Harley-Davidson Puts Its Name on a Semi
Owners of the Harley-Davidson Ford F-150 are all too familiar with the fact that no production H-D motorcycle will actually fit in the bed of one of those things.
Well, no more sissy trucks for you, Harley-Davidson lovers. Behold the new International LoneStar Harley-Davidson Special Edition. It will hold and haul as many motorcycles as you can stuff in a trailer. By my reckoning, that has to be at least a dozen full-size Ultra Classic touring bikes.
This bad boy was introduced on Wednesday at the Mid-America Trucking Show, an annual heavy trucking industry extravaganza, in Louisville, Ky. Only 250 of the trucks will be made in 2009, in sleeper configuration only, and orders will be taken next month. Production begins in June.
The only sticking point may be that the base price starts at $155,000. And more than 40 customization options will be available, potentially driving the price into uncharted territory.
This heavy-hauler H-D is based on the International LoneStar, inspired by the International 1939 D Series truck, which was introduced at last year’s Chicago Auto Show.
Willie G. Davidson, Harley-Davidson’s designer, helped with headlamps from Harley-Davidson motorcycles, Harley badging on the 150-gallon chrome fuel tanks, seven-foot chrome exhaust stacks, Harley gauge faces, silver-and-orange striping for the underlying black paint (the only color offered) and a horizontal bar billet-style Harley-Davidson chrome grille.
The gear shifter also carries a limited-production number plate.
Personally, my favorite feature is inside the cab, where there is a 42-inch-wide sleeper sofa in the back, surrounded by dark rosewood cabinets and a walnut floor. That is roughing it, in style. Who needs to deal with bugs in your teeth?
“This truck,” said Ron Hutchinson, a Harley-Davidson senior vice president, “oozes the freedom and spirit of the open road.”
Well, yeah, sort of. As much as any diesel-powered Harley-Davidson can.
Titan Trailers for Sale
From utility trailers to stock and horse trailers, Titan trailers has been manufacturing products that stand up to the rough demands of the road since 1986. From operating as a small company with only six employees manufacturing two trailers a week to becoming one of the largest trailer manufacturers in the world with a state-of-the-art facility, Titan has proven its worth in both manufacturing and business.
Truckers choose Titan for their trailers because of the company’s reputation for durability and performance. Just a few examples of that durability and performance include the company’s construction utility trailers, which feature adjustable gooseneck jacks and diamond plate fenders for an additional cost. Formatted for even the toughest load, these trailers can be used for construction, landscaping, and even hauling a car, truck, or boat.
For the farming industry, Titan manufactures stock trailers with a variety of options designed for convenience and performance. Truckers can choose from a slated back gate, one-piece gate, or a slide gate depending on the trailer’s use. For easy cleaning and longevity, Titan even offers the option of rubber flooring.
Other features offered on Titan trailers included galvannealed skin, a carbon steel sheet that is coated with zinc. The process of making this kind of skin, using a hot dipping method, results in a trailer that is highly resistant to paint peeling and other types of wear and tear.
Whether it’s the longevity and aesthetics offered by Titan trailers or the diversity and durability of the company’s models, truckers looking for a great hauling experience should check out Titan. For truckers wanting to purchase a new Titan trailer, a manufacturer’s warranty is available to back up the outstanding quality of the product. The warranty covers manufacturer defects for a period of up to five years. Those who want to save some money can opt to search for used Titan trailers online. Most classified and used web sites allow truckers to examine photos and descriptions of Titans from a variety of years and serving a variety of purposes. And because Titan has been a leader of trailer manufacturing since the 1980s, truckers can rest assured that the trailers they purchase will be in it for the long haul.
Used Freightliner Trucks
With safety as its focus, Freightliner trucks are built to handle the rigors of rough driving, heavy hauling, and years of use. The company is always coming up with new and innovative ways to incorporate safety into its already performance-savvy design.
For example, the Freightliner Cascadia includes a steering wheel that lets truckers keep their eyes on the road while still operating the features of their cabs. The wheel is covered in switches including cruise control, marker light interrupter, engine break on/off switch, and message center switch. Because the switches truckers need to control their drive are located right on the steering wheel, drivers are less likely to take their eyes off the road.
