hours.
Elevation Gain: 535m

Sentinel Pass is an additional 2.5 km, with a gain of 200m.

The Larch Valley trail head is located on Moraine Lake in Banff. It's another one of those trails that is has a really steep first section, but quickly levels out. Its a stunning hike in the fall, especially the two weeks in mid-September when the Larch trees have all changed colour. This, however, will also be the trail's busiest time. It will be packed, because this is one of Banff's premiere attractions, and also it's Banff. If you want to avoid the crowds, it is still a beautiful hike in the summer.

Photo © Ryan Drescher 2016

Once your crest the top of the ascent, you're in the valley. The pathways here are relatively flat, weaving through trees and along small creeks. At the top of the valley, the trail briefly pops out of the larches into a meadow, providing a stunning view of the Valley of 10 Peaks. After that it drops back in to the trees and eventually finds it's way to the Minnestimma Lakes, a series of small reflective pools.

Photo © Ryan Drescher 2016

The Sentinel Pass segment of the hike goes out and beyond the larches. It rises steeply over a couple of kilometers, and leaves you at the top with a stunning view, perched among the spires that give the Sentinel Pass its name. From here, it is recommended you turn back unless you've arranged a ride. You can press further, going down the other side of the pass into Paradise Valley, but you likely won't make it all the way back before dark.

Photo © Ryan Drescher 2016

This area is often frequented by bears, and Parks Canada often requires groups of a certain size before you can hike the trail.

Galatea Lakes

16km, 5 hours
Elevation Gain: 457m

The Galatea Lake or Galatea Creek Trail can be done as a day hike for the adventurous and experienced hiker. The trail winds its way up a beautiful valley along the Galatea Creek. There are multiple crossing across wooden bridges.

Photo © Ryan Drescher, 2012

While the vistas are more or less non-existent here, the creek bed is gorgeous, and the the walk through the woods is quite nice. The last stretch up to the lake has a lot of loose rock, so make sure to wear proper footwear. The large 2013 flood has caused a lot of damage to the trail, and many of the routes have been adjusted or shifted to accommodate.

Photo © Ryan Drescher, 2012

Lilian Lake, most of the way up the trail, is a beautiful spot for lunch and the ideal turn around location. You can also get a back-country permit to camp in the well-maintained campground here that has a shared fire pit. The pristine lake is tucked away, and smooth as glass. From this trail, there a wide range of options. Guinn's pass leads over to Ribbon Lake on the other side of a ridge, a short, steep 1.5 km hike for Lilian Lake will take you to the Galatea Lakes, tucked high up in a mountain bowl. These lakes often have ice and snow  around them long into the summer, and they are small, deep, and beautiful.

Grassi Lakes

4km, 2 hours
Elevation Gain: 250m

                         Image result for Grassi Lakes
Photo Credit McKay Savage

This short, easy hike is perfect for a family or a partial day hike. It is very popular and often frequented by sport climbers as well. There are two possible routes you can take, at a fork after the first 100m. The easier route appears to be a fire road, and the other takes you along a slightly more difficult, but still fairly easy, path that passes along a waterfall. At the top of the trail are two beautiful, iridescent lakes. They make a great place for lunch, and above the first lake there is a short scramble to a petroglyph on a boulder for the more adventurous. The entire way up, great views of Ha Ling Peak and the Canmore area can be enjoyed.

Photo © Ryan Drescher, 2012

I hope this collection has proved helpful. Canada has so much open space, so much untouched wilderness just waiting to be explored. Check out some of these hikes or find your own adventure, and enjoy the world we have while you can! Make sure to be respectful of nature and other people, and leave the trails in better condition that you left them. Don't leave behind garbage, or damage the plant life. Watch your step, and be mindful of bears and other wildlife.

Let Auto Truck Depot help you get there with bike racks, cargo boxes, roof racks, and much more!

For more information on local hikes, check out:




https://www.trailpeak.com/index.jsp?cat=def

Auto Truck Depot

107, 42 Ave SW, Calgary Alberta
Toll Free: 1-855-253-4330
Local: 403-253-4330
info@autotruckdepot.ca

Friday, April 20, 2018

Jump Into Spring with the Swagman Sale!


With the winter finally falling away behind us, it's time to get ready for spring and summer. How do you spend your summers? Here in Calgary, it's often said that we spend more of our free time leaving the city for the wilderness than anything else. It's incredibly easy with the vast Rocky Mountains a mere hour away, and such a wide variety of beautiful landscapes to traverse.


Let Auto Truck Depot help you explore wherever you may go, whether it's in a city park or out in the country, by hooking you up with a high quality Swagman Rack for a great price. For a limited time only, we are offering 15% off all Swagman products, so you can get your vehicle outfitted for your next summer adventure!


Watercraft Racks

Swagman doesn't just make bike racks. If you're looking to head out to the lake or river, check out the Folding Contour Roof Mount Kayak Carrier. Designed to accommodate most standard racks, it even comes with additional 10mm bolts for over-sized crossbars. It can hold 1 kayak, and comes with 2 tie down straps, bow and stern straps, and padded cam buckles. When you're not hauling a kayak, the racks even fold down to reduce wind resistance.

If you're looking for something a little bit larger, we've got several other kayak racks, like the Contour Roof Mount Kayak Holder, and the Coronado Roof Mount Kayak Holder.

Swagman Roamer LT Pop-Up Trailer Rack

Heading out camping with your pop-up tent trailer? Don't have a truck, or just need some extra storage space? Swagman makes a rack designed to mount to the top of your trailer to give you that extra storage boost. They can also be installed on truck canopies on tonneau covers and truck canopies!


Bike Racks

Where Swagman really shines is their prolific range of bike racks. From the Swagman SEMI 2.0 2 Bike Rack to the Swagman QUAD 2 to 4 Bike Rack and the Swagman XTC4, Swagman's racks are designed to mount to the hitch of your vehicle. Built from high quality materials, they are made to last, and they will securely get your bikes wherever they need to go.

For more information, to find out about the other racks we carry, or to order your discounted Swagman today, check out our website, give us a call, or visit our Calgary location!

Auto Truck Depot

107, 42 Ave SW, Calgary Alberta
Toll Free: 1-855-253-4330
Local: 1-403-253-4330
info@autotruckdepot.ca