Thursday, November 27th, 2008
Owners of old trucks would never deny permission for somebody to take a picture of their vehicle. Do you want to take a picture of my truck? Go ahead. Next time don’t even ask!
Let’s suppose somebody came up to you and asked for permission to take a picture of your classic truck to publish in a magazine or a website. Would you refuse? Of course not. You’re proud of your truck and you want the whole world to see it.
But there are people who don’t want to have their classic trucks photographed or filmed. They spend a lot of time fixing their trucks, they go to car shows to show off what they have and yet they refuse to have their trucks filmed or photographed. It doesn’t make sense and it’s not very smart either. Maybe they don’t need the money.
Now let’s suppose you had a chance of having your truck filmed for a TV commercial or, better yet, for a movie! How great would that be? Let’s also suppose that some TV producer decided to create a new series based on the 1940’s, 1950’s or 1960’s. Wouldn’t he(she) need a lot of cars from those eras? And if the series became a hit the vehicles would be used again and again.
Yeah. It it possible and it’s not even too hard. You just have to promote your vehicle in the right places. There are companies out there looking for vehicles exactly like yours. Many companies in fact. They look for classic trucks for sale and they buy them. They look for classic cars of all types and they pay rent to the car owners in order to film the cars. There are companies that go after owners of ottawa truck, GMC truck, hino truck, classic cars, old trucks and hot rods in order to list these vehicles in large databases. Advertising agencies put ads in the papers when they need an old car or pickup truck for a TV commercial. Keep your eyes open because your big chance may come from that direction.
A movie production company may need classic trucks just like yours. They might need your truck to spend, say, three days in Hollywood and a week on location in New York. They would make the arrangements to have the vehicle transported to both places and might even be willing to pay for your expenses to go along. You would see how a movie is made and you could even end up meeting a couple of famous movie stars just because you own an antique truck.
The producer of a movie or a TV commercial may be looking for a beautifully restored old car, one that looks like it came out of the showroom a couple of days ago. But directors want their films to look real. Therefore they may need a regular classic vehicle, one that shows it’s been used. And they might even need a real wreck, a rust bucket so to speak. Your chances are real, no matter what condition your truck is in. Don’t be ashamed of it. Go ahead and try.
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Monday, November 17th, 2008
In need of a pickup truck to help your business needs, yet bounded by limited budget? Then, buying used pickup truck is a great money-saving option. Trucks, like any other vehicles, depreciate in value once you used it on the road, thus you can squeeze your allotted budget by buying used pickup trucks.
First off, you have to know what you are looking for. In buying a pickup truck, first thing to take note is the size. It is, of course, essential to know just how big the truck you need. Another consideration and perhaps the most important that you need to look for when buying used pick-up truck is its engine. V6 engine is what most pickup trucks have. This is so, because V6 engine consumes just a fair amount of fuel, which is dependent on the items that you will be shipping. On the other hand, V8 engine, which consumes fuel faster, is used by full sized pickup trucks, which is advisable if your shipment requires lots of power. Some major manufacturers are cherokee truck, GMC truck, ottawa truck, ford truck etc.
After knowing what kind of engine your pickup truck needs, it’s time to determine the size of the truck’s bed or the part of the truck that is used for shipping things.
Also, you may want to take into consideration if you would be using the truck to transport people. If so, then consider how many people the pickup truck can carry. Extended and crew cab pickup can carry at least five people. However, if you intend to transport things rather than people, then a regular cab pickup truck will do. It can carry at least two people.
You should also know what drive train option you want for your pickup truck–do you want manual or automatic transmission? You may also want to think about if you want a two-wheel or four-wheel driven pickup truck.
After deciding what you need to buy, you may want to do a little research first. If you can know the price range of the pickup truck you have in mind, then it would be a better buying experience for you. Afterwards, it’s time to consult Mr. Web. From online selling sites such as Ebay, you can find loads of pickup trucks, and your problem now would be the many options you have. The site is easy to use, you can enter the keywords “used pickup truck,” then specify the features you want, and if possible the price range, so you can lessen your choices.
One good quality of online buying is that you can immediately get feedback and read past reviews from past costumers, thus you’ll at least gain an idea of your seller. Online, you’ll be bombarded with a lot of choices, what’s important is you get what you paid for.
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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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Thursday, October 2nd, 2008
The 2009 GMC Sierra, which is due to arrive in limited availability in the fall of 2008, is an exciting new entry to the hybrid vehicle market. Looking identical to the 2008 model and to the Chevrolet Silverado, the GMC Sierra is a full size pickup truck for sale that is environmentally and wallet friendly. When the Sierras arrive on the showroom floors in late 2008 to early 2009, they will usher in a new era of pickup truck development; which the manufactures hope will boost the falling sales trends.
