Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008
There was some news about plant closings and cut-backs in production which made poeple think that everyone is backing out of the trucks market. This segment as a result, has definitely been hit, but think twice before forming an opinion that anyone is giving up on trucks, because they still make up a large percentage of 4×4 pickup trucks sold and remain an important part of everybody’s lineup. But, fewer pickup truck buyers mean actual competition is as fierce as it’s ever been, and that’s good news for anyone who are looking for a new or a used 4×4 pickup truck.
There are two of them - the Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck and the GMC Sierra hybrids. These pickup trucks won’t be in the dealer showrooms until 2009 and although they both look real promising, who knows how available they’ll be at first or what they’ll cost. If you need something sooner, or you’re not interested in a hybrid, put GM’s new XFE trucks on your short list. The 2009 Chevrolet Silverado XFE and GMC Sierra XFE have promised fuel economy ratings of 15/21 mpg city/highway, versus 21/22 mpg city/highway for GM’s 2009 two-mode hybrids and 14/20 mpg city/highway for comparable non-XFE half-ton pickups. That’s really an improvement of roughly 5 to 7 percent over the non-XFE trucks.
GM has lowered the XFE’s aerodynamic drag to a claimed best-in-class .412, narrowly beating the all-new 2009 Dodge Ram’s .419 coefficient of drag. Helping the XFE achieve that slippery wind rating are a soft tonneau cover, an extended front chin spoiler and a 10-mm-lowered suspension and ride height. Low-rolling-resistance tires and lightweight 17-inch aluminum wheels help reduce friction between road surfaces and the truck. The XFE also uses an unusually tall 3.08 rear axle to hit its claimed higher fuel economy figures. To understand its importance, it helps to understand how rear axles are rated. Rear axles are assigned numbers that describe how many rotations the driveshaft must make to turn the rear axle (and rear wheels) once. A 3.08 rear axle turns the wheels once for every 3.08 driveshaft rotations.
To build the XFEs, General Motors started with Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks equipped with 5.3L aluminum block V8s. They also added a six-speed automatic transmission, a 3.08:1 rear axle ratio, aluminum wheels and low rolling resistance tires. A soft tonneau, extended lower front airdam and a lowered ride height gave the trucks better aerodynamics. The combination of changes improved fuel mileage, upping it by 1mpg for city and highway driving. That might not sound like much, but it all adds up. The XFEs are 2WD trucks (for now) and GM has already started building the Crew Cabs.
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Thursday, September 11th, 2008
The gas prices are going on increasing and the economy is also faltering and there seems to be no end to this. An increasing number of states are already seeing prices that are in danger of skyrocketing right past five dollars per gallon. As such, it is vitally important to find the pickup truck that give us the best mileage; our wallets practically demand it. Truthfully, whether you want to buy a car, a truck, or an SUV, getting the best gas mileage for your money is crucial. This is especially true for pickup trucks and sports utility vehicles, however, because they generally haul heavier loads. Trying to haul anything heavy with a truck that gets poor gas mileage is financially disastrous, so you simply have to take the time to find a vehicle with good mileage.
In the world of pickup trucks, there are small ones and standard ones. In both cases, gas mileage is determined in large part by standards and guidelines imposed by the Environmental Protection Agency, as well as how many miles they get per gallon of gas for highway driving and city driving. If you are trying to find the best gas mileage pickup truck for a small truck, the top five are as follows: Ford Ranger, for a variety of years, is usually ranked as the highest, it is a two wheel drive truck with a 4 cyl, 2.3 liter engine. Next up is the Mazda B2300, followed by the Toyota Tacoma with a 4 cyl, 2.7 liter engine. The fourth ranked small pickup truck with the best gas mileage is the Chevrolet Colorado with a 2.9 liter engine, followed by the GMC Canyon, which has similar specs.
For standard pickups, a lot of the top ranked manufacturers are decidedly different. In the top spot is the Dodge Dakota with a 6 cylinder, 3.7 liter engine, followed by the Mitsubishi Raider, also a 6 cylinder with a 3.7 liter engine. In third place is the Chevrolet Silverado; it has an 8 cyl, 5.3 liter engine. Following that is the GMC Sierra, which has a 4.3 liter engine, and last, there is the Honda Ridgeline, which is a four wheel drive truck with a 6 cylinder, 3.5 liter engine. Basically, in order to find the best gas mileage pickup truck, you simply have to be informed. Do some research on the Internet and practice comparison shopping.
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Monday, September 8th, 2008
The current economy is making a lot of people consider the benefits of hybrid vehicles, including hybrid pickup trucks and already they are considering a switch over. Some people, however, are not very well informed as to what hybrid vehicles even are or what they do, which can make them a bit leery about even considering for one. Between the faltering economy and gas prices constantly on the rise, a lot of the people who rely on pickup trucks, for whatever reason, may want to consider the possible advantages of switching to hybrid pickup trucks.
