5 Burly Pickup Trucks You Can Buy Now
?5 Burly Pickup Trucks You Can Buy Now
If you are in the market for a new vehicle, what sort of ride do you have in mind? A hybrid? A sedan? A roadster? Or something else?
One segment of the passenger vehicle spectrum that took a beating in 2008 is rebounding in 2009 thanks to lower gas prices and several new models offered. Yes, the large pickup truck segment is back and is certainly something you’ll want to consider if you are a contractor, sportsmen, enthusiast or family person who needs the room and portability of pickup.
These days, there are five models of trucks being sold in the North American market, six if you include the GMC Sierra, a twin to the Chevrolet Silverado. Let’s take a look at the Big Five, in order of annual sales:
Ford F-150 – For 32 consecutive years the Ford F-Series has been the best selling truck in America. Heck, for the past 27 years it has been the best selling passenger vehicle, period. And for good reason: the truck is well made, offers more than 40 different cab and trim configurations, and has excellent towing capacity as well as off road capabilities when the 4×4 model is selected. The Ford was redesigned for the 2009 model year.
Chevrolet Silverado – Too bad that General Motors simply doesn’t drop the Silverado’s twin, the GMC Sierra, and makes Silverados available at GMC dealers. If they did, the Silverado would outsell the Ford. But, they don’t so the Silverado must be content with being in second place. However, the truck isn’t necessarily inferior to the Ford as it offers good fuel economy, a nice selection of engines and transmissions, and is a real workhorse for no matter who drives it, Mom or contractor. The twins were redesigned for the 2008 model year.
Dodge Ram 1500 — Who said third place is a bad place to be? Years ago, before the Ram took on its big truck persona, the truck was barely a blip on the radar. Today, Dodge sells more than 300,000 Rams annually thanks to its unique rear coil springs, RamBox storage compartment, comfortable interior and very good handling. Nice engine choices are available including a 6.7L Cummins turbo diesel for heavy duty models. The Dodge was redesigned for the 2009 model year.
Toyota Tundra – Before its most recent update, the Tundra was a wannabe in the highly competitive big truck class. No more. Today, the beefy Tundra matches up against all comers in areas of towing, braking, off road use, hauling, etc. Sales aren’t what Toyota wants them to be, but the quality is there and with discounts, the price may just be right. Toyota redid the Tundra for the 2008 model year.
Nissan Titan – Available in either crew or quad cab, the Titan is a much more limited model than its competitors. Only one engine choice, a 5.6L V8 is available, and it has fewer trim configurations than what competitors offer. But, the interior is quite comfortable and the engine is a beast. Nissan introduced the Titan for the 2004 model year and is expected to base its next generation model on the Dodge Ram platform.
Perhaps the best option for consumers today is to shop around. Cut rate financing and cash back options make buying a pick up truck an attractive option, one that could provide just the right amount of utility for families, sportsmen and workers.
Diesel Pickup Truck – Advantages of Ownership and Why They Are So Popular
?Diesel Pickup Truck – Advantages of Ownership and Why They Are So Popular
Pickup trucks have been doing the rounds for a long time now. These trucks were not so popular, some time back. But in the recent time, these pickup trucks are used extensively for various purposes. In the pickup segment, the diesel pickup truck is the most popular.
Diesel pickup trucks are primarily used for carrying or towing away heavy loads. These trucks best fit the bill of medium duty segment in the commercial arena. There are several companies manufacturing these diesel trucks. Some of the best-known names in the business include Ford, Dodge, Chevrolet, Mitsubishi, Harley Davidson, Toyota, and Nissan.
Mileage is one of the biggest advantages of these diesel pickups. They offer great mpg both on the highway and the city. This is one of the prime reasons why many truck owners prefer diesel pickup trucks. And with the steep increase in fuel prices, this factor has gained even more importance.
The exteriors of these trucks are equally good looking. They are designed to give the vehicle an overall sporty look. They can also accommodate several accessories because of their design. Available in both small and standard sizes the user always ahs a choice.
The general perception of a truck is that of a rugged and sturdy vehicle. But despite being sturdy enough on the outside, these trucks offer gentle exteriors. Bearing the comfort factor in mind, they are designed in an absolutely passenger friendly manner. So even if you are traversing the most uneven terrains, you won’t have a hard time.
One of the most common reasons for people avoiding traveling in these is the noise they have to bear. But with these vehicles being updated with the latest technology, that is also no longer an issue. Contemporary diesel pickup trucks feature windows made of thick glass and double layer sealed doors to cut the noise levels. To further make the journey a silent one, an exhaust system with low restriction and an intake resonator is also used.
