Archive for the ‘Trucks’ Category
Monday, January 19th, 2009 |
What Is A Truck Bed Cover?
Truck bed covers, also known as tonneau covers, are made and designed to protect and enhance the appearance of your pickup truck. Truck bed covers are one of today’s most popular aftermarket truck accessories.
Why Should You Get A Truck Bed Cover?
You should get a truck bed cover for the following reasons:
it reduces drag
improves gas mileage from 5% to 10%
provides extra storage space
protects your cargo
What Are The Kinds of Truck Bed Covers?
The complete selection of pickup truck bed covers includes soft rollup tonneau covers, folding tonneau covers, retractable tonneau covers, hard tonneau covers, hinged tonneau covers, tool box tonneau covers and tonneau accessories.
The kinds of truck bed covers are as follows:
Soft Roll-Up Tonneau Covers: Soft tonneau covers are the fastest, easiest and the most convenient way to top your truck bed. Made with a durable vinyl tarp,soft roll-up tonneau covers easily remove in seconds for large loads. Soft roll-up tonneau covers will spare your budget.
Folding Tonneau Covers: Folding tonneau covers provide the smooth look of a hard cover with the convenience of a soft cover. In just a few seconds, folding tonneau covers effortlessly reveal your entire bed for big loads. Plus, hard folding tonneau covers install fastest and easiest.
Retractable Tonneau Covers: In seconds, retractable tonneau covers roll away for full bed access. These high-tech retractable tonneau covers do the job right. Retractable tonneau covers showcase the ultimate combination of hard tonneau security and soft tonneau convenience.
Hard Tonneau Covers: Hard tonneau covers offer the best in secure bed coverage, smooth looks and complete durability. Aerodynamic design improves gas mileage. Easy to install and remove.
Hinged Tonneau Covers: Hinged tonneau covers unlatch and lift for full bed access. Features a smooth aerodynamic design to improve gas mileage. This tonneau cover mounts easily, fast and latches instantly.
Tool Box Tonneau Covers: Tool tonneau covers secure whatever you need to carry to do the job. Carry all of your tools and materials under cover and keep everything you need protected from the elements and theft. Some tool box tonneau covers include the box, too.
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Friday, December 12th, 2008 |
Ford Motor Co. is delivering an updated lineup of F-Series large pickup truck and trucks. This ‘Super Duty’ lineup is said to support Ford in its struggle to keep up its post in truck sales. With the debut of these all-new vehicles, Ford will serve as a mighty rival to General Motors Corp.
GMC truck is also unraveling a brand-new pickup - Chevrolet Silverado. Said model is considered a threat that could take away part of Ford F-150 sales. So far, said model is the best-selling vehicle in the US. In the past few years, Ford has sold approximately 900,000 F-Series trucks annually. Moreover, 40 percent of F-series trucks sold are Super Duty trucks.
New trucks is given extra towing capacity, refined suspension, a tailgate that turns into a step, and a brand new 6.4-liter diesel engine. These fresh features are incorporated to Ford F-150 pickup parts to pave way for a powerful, manageable and improved ride. These trucks will reach dealerships early next year.
Ford truck F-250, F-350, F-450 and F-550 will vie in the work trucks category. The trucks included are those that weigh more than 8,500 pounds.
In an interview, Mark Fields, Ford’s president of the Americas said, “The Super Duty represents products that are going to shape the future of our company. We’re the unquestioned leader in full-size pickups and it’s important that we act like a leader. This truck is the no excuses, best-in-class, biggest, most capable truck in the marketplace. It will help buttress our leadership. It also casts a halo and reinforces the fact that we got a vehicle here that is innovative.”
Tom Libby, senior director of industry analysis at J.D. Power and Associates said, “The combined Super Duty line would rank among Ford’s top-selling models, making it extremely important for the company. The trucks have high profit margins, so Ford is trying to hold off Chevrolet from taking any of its market shares. It’s like their crown jewel, and they’re going to protect it no matter what it takes.”
