Childproof Your Vehicle

PEKIN, Ill.,–– No one wants to drive around in a dirty vehicle. Crumb-filled, sticky vehicles are the nightmare of every parent's existence. What may start off as a small mess at first can quickly become a trash-filled disaster. Childproof your vehicle today to reduce the messiness of your vehicle and keep your children occupied through any drive. Whether you're planning on heading out on a vacation or going for a drive to the grocery store, these helpful tips can be the difference between a pristine vehicle and an unappealing one.

Fill Your Vehicle With Entertainment

Electronics, road games, coloring books, and more can keep your passengers occupied while you continue on your drive. This will reduce the buildup of messes and can entertain everyone in the vehicle. From the License Plate Game to 20 Questions, get everyone in the vehicle involved with fun road trip games! Before you leave for a vacation, commute, or errand with your passengers, make sure you have several forms of entertainment to reduce your distractions and prevent any messes.

Keep Your Vehicle's Entertainment Organized

Now that your vehicle is full of entertainment, you'll want to avoid creating more messes by keeping everything all in one place. IKEA hackers is a blog dedicated to repurposing old IKEA products into new uses. In their most recent endeavor, they repurposed a Flort, a remote organizer, into an entertainment organizer for their children. Keep everything in one place with a repurposed Flort to teach your kids the importance of organization!

Manage Backseat Messes With a Bath Rug

Yes, you read that correctly - a bath rug can make all the difference between a messy and clean vehicle! You can easily take it out of your vehicle and shake off any crumbs or residue that builds up on its surface and can place it back in with ease. It can protect the floor mats on your vehicle and can increase its resale value or prevent fines if you own a lease! View the quick and easy installation directions to create an efficient backseat cleaner!

Turn an Art Caddy into a Food Container

Another great way to minimize messes in your vehicle is by repurposing art caddies into food containers! They're relatively inexpensive and can help make a huge difference with the buildup of messes, as passengers can contain most of their debris within these caddies. While it may not prevent the spread of crumbs that end up everywhere, it will at least teach your children the value of organization, especially with food!

Use Shopping Bags to Clean Up Trash

Put your plastic shopping bags to good use by keeping one or two in your vehicle to clean up trash easily! Keep yourself and your passengers accountable by hanging them from the backs of your front seat's headrests. That way, everyone in the back can throw their trash in the grocery bags instead of scattering it throughout your vehicle. You can also use your shopping bags to carry emergency supplies, food, or other necessities, giving your passengers easy access should they need it.

Whether you're heading on a cross-country road trip or are visiting friends, make sure you childproof your vehicle to protect it from a potential backseat disaster. Traveling soon? Keep your kids occupied on road trips to reduce distractions, messes, and "are we there yet?"s. Before you know it, school will be starting up again. Grab everything your elementary schooler may need with our back to school shopping list to prepare them for the new year! 

At Velde Ford, we're committed to providing our customers with an unbeatable level of service and a great car buying experience. Stop by the dealership located at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or visit our website: VeldeFordPekin.com for more information.

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The Ease of Buying from Velde Ford

PEKIN, Ill.,–– Purchasing a new, Certified Pre-Owned, or used vehicle is a fun, but time-consuming process. Whether you're purchasing online or in-store, this step-by-step process can oftentimes be complicated and confusing. With the ease of buying from Velde Ford, you'll be able to get behind the wheel of any vehicle in our lot with our quick and easy service! Our online and offline resources can make all the difference when it comes to purchasing a vehicle, and we're more than happy to answer any questions you may have. Take a look at how easy it is to purchase a vehicle at Velde Ford!

Specify Your Search

Sometimes, the sheer number of vehicles available can be overwhelming. At Velde Ford, we have specific filters to help you search and find the exact make, model, and style of vehicle you're looking for! Our new and used vehicle inventories allow you to refine your search to help ease your shopping process. Plus, our vehicles on the lot are organized so you'll be able to navigate through categories, prices, and styles with ease!

Find Exactly What You're Looking For

On the other hand, if you know exactly what you're looking for, you can track down the exact make, model, and color of vehicle you need! You'll be able to find any out-of-production, specific color, or specific trim levels of vehicles you're looking for. Locate new, used, certified pre-owned, or Special Edition vehicles on our Find Me This Vehicle form. We'll contact you as soon as we can find what you're looking for. You won't have to worry about having to shop around!