These trucks score high on not just the comfort but the power quotient too. A multiple valve diesel engine enable them to deliver maximum power which is as high as 300 horsepower and can go even above that. They offer you a consistent transmission quality at various altitudes, courtesy- an advanced throttle control system. Convenience personified is what you get with these diesel pickup trucks.
Other notable features of diesel pickup trucks include a standard four-wheel disk brake and an anti lock braking system (ABS). This provides an excellent braking system to the truck both on road and dirt tracks. A diesel pickup truck also has an electronic brake force distribution. This brake force distribution reduces braking distances, and also supplements the braking of the rear wheel.
Hybrid Trucks – A Greener Way to Get Goods to Consumers1
?Hybrid Trucks – A Greener Way to Get Goods to Consumers
The international concern about the environment is encouraging. Due to the desire for the preservation of the natural world, interest in particular, has been awakening in regards to pollution and saving the planet’s energy sources.
Important steps have been made in this direction. Scientists, engineers and vehicle producers have combined efforts to create new green vehicles, or at least, to modify the existing ones to reflect ecological needs and help humanity survive into the future. One notable outcome of their efforts is represented by the appearance of more and more hybrid vehicles. And this is where hybrid trucks come into play.
What’s the deal about hybrid trucks? Well, as you know, the transportation of goods relies a lot on big vehicles like trucks all over the world. There are three main cargo moving methods – boats, trains and trucks! And usually the last leg in the journey is completed by these trucks – big vehicles which are huge consumers of fuel. Commercial hybrid trucks are needed to conserve fuel and still get goods to market.
People are becoming more aware every day of the importance of preserving our environment and not using our energy resources wastefully. This is true even of owners of businesses in the field of transportation. Rising fuel costs and squeezed profit margins have changed their views and turned them to seeking hybrid trucks. Changing laws and state regulations are also encouraging the purchase of commercial hybrid trucks.
It seems, that hybrid trucks may represent one of the most popular hybrid items in the automotive industry. People are waiting eagerly for the latest achievements in the hybrid vehicle construction business.
And people are interested in all kinds of duel-fuel trucks which include hybrid electric, diesel and flex fuel pickups, hybrid commercial trucks, freight trucks, semis and many others.
The number of manufacturers involved in the design of hybrid trucks is increasing, and efforts are progressing in the direction of getting fully electric vehicles. Thus Chevy and GMC are bringing out versions of hybrid pickups.
Truck drivers will get satisfaction soon, when promises made by Toyota, Dodge, Freightliner, International Truck Engine, Eaton and Kenworth will materialize into the launching of new hybrid trucks. A nice bonus in the making of hybrid trucks is the considerable lowering of the noise level, in addition to the energy saving features. Hybrid trucks are quieter, cleaner and more reliable to use: and better for our future.
Diesel Performance
?Diesel Performance
Diesel Trucks are an ever growing part of the automotive segment. While they used to be just for farms, construction, or people who needed to haul large things; they have become rapidly become a statement. As with anything everyone wants to have their toy be the biggest baddest and fastest out there. Thus Diesel performance sprouted up every where like wild fire. Whether you have a Ford Powerstroke, Chevy Duramax, or a Dodge Cummins, there are performance products out on the market that can turn your truck into a fire breathing hot rod. The amount of power that you can get out of a diesel engine today is staggering with numebrs as high as 1000hp and 1600 ft. lbs of torque.
How is this done? How do you add power to diesels? Diesel engines throttle on fuel, which is unlike gasoline engines that throttle on air. With diesels, the richer the mixture (more fuel), the greater the power. A diesel’s power is ultimately only limited by exhaust gas temperatures and smoke. Excess EGT and smoke may be acceptable for short periods of time, but beyond that, they kill the engine. And that’s no smoke.
Most people believe all you need to do is plug in a diesel computer tuner and that’s it. Well, that’s not it. The informed solution is the correct combination of fuel flow and airflow.
As mentioned, the factories quickly recognized the need to increase airflow and density. Proper increases of additional boost, improved air ducting, and greater charge air-cooling are essential when adding additional fuel flow with a diesel computer tuner. In short, if you don’t deal with airflow in a serious manner–I’m talking more than with a larger exhaust and a low-restriction air filter element–then adding serious amounts of fuel without air is nothing more than putting your engine on kill–not to mention the fact that you’re leaving stunning amounts of horsepower by the side of the road in the form of black smoke and soot.
