Sunday, November 23rd, 2008
Antique trucks since long have interested American inhabitants. It has become their favorite pastime. Collecting these trucks is not only a hobby but it is a passion for some. Special groups, clubs and museums have been created to showcase the collected automobiles.
Older trucks were used largely in agriculture. They belonged to the 20th century. The oldest and the most original truck was the Mack truck which was owned by John Mack. They were introduced during the 1800s and since then have seen their expansion to buses, dump trucks, semis and other 18 wheeler vehicles.
The popular brands include Chevy, Dodge, and Ford out of which the Dodge truck is a favorite one. The value and the cost of the truck depend upon its rarity and its present condition. The price ranges from anything few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. Many museums and magazines have been designed to house these antique Dodge trucks.
The oldest Dodge truck model was the Dodge Model 30 which as built in the year 1914 by the dodge brothers company. It was a 4 cylinder truck with a body made entirely of steel. The features of this antique truck were 12 volt electrical system and sliding gear transmission. The other Dodge model was model T which had an antique planetary pattern but it was phased out of market very soon by the year 1927. During the years of introduction of the company only light duty trucks were manufactured but later during the 1930s and 1940s the medium and heavy duty trucks were also introduced.
Antique dodge trucks can be bought from auctions, trade shows, trade magazines or even web site biddings. An American truck Historical Society has been formed specially which deals with the buying and selling of antique trucks. They even have memberships and newsletters to keep the interested ones updated about antique dodge trucks. An antique truck museum can be found in almost all states of USA.
There are a number of antique dodge trucks to choose from. They include Dodge Model 30, Dodge Model T, Series 116 and many more. Even today some of these trucks are on display and even for sale. Interested people can participate in auctions and biddings to own one of the antique Dodge trucks. These trucks are extremely popular and are a symbol of prestige. Hence more and more people have opted for buying these antique Dodge trucks. Even though the Dodge trucks gained more popularity after the Second World War, even today there are many people who want to add these vintage automobiles to their collection.
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Tuesday, November 4th, 2008
If you plan to use your truck like a car, desiring quick, quiet acceleration and rarely ever haul a heavy load and don’t plan to it for a long time,you may want a gasoline engine. Gas engines run smoother, fuel is easier to find, and gas engines start easier in cold weather.
If you plan to use your truck for towing, value good fuel economy and plan to put plenty of miles on it, you may want a diesel. The price to buy a diesel truck is really high, although they can offer you a lot in return.
Below, you’ll find the leading vehicle manufacturers and what they offer you.
Dodge
The 2500 and 3500 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty trucks are the newest 3/4 and 1 ton trucks on the road. Back in 2002, the Ram didn’t have enough power with the 245 HP 9.5L. Dodge promised more powerful engines for the 2500/3500 platform and they delivered on that promise.
The new base engine is the 5.7L gasoline V-8 that’s not only the most powerful engine of the group at 345 HP but also revives the well known and historical Hemi name.
Ford
Ford helped push the 3/4 ton and 1 ton truck market to where it is today when it introduced it’s international engineered power stroke diesel back in 1994. Before 1994, these diesels were poorly built and no match for the big gasoline engines.
Chevrolet/GMC
The GM 2500/3500 twins Silverado HD and Sierra HD both come standard with GM’s 6.0L gas engine V-8. This engine is ideal for 3/4 ton trucks where towing isn’t a concern. The upgrades start with the 8.1L gas V-8 that’s based on Chevrolet venerable big block engine.
Over the years, diesel trucks have proven to be effecient with mileage, great for towing, and easy on maintenance. Unlike gas engines, diesel engines do not have spark plugs, which means you won’t need to get them tuned up near as much as gasoline engines.
For those who like to haul heavy loads on a frequent basis, diesel is the way to go. You can get quite a few miles per gallon, and diesel trucks are built to go 250,000 miles or more before the engine needs to be rebuit,making them a purchase that is more than worth your money.
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Friday, October 17th, 2008
As you look at the highway, you will be able to see a variety of vehicles. Some are small others are big. In every automobile that you see running on the road, the big ones like the trucks are very important. Despite the fact that some of their variety is expensive, people still buy them because they help a lot in doing business (especially in manufacturing).
New and used trucks for sale come in all sizes as well. However, they are usually bigger than the mainstream cars. Most of the trucks are used for transporting goods from one location to another termed as heavy duty trucks. Popular ones that we see are used for logging; others for moving furniture, some are even used for collecting trash. Other vehicles are commonly used for construction, such as cement mixers and they are used to transport materials for buildings.
However, these vehicles come with a special purpose. If we want to use them for as our daily mode of transportation, you can go for SUVs or pick-ups. The different manufacturers of these trucks are Ford, Dodge, Volvo etc.You can use these great vehicles for city driving. They are modifiable too. Most people add truck lift kits on them to make them bigger or to have a better suspension.