The GMC trucks boast increase in towing capacity, sound levels while driving and an increase in miles per gallon (MPG). The decrease in sound levels is a direct result from having less engine noise from the hybrid system while in use and the truck’s active fuel management system that is already in use in many General Motors vehicles.
The active fuel management system shuts off fuel to the vehicle’s cylinders once a certain speed is reached and turns the fuel back on if more horsepower or speed is needed. This eliminates some of the noise inside the cabin of the truck and also improves MPG by using the cylinders that are not needed.
The overall improvement in MPG has been estimated at anywhere from 20 to 40 % from a regular GMC Sierra. This improvement can and will vary if the driver uses the truck mainly for city driving, heavy duty hauling, and overall driving conditions.
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Wednesday, October 1st, 2008
When the Chevrolet/GMC truck fleet was redesigned for 1955, Chevy’s Cameo Carrier was the acknowledged jewel of the lineup. Yet the similar 1955 GMC Suburban Pickup was every bit as interesting — perhaps more so.
Like the Cameo Carrier, the 1955 GMC Suburban Pickup emphasized car-like comfort and convenience along with an upscale exterior appearance — all of which was a fresh take on the pickup-truck formula.
But the 1955 GMC Suburban Pickup went a bit further, with available high-performance Pontiac V-8 power and a production total low enough to guarantee collector status.
Visually, 1955 GMC Suburban Pickup differed from the Cameo mostly in front, where it wore a heavier, droop-mouth grille with two hollow-tip bumper bullets, and a hood inset with a large GMC insignia.
Both the Cameo and the 1955 GMC Suburban Pickup featured a full flush-side cargo box, a major innovation from a young GM designer named Chuck Jordan that was popular and trend-setting. Exterior styling also enjoyed such classic 1950s cues as flow-through front fenderlines, a wraparound windshield, and hooded headlamps.
Of course, this pickup truck was a fully functional truck. It rode a 114-inch wheelbase and had a 6.5-foot-long cargo bed. The sturdy full-parallel frame boasted six crossmembers instead of the previous GMC pickup’s four. It also had expanded track dimensions and longer leaf springs, front and rear.
The 1955 GMC Suburban Pickup ran with the standard 248.5-cid, 125-horsepower six that had been used since 1953. Big selling points for both Chevrolet truck and GMC’s 1955 truck lines were their first-ever optional V-8s.
GMC’s was the new 287.2-cid powerhouse from Pontiac, good for 155 bhp; the Cameo’s 265-cid Chevrolet V-8 was rated at 145 bhp. Like the Cameo, the Suburban could be ordered with any of four transmissions: heavy-duty three-speed, three-speed with overdrive, four-speed manual, or four-speed Dual-Range Hydra-matic.
Production figures are where the Suburban and Cameo really part company: GMC intended its pickup as a promotional piece that would lure customers into showrooms — hence, a single-season production run of only 300 units (one source claims 326). Cameo was a regular Chevy model, and output for 1955 was 5,219.
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Tuesday, September 30th, 2008
A popular pastime is car customization. Everyone wants to give their cars that special something that only aftermarket parts can provide. Even if you can’t afford a sparkling new vehicle, you can use customizing to add the special touches that will give your used car or used truck a personal touch.
Luckily for Chevrolet truck and GMC truck owners, there are plenty of chevy truck parts and gmc truck parts out there for the auto enthusiast. With a little research, you can find excellent, new and used auto parts that will spice up the look and feel of your car.
Replacing the exhaust pipe, gear shift, or floor mats are a fairly simple change that can improve the look of your car from when you purchased it. Many people choose not to remove the factory stereo system that comes with the car. Instead, they will put in a better, smaller, or more stylish model.
If you own a Chevrolet car or Chevrolet truck, there are many chevrolet truck parts available at very inexpensive prices. Chevy truck parts are everywhere, from online stores to specialty shops. There are special deals available for regular customers through many of these shops, so you’ll save more as you buy more.
If you currently own a chevy or are thinking of buying one, start looking for chevy truck parts now. This way, when you get your new car or truck, you’ll be all set to create the automobile of your dreams. And if you have any friends who have experience in buying aftermarket parts, get their input and advice. They may save you from a lot of time and energy tying to find the right parts at the right prices.
Remember, you will always be able to make changes, so even if you can’t afford the chevy parts you want right now, hang in there. And if you add some parts that you later don’t like as much as you did originally, just change them! That’s the beauty of buying aftermarket chevy and gmc truck parts. There are infinite possibilities and tons of time to make your automobile everything you always wanted it to be.