Turbodiesels are the performance option for trucks. I predict the same for cars in the near future. A new generation of performance turbodiesel engines is being engineered right now for trucks (and cars) in Detroit as you read this. Some will even be diesel-electric hybrids. All will have a tremendous untapped reserve that can be hot-rodded. Racing turbodiesel-powered vehicles is the final frontier. You can get out there and really have fun and be on the leading edge of technology, because the turbodiesel is the engine of the future. Here now.
Through this series of articles we will take a look at specific upgrades and motors and diesel performance solutions. The next article will be on diesel computer tuners, covering chips, handheld tuners and complete ecu’s also reviews of the major manufacturers Edge, Superchips, Diablo, Banks, Bullydog and so on.
5 Accessories For Diesel Performance
?5 Accessories For Diesel Performance
Diesel performance has come a long way. Let’s face it, trucks have not always performed as well as they do today. Diesel engines originally were only good enough to run construction equipment. As technology advanced so did the uses, until today when we see trucks and even some cars powered by diesel.
With the popularity of diesel engines, there are many aftermarket accessories available to increase the performance of your diesel engine. Below are 5 of the most popular accessories for increasing diesel performance:
Diesel Performance Fuel Systems
The fuel system is a popular diesel performance upgrade that is usually done on most diesel trucks. Unfortunately most diesel trucks fuel tanks are mounted at least two feet below and ten feet away from the fuel pump and this can cause problems with the fuel delivery to the engine, one of the biggest ones is retarded timing. If you upgrade your fuel system to a diesel performance fuel system some of the benefits you will experience are; increased horsepower, increased fuel economy, reduced engine and cab noise and a smoother idle and quick throttle response.
Performance Exhaust Systems
Another major modification that is very popular for diesel trucks is to add a larger diameter and less restrictive exhaust system. A larger diameter and less restrictive exhaust system relieves back pressure on the engine because now it will not have to exert the effort as much effort to push the exhaust away. The main benefit of adding diesel performance exhaust system is better fuel economy and a longer lasting engine. This diesel performance accessory is especially important if you have already added a performance module because the exhaust system will help to keep temperatures lower, resulting in the engine not having to work as hard.
Diesel Fuel Injectors
One of the most popular accessories is upgrading to performance diesel fuel injectors. The main benefit to upgrading your fuel injectors is of course more power and better fuel economy. Diesel performance fuel injectors come in a wide variety of makes and models and can add up to 150hp to your diesel engine.
Diesel Performance Modules
Diesel performance modules are another accessory upgrade that is most commonly completed on a diesel engine. One of the benefits of adding a diesel performance module is the module can provide up to a 35% increase in torque and an additional 150 horsepower. It can also increase fuel mileage by about 10%. Another added benefit of installing a diesel performance module is that you will not have to reprogram the truck’s main computer chip. You can just install the performance module in any areas where there is a gap between the computer and fuel injection.
Cold Air Intake Systems
Upgrading the cold air intake system is another way to get great diesel performance out of your diesel truck. The cold air intake is sealed away from hot engine air and it is used to bring down the temperature of the air going into a diesel engine. The main benefit of installing a cold air intake is an increase of the power of the internal-combustion engine and with the higher percentage of fuel being burned the better it is for fuel economy.
Diesel Generators – The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
?Diesel Generators – The Good, the Bad and the Ugly!
When an emergency strikes, your safety may depend on a reliable generator to kick in and save the day. Is a diesel generator the best type to use? There are many sizes and functions to a good diesel generator. Selecting the correct one for your needs will mean weighing up a few Pros and Cons.
Here are a few points to consider!
Good life expectancy A liquid cooled diesel generator will last longer than a gas powered generator. A correctly serviced generator should give you up to 20,000 hours of service compared to around 6000 hours for a gas powered unit.
Diesel Fuel is less expensive Prices will obviously vary depending on your location. Generally, the cost of diesel will be lower compared with other fuel types over the long haul. Most generator sets are designed for off-road use and are capable of running with the use of ‘construction grade’ diesel which is usually a more cost effective fuel.
Cold temperature tolerant Diesel fuel can easily operate in arctic level temperatures with the use of fuel additives.
Diesel fuel is safer Due to its low flash point it is difficult to set diesel fuel alight. The risk of fire or explosion is greatly reduced.
Marathon runner Diesel generators are designed and work best under load over long periods of time.
Readily available in emergencies Most, if not all emergency vehicles, trucks and equipment operate with diesel. This will mean a supply of fuel will more likely be available just when you need it most.
Efficient Consumption In the long run they will outpace an alternate fuel source generator such as gas.
On the down side you will need to take into account the following:
Noise In comparison to alternate powered generators a diesel generator will usually be noisier. Depending on the size and location of your preferred generator you may need to check and clarify local regulations before installing and using a large unit.