Multiple Price Plans

At Velde Ford Pekin, you can save big on a new or used vehicle with Plan Pricing! Depending on your family background or employment, you or your family could be eligible for A, X, Z, or D pricing plans. These Ford-approved discounts, coupled with our financing options, can help you find and purchase a new vehicle at an affordable rate! Take a look at our plan pricing page to find out if you are eligible for any of these exclusive Ford discounts.

Receive a Great Interest Rate

If you're interested in receiving an auto loan, you can apply online today to get pre-approved before you even walk through the doors of our Pekin dealership! Our educated and helpful Finance Team will go above and beyond to ensure you receive the best possible interest rate we can provide you. After you fill out your pre-approval loan, factors like your credit rating, length of your loan, and your vehicle purchase will all be put into consideration before you receive your great interest rate. Bring it in your pre-approval afterwards to save yourself time at the dealership!

Experience the Ford Owner Advantage

The Ford Owner Advantage is an exclusive program available to Ford vehicle owners to thank them for their business! Every driver in a Ford owner's household, regardless of the make or model of their vehicle, is eligible to receive rewards based on their driving. They can receive discounts on oil changes, exclusive rebates, 5% credit on all parts on services that can be applied at a later date, and much more! To learn about the benefits of the Ford Owner Advantage program, visit our Ford Owner Advantage page to find out the in's and out's of this exclusive program!

Purchasing a new or used vehicle from Velde Ford is an easy, fun, and enjoyable process! Experience the ease of buying from Velde Ford if you're in the market to purchase a new vehicle. Stop by our dealership in Pekin to test drive any vehicle of your choice! Take a look at our vast vehicle inventory to find the perfect car, SUV, truck, or crossover for your needs. You can view specifications, reviews, vehicle details, and much more on our model overview page, which lays out each and every one of Ford's newest models available to you today!

At Velde Ford, we're committed to providing our customers with an unbeatable level of service and a great car buying experience. Stop by the dealership located at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or visit our website: VeldeFordPekin.com for more information.

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Back to School Checklist for Elementary Schoolers

PEKIN, Ill.,–– In no time, school will be starting up again! The thought of school starting up again can be exciting for some kids, while others will dread counting down the days till they have to wake up early again. No matter how they feel, however, they always enjoy picking out their school supplies for the upcoming year. It gives kids a chance to express themselves and choose a style that best fits them. We've put together a back to school checklist for elementary schoolers so your 1st-5th graders can come to school prepared and stylish every day! While individual teachers have different requirements for their classrooms, this list should serve as a helpful starting point so you can have a head start on back to school shopping!

1st Grade

Make sure you and your child check these items off your list. You'll need them, especially for their first day of elementary school!

• 1 Backpack
• 1 box of 24 crayons
• 2 Erasers
• 2-3 glue sticks
• 1 pair of rounded scissors
• 1 pencil case for organization
• 12 #2 pencils
• 1 3-ring binder
• 1 8oz bottle of hand sanitizer
• 1 pack of washable markers

2nd Grade

Similar to the 1st grade shopping list, 2nd grade shopping is a little easier but you'll need some different supplies.

• 1 backpack
• 1 package of Post-It notes
• 1 package of disinfectant wipes
• 2 notebooks
• 2 3-ring binders
• 2 highlighters
• 1 pencil box
• 12 sharpened or mechanical pencils
• 2 large erasers
• 5 2-pocket folders

3rd Grade

3rd grade is the beginning of multiplication and division tables. Help your child remain ahead of the curve by providing them with math flashcards, loose leaf paper to help them learn on their own, and other supplies to get ahead of the curve!

• 1 package of loose leaf paper
• 1 set of multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction tables/flashcards
• 1 package of portable hand sanitizer 
• 2 composition notebooks
• 1 box of 12 colored pencils
• 5 pencils and 5 mechanical pencils w/erasers
• 1 package of portable wipes
• 1 yellow highlighter
• 2 erasers
• 1 12" ruler

4th Grade

Around the 4th grade, students begin to learn how to edit their own work and the work of others with red pens. Getting them started on organization with folders, notebooks, and binders will improve their editing and writing abilities.