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Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008 |
Bully Dog Diesel is one of the biggest names in diesel performance and they have been around for about 10 years as of 2007. One of their claims to fame is their downloader’s that can be switched between a Ford Truck, Dodge Truck, and Chevy Truck diesel. This is a great feature because with any other performance programmer if you buy a different make of Truck, you have to buy a whole new programmer for that truck. The Bully Dog Triple Dog and Bully Dog PMT (performance management tool) on the other hand can be changed from one truck to another saving quite a bit of money is the individual buys different truck or upgrades. Although good luck trying to get a die hard Ford person to switch to anything else and vice versa. There are some that don’t care though.
The Bully Dog Triple Dog
The original one size fits all downloader which has been extremely popular. Downloader’s in general just plug into the diagnostic port under the dash and upload a new program onto the truck for either fuel economy, economy while towing, or performance. The Triple Dog plugs into the diagnostic port under the dash like the others do, but has a few differences. One, you can go to Bully Dogs website after purchasing the Triple Dog and download an extreme program for free. Two, it can be linked up with Bully Dog’s Outlook monitor which is a full digital gauge set up that also allows you to switch between power levels while you are driving. This is something that no other downloader can do.
The Bully Dog PMT
This also plugs into the OBDII diagnostic port under the dash. The PMT is exactly what its name says; it’s a performance management tool. The Bully Dog PMT offers push button or touch screen navigation; both navigation styles come with each unit and are active all the time. It also has a color screen with the best resolution and highest contrast of any screen in the diesel industry. It gives you the capability to display four different engine parameters at a time and gives your twenty engine parameters to choose from. Bully Dog is the only company that has a monitor that will work on all three of the major diesel trucks. I personally happen to be one that is happy driving any of the major diesel trucks so this is a feature that appeals to me. For others it might not matter as much.
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Monday, November 17th, 2008 |
So you’ve got your truck for sale, and now your looking for something to give it that extra little bit of flare. Something to make it look slick and clean. Well, you can have your flare and get some added functionality as well with a truck bed cover (also known as a tonneau cover).
If you’re new to the world of trucks or truck accessories you might be asking yourself “why would I want to cover up the bed of my truck, that’s the reason I bought a truck!”. We’ll I’ll answer that question in just a few minutes, first lets talk about what a tonneau cover is and how it works, then we’ll be able to see why they are becoming so popular.
A truck bed cover, or tonneau cover is a piece of material (hard or soft) that is used to cover the bed of a pick-up truck. Truck bed covers were made out of the need to protect cargo in the bed of a truck that cannot be placed into the truck cab. Almost all truck bed covers come with a lock or are lockable through a tailgate lock (meaning the tonneau cover can only be opened when the truck’s tailgate is down). Now that we know what a truck bed cover is and what it’s for, lets take a look at some of the different types of truck bed covers on the market today.
Soft Roll-up Truck Bed Covers.
If you’re looking for an inexpensive truck bed cover that will serve you well and look good doing it then a soft roll-up tonneau cover might be the choice for you. Most soft tonneau covers are made from a vinyl or a similar material that resembles leather. One great thing about soft top truck bed covers is that they roll up giving you complete access to the truck bed. Some truck Manufacturers of Soft Tonneau Covers are Extang, Truxedo, Access, Lund and Advantage. The downside to soft truck bed covers is that they are not always easy to operate in cold weather (since most soft covers use snaps to close) and they are not as durable as a hard top tonneau cover.
Hard Top Truck Bed Covers.
Hard top tonneau covers are the first choice for durability and style. These covers are usually made from a hard plastic or fiberglass and either tilt up on hinges to give access to the truck bed or fold up via 2, 3 or 4 panels, no matter which style you choose hard top truck bed covers look great and are more secure than soft top truck bed covers. The downside to hard top truck bed covers is that they are much more expensive than soft top covers and can be much harder to install without some help. Some types of hard top tonneau covers are Pace Edwards, Fold-A-Cover, Undercover, Bak Industries and Truck Covers USA.
When it comes down to making the decision on which type of truck bed cover you should buy, just think about the pros and cons of both types of covers and decide which one would be a better investment for you and your truck. Do some research, look around the Internet at the different truck accessories sites and see which truck bed covers catch your eye the most. If you still have questions, call up a truck accessories store and ask them, most truck and automotive retailers are more then willing to answer any questions you may have about products, and they might even give you a deal!