Pollution Diesel isn’t a 100% clean emission fuel. Exhaust extraction will need to be assessed appropriate to the type and location of the generator. Local regulations will also apply here.
Weight They are heavier than their counterpart gaseous operated generators.
Moisture averse Diesel fuel doesn’t like moisture. Running a generator with unclean fuel will cause maintenance challenges.
Selecting an appropriate generator is greatly influenced by its end purpose. Ultimately a diesel generator for long haul, emergency situations will be the best choice.
How Used Diesel Generators Enable Telecom Companies to Keep The Telephones Ringing
?How Used Diesel Generators Enable Telecom Companies to Keep The Telephones Ringing
The very nature of telecommunications ensures that its systems and reliability will never be easy to provide. Anyone working within the telecom industry understands that one of their greatest challenges will be to keep the cell tower sites powered and ready for service.
In some cases, the problem is getting power to the work site in order to actually build and power the cell tower. Getting work crews and equipment to the building site is generally a tough process, due mostly to the remoteness of cell phone tower locations. In some cases, the cell tower sites will be in the mountains or deep woods.
With the very remoteness of most building sites, having the electric companies string new power lines to the locations might be a process that will take weeks or months. But, progress cannot wait on the power company to get their new lines strung to the work site. Instead, the cell phone tower construction crews must make assurances that they will have the full amount of electric power they need, when they need it. This is the very reason why the construction industry relies so heavily on diesel power generator sets (or gensets) at their work sites.
As more cell towers are built, more consumers come to rely upon those new towers. This is the power of progress as we move forward. When the towers were originally erected, maybe only a few hundred people benefited from those towers coming online. But down the road one year, two years or five years, thousands or tens or thousands of consumers will notice when those towers break down.
This is why telecom providers have found it necessary to foresee worst-case scenarios and prepare contingency plans to address those scenarios. Natural disasters are the most common reason why electric utility services break down, so they are the most frequent scenarios for contingency plans.
* Oklahoma saw this kind of disaster on May 3rd, 1999, when a F5 tornado swept through Central Oklahoma and into the Oklahoma City metropolitan area.
* At various times, utility and telecommunication companies in Canada and most of the United States, including those in the Deep South, have had to confront major system repairs in the aftermath of an ice storm. Under the weight of the frozen sleet on power lines, most power poles simple collapsed under the enormous weight of the ice.
* In 2005, Hurricane Katrina ravaged Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, bringing devastation to homes, businesses and the entire infrastructure in the region. Although much of the infrastructure in the Gulf States has been returned to pre-Katrina status, the business and residential areas are still widely in a state of perpetual flux.
In all of these natural disasters, the infrastructure took a heaving pounding. Electric, natural gas, and cable companies suffered heavy losses. The telecommunications industry also suffered heavy losses with the loss of power to nearly the entire infrastructure, and they also lost a few towers. Despite the loss of many cell towers to these disasters, the greatest loss to telecommunication revenues was the loss of electrical power to the cell phone towers.
In many instances, the cell towers could have continued delivering essential communications support to rescue crews, had telecoms employed more power generators at their cell tower sites.
Diesel power generators tend to be used most often in remote locations or mobile gensets. Natural gas gensets are better employed at factories and other stationary buildings within the current natural gas infrastructure.
Facing the challenge of keeping essential power flowing does not need to be a daunting task. 2000 kW diesel generators are able to provide all of the power needed in most situations. Because diesel engine gensets are long lasting and reliable, the obvious choice for many experts in the telecom industry is to locate and invest in used diesel generators, to provide the backup power supplies they need for their cell phone towers.
Some who are reading this are likely to wonder why they should purchase a used diesel generator when they could rent or lease one that is new. Others will recognize the following benefits immediately:
1. Gensets built with a diesel engine are made to last. The engines run at a low RPM level, they are water-cooled and, as a result, they run tens of thousands of hours before requiring a significant amount of maintenance or repair work. When some companies inevitably go under, low-hour diesel generators become available at significantly reduced prices. By buying low-hour diesel generators, most purchases are able to gain all of the benefits of having a new genset, but at a lower price.
2. Purchasing a used diesel generator is often more cost-effective than renting a new generator for a set amount of time. The benefit here is used low-hour generators are just as efficient as their new counterparts, but are less expensive and the savings add up quickly.
3. Because large gensets, such as 2000 kW diesel generators are mounted on a trailer, they are tow ready and you can put them where you need them, when you need them. When one owns a used diesel generator, they will not have to ask permission or re-negotiate a contract with the supplier if they need to move the electric generator to a different work site.