Sports Utility Vehicles may look like minivan and they may not have the looks of a pick-up truck, but they are perfect for your passengers as they can really be comfortable for traveling. They are spacious and sometimes they are even high-tech. Most of them are four-wheel drive and despite the disadvantages that they are pointing out to this type of feature, it is commonly equipped with safety features. Nowadays, emergency features and abs (Anti-lock braking system) have been adapted. Some are just what they call part-time meaning they do not have to be engaged at all times in a four-wheel drive. However, most of them are comfortable if you plan to have long hours of driving.
Pick-ups are also light versions of this vehicle. The rear end is open, so either it can be used as an added space to accommodate more passengers or it can be used as your cargo area. As your passengers take a ride at the back of this vehicle, they will have the same feeling that they get when riding on a top down, convertible.
Some use this for off-road adventure. However to use them in this kind of leisure, certain modifications are needed. The most important accessory that should be added is truck lift kits for suspension. These are composed of springs and shocks to improve clearance of the vehicle as they go past the uneven surfaces of the road. If you plan to have this kind of adventure, then you should consider taking this modification.
These lighter versions can be used for transportation too. If you are running a small business, they can also be used to carry goods but not as much as cargo forwarders can carry. Nevertheless, they can really be a great help to your business and they can be perfect for your passengers too.
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Thursday, October 9th, 2008
Runaway trailers can cause devastating crashes, resulting in serious injuries and/or deaths. Trailers for sale detach from their guidance sources more often than most people realize, despite the catastrophic damage they cause.
The runaway trailer accidents resulted in hundreds of injuries and at least 164 deaths. It is likely that there were many more runaway trailer accidents, injuries, and deaths that were not reported by news sources.
The Los Angeles Times found many types of runaway trailer accidents in their investigation. However, the research showed that the large majority of runaway trailer accidents involved light- and medium-trailers, as opposed to large truck-trailers (i.e. big rigs, 18-wheelers, semi-tractors, etc.).
Individuals and businesses other than commercial-transportation owned most of the trailers. For example, gardening companies often use trailers to transport tools from one location to another. The report showed trailer-rental companies, such as U-Haul International Inc, owned a small proportion of the runaway trailers.
The majority of runaway trailer victims are motorists, however passengers, bicyclists, and pedestrians have been seriously injured and killed as well.The following includes some examples of the runaway trailer accidents researched.
Robin Teller and a friend, Brook Webb, were walking home when a trailer, which detached from an Ford truck, struck them. The two women were passing a railroad crossing when the Ford began to cross over the tracks. The trailer rattled as it went over the track and broke loose of its attachment to the Ford. It plowed straight over the two women and crashed through a fence and into a field. Robin Teller was 41 years old and died at the scene.
Earl J. Buetow was the victim of a runaway trailer accident. Buetow was driving northbound on Sierra Highway in his 1990 Dodge pickup truck, behind a Chevy Tahoe that was towing a trailer. At a bump in the pavement, the trailer broke loose from its attachment to the Chevy Tahoe and careened right into oncoming traffic. A southbound driver of a Ford Expedition swerved to avoid the runaway trailer.
Accidents involving any kind of runaway trailer can lead to catastrophic injuries and/or death. The speed and momentum that is present at the time of collision increases the seriousness of these accidents. If a truck driver’s negligence, use of inadequate equipment, and/or lack of instruction causes a trailer to break loose, the truck driver is liable for any injuries and or deaths to motorists, passengers, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
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Wednesday, August 27th, 2008
This may be a refresher course for some of models have been out for awhile, but here are reviews of some of the newly introduced pickup trucks, from small size to mega size as well as a couple limited additions.
For a small size truck, Isuzu has introduced the all new i-280 and i-350. The i-280 is a two door, 2WD model with an extended cab, 2.8-liter, 4 cylinder I-4 (in-line 4-cylinder) engine with 175 HP, 185 lbs-ft of torque and a max payload of 1532 lbs. It comes with a standard 5-speed manual transmission (4-speed automatic is optional). Safety features on this model are optional and it comes with 3 optional packages. Pricing starts at $14,239.
The i-350 is a four door, 4WD model with a crew cab, 3.5-liter I-5 engine with 220 HP, max payload of 1190 lbs and a tow rating of 4000 lbs. It comes with a 4-speed automatic transmission, and expanded list of standard amenities and an optional limited package with upgrades including power-heated seats, 6-disc CD changer and leather seats. Pricing starts at $24,608.
