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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Thursday, November 6th, 2008
What are the things to consider in purchasing a pick-up truck?
First, you must know what truck size will best fit your purpose. Are you placing tons of cement sacks in the truck, or just some boxes of dry goods? Choose a truck spacious enough to suit your needs. There are ford trucks, chevrolet trucks, compact trucks, heavy duty trucks, mid-size trucks, and full size trucks. A full size truck, as the modifier suggests, is the biggest among the three, the best vehicle for heavy towing. A mid-size truck is everything that is in between the sizes of a full-size truck and a compact truck. A compact truck, therefore, is the smallest kind, usually can only tow up to about 3,000 pounds. In terms of gas mileage, one general principle is that the bigger the truck, the bigger the gas consumption.
Second to consider is your seating preference. How many people will usually board the truck? There are different truck seating designs, so you should be able to decide which one will serve you right. There is standard cab truck seating, extended cab truck seating, and crew cab truck seating. Standard cab truck seating includes one bench or two seats. Extended cab truck seating has a second row that can either be a bench or three bucket seats. Crew cab truck seating includes a second row bench just like the extended cub, but with 4-doors. It also provides more space for packages.
Another factor to consider is the truck manufacturer. Truck manufacturers have their unique branding, and you should design which maker best fulfills your aesthetic needs. The three best truck manufacturers in the industry are Chevrolet, Ford and Dodge. They are more than willing to give you a tour to their showrooms and provide brochures on the designs, versions, and specifications of their trucks. If you have no time to visit showrooms, there are dozens of magazines that publish reviews on trucks. There are also a dozen of sites on the Internet that publish online reviews and specifications of trucks, you can also give them a visit.
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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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Thursday, October 23rd, 2008
When it’s time to shop for a new vehicle, buyers often know that there are significant advantages to buying a pre-owned (or used) vehicle over a new one, particularly when it comes to price. Not only is a used vehicle going to be less expensive than a new one, but it will also allow buyers to put more money into customizing their rides. Here are 3 benefits to buying used trucks that you may not have thought of:
1. Cost. Okay - you’ve probably put cost at the top of your list when it comes to differentiating between buying a used truck or a new truck. A used truck is often far less expensive than a new truck - even if the used truck is only a few thousand miles old. However, buying a used truck not only makes it possible for you to save money, but you can also get more features that you’re looking for.
When you buy a used truck might be a GMC truck, Isuzu truck, International truck, Freightliner truck, Ford truck etc, always plan a budget for what you’re willing to spend. Then, look for a truck that is priced well below that amount. The extra money that you save from spending it on the truck can be put towards customizable features for the truck, such as larger tires, a roof rack, and other items that you’ve been wanting.
2. Features already included. Often, when you go about purchasing a used car, you’ll notice that many used cars are already accessorized with great features that you’ll love. For example, for less than you would pay for a new truck, you may find a truck that comes loaded already with front grills and rams, leather upholstery, a 6-changer CD player and so much more. Remember: buying used not only saves you money, but you can usually get something much nicer - still within your budget.
3. Style. Remember the days of the old bench seat flatbed pick-up trucks that would clunk down the highway at a whopping 45 miles-per-hour, spurting diesel fumes and bobbing along on rustic shocks? Maybe not - but these old trucks are something of a historical icon for many folks that enjoy the good old days of fine craftsmanship. For this reason, many shoppers looking for a new car opt to turn back time by buying used trucks from a particular nostalgic era.
These trucks, if well maintained, have all the essential features of a new truck, but they might not have the same tow load.
Buying a used truck not only maximizes your dollar, but also makes it possible to save money. Just about every car or truck dealership has used trucks in stock. When the used truck you’re looking for is not immediately in stock, many dealerships will have it shipped to you. Keep your eyes out for features and styles that suit you - new or old - to get the best truck possible for all of your hauling and travelling needs.