When buying cars and trucks, it frequently makes more sense to invest in brand-new vehicles, but when buying a diesel power generator, used is frequently the better choice. Low-hour diesel generators are much cheaper than new units; they permit their owners more flexibility in their use – flexibility that they cannot rely on while leasing equipment; and used diesel generator sets will be as reliable as any of the new genset units.
The best advantage of buying diesel power generators to supply the energy needs of a cell phone tower is that the telecom managers can put aside any concerns they may have about keeping power to their cell towers, enabling the telecom managers to focus their time and attention on those matters that will help them to improve their services and increase their profits.
Diesel Fuel Prices Getting To You Or Bad Fleet Fuel Auditing
?Diesel Fuel Prices Getting To You Or Bad Fleet Fuel Auditing
Fleet management it is essential to have auditing of fueling purchases.
Your company has worked hard to get the right fleet fuel program in place. You have picked the right fleet credit card provider, and you may have negotiated and set up some fueling discounts with your fleet card provider, mobile fueling company or truck stop provider. However, the fleet management task has only just begun to be able to maximize on lower diesel fuel prices.
Companies often neglect to monitor their fleet management programs following the original set-up. Some companies do review fleet card transactions or exception reports. However, do they review all reports, check for duplicate transactions, or confirm discounts are applied properly? Many companies cannot perform this level of scrutiny because they lack the time or tools to check. How should companies audit diesel and gas invoices?
Anyone that is reading this article who is in the fleet management solutions department clearly knows that your company:
� Won’t pay for fueling data because it appears expensive. � You have other jobs so nobody is 100% dedicated to your fuel management system� You’re in a job with fueling that you don’t have a strong background or no background� The field operations people have less time or experience then you do about diesel fuel prices� No time, no communication, poor data and you have a bad situation in fueling department
Audits Require Time & Data
Staff time and access to relevant fueling data are the first elements in a successful purchase & auditing fuel management system for your company.
A few tips to facilitate this process include:
* Subscribe to a fuel price service.
* Have a “”sense”" of the fueling market.
* Hire an outside service to review your fuel management program.
Diesel price data is available through Oil Price Information Service (OPIS), Data Transmission Service (DTN), or other diesel fuel prices published daily at a local level. Broader-range indices, such as the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX), Department of Energy (DOE), and the Automobile Club, provide national diesel pricing.
While these national services offer a big picture view of diesel prices, they can also obscure the various price differentials distinguishing one area from another. Local indices provide more accurate fueling price data.
These services are not cheap to purchase, but they are essential to a successful fuel management program.
Detecting Duplicates
Duplicate transactions are another fuel management program invoicing issue to track. These errors occur more frequently than commonly realized. When hundreds of thousands of fueling transactions are produced each day, mistakes happen. If invoices are not monitored carefully, a fleet manager can miss duplicate transactions, and there’s a good chance the fleet fuel card provider won’t catch the mistakes as well or the fuel card company made the mistake. With fueling transactions being processed in ‘real time”", batched, file delays and other ways that would only make you scared, you bet there are mistakes all of the time.
Guidelines in monitoring fuel reports include:
* Develop a good “”feel”" for the monthly volume and transaction count.
* If purchased volume or transactions are higher than normal, dig deeper into reports.
* Randomly sample 5 percent of monthly fleet invoices and closely review the selected transactions.
Again, it is all about time, resources, experience we do fuel analysis and fuel audits on all fueling transactions.
Implement Checks & Balances
Fuel is among fleet’s top five expenses, and hundreds to tens of thousands of transactions happen each month as part of a fuel program. Successful programs require a good checks-and-balances system. One of the best checks is performing monthly fleet fuel audits of the fleet management operation.
A fleet might have trucks fueling off-road equipment or reefer units, putting all that volume on the same transaction. One fleet fuel card for each truck, equipment, reefer, small tank, etc, is recommended to accurately capture every drop of fuel and where it went. A few fuel card providers will allow for another transaction to be attached to the on road diesel fuel.
Accurate records of where the fuel is used are critical. If on-road fuel is used in an off-road application, as much as 50 cents per gallon or more in extra, unnecessary taxes could be spent. In other words, fuel tax should be paid when fuel is purchased, but accurate record keeping allows fleets to file for a tax refund with the federal and state government. Those 50 cents per gallon can add up quickly. You don’t want to give up that kind of money anymore than you don’t want to buy diesel fuel additives.
Another critical benefit of accurate record keeping is the ability to spot incidents of fuel theft. Most companies would downplay the possibility employees would steal from them. However, the national rate for fuel theft is 1.5 percent of a company’s fuel budget on overall fuel purchases. That rate rises to more than 3 percent when dealing with a fleet of gasoline-powered vehicles. The more controls in place, the greater the control over one of fleet’s top expenses.