One of the benefits of even considering hybrid pickup trucks is the sheer cost of gas for trucks in general, especially those which are used to haul heavy loads. In understanding hybrid vehicles, it is important to realize that not all of them are “fully” hybrid. For instance, GM Chevrolet, which is one of the Big Three of trucks and a favorite among truck drivers, recently came out with a hybrid version of their Chevrolet Silverado. It is marketed as a “mild” hybrid, which means that it utilizes its electric motor for such things as the power accessories and assistance with the engine.
Ford F-Series also implements hybrid technology. The GMC Sierra is another model which has gone at least partially hybrid. As for the Silverado, reviews indicate that it comes with extra batteries which store extra power; these kick in to help when it is necessary, which can come in handy when you are carrying a heavy load. As well, on its own, the Silverado comes with a V8 engine. This is actually quite common for a lot of hybrid 4×4 pickup trucks, so by all indications, buyers would not be giving up much in the way of power.
Many consumers who rely on or simply prefer pickup trucks also worry that hybrid pickup trucks will not have the features they have come to know and enjoy, but by all accounts, hybrids have most, if not all, of the same features and accessories that traditional trucks have. As mentioned, quite a few of them come with a V8 engine; it is simply a Hybrid Vortec 5.3 liter engine. They still look as rugged and powerful as “regular” trucks, and the same safety and luxury features are included, such as power windows, mirrors, and locks, anti lock brake systems, and air bags. Many of them also include the popular navigation systems, as well as DVD entertainment capabilities.
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Saturday, August 23rd, 2008
People buy pickup trucks for many reasons. Some of those reasons are strictly sensible; others lean more toward vanity and fashion. This hasn’t always been true. A few decades back, pickups were strictly utilitarian vehicles that people purchased to do work. Owners were willing to put up with certain discomforts as long as the truck performed its assigned tasks without balking.
Today, fewer private truck owners haul gravel or crates with their vehicles. Those who buy a pickup for its practical merits are likely more interested in its towing capacity. Outdoorsy families may need a truck to haul a camper trailer or boat on summer vacations or weekend journeys. And if that trailer or boat is heavy, only a pickup with serious towing capacity can handle the job. Each manufacturer issues ratings for towing capacity, measured in pounds. Ratings for a given truck model may vary according to several factors.
If a 4×4 pickup is available with a choice of engines, the larger-displacement version typically has greater towing capacity. A truck with an automatic transmission may be capable of hauling more weight than an equivalent model with a manual gearbox. Heavy-duty trucks may be available with a choice of single or dual (dualie) rear wheels. This means there could be one or two wheels and tires on each side. Typically, additional tires translate to greater capacity for hauling cargo, though not necessarily a significant increase in towing capacity.
When you need to tow a trailer or boat that weighs more than 4 or 5 tons, you have few choices besides a heavy-duty truck from Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford or GMC. These are the only trucks that offer towing capacities above the 10,000-pound mark. As a rule, you’ll have to turn to a one-ton model — Chevrolet Silverado 3500, Dodge Ram 3500, Ford F-350 Super Duty or GMC Sierra 3500 — to get the peak capacity, but a three-quarter-ton truck might suffice for slightly reduced weight requirements. On the whole, import-brand pickups trail the domestics where heavy-duty towing is concerned. Only the Nissan Titan vies with half-ton pickups from Detroit’s Big Three.
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Monday, August 18th, 2008
There are eight models of full-size heavy-duty pickup trucks for sale in the U.S. Base retail prices range from around $22,000 for an entry-level Ford F-250 Super Duty XL Regular Cab 2WD to more than $41,000 for a top-of-the-line 4×4 GMC Sierra 3500 SLT Crew Cab. When it comes to hauling the big loads, there are a few rivals to the heavy-duty full-size 4×4 pickups. With its reinforced chassis and choice of high-powered engines, the heavy-duty pickup has the highest towing capacity and payload of any pickup on the road. This is also a market made up solely of domestic products.
Most heavy-duty pickups are used for commercial purposes, or to tow trailers and recreational vehicles. Key one-ton players in this rough-and-tumble market include the Chevrolet Silverado 3500 and the GMC Sierra 3500, Ford F-350 Super Duty and the Dodge Ram 3500. With their first complete redesign in over ten years, the all-new heavy-duty Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD and Chevrolet Silverado 3500 and GMC Sierra 2500HD and 3500 went on sale in 2001, giving Ford and Dodge formidable competition.
However, Dodge answered the challenge with the release of its all-new heavy-duty pickups for the 2003 model year. The Ram 2500 and Ram 3500, unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show in February, 2002, sport the same aggressive look as the Dodge Ram 1500. The new trucks are available with a new 5.7-liter HEMI Magnum V8 as well as a powerful 5.9-liter diesel. Speaking of diesel power, Ford now offers an all-new 32-valve 6.0-liter V-8 Power Stroke diesel engine for its SuperDuty lineup. The new engine not only boasts 325 horsepower at 3300 rpm and 560 lb-ft of torque at 2000 rpm, but also features better fuel economy and lower emissions than the 7.3-liter engine it replaces. The General Motors offerings are also available with impressive diesel power. The optional 6.6-liter diesel provides a whopping 590 lb-ft of torque at just 1600 rpm.
