Situated within the Nantahala National Forest, the city of Franklin, NC, is a popular spot among travelers wanting to explore the sprawling nature reserves of the state. If you are looking for the best offroad destinations you can visit in your brand-new 2022 Ford F-150, here are three nearby state parks you can reach in less than one hour by car. Explore Nature With Your Ford: 3 State Parks Near Franklin, NC 1. Black Rock Mountain State Park Featuring a visitor center, cottages, family campgrounds, and breathtaking mountain views, Black Rock Mountain State Park is a fantastic place to spend a weekend with your friends and family. Open year-round between 7:00 am and 10:00 pm, this public recreation area is located just over 20 miles south of Franklin and can be reached in about half an hour via Georgia Road. more Encompassing an area of over 1,700 acres, Black Rock Mountain State Park sits in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains and provides scenic overlooks. On sunny days, four different states are visible from the high points of this state park: South Carolina, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Georgia. Some of the activities you can enjoy here include boating and fishing at Black Rock Lake, wildlife watching, and birding. 2. Oconee State Park A rustic mountain park offering access to a small lake and welcoming nature lovers from all over the region, Oconee State Park is an excellent spot to visit and enjoy your favorite outdoor activities. Created and developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression, this place features several historic structures that were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. Oconee State Park is located about 45 miles southeast of downtown Franklin and can be reached in about one hour via route NC-28. This place is a well-known destination among local anglers, offering great opportunities to catch large specimens of bream, bass, channel catfish, rainbow trout, and bluegill. Other popular activities include hiking, mountain biking, camping, and wildlife watching. 3. Tallulah Gorge State Park Located a little under 35 miles south of the Franklin city center, Tallulah Gorge State Park is one of the most scenic destinations you can visit while exploring the region. Boasting a series of impressive waterfalls and a 1,000-ft. gorge, this place is a magnet for nature lovers and a wonderful spot to spend a day away from the city. This place offers great opportunities for rock climbing, swimming, and whitewater paddling. If you are planning a visit to these and other beautiful nature reserves, having a reliable, all-wheel drive vehicle is a must. Visit us today at Franklin Ford, check out our extensive lineup of new and used models, get a quote, and apply for financing with the assistance of our friendly sales agents.
Does Your Ford Need a Transmission Repair?
After the engine, your transmission plays the most important role in your car. When a transmission runs into trouble, your wheels stop turning. If transmission problems aren't caught and fixed early on, they can rapidly lead to extremely costly repair or replacement jobs. With this in mind, let's look at four clear signs that you need transmission repair. Your Fluid Is Leaking The heat and pressure generated inside a Ford car's gearbox require a high level of lubrication. Transmission fluid services this function, as well as keeping the temperature down, cleaning out debris from the gears, maintaining hydraulic pressure, and preventing a buildup of rust and oxidization.If your fluid starts to leak, your transmission will rapidly overheat and run into all kinds of trouble. Transmission fluid is most often reddish in hue, and you'll often spot it pooling under your car in the case of a leak. Don't hesitate to have a mechanic inspect a potential leak of transmission fluid. more Your Gears Are Slipping Any difficulty in changing gears indicates significant gearbox problems. Gear slippage can be caused by worn-down gear teeth, issues with the torque converter, or low fluid levels.When gears are slipping, you'll also hear unusual engine revving whenever you shift gears. Sometimes, your gears will even change all on their own or suddenly shift into neutral. This puts you and your passengers at risk, so the only place you should drive to with slipping gears is your nearest automobile repair shop. Your Hearing Grinding Noises When fluid is aging or leaking, lubrication is low and gears begin grinding loudly against each other. If you hear grinding from below when you gearshift, then there's a great deal of damage happening in your transmission. It's best to have it checked before the problem gets any worse. You might only need to top up your transmission fluid. You Smell Burning Fluid When left unchanged long enough, transmission fluid begins to wear down and even burn in the relentless heat of the gearbox. You can sometimes smell this burning from inside the cabin. It's never wise to ignore a burning smell in your car, no matter the source. Change Your Fluid Every 30,000 to 60,000 Miles The lion's share of transmission problems are caused by aging, burning, or leaking fluid. You can avoid most gearbox trouble by always keeping your fluid fresh. For Ford drivers, it's recommended to have your transmission fluid changed every 30,000 to 60,000 miles. Because you can ruin a modern Ford transmission by putting in the wrong type of fluid or too much fluid, it's best to have a professional do this for you. Visit Franklin Ford today to have friendly, experienced technicians refresh your transmission fluid and repair any gearbox faults too. We're a well-established, locally trusted dealership and we pride ourselves on the consistently high quality of our customer service, whatever your needs might be.