• 2 3-pronged pocket folders
• 4 spiral notebooks
• 2 red pens
• 1 box of 12 colored pencils
• 1 pair of scissors
• 2 - 12 packs of #2 pencils
• 1 pair of PE shoes, shorts, shirt
• 1 package of scotch tape
• 1 stick/bottle of glue
• 1 school supply bag/pouch/pencil case

5th Grade

If your child's elementary school only goes to 5th grade, then this is the last year before they head into middle school. Help them pick out their supplies, but let them pick out anything they'd like to express themselves. These items should help your child remain prepared for their last year of elementary school:

• 2 3-subject notebooks
• 2 binders w/dividers
• 5 pocket folders w/prongs
• 1 package of black pens
• 1 package of looseleaf paper
• 1 set of dry erase markers
• 2 packages of Post-It notes
• 1 roll of clear tape
• 2 yellow highlighters
• 2 bottles of portable hand sanitizer

We hope this back to school checklist for elementary schoolers helps you and your child pick out supplies that will last the entire year! From 1st to 5th grade, our comprehensive list is full of options that allow your children to express themselves, from folders to backpacks to writing utensils. If you're looking for a great way to save some extra money for back to school shopping, refer to our coupons when you need routine maintenance or work done on your vehicle! Use some of our vehicle tips and tricks for additional ways to extend the life of your vehicle and save more money, too!

At Velde Ford, we're committed to providing our customers with an unbeatable level of service and a great car buying experience. Stop by the dealership located at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or visit our website: VeldeFordPekin.com for more information.

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Ford Raptor Named Most Extreme Vehicle

PEKIN, Ill.,–– According to Merriam-Webster, "extreme" means "reaching a high or the highest degree; very great." Words like powerful and efficient are typically used to describe pickup trucks, but rarely is the word extreme used without proper evidence to back that claim. This last week, Business Insider took the Ford Raptor out for a spin, naming it the most extreme vehicle of its kind. The Ford Raptor was named the most extreme vehicle due to its durability, powerful engine, and versatile on and off-road capabilities.

The Ford Raptor is equipped with a suite of standout features that supports its claim to fame as the most extreme vehicle of its kind. In 5.3 seconds, its powerful 3.5-liter turbocharged V6 engine can go from 0-60mph, barely breaking a sweat. Its 510 pound-feet of torque allows it to tow up to 8,000 lbs without much effort, and its large cabin allows you to fit up to five adults, with plenty of room for everyone. Big wheels, big shocks, and big emblems allow the Ford Raptor to stand out on the road. 

The truck was, surprisingly, a perfectly comfortable cruiser. Just looking at the massive, deeply treaded tires, you'd think that wouldn't be possible, but in fact, all that travel in the shocks give the Raptor a reasonably smooth ride, even thought that's 100% not what it wants to be doing. Throw in some pleasing tunes from both SiriusXM radio and the iPhone library, as well as a bit of streaming via Bluetooth and USB, and you have yourself a pleasant drive.

Obviously, with that powerful, torque-y motor, if you want to get on it a bit, the Raptor delivers. It's fun to pour on the power with a Ford Super Duty pickup, asking its huge diesel engine to give you the freight-train effect. With the Raptor, the experience is rather more like punching it in a Mustang, and no one is going to come away from a Raptor drive unimpressed by the Ford EcoBoost V6 turbo under the hood. The 10-speed transmission is snappy in manual mode and full auto alike.

You can take a Ford Raptor for a test drive at our dealership to get a firsthand look at what this remarkable pickup has to offer. The Ford F-150 has been the best selling vehicle in America for the past 40 years, and with a fully upgraded and souped up Raptor, you'll have all the benefits of an F-150 with a variety of unique and extreme features. View our Ford Raptor inventory to view vehicle details, pricing, and other features that make the Raptor so extreme. The Ford Raptor has been named the most extreme vehicle, and with it, comes many features you'll want to get your hands on. Take a look at our accessories to see what you can equip your Raptor or other Ford vehicle with, and schedule an appointment with us to get any features of your choosing installed!

At Velde Ford, we're committed to providing our customers with an unbeatable level of service and a great car buying experience. Stop by the dealership located at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or visit our website: VeldeFordPekin.com for more information.

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Ideas to Keep Your Kids Busy On Any Road Trip

PEKIN, Ill.,–– What makes a road trip last longer than it should? Young, bored passengers. Hearing "I'm bored", "Are we there yet?" and other repetitive questions can make a trip seem that much longer and can make driving a less-than-stellar experience. However, if you know a few tricks, you can keep your passengers from distracting you. In fact, distracted driving is the number one cause of car accidents and can be severely reduced with just a little pre-trip prep. Use the ideas below to keep your kids busy on any road trip!