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Friday, August 15th, 2008
Chevrolet unveiled its new hybrid Silverado truck at the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show. The hybrid pickup truck will be available as a Crew Cab with choices of either 2×2 or 4×4 pickup truck. People can look for a 40-percent gain in city fuel economy and a 25-percent gain overall as compared to a conventional Silverado; cruising range being more than 500 miles.
The truck is equipped with GM’s 2-Mode Hybrid system which was being worked out in a very focussed manner. And one must admit, that they have been pretty successful. The Chevy Silverado is equipped with a 6-liter V-8 engine with Active Fuel Management and late-intake valve closing technology. It is capable of all-electric drive up to 30 miles per hour, which is really good. Towing capacity of 6,100 pounds for any 2WD truck is really great.
This the only full-size hybrid pickup truck available and it goes on sale in late 2008 as a 2009 model. This chevy pickup truck is directed by General Motor’s 2-Mode Hybrid System. An electronic variable transmission (EVT) allows infinitely variable gearing when it’s advantageous for the truck’s efficiency, but automatically changes modes to act as a conventional transmission, with four fixed gear ratios when necessary, typically when you’re driving at higher speeds or have increased hauling needs.
The truck’s Hybrid Optimizing System (HOS) constantly sends information to the EVT, optimizing transmission operations for best performance and economy. The Chevrolet Silverado’s Energy storage system (ESS) is a 300-volt battery that’s located in the chassis, underneath the truck’s rear seats. It provides power to the EVT and stores the energy it captures during deceleration, when braking, and when the system converts one of the truck’s two electric motors into a generator.
The ESS powers the A/C compressor and the Accessory Power Module (APM), which in turn feeds the truck’s 42-volt power steering system, its 12 volt battery and other 12-volt systems. The big battery is cooled by a system that draws air from within the passenger compartment. Chevy says the ESS has safety features to keep it from over-charging, over-heating, being penetrated by liquids, and from accidental access to its components.
The hybrid truck’s 6.0L V-8 engine runs on regular gas. It’s equipped with an Active Fuel Management (AFM) system. A computer controlled late-intake valve closing (LIVC) feature lets the truck run on 4, 5, or 8 cylinders, whichever offers the best performance and economy for the job. Chevy doesn’t have official EPA ratings for the hybrid truck yet, but based on their own tests, the company expects a 40 percent increase in city fuel economy when compared to a similar conventional Silverado.
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Tuesday, August 12th, 2008
Redesigned for 2007, the GMC Sierra full-size pickup was restyled, inside and out, and boasted roomier cabins, greater maximum towing capacity and higher gas mileage. GMC says ride, handling and interior noise levels were also improved. As before, the Sierra shares a platform with the Yukon and Yukon XL full-size SUVs. The varieties are overwhelming: regular, extended and Crew Cab body styles; short, standard and long cargo box lengths; multiple powertrain combinations; and multiple suspension packages and trim levels. Of course there’s also rear- or four-wheel drive.
Despite a concerted effort by General Motors to differentiate the Sierra more than ever from the Chevrolet Silverado, its sister model, they succeed only to a point. Competitors include the Dodge Ram, Ford F-150, Nissan Titan and Toyota Tundra. The higher trim levels get a different interior layout borrowed from the Yukon SUV, intended more for personal pickup users than for workers. In addition to the different dashboard, door panels and trim, the SLT adds heated leather seats with 12-way power adjustment for the driver, a six-CD changer with Bose speakers and heated windshield washers.
The Denali has exclusive leather and trim and a unique steering wheel and center console, as well as power adjustment for the passenger seat. Adjustable pedals, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, dual-zone climate control, remote starting, rain-sensing windshield wipers and sonar rear parking assist are some of the Denali’s standard equipment. In addition to added front-seat legroom, headroom and hip room, GMC made the interiors seem roomier by moving the dashboards down and forward a few inches. GMC says the rear seats are more supportive and offer more legroom in both extended and Crew Cabs. The crews have split rear seats that raise to provide more storage space.
They’re optional in extended cabs, which now have Nissan Titan-style access doors, which open 170 degrees. They also have power windows in the higher trim levels. GMC has moved toward more-refined systems that have been finding their way into SUVs and other trucks: Coil springs have replaced torsion bars in the front suspension, and the recirculating-ball steering has given way to the lighter, simpler and more precise rack-and-pinion design. The Denali has skid plates and tow hooks as standard equipment.
This 4×4 pickup comes with OnStar, with the first year of Safe & Sound service free. This plan includes automatic OnStar notification in the event of a collision, stolen vehicle tracking and remote door unlocking should you lock your keys in the car.
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