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Monday, October 20th, 2008
When you say truck rental, the biggest majority of us instantly think of a move it yourself truck rental company such as U-Haul or Budget Truck Rentals. But some of those same companies that you might associate with do it yourself movers also rent over the road semi tractor trailer combinations to individuals and companies who have qualifying CDL licenses. Budget and other companies have what they call their commercial rental divisions, where they handle truck rental and leasing to all manner of commercial enterprises.
The advantage of leasing trucks rather then buying can be substantial to many companies. Many companies need trucks only during particular times of the year, or on special occasions. It might be advantages to some companies to lease or rent trucks for tax purposes, or insurance reasons. For companies that want to make sure that their cargos get handled only by personnel that are qualified, leasing trucks is a big advantage, making sure that drivers are well informed about how to deal with special shipments when loading and unloading as well as while the shipment is in transit.
Other advantages for companies are flexibility and diversity of equipment, making it easier to match the right trucks or equipment to the right job. Fleet availability to move what ever needs moved without the hassles of maintaining fleet operations, such as maintenance facilities, thus helping to simplify budgeting and expenditures.
Many of the companies that offer leasing of commercial trucks offer 24 hour roadside assistance as well as offering licensing services that take care of your permitting and tax reports further saving time and money. Some even offer driver safety programs that can help to educate and retain driving personnel. Also driver education and safety programs can help to reduce costs due to equipment and cargo damage, thereby lowing insurance rates.
Some leasing companies have dedicated systems that can track each and every new or used truck while in route, helping companies to maintain critical transit time tables on important materials.
So if you company has need of trucks like Ford trucks, GMC trucks, Volvo trucks, Peterbilt trucks etc on a big scale or a small scale, it may be worth while to check into leasing or renting the trucks and equipment you need rather then hiring a trucking company or buying the equipment.
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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, September 11th, 2008
Cadillac Escalade ESV Like a multi carat ring paraded on the finger of an NBA wife, some things are just so damn shiny and flashy that they don’t require a formal introduction. Whether due to overwhelming size or a high blinding factor, there’s just no escaping the brilliance. This was the case with the Cadillac Escalade ESV and EXT models that were officially, yet unceremoniously, unveiled at the North American International Truck Show in Detroit. There was no press conference rally, no fireworks the sharp new look, generous use of chrome, and lustrous black paint said all that needed to be said.
Following the recent debut of the Cadillac Escalade, the Chevrolet Suburban based ESV adds 21 inches of length to the regular model and hits the market with the same fresh face, accented by vertically stacked bright head-light housings and an expansive chrome grille inspired by the Cadillac Sixteen concept car. As with its Chevy Trucks Suburban and GMC Yukon XL, the Escalade ESV features all new body work marked with sharp and clean lines, tighter gap tolerances, hidden rocker panels, vents cut into the front fenders & unique running boards. If the new looks and blinding use of chrome isn’t enough, the Cadillac Escalade ESV distinguishes itself with a 403 horse power V8 that should excite valet attendants every where.
Chevrolet Suburban(unlike their counterparts Ford, Kenworth Trucks), albeit one with Cadillac Escalade ESV badging, added luxury features, and that 403 horse power engine stuffed under the hood. Unlike the offerings from Chevy and GMC, this Caddy seats a maximum of eight passengers rather than nine, and is available in only one all wheel drive trim. With the second & third row bench seats folded, the Escalade ESV’s 137.4 cubic foot cargo area can accommodate an abundant load. In the realm of luxury SUVs, the ESV faces little competition in terms of space and utility.
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Thursday, September 4th, 2008
The car you see here may look a lot like the familiar Chevrolet Cavalier. The face is more or less the same, as are the proportions. But don’t be fooled, the Chevy Cobalt really is more than just a new name on an old body. With the introduction of the subcompact Aveo, the Cobalt moves slightly upmarket, taking up a premium compact position in the lineup. It’ll be competing with Ford Trucks Focus and Honda’s all conquering Civic. It may look familiar, but the Cobalt rides an all new version of GMs Trucks strong and stiff front wheel drive Delta platform.