Freightliner’s commitment to safety doesn’t end with innovation, however. The company has also proven itself to be committed to the safety of its drivers even when that safety requires an admission of wrong. The 2008 recall of some freightliner trucks because of minor safety issues exemplifies this point.
For truckers who want a safe and powerful ride, Freightliner is an unparalleled choice, but truckers do not have to shell out big bucks for a new Freightliner. Instead, used Freightliner vehicles can be purchased on a variety of Internet classified web sites. With the same commitment to safety, but a lower overhead cost, used Freightliners are both physically and economically safe options for truckers. Not only will truckers pay less, but they will also have a chance to learn about the truck’s history and performance, in addition to convenience of avoiding dealers. Purchasing a used Freightliner truck online, therefore, is an excellent option for the intelligent trucker.
Peterbilt Dump Truck Financing
There are many alternatives in obtaining startup Peterbilt dump truck financing. The first logical place to investigate your startup financing is at your local bank. This may be a pleasurable experience if you have many contacts at your local bank but most people usually don’t have these types of connections. The startup business must have at least high 600s on their credit scores and be prepared to go through a lengthly paper process. Prior year tax returns may be required, current personal financial statments needed and various other lending requests. The business startup is considered a high risk factor to the bank and must adhere to higher lending standards.
Most banks and financial institutions offer loan and/or lease programs. The difference is that the loan program transfers title at the end of the payment obligation, whereas the leasing component offers a rent type environment during the course of the lease with a buy out option at the end of the lease period to take title. Usually, the monies required upfront to acquire a loan are higher and eliminates many candidates. The Leasing arena requires anywhere from usually first and last payment to approximately 20% down on the cost of the Peterbilt dump truck depending on the type of industry requested.
On the startup loan and lease programs for a Peterbilt dump truck applicant, the applicant must investigate whether the bank and/or financial institution considers this a qualified asset which they will lend on. Most lenders like this type of asset but others may specialize in other industries such as medical and transportation such as limos, limo buses, ambulances etc. Some Lenders will only lend up to ten years based upon the age of the truck where others may extend beyond this parameter. Loans and leases usually run anywhere between 36 -60 months based upon the age of the dump truck.
The startup Peterbilt dump truck applicant is seeking a relationship with the lender. The front money to commence the lending vehicle, the monthly payments and the buyout clauses at the end of the lending instrument, if there is one, is paramount in making a prudent business decision. The amount of paperwork and hoops to jump through to get to end of the financing process are considered in the total evaluation process.
As we discussed above, there can be a lengthly paperwork process to obtain your start up financing. Recently, some of the lenders have changed their computer qualification models and require application only programs This means there are no income tax returns required, time consuming personal fianancial statments needed, and other key documents either prepared and /or requested. This program is usually geared for the seasoned business but there are start ups applications programs available. These application lending programs run as high as $100,000 for this start up program. It is important for the Peterbilt dump truck applicant to check out all the lending programs available. The collateral is the dump truck and usually no additonal collateral is required. The minimum credit score required for all Peterbilt dump truck applicants may run as low as 575.
The last thing you should be aware of is dealer/financing inventory programs. What this means, the lender has repos and/of a off lease inventories that they want to move for cash flow purposes. This financing arrangement is geared to the start up as well as seasoned business and may offer the Peterbilt dump applicant an execellent buying and financing opportunity.
Another option available for startup businesses looking for a Peterbilt dump truck is lending programs that require additional collateral. The start up applicant may have very poor credit, such as 550 or below. He also could have a recent discharged bankruptcy and/or judgements and liens that may be still outstanding. Most typical lenders will reject the dump truck applicant based upon these factors described above. If the applicant has equity in a house, free and clear title on vehicles and contruction equipment, certain lenders can put together a dump truck lending package to solve the road blocks to obtain the financing desired. Be aware that the rate factor and/or interest rate charged on these transactions which are typically very high.
When you are shopping for your Peterbilt dump truck financing, consider the following, the front money, the monthly payments, what collateral is required, and what the buyout clauses mean. Also, make sure you have a good source of income coming from a contract and/or other methods. Addionally, be aware that you are going to personally guarantee the transaction.
