Friday, October 17th, 2008
The latest version of Toyota Tacoma is a completely redesigned one. Its quirky and brawny aura is retained only that its dimensions are expanded to accommodate bigger loading capacity. At first glance, it can be ascertained that the Tacoma these days are bigger and also said to be better than its predecessors.
Toyota Tacoma come in two choices – the 2WD and 4WD. The two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive models are available in all body styles. Both are sophisticated and powerful. However, between the two, Tacoma’s 4×4 is getting more sales than the former. Toyota revealed that 40 percent of Tahoma’s sold are 4×4 pickup trucks for sale. The latter feature a two-speed transfer case, optional locking rear differential and a heavy duty chassis. Toyota Tacoma is said to challenge the trucks made by DCX truck, Ford truck and GMC truck.
Toyota Tacoma is ruggedly designed to give comfort and remarkable performance while conquering the road. Its double-wishbone type suspension and air shocks provide a smooth ride like that of passenger cars.
On the road, Tahoma can deliver a first rate all-round drive ability. It is also manufactured with powerful Toyota Tacoma performance parts to complement its sturdy built. The rear step bumper, front tow hook, and its 6-foot cargo bed are also made lighter. They are made from durable composite materials to support its purpose and goal as a real truck. V6 Tacoma can tow up to 5,000 pounds. Alternatively, its four-cylinder models can tow up to 3,500 pounds.
Tacoma has 2 standard airbags, ABS and brake assist and anchor points for child restraint seats. The four-cylinder Tacoma engine produces 164 horsepower and features 16 valves, DOHC, and variable valve timing with intelligence.
In essence, Tacoma accounts for nearly 10 percent of US Toyota truck for sales. Moreover, the driving factor of Tacoma is the celebrated Toyota build quality and reliability. History reiterates that with Toyota you will lose a lot less bucks.
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Thursday, October 16th, 2008
Recent media attention on the number of highway fatalities caused by semi-trucks has many people asking whether our roads are indeed ’safe.’ A fully loaded truck for sale, like the one that slammed into the back of another truck on California’s I-5 last month can do an intense amount of damage. In that particular accident, three people were killed and at least ten more injured when the truck entering the 550-foot underpass crashed into the truck in front, causing a massive pile-up and ultimately, an explosion.
This isn’t the first time the safety of sharing our roads with oversized semi-trailer trucks has been questioned. Trucking industry practices are continuously being reformed to address the number of fatalities these vehicles cause, including reducing the amount of time a truck driver is allowed to drive without a break, instituting new methods of driver payment that do not include “paid-by-the-mile” incentives, and adding more highway patrol officers designated to specifically crack down on truck drivers that don’t keep proper log books or break traffic laws. But is it enough?
So what can you do to protect yourself and your families?
The trucking industry isn’t going anywhere any time soon, and while we can hope that some of these measures begin to drastically reduce the number of highway deaths, now is the time to make sure you’re driving the safest vehicles you possibly can.
Even the safest vehicles may not be able to stand up to a collision with a semi, but there are certain vehicles that tend to fare better than others. First, SUVs and pickup trucks for sale generally keep their occupants safer than passenger cars when in collisions. While other factors obviously dictate how well passengers will be protected in a crash, such as the type of crash, the rate of speed the vehicles were moving, and the passive safety features installed on the vehicles, SUVs and pickups tend to be heavier and therefore sustain less damage.
Other key factors to examine are the active and passive safety features of your vehicle. For example, while most SUVS offer dual stage airbags (the type that protect occupants from rear-end and head-on collisions by preventing contact with the dash and steering column), the Isuzu Ascender 5-Passenger also sports head-curtain side-impact airbags that protect the body from injuries caused by rolling or side-impacts. Taking the time to compare the safety features of your vehicle to the available safety features in models that are known for safety (like Isuzu and Volvo) will give an indication of deficits in your vehicles safety system.
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Sunday, October 12th, 2008
The Chevrolet Colorado was introduced in the market in 2004 to replace the Chevrolet S10 and the GMC Sonoma model of mid-sized pick-ups manufactured by General Motors. This is a product of collaboration with Isuzu trucks, the company that helped in designing this versatile truck. The Japanese car-maker began selling its own version of the truck in the last quarter of 2005 as its I-series of trucks.
Chevy Colorado is based on the GMT355 platform designed by General Motors of North America, General Motors Brazil and Isuzu. GMT355 was also used as the basis for the Hummer H3’s GMT345 platform.
The patriots camped at the General Motors assembly plants must be thinking of a non-conventional strategy to beat their Japanese rivals. Getting the support of their rival’s own rivals - does that make a sense? Good thinking! But don’t be caught with a spy in your bed. Show them you’ve got that loyalty badge from the patriots - a blue-topped keychain designed just for Colorado owners.
