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  Rocky Mountain Truck Fest at Bandimere Speedway.
It's fun in the sun in the Front Range. Racing,
showing and rock climbing. Bandimere Speedway is the place in
August to be for racing trucks. All trucks, from 10 second quarter mile diesel pickups to Class
eight dump trucks race each other. Or rather their own time as a
bracket race.
More...
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 SEMA,
you've heard of it and
it's exciting. The new aftermarket products get introduced
there. We did 5 interviews covering what I call the "Best of
SEMA" for the towing industry. Check the over 100 pictures of
the cool stuff to see.
See it...
|
 2011
Ford F-150 Earns IIHS Top Safety Pick;
DEARBORN, Mich., May 12, 2011 – The
2011 Ford F-150 SuperCrew is building on
Ford’s safety leadership by earning a Top
Safety Pick rating from the Insurance
Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for
models built after February 2011.
More... |
Ford Offers
Industry-First Truck App Software That Keeps
F-Series Owners in the Know When They Tow:
DEARBORN, Mich., March 10,
2011 – An
all-new Truck App in Ford F-Series features
an industry-first in truck technology – a
software application for safe and easy
towing and off-roading.
With more
than 50 percent of F-Series owners regularly
towing a trailer, Ford developed the first
application to walk drivers through the
proper trailer connection process, among
many other features. The Truck App is
available on F-Series’ class-exclusive LCD
instrument cluster screen, a beefier version
of the driver information display where
traditional stats on fuel economy, vehicle
settings and trip tracking also live.
“The 4.2-inch
LCD productivity screen presents detailed
information in an engaging, easy-to-use
manner so customers get the most out of
their Ford trucks for work and for play,”
said Joseph Fodera, cluster applications
engineer.
More.... |
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  Ford
announces 2009 F150
with more towing features. Trailer sway control can determine from
the yaw motion of the truck if the trailer is swaying
and....Integrated
Trailer Brake Controller is factory-installed
and allows direct
More...The
new 2009 Ford F-150 offers customers the most choice
with more configurations than any other full-size pickup
on the market. With three cab styles, four box options
and seven unique trim levels, the F-150 comes in 35
different configurations to....
More...
2009 Ford F150 with new 6-speed, diesel and turbo gas
engines coming in 2010. The striking F-150 Platinum
features
More... |
NAVISTAR AND FORD
MOTOR COMPANY REACH NEW AGREEMENT.
Companies to Continue To Collaborate on Medium Duty Trucks and
Other Initiatives
Editor note: If you read between
the lines, this could mean Ford will be moving on with their own
diesel for Super Duty trucks and leaves open the question if
Ford will follow Navistar with a super EGR cooler to meet 2010
diesel emission regulation or follow the crowd and use Selective
Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system, (urea.)
January 13, 2009—Ford Motor
Company and Navistar International Corporation have
reached an agreement to restructure their ongoing business
relationship and settle all existing litigation between the
companies. As a result of the agreement, the companies will end
their current diesel engine supply agreement effective,,,.
More...
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Don't you love
competition?
When GM announced
torque and horsepower numbers for their 2011
Heavy Duty diesel truck introduced last
month, Ford didn't set still but announced
an upgrade this month to outdo GM power
numbers.
Picture left; Ford Diesel Supervisor Steve
Hawk tests the software that will boost
6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel on the 2011
Ford Super Duty to 400 horsepower and 800
ft. lbs of torque. Beginning later this
week, Ford will begin building 2011 model
year Super Duty pickups with the higher
power and towing numbers. Customers who
bought the 2011 truck can return to their
dealerships later this month for a software
upgrade that boosts their power numbers.
Read the details.... |
Ford Twin-Turbo EcoBoost, who needs a
Diesel:
EcoBoost Engine: The 3.5-liter EcoBoost™ V-6 engine, the first
V-6 direct-injection twin-turbocharged engine produced in North
America, makes its debut in the 2010 Lincoln MKS luxury sedan
and also joins the lineup for the 2010 Ford Flex and Lincoln MKT
crossover vehicles. EcoBoost is one of Ford Motor Company's key
initiatives to deliver significant advancements in fuel economy
of up to 20 percent without sacrificing the performance feel
customers want.
