Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008
Buying a new pickup truck can be very confusing. Of course you could go for a well known brand or manufacturer but still here are many options to consider.
Below are some guidelines that could point you in the right direction in buying a new truck.
The first thing that you should consider is size. Ask yourself just how big a pickup truck do you need? This shouldn’t be a very difficult decision for you to make. All you have to consult are your needs and your budget.
Keep in mind the price of a new pickup truck varies. It can range from the affordable (like buying an ordinary car) to the very expensive (like buying a luxury car). A good basic pickup truck can be owned for around $20,000 while a full sized fully loaded pickup truck an go for as much $30,000 or more.
Keep in mind one of the most important features of a pickup truck is its engine. So the engine should be a primary consideration when buying a pickup truck. Most pickup trucks will have a V6 engine. This type of engine consumes a fair amount of fuel depending on what you will be hauling or pulling. However, full sized pickup trucks usually have V8 engines that use up gas pretty fast. A diesel engine is recommended if you need lots of power for towing things around.
Another consideration is the number of people a pickup truck can carry. Would you be using the pickup truck to transport people? Then you would be better off buying an extended cab pickup truck which can carry 5 or more people. You could also get a crew cab which can be a very good replacement for a car and can also seat up to 5 individuals. But if you are basically using the pickup truck to tow and transport things, then you could just buy a regular cab pickup truck which can hold two to three individuals.
Check the truck box configurations. Trucks for sale come with different cargo box. Most have fairly straight exterior sides, with arched areas just inside the bed to accommodate the rear wheels. Many also have spaces in front and behind each arch so there’s more room to tuck shorter cargo. On the other hand, some pickup tucks have flared fenders to provide more storage space. This type of cargo box is called a step-side box.
The Internet is a very good source for new and used pickup trucks. There are many websites specially dedicated to automobiles and trucks. From there, you can get in touch with local truck dealers. And even read a review of the vehicles for sale. Using such website is very easy for both sellers and buyers.
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Tuesday, November 11th, 2008
If you have spent your entire career in military service, you stand a good chance in the trucking industry. Trucking as a career needs a lot of disciplined and strong men. As a truck driver has lot of freedom and the profession is time sensitive, the industry is always looking out for military men, who are known for their punctuality and discipline. So, if you have years of service in military and are now looking out for a change, truck driving is the perfect option for your smooth career transition.
Military men are preferred for truck driving because companies need strong men, who are ready to work under any circumstances for trucking. A truck driver’s job is not for everyone. One has to face several hurdles, before he delivers the goods in the given time. Traffic jams, accidents, bad weather conditions, bad roads are some of the few obstacles a truck driver faces daily in his profession.
Apart from these hurdles, a truck driver earns a huge salary and great perks. You get to travel across the nation and get to frequently be with your family and friends. Many companies offer various policies for the entire family. You enjoy flexibility in your work. You do not have to follow a typical 9 to 6 schedule and can enjoy driving at your favorite hours. With no supervisor to boss over you, you enjoy the freedom of doing work at ease. With so much to benefit, you surely want to try out this exciting and challenging job.
So, if you are geared to make a smooth transition from military to become a truck driver, here is what you can do. If you think you are good at driving, brush up your skills before you hunt for a trucking job. It would be good, if you join a reputed driving school, where you would learn to drive chevrolet trucks, ford trucks, pickup trucks, medium duty trucks, heavy duty trucks and also learn rules and regulations and safety of driving bulky truck on highways. After you pass the driving test, you get a license and approval to drive a heavy duty truck, ford truck etc without which you cannot operate as a truck driver.
Once you obtain your license, it is good to look out for better companies hiring truck drivers. If you were a part of the driving school, it would be easier for you to get a truck-driving job, as they would assist you to find one. There are also websites that have come up to help you hunt for a truck-driving job. Because of many numerous vacancies and low manpower, companies are paying highly to retain the drivers. With you being from the military field, everybody would want to hire you for the belief in your caliber. The salary that you would get at the entry level also would be much higher than any other person.
Trucking is a booming career and you can have only gains in this profession. It not only gives you freedom, but also a chance to earn huge profits and stay connected with your family. Quality military personnel are sure to grab great opportunities in the trucking career. So, if you were geared up for some more challenge and excitement post military service, truck driving would surely let you experience it all.
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Sunday, November 9th, 2008
According to the Ohio Department of Safety, there are more than 200 deaths each year in the U.S. associated with riding in the cargo area of pickup trucks. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that pickup truck occupants are three times more likely to be involved in rollover crashes than in other types of vehicles. The largest number of vehicle fatalities and injuries are caused by rollover crashes.
Are pickups simply not as safe as cars and SUVs? It turns out that the fatality rates have little to do with a pickup’s design. They have more to do with the use of safety belts. While safety belt laws have consistently become more stringent in all 50 states over the past ten years, according to the NCSA, only 69% of occupants in pickups were wearing safety belts.
Fortunately, newer model pickup trucks have been designed with passenger safety and convenience in mind. For example, the popular Isuzu offers a 3-passenger 60/40 split-bench front seat with integrated outboard head restraints and the Isuzu i-370 Crew Cab offers rear 3-point seatbelts and 3-point middle seatbelt for passenger protection.
Other safety features include daytime running lights and dual stage airbags.
Although finding a truck that “lasts” means it’s a quality vehicle, the problem with driving older model cars is not with their performance. Safety guidelines, for the most part, have evolved more rapidly in the past ten years than in decades previous.
Consumers and the government are holding truck manufacturers to higher safety regulations in response to the vast number of preventable fatalities. A pickup manufactured prior to 1990 will be short many of these new safety features and simply cannot protect the safety of its occupants as well as newer pickup trucks do.
If you’re driving an older model pickup truck, you are urged to consider after-market upgrades to make your vehicle more safe for passengers, or to consider purchasing or leasing a newer model pickup.
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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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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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