Like the outgoing Cavalier, the Cobalt comes in two and four door bodies. The slope nosed design has gained a grille similar to the rest of the Chevy team, but remains familiar. The seating position is high, for improved visibility. Large, crystal headlamps and four unit taillights are also design cues that help to link the Cobalt with the larger Malibu and Impala.Wheel choices range from 15″ to big, bold 18″ wheels on some of the sporty coupe versions. Inside, the Cobalt is well equipped, with an options list that includes heated seats and XM satellite radio.
There are two engine choices - The torquey and frugal 2.2 liter Ecotec four cylinder that also resides under the hood of the Saturn ION and other GM products, and a 205 horse super charged 2.0 liter that’s available in the hot rod Cobalt SS Supercharged. The 2.2 liter that powers the rest of the lineup puts out 145 horsepower, which should provide comfortable mid pack performance numbers. Splitting the difference is the Cobalt SS, with a 2.4 liter Ecotec four offering 171 horses and more torque than the standard 2.2. A choice of five speed manual or four speed automatic transmissions is offered.
The suspension uses MacPherson struts up front and a torsion beam in the rear. Electronic power steering eliminates the additional weight required by a more traditional hydraulic system. Anti lock brakes(ABS) are available, with front discs and rear drums on base models and four wheel discs on the Cobalt SS Supercharged. Traction control is also available on ABS equipped cars.
Chevrolet Trucks calls the Cobalt a premium compact, but it doesn’t cost as much as some $25,000 plus premium compacts have lately. Prices range from just over $14,000 to over $18,000 for the top of the line Cobalt SS Supercharged. True to Chevy’s mission of producing cars at realistic prices, air conditioning, a tilt wheel, side airbags and a rear window defroster are standard on every Cobalt.
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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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Tuesday, August 26th, 2008
Formally known as the National Expo - Trucks & Commercial Vehicle, the Sydney Truck show or NTCVE, is all set to be Australia’s information and business platform for leading companies manufacturing heavy duty, medium duty and light duty vehicles.
The show’s opening and it would feature a broad range of state of the art commercial vehicles( light duty & heavy duty) and automotive parts, from some of the biggest names in the industry like Ford, Volvo, and Chevy. The show provides an ideal B2B ambiance for business and it claims to have been the largest truck show in Australia’s history, with about 23,000 sqm of indoor exhibition space.
Exhibits to Feature
With more than 250 participating companies you will see 1000’s of products, vehicles, services and equipment.
Expect to see heavy duty, medium duty & light duty commercial vehicles, right from panel vans through heavy haulage operations up to B-double and road train specifications.
As for automotive parts and components, there would be side trailers, tires, bodies, IT, fuels, lubrication system supplies, numerous aftermarket supplies & automotive accessories and a host of services.
Some new releases to be showcased there would be new model trucks & a hybrid form the manufacturer Hino. The new 714 Hybrid is a second hybrid truck release from the company, which is also a reflection of a changing face of commercial automobiles. The company emphasizes that it’s committed to sustainable transport solutions.
Another, hybrid project to feature is the Hino Argosy Hybrid. While its trials would only commence in Few months, the truck meant to be a shorthaul, linehaul and interstate road freighter is expected to reduce fuel consumption and emissions output by 25 percent when it goes live.
How You Can Benefit From It?
The show is primarily aimed at business buyers and is a B2B event. Since there’s a large variety of exhibitors and products, they can pick and choose. More importantly, the show features upcoming and state of the art technologies, which too should help them to make profitable investments for the future.
Typical audience profiles to the show entails, Government Departments, Corporate & Institutions, Fleet Owners, Travel & Tour Operators, Owner Drivers, Dealers & Resellers, Cargo / Parcel Movers, Service & Workshop Owners etc.
The statistics for the last year’s event also reveal that it was quite a hit, here are some facts.
Of those who visited the show, 52.7% were decision makers, authorised to purchase. Another 47.3% comprised those who were authorised to recommend purchases.
While, 43.6% visitors placed direct orders, 98.7% of exhibitors reported that new customers had placed orders with them.
To learn more about the show, kindly visit “blog.truckstrailersforsale.com“.
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