Wednesday, October 22nd, 2008
Pickup trucks come with a variety of features, designs and luxury options. They are heavy duty trucks with enough space for a big family and enough power to complete heavy tasks. The most famous among them are made by Ford truck, Chevy truck and GMC truck . Choose your next pickup truck by following these guidelines.
Step1
Determine your budget and look for a pickup truck for sale that falls within your affordability range. Also decide the size of the vehicle that you need depending upon the number of passengers or load size. Choose from standard pickup trucks, no second rows or trucks that offer extended row seating options.
Step2
Make a list of all the makes you are interested in. Read online reviews and ratings or talk to the owners of these pickup trucks to narrow down your choice.
Step3
Choose a pickup truck with a four, six or eight engine gasoline or diesel cylinder depending upon your engine preference. For heavy work related purposes, the bigger the engine the better.
Step4
Pick a truck which is either a two wheel (2WD) or a four wheel drive (4WD). Apart from that, look for a truck that has various traction control options with manual or automatic transmission choices.
Step5
Select a pickup truck with a five to eight foot long bed if you want to use it to haul heavy material or supplies of different lengths. If you need a truck for a towing business, get a towing extender attached to the end of the vehicle.
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Tuesday, October 7th, 2008
Toyota Motor Corp. has gone a long way and it is determined to make the most out of every segment in the American auto market. This time around, it attempts to conquer the full-size truck market.
As perceived by auto analysts, Ford trucks for sale, GMC trucks for sale and Dodge trucks for sale have already established loyalties among its customers. In fact, they account for more that 90 percent of the entire full-size truck sales in the United States. The Detroit brands have the upper hand in full-size trucks.”
The people who bought American full-size pickup trucks for sale, regardless of truck manufacturer, or full-size sport-utilities are deliriously happy with their products.”The American truck owner — Ford, Chevrolet, Dodge, GMC, it doesn’t matter — is intensely loyal and enormously satisfied with the truck.”
Full-size truck market is far different from many industries. Ford trucks for sale, GMC trucks for sale and Dodge trucks for sale have loyal customer base. So far this year, 672,700 units of world’s best-selling F-series trucks from Ford were sold. GMC comes next with Chevy Silverado trucks for sale of 539,300 . Dodge Ram, landed on the third place with 303,500 sales. Ford F-Series pickup parts seem to be never waning. Chevrolet, on the other hand, is holding on tight to its standing. Consequently, Dodge truck parts are refined to do better.
Toyota started its production of new Toyota Tundra trucks for sale last week. Vehicle uses improved Toyota Tundra high performance parts to boost its capabilities. The new Tundra is the most significant vehicle of the year. “Toyota’s first true full-size truck, the 2007 Tundra is a signal that Toyota is ready to compete head-on with the domestic automakers.”
Toyota will have a tough time taking customers away from Ford, GM and Dodge. The competition has a tremendous reputation. They have strong loyalty among working-truck buyers. That’s a tough thing to crack.
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Wednesday, September 3rd, 2008
Buying a new pickup truck can be very confusing. Of course one could go for a well known brand or a manufacturer but still there are many options that one can consider. The first thing that you should consider is size. Ask yourself just how big a pickup truck do you need? This shouldn’t be a very difficult decision for you to make. All you have to consult are your needs and your budget. Keep in mind the price of a new pickup truck varies. It can range from the affordable to the very expensive. A good basic pickup truck can be owned for around $20,000 while a full sized fully loaded 4×4 pickup truck can go for as much $30,000 or more.
One should keep in mind one of the most important features of a pickup truck is its engine. So the engine should be a primary consideration when buying a pickup truck. Most pickup trucks will have a V6 engine. This type of engine consumes a fair amount of fuel depending on what you will be hauling or pulling. However, full sized pickup trucks usually have V8 engines that use up gas pretty fast. A diesel engine is recommended if you need lots of power for towing things around. Another consideration is the number of people a pickup truck can carry. Would you be using the pickup truck to transport people? Then you would be better off buying an extended cab pickup truck which can carry 5 or more people. You could also get a crew cab which can be a very good replacement for a car and can also seat up to 5 individuals. But if you are basically using the pickup truck to tow and transport things, then you could just buy a regular cab pickup truck which can hold two to three individuals.