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Sunday, November 16th, 2008 |
Tow trucks are used by towing companies and some auto repair companies in order to drag heavy vehicles. Generally tow trucks are more useful in roads. Since the vehicle can help generating more revenues to towing companies, the cost of the vehicle is more. Hence many companies look for tow truck financing.
There are various types of new and used tow trucks for sale which are used for various purposes. Boom tow truck is one among them which has boom winch to pull heavy vehicles that are trapped into ditches or other places where normal tow trucks are not useful. Due to this specialized nature, they are extremely expensive and so the companies need boom tow truck financing.
Hook and chain tow trucks are very useful in transporting vehicles from one place to another in case the vehicle may not be able to transport themselves. For this purpose, the truck has separate hook and chain. This truck is highly useful in case of towing accident vehicles. Due to their cost, many companies look for hook and chain tow truck financing.
Wheel lift tow trucks have a large yoke to support the towing vehicle by touching only the wheel. This truck is useful in towing vehicles without any scratches. Flat bed tow trucks also called roll off tow trucks or slide tow tracks can carry any type of vehicles irrespective of its weight. They offer invaluable service for towing companies. Their comfortable features and sophisticated nature make them highly expensive. Therefore tow truck financing is often desirable.
Quick pick tow trucks also known as integrated tow trucks or repo provide priceless services for legal agencies and repossession companies. They are used to remove the illegally parked vehicles. Since people may get angry while towing their vehicles, it is important to do the work speedily. Quick pick tow trucks provide such fast towing service. Due to their special feature, they are quite pricey. Hence tow truck financing is often preferable to acquire them.
Tow truck generates revenue to many companies. Even if any company uses it for its internal fleet and does not generate any income, the cost of these trucks are really high and many companies find it impossible to acquire from their own money. Therefore they need to consider tow truck financing to acquire it.
There are some genuine financing companies that can understand the need of tow trucks and they arrange for fast approval of desired amount to towing companies or some other auto repair companies that want to acquire these trucks. A simple application process is enough to get speedy approval of the amount. They provide financial assistance at low interest rates. Hence the towing companies find it easier to repay the low monthly payments since they are generating much revenue with the help of tow trucks.
Tow truck financing is the best option to acquire the expensive vehicles. A simple online application is enough to get financial help.
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Friday, October 24th, 2008 |
The Chevrolet Silverado truck remains Chevy’s best selling vehicle, probably in part because it’s available in so many configurations. There’s a Silverado to suit just about everyone who wants a full size pickup truck.
A gas-electric hybrid model was introduced in 2004 and remains in the lineup for 2005. Hybrid Silverados offer up to 10-percent better fuel economy, 120-volt electrical power with ground fault detection, and accessory powering capabilities.
Don’t expect to see a hybrid Silverado at most Chevy dealerships. The trucks for sale are available in limited quantities and are only being sold in six states:
* California
* Oregon
* Washington
* Alaska
* Nevada
* Florida
2005 Silverado and Silverado Heavy Duty :
* Hybrid version of half-ton 1500 Extended Cab model.
* Higher output Vortec 5300 5.3L V-8 with 310 hp is available on 4WD Extended Cab w/standard box.
* Power sunroof package is available late 2004 on Extended and Crew Cab models with Universal Transmitter and overhead console.
* Front disc/rear drum anti-lock brakes are standard on all models except trucks with Quadrasteer.
* P245/70R17-108S all-season blackwall tires standard on 2WD models.
* P245/70R17-108S all-season, white-outlined letter tires available on 2WD models.
* P265/70R17, all-season, blackwall tires standard on 4WD Regular and Extended Cab models.
* P265/70R17, all-season, white outlined-letter tires available on 4WD Regular and Extended Cab models.
* Six-lug painted 17″ x 7″ steel wheels standard on Work Truck Models.
* Six-lug chrome-styled steel 17″ x 7.5″ (except 2WD Extended Cab and 2WD/4WD Crew Cab models).
* New exterior colors
o Dark Blue Metallic (all except Silverado SS).
o Silver Birch Metallic (Silverado SS).
