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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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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Thursday, August 14th, 2008
There are 11 compact and not-so-compact pickup truck nameplates in the U.S. for the 2008 model year. The models range from Ford Ranger with regular cab and two-wheel drive, to the top-of-the-line Honda Ridgeline RTL with four-wheel drive. Buyers of the “less-than-full-size” trucks get considerable payload and towing capacity—up to 1,720 and 7,160 pounds, respectively. But they generally pay lower prices than buyers of comparably equipped, large trucks. Some benefits of these smaller trucks are the same as for larger trucks. Compact and midsize trucks ride higher off the pavement than do cars, so drivers and passengers tend to enjoy good views out of their vehicles. Owners have easygoing cargo space in their pickup beds that they can spray down and clean with hoses. And these smaller trucks—smaller being a relative term here—can be more nimble and easier to park than their larger brethren.
Trucks in this segment are offered in 2×4 and 4×4 pickups, with regular, extended and double cabs, and with a variety of engines. For example, the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon are available with a 5-cylinder engine, while the Dodge Dakota can be had with a V8 that can run on E85 ethanol-containing gasoline. Buyers of the modestly sized trucks in this class can get some of the best fuel economy around. For example, the 2008 Ford Ranger Regular Cab with two-wheel drive and 2.3-liter, 4-cylinder engine mated to a manual transmission has a government fuel economy rating as high as that for some cars: 21 miles per gallon in city driving and 26 mpg on the highway. The Ranger and its twin, Mazda B2300 Regular Cab truck in two-wheel drive, rank as the most fuel-efficient pickups in the U.S. for the 2008 model year.
There are plenty of features and amenities in the compact and midsize-truck segment. Honda’s first truck for the U.S.—the midsize Ridgeline—has a lockable trunk set into the floor of the pickup bed. The 2008 Dodge Dakota has a standard, dual-position tailgate that helps carry loads of various lengths. And Nissan’s Frontier can be had with a Long Bed that adds 13 inches to the normal bed length for a total of 73 inches, even at the back of a Crew Cab model. Many of the smallest pickups, which used to be commonly known as “compact trucks,” also have changed and grown noticeably larger. For example, in the 2004 model year, Chevrolet replaced its long-running S-10 small pickup with the Chevy Colorado, and officials immediately called the larger, roomier Colorado a “midsize pickup.”
The Colorado’s twin vehicle—the GMC Canyon, which replaced the GMC Sonoma—also was upgraded in size, style and comfort and referred to as a “midsize pickup.” Both are offered with a 185-horsepower, 4-cylinder engine with 190 lb-ft of torque at 2800 rpm, and a 242-horsepower 5-cylinder engine with 242 lb-ft of torque at 4600 rpm. Dodge’s Dakota pushes the “midsize” label even farther. Its Quad Cab version is the only one in the segment with seating for up to six people. The Dakota’s top engine is a hale and healthy, 302-horsepower 4.7-liter Magnum high-output V8. And Mitsubishi sells a version of the Dakota under the Mitsubishi Raider name.
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