Archive for the ‘Ford pickup trucks’ Category
Monday, December 1st, 2008 |
Winter is almost coming and your Ford pickup truck is bound to go through some serious punishment. While Ford pickup trucks like the F-150 or Ranger are built like beasts, engineered to have the power and durability for heavy duty driving. At the end of the day however, Ford pickups are still susceptible to wear and tear, which can be brought about by the harshness of the winter season. As such, winter-proofing vehicles has become a common practice and is always a practical choice, as it saves you from spending a lot more for repairs courtesy of the extreme conditions your vehicle experiences. Below are some tips to consider when winter-proofing your precious Ford trucks.
The main thing that one should always worry about is rust. Winter roads are teeming with salt and dirt that could accelerate rusting on various parts of your pickup like the door jams. The debris can also clog vital exhaust and drainage systems that allow your pickup truck to function properly, or worse, prematurely rust the interior of your car. Regularly washing your car will take care of the exterior, especially underneath the body. Checking your cowl cover would also be a good idea, since you wouldn’t want any of that nasty gunk to get into your cowl (eventually leading to vital parts under the hood) and possibly damage some sensitive parts like wirings, pedals or worse, the engine itself.. Ford pickup cowl covers are easily available anywhere and are usually packaged with easy-to-follow instructions for installation, this would also be the perfect time to replace wiper blades, as the two go hand in hand.
Likewise, special attention must be given to the engine. Although it is hard to believe, engines do overheat during winter time. Coolant leaks or buying coolant that is not winter-tested (i.e. Won’t freeze when the temperature drops below 35 degrees) can really be a pain. An oil change should also be in order. Purchasing lower viscosity oil is the ideal solution, since the oil will flow easier even under extremely cold temperatures. If budget permits, investing on Ford pickup oil filter relocation kits could help in faster checking of the engine due to the fact that the oil filter can be place in an area where it will be less of an obstruction. Some kits provide more oil capacity, as well as better oil filtration once installed.
Fuel consumption should be closely monitored, always have the tank filled by half at the very least to keep the gasoline from freezing. This also prevents the fuel line from freezing. It is actually advisable to have the tank always relatively full. Other fluids to check is the windshield wiper fluid, particularly one that is antifreeze. Making sure there is enough antifreeze wiper fluid can help with the visibility problem just in case of snow fall or snow falling off taller objects like trees and the like.
Finally, checking the tires is a must for safety. Traction is always a problem on icy and snow-filled roads. Changing the tires or purchasing tire chains can be a life-saver. Bringing an extra set is never a waste of money.
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Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 |
New pickup truck models recently introduced such as the new Ford Ranger one of the popular version of ford 4×4 pickup truck have a hard act to follow when compared to both the latest Nissan Navara and the Mitsubishi L200 4×4 vehicles. With equipment and refinement reaching levels previously unheard of, and the realisation by all manufacturers that there was a real need for some serious horsepower in order to tow the horsebox or the speedboat, the latest offerings from all the major players are of a very high standard.
The new Ford Ranger Double Cab 4X4 is bigger, more powerful, performs better, drives better, and is all around a much better vehicle than its predecessor. Refinement is not an issue, with much reduced noise, vibration and harshness levels and good road manners, the new Ranger has similar levels of equipment to the competition, and is a good alternative to the Japanese offerings.
Ford Ranger Features
Driver\’s Airbag, Passenger Airbag, Seat Belt Grabbers, Side Impact Bars, Remote Central Locking, Immobiliser, Electric Windows, Electric Mirrors, Air Conditioning, ABS, Black Leather Trim, Front Fogs, Lidded Glovebox, 6 Disc Autochanger / MP3 Audio System, Wiper Speeds 2 + intermittent, Metallic Paint, Alloy Wheels, Rear Park Assist.
Ford Ranger Technical
Engine: 4cyl / 2499cc, Engine Type Common-Rail Turbo Diesel, Maximum Power 143ps @ 3500 rpm, Maximum Torque 243 Lb/ft @ 1800 rpm, Engine/Drive Front Engined Four Wheel Drive, Gearbox 5 Speed Auto, Power Steering, Warranty 36 Months / 60,000 Miles / 6 Yr Anti-Perforation, Servicing 12,500 Miles.
Ford Ranger Dimensions
Overall Length (mm) 5000, Overall Width (mm) 1800, Overall Height (mm) 1800, Loading Height (mm) 838, Load Length (mm) 1530, Load Width (mm) 1456, Gross Payload (Kg) 1175, Towing Limit (Kg) 3000, Tank (Litres/Gallons) 75 / 16.4.
Ford Ranger Prices
£299.00 + VAT per month, £69.00 + VAT per week.