More.... |
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2008 Chevrolet
Silverado, GMC Sierra 1500 Series Trucks Only Full-Size Pickups With Top
Five-Star Side-Impact Safety Rating
DETROIT, Mich. - The 2008 Chevrolet
Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500 Series pickup trucks have received the
federal government's highest side-impact crash rating - five stars -
making Silverado and Sierra the industry's only full-size pickups to
earn this top rating.
More... |
 
Trying to get down to 50,000 2008 F150's by November, Ford is
releasing the all new 2009 F150 the end of October. This summer the move to switch from pickup trucks to small cars, changed somewhat with higher priced cars and higher truck incentives.
As part of the new selling environment, Ford introduced the new SFE fuel package (superior fuel economy) rated
at 15/21 mpg with the 4.6L engine and 6 speed auto, SuperCrew with low rolling resistance tires More...
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Coming to the US. You want a truck that doesn't need fuel and
can carry
4,400 lb. payload. It has a turning radius
of just 36 feet, and a range in excess of 100 miles on a
single charge. Well of course it's electric. And it's kind of
cute. On it's way from the UK,
read more... |
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From
www.fuelpub.com
Big Win for Biodiesel: ASTM Approves
New Biodiesel Blend Specifications.
The biodiesel industry is
celebrating today following last
night’s final vote by the ASTM
International D02 Main Committee to
approve a trio of long-awaited ASTM
specifications for biodiesel blends.
After more than five years of
extensive research and subsequent
balloting by the ASTM fuel experts
in the blended fuel balloting
process, ASTM has finally voted to
approve three key sets of biodiesel
specifications that should
significantly bolster automaker
support and consumer demand for
biodiesel:
#1Changes to the existing B100
biodiesel blend stock specification
(ASTM D6751) #2 Finished
specifications to include up to 5%
biodiesel (B5) in the conventional
petrodiesel specification (ASTM
D975) #3
A new
specification for blends of between
6 percent biodiesel (B6) to 20
percent biodiesel (B20) for on and
off road diesel.
More....
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New CAFE
standards allow for towing considerations from RVI
While
the new levels will encompass a majority of vehicles that
tow RVs, there is good news for the RV industry in the
legislation.
President Bush signed into law
the first increase in automobile fuel economy in 32 years,
mandating automobile manufacturers meet a (CAFE) standard of
35 miles per gallon (mpg) by 2020.
First,
separate fuel economy standards for cars and trucks will be
maintained with different standards to be set for pickup
trucks weighing between 8,500 and 10,000 pounds and for
medium- and heavy-duty trucks. Second, the framework will allow consideration of vehicle towing
capacity.
More....
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Cat And
Navistar To Focus On Global Truck Business And Cooperate
On Engine Technologies.
Cat is dropping out of the truck
market giving Navistar and Cummins the advantage. GM
sold their medium duty truck business to Navistar.
Navistar bought Workhorse RV chassis a few years back.
As fast as
Navistar is growing, we know they won't need Ford
anymore. We also know Ford won't be using Cat in the
future or Navistar, so they have to build their own
diesel engine for Super Duty. Here is their joint press
release:
Caterpillar Inc. and Navistar
International Corporation have signed a (MOU) to pursue
global on-highway truck business opportunities and cooperate
on a variety of engine platforms.
Caterpillar has determined independently that it will not
supply EPA 2010 compliant engines to truck and other
on-highway original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
More.. |
 Circle
the wagons, pickup trucks from India are headed this way. They
already sell tractors here,
Mahindra brand.
All of the vehicles will be
four-wheel drive, turbo-charged with "clean diesel" technology
and get up to 39 miles per gallon. Coming late 2008, the
rest
of the report... |
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USRider Shares Tip with Horse Owners to Avoid
Lockout. With
advancing technology, life continues to become a bit easier.
USRider would like to warn its members about is the potential of
being locked out of a vehicle. This can happen when two very
common technological conveniences get too close – your cell
phone may scramble the electronics in your key fob. Instances of
this scrambling have already been reported with the....read
more...
USRider Reminds Drivers, Dangers of Using Cell
Phones While Driving.