Giving Money Away
An old expression holds that what isn’t inspected is not respected. By neglecting to perform daily fuel management audits on fleet fuel purchases, companies could be literally giving money away. It would not be surprising for someone like myself to see thousands of dollars a day go away from a company in fuel savings because it has been stolen. Companies think they have good diesel fuel prices or their fuel cards are protecting them. Don’t be so na�ve, it could be costing your fuel management department or I should say company a lot of money.
Most often, fuel invoice errors are not the result of unethical business practices or nefarious individual actions. Generally, errors are the result of an incorrect account set-up or account change. If invoice numbers are not audited, they look like what they are – simple numbers. However, when fleet managers “”peel back”" the first “”layer”" and take a deeper look, comparing the numbers to a benchmark, the figures become numbers with a purpose.
4×4 Trucks – Look Beyond the Gloss Before You Buy
?4×4 Trucks – Look Beyond the Gloss Before You Buy
4×4 trucks for sale are often presented to potential buyers with a fine sheen. Learn to look past that sheen with these clever tips for inspecting used 4×4 trucks.
When you analyze 4×4 trucks for sale, make sure you to take a good long look at how hard the previous owner pushed that vehicle. This can be subtle sometimes, especially if you are looking at a truck at an auto dealer. Dealerships often sanitize the truck with things like a nice cleaning on the interior and pressure cleaning of the engine.
Brake Pedal Wear
So here are some things you can look for regardless of how well the dealer tries to hide them. Take a close look at the used diesel truck’s brake pedal. How worn is it? In particular, how worn is it on the right edge of the pedal? Wear there indicates frequent stop and go driving, which is just another way to excessively age a truck and burn it out.
4×4 Truck Tires
Another thing to look at is the tires. They may seem superficial, but in fact tires tell a lot about the truck’s past and recent history. For example, if you are looking at a used truck and it has brand new tires, you should be very suspicious. Tires for a diesel truck are expensive and not at all a wise investment for a seller. If they put new tires on the truck they are probably hiding something.
What is the size of the tires? People often like to put extra big tires on their trucks. What they often do not realize is that this puts extra stress on the transmission. Transmissions are tuned for a certain size and weight of tire at the factory. Go beyond that size and weight and you need to change the transmission, which is a costly change so most owners don’t do it.
So if the truck you’re looking at has over-sized tires but the owner doesn’t have any record indicating transmission work, then you are probably looking at truck in need of expensive transmission work. You are also looking at truck that has been owned and maintained by someone who either does not know what he is doing or is too irresponsible to do it right.
Examine the Exhaust System
One last and almost full-proof way to check how hard the truck has been driven is to get underneath and check the bolts on the exhaust system out from the engine. If any bolts are broken or missing, then this truck engine has been driven hard and hot. A sign of wear here can mean heavily stressed valves and piston rings, even if you can’t see or hear signs of it yet. Stay clear of such a truck. There are better ones out there.
I hope this helps you better understand how to look past the superficial gloss of how that dealer tries to present his 4×4 trucks for sale. There are a lot of trucks for sale out there, so you don’t need to invest your time or money on one that has been driven and burned this hard.
Diesel Engines – Tap the Advantage
?Diesel Engines – Tap the Advantage!
If you own a diesel powered vehicle, you probably appreciate the inherent qualities of this type of engine. More torque, better fuel economy, easier maintenance are some of the attributes of owning a diesel powered vehicle. Still, some motorists complain about the engine’s weak power, particularly when accelerating from a full stop. What you may not know is that a diesel engine can be tweaked to produce more power without harming fuel economy. Let’s take a look at diesel engines and what you can do to squeeze out more power.
Thanks to the work of one man, Rudolf Diesel, we have a choice when it comes to driving. Besides hybrid or rotary engines, the chief way most vehicles run is via a gasoline powered internal combustion engine. However, with Diesel’s 1892 patent of the engine that bears his name, diesel power has played a significant role in powering buses and trucks across North America. Some passenger vehicles, particularly pick up trucks, are also diesel powered giving motorists an option to gasoline.
Diesel engines have the following advantages over their gasoline counterparts:
Diesels use air compression to create combustion versus the air/fuel mixture required by gasoline powered cars. This attribute means that diesel engines do not require spark plugs and thus do not have to be tuned up.
Diesel fuel has a higher fuel density than gasoline resulting in fuel economy increases of 20-30% over comparable gasoline powered models.
Diesel engines are cheaper to maintain as they have less parts vs. a gasoline engine. The lifespan of a diesel engine is also significantly longer.