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Tuesday, October 14th, 2008 |
Add Custom Bass to your Ford F-150 or Super Duty Pickup Truck:-
Lets face it, your ford F-150 comes with a stock CD player receiver but even their premium sound system leaves a bit to be desired. It doesn’t matter if you drive a regular cab, super cab extended model or the crew cab, your truck has wasted space that is just ‘crying out’ to be used.
Custom Bass Sound:-
Sorry, but any stock radio might provide the basic AM/FM plus a CD Player but there is little to be said about the sound quality. Even the so called “premium” sound systems lack real sound quality. The fastest and easiest way to add quality sound to any Ford Pickup Truck is to add BASS or a subwoofer to your system. Of course when you start considering the size of the 8″, 10″ or 12″ subwoofer and the necessary enclosure, plus an amplifier to power that speaker, you start really getting concerned about that space.
Ford F-150, F-250 and Super Duty Truck owners:-
This is very common problem faced by Ford F-150, F-250 and Pickup Truck owners. They want Great Sound but estroying the interior of your new truck is out of the question. Plus no one wants a huge box sitting on their back seat. After all, you purchased the truck to enable use of the back seat. Well, there are a few ways to handle this, all depending on your budget and your specific model Ford pickup. Custom Bass Subwoofer Enclosures
These new custom subwoofer boxes are available in a variety of colors to match the interior of your particular vehicle and so you don’t have to compromise its cosmetic integrity. This is especially nice for those who lease their vehicles and want to enjoy additional bass without the added hassle of messy installations. The material used in these custom enclosures is a high density polyethylene resin, which is resilient enough to transform into various shapes, yet rigid enough to avoid flexing. It also has enough density to dampen any resonance. Some models even come with amplifiers installed within the unit. Many owners consider the amplified versions to be the best deal. After all, you have everything hidden within the enclosure and installation is fast and easy.
Use that Wasted Space in your Ford Truck:-
So you solve several problems at once. You keep your amp and subwoofer out of sight of nosey people since the installed enclosure looks like it is part of the original vehicle. These new style enclosures look like OEM equipment. They provide a completely professional appearance for your Ford Truck. Plus you manage to use all that wasted dead space.
MTX and Q Logic are probably the two best known manufacturers of these products. Of course various model years have different applications. You’ll find them available for Ford F-150 regular cab, extended super cabs and crew cab pickup trucks. They are also available for Ford F-250 and F-350 Superduty models.
Increase the Resale Value of your Ford Truck:-
These custom enclosures will definitely increase the trade in or resale value of your Ford F-150 or Super Duty Pickup Truck. So the owner wins all around. Great sound while he owns the vehicle and a fast resale when he is ready to move on. Of course the other benefit is if your Ford truck is leased, you simply remove the custom box and the truck is in perfect condition for return to the dealer. So if you desire high quality sound in your new Ford Truck, check out the new custom subwoofer enclosures for the best possible solution.
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Monday, September 1st, 2008 |
The Ford Explorer Sport Trac is a four-door, five-passenger, midsize pickup truck. It was unique when it first appeared in 2000, but today it must compete with midsize four-door pickups from every major player. Essentially a Ford Explorer with a pickup bed, the Sport Trac offers plenty of room inside for people and out back for cargo. It comes standard with a 4.0-liter V6 that makes 210 horsepower, and a 292-hp V8 is optional. Both engines are available with rear- or four-wheel drive. With the V8, the Sport Trac offers power near the top of the class. The power is delivered smoothly, but isn’t as responsive in passing maneuvers as some might wish. The Sport Trac’s high ride height means the ride quality gets a bit busy over potholed or broken pavement, but otherwise, the ride is smooth, thanks in part to an independent rear suspension that also aids handling. Directional stability is good, steering response is quick, and body lean is well controlled for a heavy vehicle.
Inside, the Sport Trac has easy-to-read instruments and nice materials. Unfortunately, the door pulls are strangely positioned, making them hard to operate for some. Room, on the other hand, is plentiful front and rear. The bed offers decent room and some unique storage bins, but those who haul a lot of cargo regularly will want a more traditional pickup. After benefiting from a redesign for 2007, the 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac adds more standard features and additional optional equipment. The most notable new feature, available on late-2008 models, is Ford’s Sync communications and entertainment system. New standard features include fog lights, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a power rear window, a drop-in storage bin, and side curtain airbags. The optional navigation system offers voice activation for 2008.