..read more... |
| GM announces 2007 Duramax details, at
least for the C4500. And plans for 2009 plus V-8 Diesel in 1/2
tons. The new Duramax LMM to replace the LBZ and LLY, so we will
see the 4th generation after the first of the year.
Click... |
|
 Quadrasteer
Tour Part 4 Reviewing Outfitter's Caribou popup
camper, showing how far into the mountain forest I can get with this
truly versatile combination. We tow boats & horse trailers, because
we can. There is enough payload capacity left for the tongue weight
of a boat or 2-horse trailer. Also Torklift's camper tie down
review.
Read. |
|
  Hummer
H2 proved to be a great trailer tower. Equalizer wdh made it
a easy pulling a 34' travel trailer from Nevada to Colorado in
December threw mountain passes and snow storms. Read the story from
Ultimate Hummers Magazine.
|
 Guy
Nègre of the United Kingdom has invented a zero-pollution
vehicle. It involves no combustion, and it costs roughly $2 to
run for 124 miles. It can reach a top speed of 68 mph and can be
recharged in two minutes. And most surprisingly, it runs on
compressed air.
More.... |
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 GM
CELEBRATES ONE-MILLIONTH DURAMAX DIESEL.
DMAX Ltd., a
joint venture between GM & Isuzu Motors Limited, was established
as a diesel engine company in 1998. GM first introduced the
Duramax diesel in the U.S. in 2001 model year. GM’s heavy duty
diesel pickup market share has jumped nearly tenfold in the six
years Duramax engines have been offered.
More... |
  Featherlite
unveils ultimate SURV for outdoor enthusiasts. The amenities in
Featherlite’s newest Sport Utility Recreational Vehicle (SURV) Model 7941
make it the ultimate hauling vehicle for outdoor enthusiasts and their
motorized equipment. The durable aluminum SURV’s enhanced style and
functionality is highlighted by a spacious garage, two slideouts and a
‘stand-up bedroom’.
The 40-foot fifth wheel with 12-foot garage features two space expanding
slideouts, including a 12-foot slideout with sofa sleeper and dinette and a
slideout in the bedroom area.
More.... |
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Cimarron Trailers to Hold a Drawing for Private
Roping Clinic with Legendary Instructor Rickey Green. A lifetime opportunity for two lucky
team ropers. They will be giving away a two-day private roping clinic
with renowned team roping clinician Rickey Green for two winners of a
drawing held on Oct. 27th, 2007 at the USTRC National Finals
in Oklahoma City. Entry forms for the drawing will be available at
participating Cimarron Trailer Dealerships April 1 - Oct. 24, 2007. The private clinic will be held Dec. 1-2, 2007 at Rickey Green’s ranch
in Stephenville, TX. Cimarron Trailers will provide both of the
winner’s with hotel accommodations and meals during the clinic.
For more visit
click...
|
Reviewing a patriotic display from
SEMA 2004. There was a different feeling about the war in Iraq.
Patriotism was running high, folks across the country were
expressing what an attack on the US meant to them. Here is a truck
that expressed it right. By: David Sundling,
read.. |
GM Sells Allison Transmission for $5.6B
By Sven Gustafson, Associated Press
Writer. The sale to Onex Corp.
and The Carlyle Group includes seven manufacturing plants in
Indianapolis and its global distribution network and sales
offices. A production facility in Baltimore, which makes
conventional and hybrid transmissions for pickup trucks and
sport utility vehicles, will remain with GM.
More... |
 With
$3 gas prices, Hybrid's became a mainstream option. As a
bright spot in declining SUV sales, Hybrid's may make a splash
in the truck world. Toyota seems to be leaning more toward
Hybrids than diesels, as Mercedes, VW and even Honda make plans
for the American diesel car craving.
More on Hybrid's....
by Doug Cooley |
|
Dumb and Dumber In Detroit
Decide our Truck Choices by
Kent Scott
I was anxiously awaiting
the introduction of the new mid-size Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon
trucks as they were expected to use the fantastic new 4.2 inline six
used the the Blazer and Envoy. I was both disappointed and amazed
that some product managers decided to only offer a five cylinder
version as the largest offering. The result for Chevy and GMC
excluding the six has been poor sales, poor performance and a poor
image for the entire line of vehicles.