Colorado is available in both manual and automatic transmissions and in either two wheel-drive or four wheel-drive variants. Standard models are powered with a 2.8L LK514 engines, but a power packed variant sports a 3.5L L52 I5 engine - known as Z71 or the 4-door version of both Chevy and General Motors Corporation model (the Canyon). The Z71 later evolved as the LT2 and LT3. There is a ZQ8 edition featuring a lower and road-tunes sport suspension, which sports 17-inch wheels and beautifully designed bumper. So-called Xtreme editions of the ZQ8 have 18-inch wheels.
The US sales of the Colorado and the Canyon peaked in 2005 at 163,204 units, surpassing the Ford Ranger by almost 35% and just 3.3% behind the new best-seller Toyota Tacoma. In 2006, however, while still leading the Ford pickup truck for sale by 27.5%, Colorado and Canyon’s sales lagged their Toyota competitor’s by almost 34%.
So Colorado owners, get your Chevy Colorado Keychains to show them you are riding on a non-conventional truck, a secret warfare designed to steal technology from the land of the rising sun. Priced at $6.99, designs are available in Circular Chrome plates, Leather topped with Silver, Leather topped with Gold and an Oval Metal variant. All designs feature a blue crystallite dome embossed printed in faint gold scripts bearing the Chevy logo and model name “Colorado”.
The 2008 Colorado maintained its original hardworking stance. A regular cab, extended cab and crew cab variants are available. The 4×4 pickup trucks for sale models are equipped with the Insta-Trac, an automated system where you can easily shift from 2WD, 4×4 low to 4×4 high with just a touch of a button conveniently located at the panel board. As a standard on Z71 variants, the powerful, efficient and durable Vortec 3.7L I-5 engines truly lives on Colorado’s “Work Harder, Play Harder” marketing tag.
The hardworking features of the Chevrolet Colorado trucks are balanced with a powerful Radio Data System compatible radio and music entertainment platform with an in-dash 6-disc CD change. Your remote keyless entry control replaces the key in your elegant keychain this time.
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Friday, October 10th, 2008
By all available indications, the best 4×4 is the Dakota in all of its incarnations. The Dodge Dakota has been a favorite since its inception. 2007 Dodge Dakota truck, which is a favorite because it is the only pickup truck in its class which offers a V8 engine. Those who drive and rely on pickup trucks appreciate this because, in general, especially for people who have to use a truck for their jobs, they are hauling and towing a lot of heavy loads. A powerful engine comes in handy for this, but according to numerous reviews of the 2007 Dakota, this vehicle is advantageous for many more reasons.
The 2007 Dodge Dakota is considered a high quality 4×4 pickup trucks for sale in part because of its engine; even standard, it comes with a 3.7 liter Magnum V6 engine which features two hundred and ten horsepower at 5200 rpm, with two hundred and thirty five pounds per feet of torque at 4000 rpm. There is also the option for the High Output 4.7 liter V8 engine, which is considered one of the best engines currently on the market. It creates two hundred and sixty horsepower and three hundred and ten pounds per feet of torque. Given the fact that most truck fans utilize their trucks to haul heavy loads and to tow strenuous items, this kind of engine power is not only required but thought to be the highest possible standard. It offers fifteen miles per gallon for city driving and nineteen miles per gallon for highway driving.
The 2007 Dodge Dakota is also praised for the way it handles and its braking capabilities. It comes with rack and pinion steering as well as highly developed hydroformed rails on the chassis. This allows for a solid driving experience and maneuverability, which again, makes it a good choice of Dodge truck 4×4 for those drivers who rely on their trucks to tow or haul extremely heavy loads and cargo. It has also been ranked on several lists as producing the best gas mileage for a mid sized pickup truck. In general, it is always in the ranking on top five lists, usually falling somewhere between the number two position and the number four positions. The Environmental Protection Agency plays an important role in determining gas mileage, as does the amount of miles per gallon a truck gets for city and highway driving.
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Thursday, October 2nd, 2008
The monster vehicle that used to be available only to the United States Army is now obtainable for civilians through General Motor’s Hummer division. Hummers became the rave of the whole country after the highly popular Desert Storm in Iraq where its military counterpart, the HumVee, was featured endlessly. This popularity triggered worldwide demand and thus, the Hummer edition was created. Nowadays, military and civilians alike can avail themselves of these superb vehicles.