1. Create a Busy Box or Bag

Turn a shoebox or pencil case into a busy box for the younger kids! You can fill them with educational activities like the one above, Lego sets, classic games like tic-tac-toe, or other fun activities. All you need is a small box with a securable lid and something that fits the fancy of your little ones inside! 

2. Turn Your Windows into Canvases

If you're willing to have your windows a little messy, use window markers to turn your windows into canvases for your kids! You can give everyone in the vehicle one window and have them draw something a piece of art with the window as their "canvas". Before you know it, you'll be piloting the best collaborative art project on the road! Just make sure to avoid blocking blind spots and the windshields.

3. Pack Plenty of Movies

Whether you own a vehicle with a built-in DVD player or have movies downloaded on a tablet, having digital entertainment on hand will keep everyone occupied for hours at a time. We recommend bringing family-friendly classics such as The Wizard of Oz, Toy Story, and Finding Nemo for movies that everyone will love!

4. Invest in a Polaroid

For younger passengers and teens, a simple Polaroid camera is a great way to keep everyone entertained. It'll give them a chance to express themselves with photography and the instantly developed photos look great in a scrapbook. You can alternatively purchase a disposable camera and wait until the end of the trip to develop the memories! 

5. Play the License Plate Game

If you're driving across state borders, it's a guarantee that you'll see non-Illinois license plates! You can have fun and do a little competition with your kids by playing the license plate game. This will help little ones learn a little more about our country and can be done sans-technology. Whoever finds the most unique license plates during the whole drive wins. You can incentivize winners with money, candy, front seat time on the way back, or whatever else you decide!

6. Make a Road Trip Playlist

Listening to music is one of the best, and most classic, ways to pass the time in the car. Get everyone to add their top 10 favorite songs to a playlist before leaving and play it on the drive through the speakers. You can keep the playlist and burn it on a CD when you get home, that way you'll have audible memories of your road trip!

7. Download Fun and Entertaining Apps

Get everyone in the vehicle involved in the family fun with some entertaining group apps! Play the famous guessing game Heads Up, play a unique version of Roadside Bingo, and sing your heart out with Karaoke Anywhere! There are plenty of apps to choose from, but these are our road trip favorites.

With this handy guide of ideas to keep your kids busy on any road trip, you'll be ready to take the best road trip yet! Before you head out on your trip, make sure you have all of your road trip essentials packed. You won't want to leave without them! If you happen to run into trouble on the road, knowing what to do in the event of an accident will help you prepare and get help as soon as possible. Don't forget to schedule an appointment with us before you leave to have your vehicle looked at to ensure that it's ready to go on your vacation!

At Velde Ford, we're committed to providing our customers with an unbeatable level of service and a great car buying experience. Stop by the dealership located at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or visit our website: VeldeFordPekin.com for more information.

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How Vehicles Become CPO Certified

PEKIN, Ill.,–– In order for a vehicle to be considered Certified Pre-Owned, it must pass a series of rigorous inspections to receive this exclusive title. Many vehicles undergo these certification inspections, but few become CPO vehicles. If you're in the market to buy a used vehicle, learning how vehicles become CPO certified may help you in your decision making process. You can purchase a used vehicle of a newer make and model at a much more affordable rate with great warranties on a CPO title. These vehicles must pass all of these requirements in order to receive a Ford certification:

172-Point Inspection

From the engine to the wheels, every component of the vehicle is inspected with extreme attention to detail to ensure the vehicle is safe on the road. If any components aren't up to the standard of the Ford-certified mechanic, they'll be replaced or repaired to bring them up to speed. A CPO vehicle is inspected from head to toe so that future buyers have nothing to worry about when they make their purchase. This inspection also comes with a complimentary Carfax history report to inform owners on their CPO's maintenance history and other services performed.

Comprehensive Limited Warranty Coverage

All CPO vehicles come with comprehensive limited warranties, covering over 1,000 components for 10,000 miles/12 months. Your engine, transmission, front wheel and rear wheel drive, and more are completely covered during your first year of CPO ownership. Owners also receive a comprehensive powertrain warranty for 100,000 miles/7 years. It provides extended service plans and is transferrable to future owners, too. The comprehensive powertrain warranty covers the engine, transmission, and more key components of the vehicle.