* OnStar driver safety and security system featuring the Gen 6 hardware with analog/digital coverage and upgraded hands-free capabilities.
o Comes standard on light-duty LT and available on LS.
o Standard on heavy-duty Silverado LT Extended Cab and Crew Cab and available on 2500HD and 3500 models.
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Monday, October 13th, 2008 |
The Dodge Pickup Truck that was voted 4 x 4 of the year was the Dodge Ram 1500 truck and its engine was also given the title of one of the 10 best engines for 2007. With the RAM 1500 regular cab and 1500 quad cab, each type boasting of up to 9 versions to choose from in a series.
If we start with the Dodge RAM ST, we find that there is an impressive 3.7lt V6 engine and, also for the increased safety aspect you have the rear-wheel antilock breaking sBut its not just the engineering there is also a high level of comfort and design ability with this Dodge Pickup Truck, you have the CD player with AM/FM radio, which comes with four speakers for great overall sound quality and for all those passengers listening, they can listen in comfort with the 40/20/40 split front bench, providing plenty of space.
When we look at the Dodge Ram SLT truck, we find that it also has the powerful V8 engine and the wheels are in cast aluminium that is very striking, plus you have the six speed manual transmission. As always comfort is always at the foremost of any design in a Dodge Pickup Truck and with this model you get a front seat center armrest that can also be a business console.
For those wanting even more from their Dodge Pickup truck, then the RAM Sport has a color coded grille with streamlined chrome inserts, and the body colour also follows into the rear bumper adding that extra detail, along with the front fascia following in suit. This Dodge Pickup Trucks wheels are a massive 20 inch modern design chrome clad aluminium.
If you are after a 4 x 4 then the choice of Dodge Pickup Truck is large however, the Ram 1500 Regular Cab TRX4 off road is a great example, with red shocks and fog lamps, plus you get the SIRIUS satellite radio. The overall design is one of functionality but with that style so many drivers require in this modern world.
If we look at the Quad cab series of the Ram, the above categories are provided but you also have the Laramie which has a hugely impressive 5.7lt V8 engine and that is as standard, to make life easier, this truck for sale has a five sped automatic transmission, but its not all about the engineering, there are many fine features for the Dodge connoisseur with the leather trimmed seating and the superb technology of the dual zone temperature control, and for even more control and always with the driver in mind the Laramie has power adjustable pedals.
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Tuesday, October 7th, 2008 |
A truck is a common vehicle choice for men and women of all ages. A new or used truck is often purchased for convenience. Many individuals will need a truck to move or transport large items that will not fit into a traditional car.
The need for trucks might be a pickup truck, beverage truck, dump truck, cargo truck etc is increasing and they are highly popular among many consumers. The prices of all vehicles, including trucks, have been on the rise. Purchasing a truck, for personal or work use, is a fairly large investment. To protect that investment many truck owners are using a truck bed liner to protect their asset. It is a known fact that the better a used vehicle is, the more money will be obtained later on from a trade in.
Truck bed liners can come in a wide variety of different styles and options. A truck bed liner can be a drop in model that is specifically designed for specific truck makes and models. The drop in style truck bed liner is nice because they can be removed and reinstalled whenever needed. These models are often plastic.
Although the previously mentioned truck bed liner is a popular choice, the most common form of truck liners used today is are spray on. Just like the name, a spray on truck bed liner is sprayed on the bed of the truck and it literally comes a part of the truck. A spray on truck bed liner can be installed personally or by a professional.
A spray on truck bed liner can typically be finished in less than one day. The majority of individuals will choose to a have a professional install their bed liner. There are supplies and the option to prepare the bed liner yourself, but it is somewhat difficult to do. Many professionals have a system already down. This allows them to produce quality work in a little bit of time. Many professional truck bed liners can be installed in around two or three hours. Another benefit to having a spray on truck bed liner professional done is that their work is often guaranteed or insured. This would come in handy if a mistake was made or damaged occurred to the truck during the procedure.
Each brand of a spray on truck bed liner will be different and may contain different chemicals. The majority of all spray on bed liners will be strong and durable. Just like a traditional truck bed liner, a spray on liner will protect trucks from a wide variety of scrapes, scratches, and other debris marks. A spray on truck bed liner is popular among construction workers, farmers, and everyday individuals.