In the mid size range, they have the Lafrance Raider. Lafrance offers the Raider in a 3.7 liter V6 with 210 HP and 235 lbs-ft of torque or a 4.7-liter V8 with 230 HP (a leader in it’s class) and 290 lbs-ft of torque. The Raider comes either with an extended cab with small access doors or a double cab 4-door. You can choose between 2WD or 4WD with 3 transmissions, 6-speed manual, 4-speed automatic or 5-speed automatic. The Raider sports rack & pinion steering and tows up to 6500 lbs. One trendy option offered on the Raider is it’s High Output Audio Package, with a 508-watt audio system including a 6-disc CD changer with MP3 capability, 9 speakers and Sirius Satellite radio. Pricing starts at $19,180.
Where do they put the Ford Ridgeline? It’s in a class all it’s own. This pickup is designed for comfort for everyday driving but it’s also tough enough to keep up with the big boys in towing and payload demands. Ridgeline comes in 4WD only, with a 3.5-liter V6, 247 HP and 252 lbs-ft of torque. It has a total payload of 1550 with it’s 8.5 cubic foot bed and 5000 lb. towing capacity. It seats 5 easily with 4 fullsize doors. It’s also the only 4WD pickup to achieve the highest government crash test rating (5 stars) for both frontal and side impact tests. It also has a unique dual action tailgatge which swings down like most pickups but also swings to the side. Pricing starts at $27,700.
In the full size truck category, they have the new Dodge Ram Mega Cab. Ok, the Dodge Ram isn’t new, but with the largest pickup cab ever at 143.2 cubic feet and 111.1 inches long, it certainly is worth mentioning. The Mega Cab has a total seating capacity of 6 and, depending on which model you’re looking at, comes in a 2WD or 4WD. The 5.7-liter Hemi V8 has 345 HP and comes in a 5 speed automatic, rear or 4WD, with 375 lbs-ft of torque. The 5.9-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel six-cylinder comes in a 6 speed manual, with 325 HP and 610 lbs-ft of torque.
Of course, what is distintive about this truck is not only it’s mega cab, but the exceptional storage space it provides as well. The cab has been lengthened by 20 inches. With folding rear seats, you’ll find 7.5 cubic feet of storage beind the rear seat. On the comfort side, the rear seat bench also reclines. Built tough to handle almost anything, the Mega Cab also offers luxury options such as a rear seat DVD entertainment system, power sunroof and full screen navigation system. So there you have it mega power, mega space, mega luxury. That’s ONE MEGA TRUCK! Pricing starts at $32,760.
There are also two new limited edition trucks :-
Chevy Silverado Intimidator SS :-
This limited edition truck is a collaboration between Chevrolet and Dale Earnhardt Incorporated. The Intimidator comes with a race inspired spoiler, unique silver front grille and a lowered ride height, not to mention the performance tuned suspension, two stage multi leaf springs, Tenneco shock absorbers, a stiffer front stabilizer bar and stiffer front jounce bumpers.
The exterior is complete with a black monochromatic color scheme and 20-inch chrome wheels. The Vortec 6000 V8 engine has 345 HP and 380 lbs-ft of torque. Based on the 2006 Silverado SS, the Intimidator also has available features such as a 4-speed electronically controlled transmission, 3.73 final drive ratio, locking differential, cruise control, split bench seats, power seat adjuster, power windows, rear wheel, 2 wheel rear drive as well as other amenities available on the Silverado SS.
The interior features Dale Earnhardt’s signature on the white faced gauge cluster, black leather seats, plenty of Intimidator badging and Dale Earnhardt’s Legacy logo embossed into the headrests. Chevrolet only plans to have 1,333 of these beauties in production, and a portion of every sale is going to the Dale Earnhardt Foundation.
The Ford Harley Davidson F-150 SuperCab :-
In a continued collaboration between Ford and Harley Davidson, this limited edition truck features a 5.4-liter, three-valve Triton V8 engine with a specially tuned exhaust system, 300 HP and 365 lbs-ft of torque.
The SuperCab sports a 6 1/2-ft. Styleside bed, smoked out tail lamps, blacked out bumper, chrome tie down hooks, slash cut chrome exhaust, chrome billet grille, blacked out headlamps and badging on the fenders and tailgate. Other stand out features are the special chin spoiler and it’s mammoth 22-inch polished aluminum rims with split 5 spoke design, a first for the F-150.
The SuperCab exudes power with it’s black and chrome color scheme. The exterior high gloss piano black is accented with LOTS of chrome, giving it an aggressive, albeit stylish look that sets it apart.
Accenting the interior, you’ll find once again the high gloss piano black with splashes of chrome highlights on the instruments, handles, vent rings, floor shifter and door pulls. Black leather front captain’s chairs and the Harley Davidson logo give styling to the SuperCab in the spirit of the Harley motorcycle. Ford and Harley Davidson plan a production of only 10,000 SuperCabs.
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