 Technical Requirements

CPO vehicles must belong to one of the current or 5 preceding model years in order to qualify for a certification. They must also have no more than 80,000 miles on the odometer and must have a clean vehicle title. Any vehicles that have caused or been involved in accidents will not receive the CPO title, so you'll be able to drive a vehicle that feels brand new, looks brand new, and drives like it's brand new!

Want to see a CPO in person? Schedule a test drive with us to get behind the wheel of a Certified Pre-Owned vehicle that you can take off the lot today! View our CPO inventory to see what we have in stock, and take a look at their Carfax reports, reviews, and vehicle history on each of their model pages. Now that you know how vehicles become CPO certified, take a look at why you should buy a CPO Ford to find out the other benefits that come with owning a Certified Pre-Owned vehicle!

At Velde Ford, we're committed to providing our customers with an unbeatable level of service and a great car buying experience. Stop by the dealership located at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or visit our website: VeldeFordPekin.com for more information.

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Labor Day Activities for the Whole Family

PEKIN, Ill.,–– September 4th is Labor Day this year! An extra day off means you'll get more time to spend with your family, however, it can be difficult finding something everyone will enjoy. Take a look at some labor day activities for the whole family to find a fun getaway that everyone will be sure to love! Whether your family prefers baseball games, fun in the sun, or festivals, there's something for everyone in our list.

1. Watch a Peoria Chiefs Game

Labor Day weekend is full of Peoria Chiefs action you can enjoy! From Friday to Sunday, the Chiefs will be playing the Kane County Cougars in a full series. You can catch evening games at 6:30 pm, or an early afternoon game on Labor Day at 1:00 pm if you're looking for a daytime event. Plus, the tickets all come at affordable group rates for the whole family!

2. Enjoy the Peoria Blues Festival

Celebrating its 29th anniversary, the Peoria Blues Festival will be coming back in full swing on September 1st and 2nd. With a huge lineup, mouth-watering food, and fun workshops, there's something for everyone at the Peoria Blues Festival this year. Buy your tickets now before they sell out - you won't want to miss this annual event!

3. Volunteer Locally

Teach your family the value of giving back to the world around you with local volunteer opportunities. You can positively impact your community and make a difference in someone's life with just a few hours of your time. Whether you're working at a soup kitchen, improving someone's literacy, or taking dogs for a walk, volunteering leaves a lasting impression on your community.

4. Visit the Shedd Aquarium

Pet a stingray, see beluga whales, and experience more underwater species at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago! This Labor Day weekend, the Shedd Aquarium will have discounted admission for families of any size. Learn about the marine world around us and the unique animals that make their home in the ocean. If you've never pet a stingray before, now's the time to do it!

5. Enjoy Masterpiece Mondays

On Labor Day, create a unique masterpiece to call your own at the Pekin High School Art Room! Your registration fee covers the materials to make a Zentangle, a Scratchboard, Collograph Prints, Pastel Drawings, and more! Classes are for kids ages 6-18, so children of any age can enjoy an awesome fun-filled day making unique art pieces!

6. Take a Trip on the Moonlight Cruise

Enjoy an unforgettable experience on the Spirit of Peoria this Labor Day weekend. Live entertainment and a cash bar will be available. Boarding begins at 7:00 pm, and the cruise continues from 7:30-9:30 pm, giving everyone a chance to watch the sun go down and the moon rise. There are no reservations needed, so get yourself on the Spirit of Peoria as soon as possible!

7. Catch a Movie With the Whole Family

On Labor Day weekend, the New Vision Theater in Pekin will feature Labor Day discounts to families wanting to see a movie! Whether you're going as a group to see a family film like Despicable Me, or catching a late night date flick like The Big Sick, the Pekin New Vision Theater has something for everyone. 

Make the most of your extended weekend with these Labor Day activities for the whole family! If you're taking a road trip this summer, follow some of our road trip tips to ensure your journey runs smoothly. Plus, save extra money with our service coupons and make sure your car is ready to hit the road! If you'd rather stay at home and invite friends and family over for a good old fashioned cookout, consider making some of these summer desserts!

At Velde Ford, we're committed to providing our customers with an unbeatable level of service and a great car buying experience. Stop by the dealership located at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or visit our website: VeldeFordPekin.com for more information.

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