Determine the size of bed you will need. The bed is the part of the pickup truck used for transporting things. Pickup trucks usually are equipped with 6.5 to 8 foot beds. Look at the drive-train options. Pickup trucks come with either a manual or automatic transmission and you could choose between a two wheel driven or a four wheel driven pickup truck. Many pickup trucks offer limited-slip or locking differentials and electronic traction control. Check the truck box configurations. Trucks come with different cargo box. Most have fairly straight exterior sides, with arched areas just inside the bed to accommodate the rear wheels. Many also have spaces in front and behind each arch so there’s more room to tuck shorter cargo. On the other hand, some pickup tucks have flared fenders to provide more storage space. This type of cargo box is called a step-side box.
The Internet is a very good source for new and used pickup trucks. There are many websites specially dedicated to pickup trucks. One such highly recommended site is http://www.4×4pickuptrucksforsale.com. This site has an extensive list of new and used pickup trucks by all the famous manufacturers like Ford, GMC, Dodge, Chevy, etc. From there, you can get in touch with local dealers. And even read reviews of the vehicles for sale. Using this website is very easy for both sellers and buyers. Using this website can definitely save your time when buying a pickup truck.
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Thursday, August 28th, 2008
Every GMC vehicle, from the Envoy to the GMC Sierra pickup, bears an uncanny resemblance to a model wearing the bow tie badge, and the updated Yukon XL is no exception. Aside from those homely headlights, a tweaked grille, an added engine, and unique badges, that GMC is a Chevy. In a time when General Motors is losing market share, has been forced to reduce sticker prices across the line while keeping rebates alive, why money is still being dumped into this purely duplicative brand is a mystery. That’s not to say that the 2007 Yukon XL isn’t a nice vehicle, because it is, one with a renewed focus on style, quality, and value. But that can all be said of the truck on which the Yukon XL is based, the Chevrolet Suburban, and barring the premium XL Denali trim and its larger engine, there’s not enough distinguishing the two vehicles, despite GMC’s “Professional Grade” tagline.
Billed as the largest of the brand’s family of SUVs, the 2007 GMC Yukon XL is a nine-passenger truck with 137.4 cubic feet of cargo room. Buyers can choose from two trims - XL and XL Denali - and either rear- or four-wheel-drive capability. Based on the Chevrolet Suburban, the Yukon XL and XL Denali models are available to buyers looking for more brand cachet and an added touch of luxury, but aren’t quite ready for the flash and price of the Cadillac Escalade, another ride that shares its platform with the Chevy.
Despite all of the news about shrinking sales of large SUVs, this segment is still expected to move between 700-800,000 units annually, with General Motors reportedly grabbing 62 percent of that pie. Gas prices may continue to be volatile, but the fact remains that thousands of pickup truck buyers continue to choose the utility of a large vehicle like the 2007 GMC Yukon pickup truck versus smaller and more efficient alternatives. Competition in this field has largely been limited to the Ford Excursion (and fellow GM players like the Chevrolet Suburban and Cadillac Escalade), but that model is being replaced by an extended version of the Ford Expedition that promises to fight for its spot in American driveways.
Couple that with GM’s tarnished image, and one can see how vital it is that the 2007 GMC Yukon XL represents the company’s best effort. It seems ironic that just as the light appears to be dimming on the large SUV segment, GM unveils its best looking 4×4 pickup truck lineup to date. The lines of the 2007 GMC Yukon XL are much crisper, and the promise of tighter gap tolerances and a stronger focus on build quality address two of the main complaints with the existing vehicle. Add in the extra power and improved efficiency, and GMC makes a good case for purchasing its 2007 Yukon XL, should you be in the market for such a ride.