Hummers are available in three types of model: the H1, H2 and H3. H1 Hummers are generally the largest of the three. H3 models are those designed very much like other sports utility vehicles to suit a civilian consumer’s need for aesthetics. The H2 balances rider’s comfort and rough driving to the hilt. There are many more other sub models available under each type but none stands out more than the H2 SUT model.
The H2 SUT model incorporates a trucks and SUV type, thus earning the name SUT. This innovative way of maximizing the benefits of a sports utility vehicle and a pickup truck gained much popularity from Hummer enthusiasts. General Motors have equipped this model with various features that would surely increase the demand for such a vehicle in the years to come.
This baby is powered by a Vortec 6000 V8 engine with 325hp and 4-speed automatic transmission. A variable throttle control with 2 different progressions allows for a precise control over rugged and off-road terrain. The H2 SUT also features a power glass window at the back of the cabin which can be folded down along with the second row seats to allow for a larger cargo area. This virtually means that you can load almost anything on the pickup truck. This model also offers a 4 channel anti lock braking system that helps the driver bring the vehicle to a controlled stop. Its flawless design allows the driver to sit comfortably behind the steering wheel without worrying about the SUT from nosing downward while braking hard.
To top it all off, the interiors of this type of model surely puts any vehicle to shame. Full leather interior with electrically adjustable seats make for a comfortable and enjoyable ride over any type of terrain. Bose speakers with separate audio sources for the second row passengers add to the beauty of this model. The H2 SUT is truly the king of all Hummers on the road today but General Motors has announced that a Pickup truck model may soon be on the market so keep an eye for what may be the best Hummer yet.
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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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Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008
Pickup trucks have long been a mainstay of American byways and highways, and GMC has been there from day one. Originally used and respected by farmers, construction workers and small-business owners, GMC’s hauler was a basic workhorse known for its reliability and longevity. More recent times have seen GMC’s full-size pickup truck adopt the name Sierra, which was previously an upscale trim level. As with its rivals, the modern-day GMC Sierra 1500 full-size pickup is available with a wide variety of body styles, power trains and trim levels. Thanks to this flexibility, the half-ton Sierra pickup is just as adept at serving as the weekday family car as it is at transporting home-improvement supplies or towing a boat on the weekends. Older versions of the GMC Sierra 1500 pickup have been praised for their strong work ethic, but soundly criticized for their bland, often overly plastic-endowed cabins. With the current model, fit and finish has improved to the point where the Sierra now stands proud in that area. Of course, there are other choices in the full-size pickup truck market, but the half-ton GMC Sierra remains a solid pick no matter what the intended use.
The current GMC Sierra 1500, introduced for 2007, is much improved over the past version in terms of cabin materials and build quality. Where there was once an abundance of lackluster design, hard plastic and uneven panel gaps, there’s now richly grained upholstery, softer materials and precise fitments. The lineup offers three body styles regular, extended and crew cabs and trim levels ranging from no-frills “Work Truck” to ultra-plush Denali. The most popular trim is the mid level SLE, which provides most features people want as standard. A recent addition to the lineup is the rugged “All Terrain,” which is essentially a fancier version of the Z-71 Off-Road package. Power train choices, traditionally a strong point, encompass everything from a frugal 4.3-liter 195-horsepower V6 to a muscular 6.2-liter V8 with 403 hp. Most Sierras, however, will be fitted with either a 295-hp 4.8-liter V8 or a 315-hp 5.3-liter V8. A four-speed automatic is standard across the board (except for the GMC Denali, which gets a six-speed unit) and one may choose either rear- or a 4×4 pickup truck.
Calling cards of the GMC Sierra 1500 include strong performance, a refined and quiet ride and a comfortable, well-finished cabin. The few downsides we’ve noted in reviews include minor interior ergonomic issues and the hesitant response of the four-speed automatic transmission in downshift situations. We have no quibble with GM’s excellent six-speed automatic in the Denali, as it is smooth and spot-on in its performance. The previous generation of GMC Sierra 1500 pickups ran from 1988-’98. Standard cab and extended cab body styles were offered, as was a crew cab, though the latter was actually from the previous 1981-’87 generation. Although six-cylinder and diesel V8s were offered, chances are strong that most GMC trucks from these years will have either a 5.0- or 5.7-liter V8 mated to a four-speed automatic. In keeping with tradition, one could choose either rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. Trim levels for these 4×4 pickup trucks include the bare-bones Special, base SL, mid level SLE and top-line SLT. Strengths of these trucks include powerful, durable power trains while weaknesses center on sketchy build quality and sub par materials within the cabin.
