Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008
Recent media attention on the number of highway fatalities caused by semi-trucks has many people asking whether our roads are indeed ’safe.’ A fully loaded truck, like the one that slammed into the back of another truck on California’s I-5 last month can do an intense amount of damage. In that particular accident, three people were killed and at least ten more injured when the truck entering the 550-foot underpass crashed into the truck in front, causing a massive pile-up and ultimately, an explosion.
This isn’t the first time the safety of sharing our roads with oversized semi-trailer trucks has been questioned. Trucking industry practices are continuously being reformed to address the number of fatalities these vehicles cause, including reducing the amount of time a truck driver is allowed to drive without a break, instituting new methods of driver payment that do not include “paid-by-the-mile” incentives, and adding more highway patrol officers designated to specifically crack down on truck drivers that don’t keep proper log books or break traffic laws. But is it enough?
So what can you do to protect yourself and your families?
The trucking industry isn’t going anywhere any time soon, and while we can hope that some of these measures begin to drastically reduce the number of highway deaths, now is the time to make sure you’re driving the safest vehicles you possibly can.
Even the safest vehicles may not be able to stand up to a collision with a semi, but there are certain vehicles that tend to fare better than others. First, SUVs and pickup trucks generally keep their occupants safer than passenger cars when in collisions. While other factors obviously dictate how well passengers will be protected in a crash, such as the type of crash, the rate of speed the vehicles were moving, and the passive safety features installed on the vehicles, SUVs and pickups tend to be heavier and therefore sustain less damage.
Other key factors to examine are the active and passive safety features of your vehicle. For example, while most SUVs offer dual stage airbags (the type that protect occupants from rear-end and head-on collisions by preventing contact with the dash and steering column), the Isuzu truck also sports head-curtain side-impact airbags that protect the body from injuries caused by rolling or side-impacts. Taking the time to compare the safety features of your vehicle to the available safety features in models offered by companies that are known for safety (like Isuzu truck and Volvo truck) will give an indication of deficits in your vehicles safety system.
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Tuesday, October 7th, 2008
Each new product, each new decision adds to the evolution of a company, creating a legacy of quality or leading to its eventual downfall. Isuzu is one of those companies that have survived, learned its lessons, responded to market demands, and because of its success, we felt it was worthy of rewinding the clock twenty years and taking a look at the past two decades of automotive achievement.
While Isuzu is now known for its high-quality Ascender and tough pickup trucks, it’s not surprising that 20 years ago, the company was already on the road to success. In 1988, Isuzu positioned itself as the number one heavy duty and medium duty truck maker in the world, surpassing Daimler-Benz. With such an incredible output of trucks, it was only a matter of time before the company began to focus on the light-duty truck market.
By 1992, American Isuzu Motors Inc. had something to celebrate. The company retailed its one-millionth unit in the U.S., catering to the growing needs of the sport utility vehicle market in North America.
With the introduction of the famed Isuzu Trooper, the company became the first import manufacturer to offer three segments of SUVs: the mini, the compact, and the full-size.
Two years later in 1994, the Isuzu Rodeo – another popular model – took on competitors at the Alcan 5000 – a 4,133-mile rally from Seattle, Washington ending eight days later in the Arctic Circle. It won, becoming the first SUV to boast that accomplishment. The Rodeo proved its worth again in 1994 when another Rodeo won first place, ensuring it was no surprise when the winner of the 2000 Alcan Winter Rally was, again, a Rodeo.
A year later, in 2001, American Isuzu Motors Inc. introduced the Axiom – a revolutionary blend of performance, comfort, and technology. The Axiom was popular but Isuzu realized that the SUV market was changing and they needed to change with it.
In 2003, Isuzu introduced the Ascender 7-Passenger with more passenger space than Axiom. In addition, the Ascender 7-Passenger was the first Isuzu SUV to boast a V8 engine. While the Ascender 7-Passenger was revered by many as one of the best high-performance SUVs on the market, it wasn’t for everyone. City dwellers wanted SUVs that were just as high-quality, but smaller, more fuel-efficient, and more affordable. And thus, the following year, Isuzu came out with the Ascender 5-Passenger – a more compact version of its older brother.