If it is torque you need, particularly for pulling a boat, camper, or equipment, than a diesel engine has the advantage. A diesel engine is definitely slower especially when starting from a dead stop, but when climbing hills or going over bridges, your diesel powered vehicle can definitely handle the challenge.
So, why aren’t more vehicles built in North America diesel powered? A few reasons including:
Stricter emissions control standards. Diesel engines pollute more, so not many manufacturers have improved upon the technology to produce an engine that is environmentally friendly. However, several upcoming engines from VW and others may change all of that.
Not enough power. Yes, a common complaint, even with turbo diesels, is that the engines are not powerful enough. North American drivers are accustomed to getting on the highway with a minimum amount of effort. With a diesel engine, it can take as much as twice as long to get up to full speed.
Fortunately, several aftermarket product developers are helping motorists squeeze out more power from their diesel engines. Performance programmers, made for specific diesel engines, are helping motorists see a nice spike in horsepower as well as increases in torque. The beauty of some of these aftermarket parts is that they don’t harm fuel economy. In fact, some claim to help improve it.
Yes, the number of diesel powered passenger vehicles presently on North American highways is presently very small; however with newer, cleaner and stronger engines on the way, you may soon find yourself opting for a diesel powered vehicle too.
Diesel Chips – How Much Money Can They Save You
?Diesel Chips – How Much Money Can They Save You?
Diesel Chips have been around for a long time. Mostly to add power to a diesel truck. Men would go out and get their diesel trucks “”chipped”" in order to get more power or speed out of a diesel engines. But lets talk about why a diesel chip can actually save you money. A diesel chip can save you money in three areas RPM’s, Fuel Injection, and Shift points.
RPM’s are the Revolutions Per Minute in an engine. The more revolutions, the more work you engine is doing and the more gas it burns. A diesel chip can be programed to lower the top speed or acceleration for a diesel truck. By changing the acceleration and top speed then your every day RPM height will drop. This will give you better fuel economy.
A diesel chip can also save you money by changing the amount of fuel that is being injected with every pump of a piston. If you decrease the amount of fuel that that you engine uses with every explosion ten you in will get better gas economy. And if you decided that you would like to switch back to a more powerful setting at any time a chip can be easy configured to return to its original setting. So you can save money when you want to and spend it when you want to.
Last, a diesel chip can be programmed to change the shifting point of an engine. This will allow for shifting at the best point for fuel economy instead of for power. So if you have a diesel truck and you want to save a little bit of money, invest in a diesel chip so you can save money when you don’t need all the power of a diesel truck. Don’t worry you can turn the power back on at any time, just in case you do need all that power to pull something.
If can add even 5 miles per gallon to your fuel economy on your diesel truck then you can save 25×5 miles per gas tank you use. That’s 125 miles that you drove extra on each tank of gas. Do the math, a diesel chip can be a good investment and not just a toy for a diesel truck.
4X4 Lifted Diesel Trucks- Successful Buying Negotiation Tips
?4X4 Lifted Diesel Trucks: Successful Buying Negotiation Tips
For new 4×4 lifted diesel trucks, a dealership would be the first point of contact. Certain models are typically available with body spacer type lift kits with lifts from one to four inches. Purchasing this type of 4×4 truck with a lift already installed is a quick way to get the vehicle you are seeking.
Research special incentives and other offers from the manufacturer before visiting the dealership. You want to know what your options are before talking to the sales person. The sales person will be aware of these offers as well, but knowing them in advance can help give you an advantage during price discussions.
Another option is to find 4×4 lifted trucks for sale by owner. These may have diesel powered engines, or they might use gasoline or other fuel. Diesel engines are typically preferred for towing or other heavy duty applications because they produce more power at lower engine speed than comparable gasoline engines.
When looking at a diesel trucks for sale, it is important to test drive the vehicle. Pay attention to any poor handling or odd sounds, as these can indicate underlying problems with the vehicle. Then tell your mechanic about anything you noticed. The mechanic should inspect the vehicle carefully to look for any issues.
The test drive and inspection will typically reveal most major existing problems with the used truck. Then these items can make for good discussion with the seller during negotiation on the price. Sometimes the seller is not aware of the existing problems with the vehicle.
Also make note of any maintenance records. If maintenance records are not available, you can only assume that major maintenance was not performed. Diesel engines can introduce fair amounts of soot into the engine oil, so it is important that the engine oil was changed regularly with a quality heavy duty engine oil. The engine oil needs to meet the manufacturer’s specifications, especially on late model diesel trucks that have exhaust particulate filters. And this requirement is even more important if the engine is turbocharged.