This limited edition 4×4 pickup truck comes standard with automatic headlights, six-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, leather-wrapped shift knob, keyless entry keypad, auto-dimming rearview mirror. Sundry exterior trim pieces that are painted black on the XLT change to body color or silver on the Limited. The 2008 Sport Trac is considerably longer than the Explorer. Wheelbase and overall length are both almost 17 inches longer. Thus, while the Explorer is the more people-oriented of the two, the Sport Trac’s longer wheelbase promises a less choppy, more controlled ride. Curious. The Dodge Dakota Quad Cab is the only other midsize pickup to exceed the Sport Trac in wheelbase and overall length, and by less than an inch in wheelbase. Of the remaining four-door, short-bed, midsize pickups, the Chevrolet Colorado, the Honda Ridgeline, the Nissan Frontier and the Toyota Tacoma measure between three and four inches shorter overall.
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Wednesday, August 27th, 2008 |
In the world of niche performance 4×4 pickup trucks, the new rooster crowing the loudest is the Dodge Ram SRT-10 with its claim of fastest production pickup. There was a time when that designation belonged to the Ford F-150 Lightning, and you can bet the boys in Dearborn tasted the bitter pill of defeat what that heralded title was lost. Apparently, Ford engineers don’t like the view from second place, so much so that they’ve created the 2007 Saleen Sport Truck S331, an F-150-based SuperCab pickup that promises to give the Dodge Ram SRT-10 a serious run for its money.
With about 5,000 vehicles built in 2005, including three versions of the Mustang, the GT supercar, and the stellar S7, the Ford engineers have proven they know how to build fast cars. The Sport Truck S331 is no exception, thanks to the availability of two engines: a 24-valve V8 cranking out 325 horsepower and 400 lb.-ft. of torque, and another V8 with twin superchargers pushing 450 horsepower and 500 lb.-ft. of twist. Ford talks about fuel mileage, but you can bet that won’t be its best selling point.
Anyone who’s familiar with Saleen vehicles knows they can expect more than just oodles of power. In the case of the 2007 Ford Saleen Sport Truck S331, those extras include reworked front and rear fascias with honeycomb inserts, a new horizontal-slat grille, a supersized front air dam, and an integrated rear bumper with a diffuser. The hood is new, with a sculpted vent, the flanks are dressed with lower skirts, and gracing the wheel wells are 23-inch alloys, which Saleen suggests are the largest standard wheels on a production truck. Inside the five-passenger cabin are unique gauges, race pedals, and a supercharger gauge cluster is mounted atop the center dash on the 450-horsepower models. The Saleen name is embroidered on the seats and printed on the gauges, while the floor mats feature the S331 designation.
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Tuesday, August 26th, 2008 |
Super Duty models are the hard-hauling brutes in full-size Ford’s pickup trucks line. The F-250 is the three-quarter-ton version, while the Ford F-350 is rated at one ton. For 2007, changes consist mainly of new colors and options for SuperCab and Crew Cab models. Freshened styling on the Ford F-250 Super Duty adopted elements of Ford’s Mighty F-350 Tonka concept truck for 2005. A new 6.8-liter V-10, with three valves per cylinder, produced 52 horsepower more than its predecessor. The Power Stroke diesel engine gained 10 pounds-feet of torque for a total of 570 pounds-feet, and a new three-valve version of the 5.4-liter V-8 delivered an additional 40 hp. Ford said the new TowCommand System, with its electric trailer-brake controller, was an industry first.
The F-250 Super Duty pickup comes in XL, XLT and Lariat trim levels. For 2006, equipment that was previously included just in the F-250 Lariat pickup Luxury Package is standard in all Lariat models. An Amarillo Package for Lariat Crew Cab models features Blazing Yellow paint, 18-inch forged aluminum wheels, black leather seating surfaces and other extras. A Chrome Package is available for XLT and Lariat SuperCab and Crew Cab trucks. Forged polished-aluminum 20-inch wheels are available on SRW Crew Cab 4×4 Lariat, King Ranch and Amarillo editions. The King Ranch version of the Lariat Crew Cab is offered in two new two-tone color treatments.
Styling differences between Ford’s light-duty F-150 and the Super Duty models are most evident up front, where a massive grille dominates the Super Duty’s nose. Super Duty pickups come in three forms: regular cab; four-door SuperCab with two conventional front doors and two smaller, rear-opening back doors; and four-door Crew Cab with four conventional front-hinged doors. Wheelbases range from 137 inches on regular cab models to 172.4 inches on the long-bed Crew Cab. Regular cab pickups have an 8-foot cargo bed and measure 226.4 inches long overall, while SuperCab models are equipped with either a 6.75- or 8-foot bed and have an overall length of 231.2 or 247.4 inches. Either bed can be installed on the 4×4 pickup truck, which measures 245.6 or 261.8 inches long.