Spray on truck bed liners can come in a wide variety of different colors to go with any truck or owner preference. It is important to remember that although spray on truck bed liners are popular, there are still other bed liner options available. Protecting your truck is an easy and convenient way to ensure itís value will not decrease more than it should.
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Monday, September 29th, 2008 |
While truck drivers have tons of steel protecting them on the road, they can still be in danger. There are some safety tips to help ensure truck drivers are safe on the roads, and that makes the safer for everyone else in small vehicles as well. A truck driver needs to take care of his or her own needs before anything else. Failing to get enough rest, not eating properly, and not getting enough exercise can all affect a person physically and mentally.
Taking care of the truck they are driving is very important as well. There is plenty of routine maintenance that needs to be done on a new or used semi truck. This includes checking the fluids, checking hoses, changing the oil, and looking for any leaks or problems. Tires need to be in good condition so they don’t blow out. We have all seen though large pieces of rubber on the roads that come off of big trucks. These can create a hazard for other drivers when they are driving behind a big truck.
Even if you don’t own the truck you are driving, it is your responsibility to make sure it is in good enough condition to be on the road. If you are picking up a trailer you need to inspect it as well. Make sure the trailer is properly connected to the semi truck before you leave so that you don’t cause any problems when you get onto the road.
No matter what you are driving, you always have to on the look out for other drivers not doing their part to be safe. New or used heavy duty trucks can’t stop as quickly as other vehicles so you need to be prepared for road construction, accidents, and congestion on the roads. Leave enough room between you and the vehicles ahead of you to anticipate anything that could possibly occur. Make sure you pay close attention to blind spots on your truck before you attempt to change lanes or pass other vehicles.
It is a good idea to always wear your seat belt while in a semi truck. Too many people have the misconception that they are perfectly safe up there but in the event of an accident you could be seriously thrown around or even thrown out of the vehicle. It is a good idea to always have a fire extinguisher in the cab of the vehicle as well.
Since most truck drivers travel from one part of the country to the next in order to pick up or deliver a load, the weather changes can be quick. It is important for a truck driver to have essential clothing for any kind of weather including the extreme hot and the bitter cold.
Both the heater and the air conditioning need to be in good working condition in the cab and in the sleeper of the semi truck. Make sure you have dry foods and water in the cab in case you have to stay in there for any length of time. Tire chains are also good to carry in case you are facing harsh ice and snow conditions.
Most truck drivers carry cell phones, and they can use it to be the eyes and ears of the road. Reporting stranded motorists, poor road conditions, road kill, or even other drivers who are being careless and reckless can prevent serious injuries and accidents from occurring. It is never a good idea to pick up hitchhikers while driving a semi truck. They can be distracting and they might even be dangerous.
Many truck drivers log thousands of miles each month without incident. This is due to the fact that they work hard to take care of their own needs, they routinely inspect their truck and trailers, and they pay attention to what is taken place around them. Accidents can happen in the blink of an eye, so professional truck drivers know to be prepared for anything.
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Thursday, September 25th, 2008 |
Trucks don’t usually tend to make the best hybrids, their large engines and very heavy bodies mean that their gas mileage is notoriously low, and it’s difficult to keep the essence of the vehicle and still be able to improve that. People who want a pickup truck, cargo truck, beverage truck etc typically want something with good towing capacity, power, and able to carry large loads. All of that added together makes it hard to save gas on the road, but with fuel economy becoming one of the most important buying decisions in automobile sales, Chevrolet thinks they can do just that.
The Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid is a brand new offering for the 2009 model year, and so most review companies are only getting their first look at it. It’s known that the truck uses GM’s 6.0L V-8 combined with a hybrid electric motor that helps with extremely low speed and coasting. Combined, the truck gets 21 mpg in the city and 22 on the highway in two-wheel drive.
The 4WD version gets just about an even 20/20. As is pretty standard for most used trucks and SUV’s that are converted to hybrid models, the gas mileage offered is superior to the non-hybrid models by only a small margin, and very ’so-so’ for the hybrid car market overall. Chevrolet trucks hope that their new offerings keeps buyers interested in their full sized line up for years to come.
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