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Friday, September 26th, 2008
The 2009 GMC Sierra, which is due to arrive in limited availability in the fall of 2008, is an exciting new entry to the hybrid vehicle market. Looking identical to the 2008 model and to the Chevrolet Silverado truck, the GMC Sierra is a full size pickup truck that is environmentally and wallet friendly. When the Sierras arrive on the showroom floors in late 2008 to early 2009, they will usher in a new era of pickup truck development; which the manufactures hope will boost the falling sales trends.
The new and used trucks boast increase in towing capacity, sound levels while driving and an increase in miles per gallon (MPG). The decrease in sound levels is a direct result from having less engine noise from the hybrid system while in use and the truck’s active fuel management system that is already in use in many General Motors vehicles.
The active fuel management system shuts off fuel to the vehicle’s cylinders once a certain speed is reached and turns the fuel back on if more horsepower or speed is needed. This eliminates some of the noise inside the cabin of the truck and also improves MPG by using the cylinders that are not needed.
The overall improvement in MPG has been estimated at anywhere from 20 to 40 % from a regular GMC Sierra. This improvement can and will vary if the driver uses the truck mainly for city driving, heavy duty hauling, and overall driving conditions.
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Thursday, September 11th, 2008
Isuzu launched new pickups last year, the 2006 i280 & i350. No cheers, no applause, no emotion or response to speak of. That moment during the 2005 Detroit Auto Show could be characterized by one word thud. Reasons for such a pathetic response are numerous, but most revolve around the fact that the Isuzu trucks may be the lamest example of rebadging to date. Based on the unimpressive and uncompetitive Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyon twins, the i-Series trucks wear a unique grille, specific stick on badges and here’s a stretch, center hubcap covers and a steering wheel cover that read Isuzu. Even the head-lights & tail-lights are the same. Apparently management’s recipe for success is to have the GM delivery truck stop off at the scant scattering of Isuzu dealers with a few pickups and some boxes of click on parts and stickers.
There is one saving grace. All 2006 Isuzu i-Series pickup sold only in tens not in hundreds, is backed by a 3 year/50,000 mile basic warranty and seven years or 75,000 miles of powertrain coverage, with rust through protection for five years or 100,000 miles. And base prices for the i-280 and i-350 are lower than equivalent Chevy Trucks and GMC Canyons, despite recent price reductions on both General Motors models.
Now they competes like exact models, the Isuzu i-Series pickup comes equipped with one of two engines. The base i-280 model, available in extended cab guise only, features a 2.8 liter, dual overhead cam, 16 valve, four cylinder engine offering a respectable 175 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 185 lb.ft. of torque at 2,800 rpm. A standard five speed manual transmission delivers power to the rear wheels, though a four speed automatic is optional. EPA fuel economy is rated at 20 mpg city and 27 mpg highway for the manual and 17/23 mpg for the automatic. Each Isuzu i-280 rides on an independent front suspension and live rear setup with leaf springs, with stopping power provided from front vented discs and rear drums. Steering is of the power rack & pinion variety.
Isuzu Trucks i-280 S models, starting at $17,649 including a $660 destination charge, feature 15 inch alloy wheels riding on General 225/75 tires, anti lock brakes, air conditioning, a basic AM/FM radio, rear step up bumper, cruise control, tilt steering, and a locking tailgate. The i-280 LS, with a base price of $19,649, adds rear jump seats, cloth seats and carpeting, CD and MP3 players, power mirrors, manual lumbar support for the driver, and floor mats. The base S model can be ordered with the Preferred Equipment Package, including an upgraded radio, carpeting, rear jump seats, floor mats, and cloth seats. LS buyers have the option of the LS Package, with power windows and door locks, upgraded cloth seats and interior trim, and more or the Luxury Package and its side curtain airbags, locking rear differential, traction control, leather steering wheel, 6 disc CD changer, sliding rear window, and other luxurious features.
Drivers wanting a bit more space and four wheel drive functionality will need to look at the 2006 Isuzu i-350. This crew cab pickup is powered by a 3.5 liter, dual overhead cam, 20 valve, five cylinder engine pushing 220 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and cranking out 225 lb.ft. of torque at 2,800 rpm through a four speed automatic transmission. All i-350 comes equipped with that tranny, a four wheel drive system with a two speed transfer case and automatic locking hubs and LS badging as well as an independent torsion bar front suspension and a live rear with leaf springs. The EPA rates fuel economy at 17 mpg city and 22 mpg highway. In addition to the standard features found on the i-280 LS, the Isuzu i-350 adds a locking rear differential, power windows and door locks, a 60/40 split folding rear bench seat, skid plates, and side curtain airbags, all for the asking price of $28,018, including the $660 destination charge. A imited Package adds leather seats, a 6 disc CD changer, front power and heated seats, an exterior temperature gauge and compass, and a sliding rear window.
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