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Thursday, August 28th, 2008
4×4 pickup trucks sure have changed over the past few decades. Once reserved for commercial applications or hauling hay and feed around the farm with barely a heater and windshield wipers, these versatile vehicles have been transformed into what is often the family four-door, the four-wheel-drive king cab commuter, or the cause of envy at local drag strips. And for a few years now there have been some new players strutting onto the field with a box attached to a luxury vehicle. Lincoln has taken two stabs at this segment so far, the first being the forgettable and misguided Blackwood and more recently the Mark LT, also known as a thinly-disguised Ford F-150. Over at General Motors, luxury division Cadillac has been a bit more thorough with its dressing up of the Chevrolet Avalanche, with the result being the 2007 Cadillac Escalade EXT.
With its rear box, the all-wheel-drive EXT is technically a pickup truck, one that features an innovative fold-down midgate that effectively creates a full-size bed. But, aside from that design element, the EXT is much like the rest of the 2007 Cadillac Escalade lineup, with the same fresh face accented by vertically-stacked bright headlight housings and an expansive chrome grille inspired by the Cadillac Sixteen concept car. There are clean new body lines with tighter gaps, front fender vents, and integrated running boards. The new Escalades get an interior distinct from the lesser Chevy and GMC versions, with an attractive dash layout and generous use of leather. Added luxury comes in the form of an optional heated steering wheel, a touch-screen navigation system, a rear DVD entertainment system, a surround sound system by Bose, and 18- or 22-inch chrome alloy wheels.
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Saturday, August 23rd, 2008
To get the highest towing capacity possible, a special towing package usually has to be installed on the pickup truck. This could include heavy-duty cooling components to reduce the risk of overheating, heavy-duty brakes, a transmission oil cooler and a heavy-duty suspension. Automatic transmissions on heavy-duty trucks often include a Tow/Haul mode, which alters the shift pattern for greater efficiency when pulling a trailer or boat. Ford’s F-Series Super Duty trucks now offer a Tow Command System, which includes an integrated electric trailer-brake controller. All large trailers must have their own brakes, which are typically actuated by the driver using a separate control unit. Ford claims that its integrated system works with a “special trailer-brake strategy” when the antilock braking system detects poor traction.
Certain versions of GM’s full-size pickups can be equipped with Quadrasteer four-wheel steering, which can make highway maneuvers easier and safer, especially under high wind conditions. Quadrasteer also makes it easier to back up and take corners with a trailer under tow. Once you’ve tried Quadrasteer, there’s a good chance you won’t be satisfied with a pickup that doesn’t have it. In February 2005, however, Automotive News reported that GM will drop Quadrasteer as an option after the 2005 model year, citing slow sales. Compact pickups have lower towing capacities — not specifically due to their size, but because they can’t hold the biggest and most-powerful engines. Like their larger siblings, these pickups have a variety of towing-capacity ratings depending on their powertrains, cab style and bed length.
Larger than a traditional compact truck, Dodge’s Dakota can tow up to 7,150 pounds, while Nissan’s Frontier can be equipped to tow as much as 6,500 pounds. Ford’s compact Ranger has a maximum towing capacity of 5,980 pounds. Toyota’s 2005 Tacoma can be fitted to tow up to 6,500 pounds. Maximum towing capacities for the Chevrolet Colorado and its GMC Canyon cousin are lower, topping out at an even 2 tons with the 3.5-liter inline-five-cylinder and an automatic transmission. When choosing a pickup based on its towing prowess, you need to allow some leeway. If the heaviest trailer you expect to tow weighs 6,000 pounds, it’s wise to select a truck with a capacity somewhere beyond that figure.
Still, it doesn’t pay to buy more truck than you expect to need. Heavier-duty trucks are almost sure to burn more fuel and may be less pleasing to drive during those periods when no trailer is attached. Compact models can be a lot more satisfying for regular driving. If you never intend to pull a fifth-wheel camper trailer, why buy an oversized truck that can handle such a task? And if you’re not going to tow anything heavier than a snowmobile or small utility trailer, a compact pickup might be sufficient. At the other end of the spectrum, if you have to haul a trailer that weighs even more than the one-ton pickups can handle, there are options.
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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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