In 2006, Isuzu trucks had expanded to include two new pickups – the i-280 4×2 Extended Cab and the i-350 4×4 Crew Cab. Produced in Shreveport, Louisiana, the pickup trucks are an instant hit, providing customers with class-leading towing and payload capacities. 2006 was a good year for Isuzu. In addition to the new pickup line, Intellichoice recognized Isuzu’s entire lineup as the best in their class for low costs.
In 2007, Isuzu improved on its pickup truck line, upgrading both the i-290 and the i-370 with larger engines and increased torque and horsepower. Prices, however, stayed the same as the previous year. In 2007, Isuzu added two new models to its line: the i-370 4×2 Extended Cab and the i-370 4×2 Crew Cab, giving pickup customers multiple options.
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Monday, October 6th, 2008
Ford has always been known to produce large ford trucks. In fact, their F150 pickup truck is the best selling truck of all time. But the F150 is not the only great truck you can find in Ford’s lineup. The Ford F-350 is also one great heavy duty truck which has its own set of good attributes. There are numerous features and capabilities in the F-350 that has attracted truck drivers to come to love the vehicle.
The first thing that will strike you about this truck is its size. The truck is truly designed to take on the heaviest of load. It has a towing capacity of 15,000 pounds which makes gives it the capability to tow trailers, campers, fishing boat, or even livestock. The truck also has amazing off-road driving capability which makes it one of the top choices for any truck driver in town.
The Ford F-350 is available with three different choices of engines - all of which are capable of providing adequate power, as capable as a Volvo vent visor in protecting a car’s interior from snow or rain. Consumers can choose from either a gasoline powered V8, a massive V10 gasoline engine, or a 32-valve 6-liter, PowerStroke turbo-diesel V8 engine with cast iron cylinder block and cylinder head. For the diesel engine, an EVRT system is standard. The electronic variable response turbocharger balances the thrust needed by the wheels. This capability increases the fuel efficiency of the diesel engine.
For those who would want to buy an F-350, there are two gearboxes to choose from - a five-speed automatic transmission and a six-speed manual. To protect the car’s occupants or anything it is hauling, the Ford F-350 is equipped with TBC or the Trailer Brake Controller which balances the braking of the trailer. Disc brakes are also standard across the board; all wheels are fitted with high performance discs and equally high performance pads. The F-350 also has an anti-lock braking system which offers safe braking even on emergencies.
Whether you go for a gasoline or a diesel engine, your Ford F-350 will come with a huge 38-gallon fuel tank which holds enough fuel to feed the hungry horses inside the massive combustion chambers of the three engines. Gas mileage for the F-350 is not revealed though since EPA does not require vehicles such as this to state their gas mileage. This makes sense since most of these vehicles will be used commercially and not just for cruising around town.
The suspension system of the truck which gives it great off-road driving capability is a mono-beam suspension in the front with massive coil springs and an equally massive stabilizer bar. This truck is really made for heavy duty purposes. The rear suspension system is a solid axle with huge leaf springs and another huge stabilizer bar. Both the front and the rear suspension system sports heavy-duty gas-pressured shock absorbers. The configuration of the suspension system gives the Ford F-350 a responsive steering and a good stability.
The ride though is quite another story. Just like other pickup trucks, the ride may be stiff if the truck bed is empty but once it is loaded the truck gives an exceptionally smooth ride.
The interior of the truck also looks great and almost luxurious. This is because of the leather trimmings, its sun roof and other features one would commonly find in a luxury car. The black leather bucket seats are the most notable feature of the cabin of the truck which gives it an aura of luxury. The controls and the instrument panel are designed with convenience in mind. The truck may be designed for heavy duty jobs but the interior design also ensures comfort and sophistication.
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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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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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