More... |
  2005
SEMA was full of the big trucks. Saw new hitches, hoods and
hookers, I mean lookers. It's quite a show with 3 axle Hummers, 6
door crew cabs and every kind of accessory you can imagine. Will
have more product reviews coming from this years SEMA,
see for yourself |
 Diesel
Particulate Filters, a Hot Subject.
In January 2007, the new
emission law went into effect for diesels. Of
course the new diesel engines designed for lower
emissions cost more, have EGR coolers,
throttles, use more expensive engine oil and
have a Diesel Particulate Filter where
pollutants are trapped and burned..
More.... |
 Finally
Dodge gives the OK for an exhaust brake with their automatic
transmissions behind the Cummins diesel. Cummins OK'd it a
couple of years ago, but Dodge would only allow warranty with
the manual transmission using the Jacobs Exhaust Brake. Here at
MrTruck.com, we highly recommend using an exhaust brake towing
trailers. We'll have a review here shortly with a C4500 which
comes as standard equipment with an exhaust brake. Read more on
the Dodge/Jacobs story
More... |
Did You
Ever See A Trailer Hitch Protect A Family?
 Mohr
MFG. of Burnsville, Minnesota has just introduced a patented,
receiver mounted bumper and trailer hitch called the “SUPERBUMPER”.
This new bumper and hitch combination not only pulls and
cushions your trailer towing, it protects your family and your
vehicle. The SUPERBUMPER combines a ball mount with an energy
absorbing bumper that will protect your vehicle from rear-end
collisions, reduce whiplash injuries, shield your gas tank from
under-ride, eliminate parking lot and parallel parking dents and
dings while lowering insurance claims. It is the only bumper
(original or aftermarket) to EVER pass the Insurance
Institute for Highway Safety's 5 mph “Rear Into Pole” crash
test without damage to the vehicle or the bumper.
Email:
[email protected]
or log on to the web site
http://www.superbumper.com.
|
 World
Strongman Competition, is coming to Colorado, July 2, 2005.
ATS Diesel Performance HQ Arvada CO. World Strongman Cup is an
all day event highlighting athletes performing disciplines that
challenge their strength, endurance, and skills will be covered
and aired by ESPN.
more.... |
 New
Featherlite living quarters, Featherlite®,
America’s oldest aluminum specialty trailer manufacturer, continues
to transform the traveling experience of horse owners. Among their
bold, new 2005 product enhancements, Featherlite announced a living
quarters trailer series that now encompasses 15 sizes & 23 different
models. More |
|
USA: Delphi does DaimlerChrysler diesel deal 02 Jun
2005 Source: just-auto.com editorial team;
Delphi has been awarded a contract by
DaimlerChrysler to develop and supply a complete diesel common
rail and engine management system for a current and future
Mercedes engine range. The first phase of the project covers the
applications engineering and supply of Delphi's diesel common
rail (DCR) 1600 system for passenger cars. Further phases are
planned to extend the application to an additional vehicle.
The new system provides high injection pressure, improved nozzle
design, superior hydraulic stability and enhanced software
strategies. Delphi's DCR 1600 delivers more complete combustion
and provides more accurate control of very small volumes of
fuel, introducing the option of up to five injection events. One
of the many benefits is a reduction in NOx of up to 30% through
the introduction of a late-pilot injection event. I'm thinking
this means more diesels are on the way in trucks and SUV's. |
| We're waiting on an update
on the FET laws below. Waiting to confirm, but it sounds like
the new FET tax laws will be in effect on higher than 19,500
GVWR and 33,000 CGWR. |
  First
look at the 2007 Silverado and Sierra.
The new GMT900 platform from which the 2007 GM SUV's where born,
was designed for the trucks first. We were at the GM media
launch to see the all new trucks. Details just
Click.... |
Great News about Towing from the IRS;
Excise tax on trucks
has been confusing. Dealers whom don't
collect the 12% tax on new trucks for
commercial use, such a towing a trailer over
10,000#'s or trucks designed for the purpose
of towing trailers, have been liable for the
tax themselves. All this is such a gray area
as is driving license requirements between
states when towing trailers. As reported
today in the current issue of Trailer Life
Magazine (June 05), the IRS has issued
guidance on March 15th to go into effect on
sales April 4, 2005 and after, that sounds
like Class 6 trucks and below are excluded
from Federal Excise Tax. This would mean
trucks with a GVWR of 26,000 pounds or less.