Also watch for modifications that might have been made to the diesel truck. For example, propane injection and performance tuners made by companies such as Bully Dog are popular with diesel enthusiasts. If the truck has an automatic transmission, these modifications can cause it to slip.
The clutch packs in the transmission can withstand only so much torque before they slip, and diesel engines produce relatively high amounts of torque at low speeds already. The addition of performance tuners can push the torque above what the automatic transmission can handle.
Diesel – The New Muscle Car2
?Diesel – The New Muscle Car
The muscle car era hit Americans roughly around 1964. It was a race between Detroit automakers to produce the meanest, fastest, most powerful cars on the street. Cars were rated by the rumble coming from under the hood, not just how they looked on the outside. The young generation of drivers wanted a car that had plenty of horsepower, could lay down 2 strips of rubber a mile long, and was able to barrel down the 1/4 mile faster than anyone else. But that period in time slowly faded out and by the mid-70′s was over with.
Have Americans entered a new muscle car age? No…but they have been introduced to a muscle truck. The light duty diesel market has produced some very powerful machines in recent years and the race is on to produce the most powerful diesel powered truck. The big 3 are fighting (not literally) for the top spot, and in such a poor economy you most definitely need popularity. Though it is debatable, I believe the diesel market to have received its biggest boost in popularity somewhere around 2003. It was 2003 that the 6.0 liter Power Stroke diesel was introduced into Ford pickups, and the jack rabbit acceleration of these trucks seemed to have started the torque wars between automakers. Imagine a 6,000 pound vehicle capable of out-performing (in every aspect) any gas powered truck on the street (with the exception of a few high-end sports trucks being offered). Not to mention, there are not many cars coming off the lot these days that could come anywhere near matching the performance of these vehicles.
What is truly fascinating about the new diesel trucks is their power potential. With fairly simple upgrades, these trucks can put out 500+ rear wheel horsepower without any internal modifications. How many gasoline engines can do that? And for the diesel enthusiast, a 700-1000 HP daily driver is no longer just a dream; its a reality! The parts and information necessary to turn your heavy hauler into a street machine have long been available. The potential of these engines has increased the popularity of diesel motor sports, including drag racing and sled pulling.
Sadly, we may have seen the end of our second “”muscle car”" era. The government is cracking down on diesel emissions and this has eliminated much of the power potential through the use of aftermarket parts. However, the diesel market is far from dead, and with every major automaker moving towards diesel powered vehicles, who knows where this could lead…round 3? With the big 3 increasing horsepower ratings to 350 HP recently, the diesel truck market is still booming despite being hurt by new emissions requirements. At this rate, it will not be long before Ford, Chevy, and Dodge are selling 500 horsepower diesel powered trucks…and possibly cars?
Helpful Ideas From a Ford Diesel Truck Owner1
?Helpful Ideas From a Ford Diesel Truck Owner
I have a 94 Ford Diesel truck and in the last 14 years, I have added a coupe and a sedan to the family line up of cars. Previously, I had not thought twice about keeping the old truck around, but lately the cost of fuel has me thinking about what to do with my truck. I thought about selling it, but saw the price new and old trucks are garnering and decided to look elsewhere for some ways to get more out of my old truck.
1. Offer in town moving services: Craigslist and other online classified services are chopped full of people selling furniture, mechanical equipment and other heavy items that are not easy to transport. What’s missing on CL is an abundance of people offering moving services to get items from point A to point B. This is particularly true in major cities where there is good transit and many people don’t have cars like NYC and San Francisco. So take a moment post an ad, wake up a few hours early next weekend and make some money and help a few people out.
2. Rent it out: Every once and again people need a truck to move things and you might not have the time to help, but what you do have is a hearty ford diesel truck (any truck will do, but you see where my loyalty lies) and for a few extra dollars a month, you can change your insurance coverage to include business use. As most car/truck rental locations will charge $100+ per day and another arm and a leg for insurance, now is your chance to undercut them and make some money.
3. Short distance car hauls: So this one might not be for everyone, but if you like to do some traveling and can spare an extra day of vacation every month, why not take a few road trips next year. With major auto shipping carriers charging upwards of $500 for short hauls from Vegas to Phoenix, Phoenix to Los Angeles etc. now is time to jump in and tow someone’s car. A simple hitch and a few extra dollars on insurance and you are set.
These are just a few basic ideas to think about making money using your truck on the weekends. For the most part, there might be some cash outlays involved in getting some of these ideas rolling, but if your truck is paid off and in good working condition, you can make some pretty easy money without sacrificing much more than your free time. If you have suggestions or other ideas on how to get the most out of your truck, please drop me a line.
