Ford Trucks For Sale

Ford Motor Co (F.N: Quote, Profile, Research) is recalling over 650,000 of its top-selling F-150 pickups as well as a Lincoln-branded truck because of a problem with the brake hose that could cause the vehicles to lose braking power. The automaker has recalled 2005 and 2006 model year Ford F-150 and Lincoln Mark LT trucks, according to the recall notice posted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on its website on Wednesday.

Ford trucks covered by the recall are equipped with 5.4-liter engines. The brake hose on those trucks can detach from an intake manifold, causing the driver to lose the “assist” function that provides additional power to the brakes, according to the safety notice.

The trucks could still be stopped with remaining braking power but it would require drivers to apply “more force to the pedal,” Ford spokesman Wes Sherwood said.

He said Ford had received reports of 11 minor accidents but no injuries because of the brake hose defect.

The sweeping recall covers almost 606,000 vehicles in the United States and comes just as Ford is gearing up to launch all-new versions of its F-Series pickup truck line.

U.S. sales of the Ford trucks are down 16 percent this year in a downturn tied to high gasoline prices and a slumping U.S. housing market.

In addition to the trucks covered by the U.S. government recall, there are another 50,000 of the trucks on the road in Canada covered by a similar recall procedure, Ford said.

Ford said customers in the United States and Canada affected by the recall could have brake hoses replaced at Ford dealerships starting in late June.

Okay, first, the bad news: It’s been reported by a variety of online sources over the weekend, and we can now confirm that Ford will indeed discontinue the Ranger next year. But wait, there’s more . . .

Now, the good news: Ford will re-launch a new midsize truck, to be known as the F-100, in late 2010 for the 2011 model year. The new pickup, to be based off a chopped and lightened F-150 platform, is said to be roughly 4/5ths the size of the current F-150 and will be available, a’la the Dakota, with a choice of V-6 or V-8 engines; the 250hp, 3.5L twin-turbo direct-injection V-6 will be offered as standard equipment with the 4.4L V-8 available on upscale trim packages. Among cab configurations to be offered will be a genuine five-seater crew-cab model. (Translation: Adios, Sport Trac.) We’d be perfectly happy with the base V-6, but we have one request: Can we get ours with a stick tranny and a rear locker? Please?

And now, the totally-awesome-bitchin’ news: To compete against the Jeep Wrangler and the upcoming Hummer H4, Ford will manufacture a midsize 4×4 SUV off the same chassis as the upcoming F-100. And yep, the vehicle will be called the Bronco, and according to sources, it will have solid axles at both ends, a removable top, and a fold-down windshield a’la the Wrangler. The new Bronc’ is slated to go on sale around the same time as the F-100. We’re happy to see that the success of the new Wrangler has convinced Ford execs that there’s still room for a trail-oriented 4×4 sport-ute in its small SUV line, and we can’t wait to get our hands on one.

 Finally, a brand-new Ranger based on a still-under-development Ford global mini-truck chassis will launch in late 2012. We’ll pass along more info about all these new trucks as soon as we hear more about them.

The Ford Ranger’s just about ready to kick the bucket, gas prices are higher than the dress neckline of a Texas polygamist cult and CAFE standards — well, let’s just say they don’t leave much room for error on the high side of the gas guzzle range. Sounds like high time Ford announced a new pickup truck, doesn’t it? Perhaps. But only if said pickup truck is the purported return of a badge not seen from Dearborn since 1983 — F-100. That’s right, we’re hearing rumors this morning of a mini-pickup based on the current F-150. Well, it’ll be based on the F-150 in look, feel and most importantly not in size. If it’s coming, we’re told to expect a Ford F-100 at 9/10ths the size of the 2009 Ford F-150 to hit dealer lots in the 2011 model year.

Our friends at PickupTrucks.com are also telling us this morning rumors aren’t as far-fetched as one would think. Ford desperately is looking for ways to hold on to their share of the ever-shrinking pickup truck market and if they need to offer a stripped down F-150 on Weight Watchers, they’ll do it. Heck, they’ve even got a pretty sketch of what a new boldly-moving-smaller pickup based on the current F-150 might look like. Expect the real version to look nothing like it. But have a look anyway

Thieves in northern Alberta have stolen 49 vehicles over the past eight days, Fort McMurray RCMP said yesterday, warning that Ford pickup trucks seem to be attractive targets.The bandits are smashing windows and punching out ignitions, prompting police to urge drivers to add locking devices to their steering wheels or brake pedals.

Mounties have arrested 10 people in connection with six missing vehicles.

Used Ford trucks for Sale at 1UsedTrucks.com

Australia’s transport ministers have agreed to a national registration and licensing system for the country’s truck drivers.

“This is a critical reform,” said federal transport minister Anthony Albanese.

“There are 375,000 heavy vehicles in the nation and they don’t respect state boundaries, and that’s why it is important we progress this reform.”

The announcement came after Friday’s Australian Transport Council (ATC) meeting in Melbourne, which was attended by federal, state and territory transport ministers.

Mr Albanese said the plan was the first step towards a fully integrated national transport system.

“We need to make sure we have a national system of licences, because trucks are all about mobility and they don’t recognise the state borders,” Mr Albanese said.

The new licensing and registration system will come into effect by July 1, 2009.

Mr Albanese said public transport was also on the agenda at Friday’s meeting, and the federal government was prepared to engage in urban policy, including public transport.

“You can’t have a strategy for moving freight, without a strategy for moving people,” he said.

“We need to develop an integrated transport system in which the national government works with the state, including urban public transport and urban congestion.”

The minister said the government’s newly announced major cities unit would address issues such as road and rail in Australian cities.

He also criticised the previous Howard Government, saying it had “ignored urban public transport”.

“It is important the commonwealth play a role in urban infrastructure,” Mr Albanese said.

The ATC plan - announced as a “new beginning” for transport - will also include a national approach to maritime legislation, and the establishment of a national road safety advisory council in a bid to cut the road toll.

A young, wide-eyed Lew Hayes often sat on the front passenger seat of his father’s dump truck as he delivered aggregate, sand and gravel to work sites throughout the Detroit area. “My father drove a 1938 Ford Model AA dump truck when he started this business,” Hayes said. “He had to crank it by hand to get the bed to dump.”Today, Lew’s late father might be amazed at the durability, payload capacity and driver comfort provided by the 13 Kenworth T800s operated by Hayes Trucking.

Based in Novi, Mich., Hayes Trucking serves the Detroit metropolitan area. Hayes Trucking’s viper red Kenworth T800s carry aggregate and dirt to and from commercial building and residential construction sites and major highway projects. Since Michigan is not a federal bridge formula state, the company hauls loads that gross up to 154,000 pounds on a truck and pup trailer combination.

“We started buying Kenworth T800s five years ago and found that they’ve been the best trucks for our company,” Hayes said. “Kenworth has done a very good job of spec’ing and building these trucks to handle the rigors of our operation. We’re particularly pleased with their reliability.”

The aggregate hauler worked with its local Kenworth dealer to develop specifications for the T800s, which include a 475-hp engine and 13-speed manual transmission. “The higher horsepower and torque enable our trucks to get up to speed even with the heavy weight they haul,” Hayes added. “With the electronics in the engines, we can control each truck’s top speeds and rpms to help maintain good fuel economy.”