For example a Ford F650, GM 6500, Sport Chassis Freightliner etc. and smaller.
So the scare that 1 tons would be subject to
excise tax or trucks with factory trailer
brake options would be subject, has been
cleared up. The link to the IRS Guidance is
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=136811,00.html
This is great news for towing!
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TURBODIESEL OPTION FOR CHEVY FULLSIZE VANS.
General Motors announced the
availability of the Duramax 6600 turbodiesel engine in the 2006
Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana G2500 and G3500 series
commercial models. This sophisticated diesel engine offers more
horsepower and torque than the primary competitor, as well as a
quieter driving experience and better projected fuel economy.
More. |
|
GM Delivers
First Fuel Cell Truck to U.S. Army
Military sees day when all its
vehicles would be fuel cell-powered. The modified Chevrolet
Silverado is equipped with two 94 kW fuel cell stacks, capable
of generating 188 kW and 317 foot-pounds of torque, or roughly
the motor torque generated by GM's 5.3 liter V-8 engine. The
U.S. Army has the largest fleet of vehicles in the world.
Improving fuel economy and reducing the logistics of the fuel
supply chain could save millions of dollars. For example, it
cost the U.S. Army up to $400 a gallon of gas to ship fuel to
Iraq and Afghanistan.
More... |
 No
2006 Quadrasteer.
It's a sad day in
the towing world today. Quadrasteer introduced in the first year of the
GMC Denali in 2002, has been canceled by GM. 4-wheel-steering is the
best advance this reporter has ever seen in bumper tow trailer control,
safety and handling as well as all that for the vehicle and parking was
amazing. We towed a horse trailer up Pikes Peak, towed two trailers at
a time and barrel raced it.
The
whole story.. |
DaimlerChrysler has begun production of the
Dodge Ram Diesel (2500/3500)HEV. The Ram HEV has start-stop
capability, which shuts the engine off at full stop and restarts when
the accelerator is pressed. A regenerative braking system helps recharge
the batteries. The savings on fuel is up to 15 percent over comparable
engines. More... |
 SEMA
2004, it's like looking at the Grand Canyon, hard to describe how big it
is. Trucks, SUV's, Cars, Motorcycles, Boats, & accessories galore. I try to
sort through the good stuff. Over 1000 pictures in 4 days, took some aspirin
& gallons of Starbucks as my youngest son & I race from building to building
to cover it all.
See more |
I covered the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in
June. We had a snow storm at noon, that snowed most of the press in on
top. Monster Garage will have the show with their truck and Jesse's
James exhibition run Monday July 26 on the Discovery Channel.
More... |
Bridgestone
Winter Driving School at Steamboat Springs CO. The skiers aren't the
only ones having fun! Surrounded by ski slopes, this international
school teaches you to drive well when the weather's bad. I attended
the trailer class and trailer driving course. 04 Dodge Durango with
a Hemi. Read more... |
|
GM's oil system challenges
standard 3,000-mile service recommendation
GM claims it can double or even triple the time between oil changes in
vehicles when compared to the common 3,000-mile recommendation simply by
being able to evaluate driving conditions using its patented Oil Life
System.
Read more |
 New,
ATS Diesel Performance TripleLok
torque converter for
Hemi Trucks with the 545 RFE 5-speed
automatic
transmission. These torque converters are hand built machined billet parts, not
stamped. You won't find the
welds that warp
in this cover. I was impressed at the workmanship involved at ATS
Diesel Performance in building a torque converter designed for
high performance and hauling the heavy loads we buy trucks for.
Read more....
| ATS
Diesel Performance, Arvada Colorado, acquired Advanced
Turbo Systems, Salt Lake City Utah. Both companies specializing
in diesel performance, now combine for a complete line of
performance aftermarket accessories for pickup trucks and SUV's.
Headquartered in Colorado......More.... |
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