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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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Saturday, August 23rd, 2008
The 2005 Nissan NISMO Frontier is the automaker’s first NISMO branded vehicle in North America. The truck is the result of collaboration between Nissan and its motorsports division–NISMO–and was built to be off-road ready straight from the factory. The NISMO Frontier is available in King Cab and Crew Cab body configurations and in your choice of 2WD or 4×4 pickup. To help the off-road capabilities, the NISMO Frontier truck has an anti-lock braking system that includes traction control which senses wheel spin and transfers power from the spinning wheel to the wheel with traction. Both 2WD and 4WD models feature an electronic locking rear differential as standard equipment. That combined with the extra traction control makes it difficult to get the pickup truck stuck in an off-road situation. Bilstein performance shocks, skid plates, off-road suspension, 16-inch aluminum-alloy wheels and off-road tires round out the NISMO truck’s off-road package.
The 4×4 NISMO Frontier offers Hill Descent Control, HDC, which operates in 4HI or 4Lo and allows the driver to descend a hill in either forward or reverse at a consistent speed without applying the brakes. HDC is activated with a switch. Hill Start Assist, HSA, keeps the vehicle from moving backwards for two seconds while you move your foot from the brake to the accelerator. It works in 4HI and 4LO and is designed for situations where you have to stop and start on a hill. For power, the NISMO Frontier uses a 4.0L V-6 engine. It’s based on the engine used in the 350Z, Maxima and other Nissan vehicles, but is tuned for off-road capabilities while maintaining fuel economy and performance. The NISMO Frontier can tow up to 6,500 pounds when properly equipped. The engine is rated at 265 hp, that’s 85 more than previous generation Frontier’s 3.3L V-6. The NISMO Frontier has several features in common with the full size Titan truck, including steel double-wishbone front suspension and a solid rear axle with longer suspension travel for greater off-road performance.
The NISMO Frontier has the factory spray-in bedliner and Utilit-track bed channel tie-down system first introduced on the Titan. Take your choice of 5-speed automatic transmission or go with a 6-speed manual. The 4×4 NISMO Frontier offers an electronically controlled shift-on-the-fly transfer case to change between 2WD HI, 4WD HI, and 4WD LO. The NISMO Frontier King Cab and Frontier Crew Cab both have large rear doors for access to the rear seating and cargo. The King Cab has flip-up, front-facing rear seats. The Blue and Charcoal interior colors are unique to the NISMO pickup truck. The Nissan NISMO’s Interior are quite captivating with unique off-road seats, first aid kit, optional leather trimmed power-adjustable seats, optional heated seats and mirrors. The NISMO’s quite high even on the safety front with zone Body construction with front and rear crumple zones, Nissan Advanced Air Bag System which includes dual-stage front supplemental air bags with seat belt sensors and a front passenger occupant classification sensor, 3-point front seat belts with pretensioners and load limiters, optional front-seat side air bags and roof-mounted curtain air bags, LATCH child seat anchor system in Crew Cab.
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Wednesday, August 13th, 2008
Toyota unveiled its Toyota FTX full-size pickup truck concept at the 2004 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit.
This new concept was developed by the TMS Advanced Product Strategy Group and Calty, Toyota’s North American-based, research and design center located in Newport Beach, California. The truck offers a hint to the direction in size and styling of future Toyota full-size pickup Trucks. The Toyota FTX concept is about 19-feet in length, nearly seven feet in width, and six-and-one-half feet in height. The FTX is a full-fledged body-on-frame, “Super-C-Cab” 4×4 pickup truck. It has the interior room of a double cab, yet opens 90 degrees with suicide doors.
The exterior features have bumpers with integrated tow hooks and special hideaway universal carabiner-type tie-down hooks in the truck bed. Underneath the rear skid-plate is a multi-functional unit that houses an electric generator, an air compressor and other outlets. Inside the bed, there is a solid metal collapsible hidden job box that can be erected for safe storage of tools and supplies. In the rear tailgate, there is a hideaway ramp that extends to the ground when the gate is open, allowing heavy items to be rolled into the bed, instead of being lifted.
Toyota has made the interiors really roomy and attractive. The manufacturers have also not compromised with this truck’s accessories. The instrument panel and center console arch bend outward, wrapping around each occupant, forming two protective cells. A wide center console separates at a large center display panel. The console contains an armrest-mounted control-arm that includes all instrumentation and an operational lever that is angled toward the driver. The seat height and steering wheel angle of the FTX are positioned high. Suspension seats isolate the driver and passenger from rough terrain and include deep center pads styled after a horseman’s saddle for comfort.
The floating, foldaway rear seats are styled after recreational boats. The rear seat base is affixed to a center beam, suspending the seats off the floor for under-seat storage. Over-sized door and pillar pull handles and seat mounted grips assist in getting in and out of the truck. A large overhead track lamp can be pulled down and slide side-to-side across the cabin.
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