Front tow hooks are standard. A chrome front bumper and bright grille go on XLT models, while the Lariat adds cab steps, fog lamps and a sliding rear window. Two appearance packages are available for 2007, a Highline Package for SuperCab models and a Outlaw Package for Crew Cab models. The Highline features extensive use of chrome on the grille, tow hooks, step bars and other trim bits, while the Outlaw is a primarily black theme that’s carried over into the interior. Regular cab models seat either two or three occupants. A folding three-place rear bench seat goes into SuperCab and Crew Cab models. Air conditioning, power windows and locks, cruise control, a tilt steering wheel and a CD player are standard in XLT models.
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Wednesday, August 20th, 2008 |
The Ford F-350 pickup truck is quite a different beast from its standard brethren. Nowadays, light-duty pickups have become quite commonplace as daily drivers and even as family vehicles. Ford’s F-150, in particular, has been hugely popular for the past three decades. The F-350 Super Duty, however, is a 1-ton 4×4 pickup truck that’s often seen doing what it does best hauling and pulling big loads.
More robust than even the capable F-250, the Ford F-350 Super Duty is fit for extreme grunt work thanks to the availability of a dual rear-wheel setup that greatly improves stability when towing. And like other Super Duties, the F-350 is available with a wide choice of body styles, powertrain options and trim levels to choose from. Another reason that Ford’s heavy hauler is a fave is that it can handle massive payloads while also being easy to drive and comfortable to ride in.
There are a few other choices to consider, as Chevy and Dodge also offer worthy choices in this powerhouse field. With the domestic Big 3 constantly improving their heavies, it’s almost anyone’s ball game for a given model year. All are eminently capable, so we suggest driving them all back to back before you make a purchase decision. A dual-rear-wheel setup is offered as well, which allows more weight to be carried in the bed as well as providing greater stability while towing a heavy trailer.
A trio of engines sees duty in the F-350 Super Duty: the standard 5.4-liter V8 (300 horsepower and 365 pound-feet of torque), an optional 6.8-liter V10 and the aforementioned 6.4-liter Power Stroke turbodiesel V8 (350 hp and 650 lb-ft.) Transmission choices consist of a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic. Buyers can choose either two- or four-wheel drive across the board.
The previous generation Ford F-350 Super Duty ran from 1999-2007. The debut of this version marked the first time that Ford gave its heavy-duty pickups their own style. Compared to the soft contours of the F-150 of the time, the angular Super Duty with its massive grille looked every bit the square-jawed brute that lay under the skin. For 2003, the FX4 off-road package debuted, as did (for crew cabs) an optional power moonroof and the King Ranch edition.
A smaller yet more powerful 6.0-liter Power Stroke replacing the 7.3-liter version debuted that year as well. The 6.0-liter diesel engine, however, has a reputation for questionable reliability. For 2005, the big news was a new five-speed automatic transmission, an upgraded front suspension, a new grille and headlight design and increased towing and hauling capacities. The next few years saw just minor changes to feature and package availability.
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Monday, August 18th, 2008 |
The F-150 FX2 Sport pickup truck was one of many Ford cars and trucks shown at the 2006 auto show in Las Vegas. Ford’s goal was to create a customized looking truck that was built using factory parts and accessories that are already available. They wanted power and a bold presence — but not a way-out concept truck; it had to be something a new owner could create.
Before the design team went to work on the truck, they considered consumer trends and even asked automotive journalists for their input during an event in Texas. They decided to base the Ford FX2 Sport truck on the existing FX2–a popular two-wheel drive version of the F-150 truck. The original FX2 package already has a monotone look, with color matched bumpers, front lower air dam and mirror covers and a flat “billet style” grille.
To create the FX2 Sport truck, Ford designer Joe Siler and his team added loads of truck accessories. There is a supercharger that increases the truck’s hp from about 300 to about 450. Now thats a lot of power. There are ceramic coated headers to extend header life and cut down on heat in the engine compartment, for better performance. There is Ford’s sport exhaust for better exhaust flow, another performance enhancer. A fiberglass bed cover and a bedliner has also been provided. A double stripe that fades along its length to almost match the color of the truck. The manufacturers have also given a remote starter.
Now that the truck is out and about Ford will listen to opinions about it, but it sounds like the company achieved its objectives. The truck gave Ford an opportunity to test out its accessory line to discover whether or not it was broad enough to create a fully decked-out truck.
They have a truck to show the public and their dealers, one that says you can do the same thing with truck accessories. It would probably take 3-4 days to install identical accessories on a new truck. By doing it before delivery the customization would become part of the financed price, not something you’d have to pay for as a lump sum after wards.
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