Pickup Truck Shopping Tips - Accessories, Engines and Cab Choices Are Many

Dump truck plant closes

A plant in Marlboro County has closed its doors for good, effective immediately, increasing the county’s already high unemployment rate.

Ox Bodies, a dump truck manufacturer in Bennettsville, came to South Carolina about five years ago and employed 30 people in the county.

Dale Pilger, president of Ox Bodies, said the closure is part of the company’s con-solidation process.

“We had discontinued manufacturing at that plant some time ago and had been doing only installations for customers in that geographic location,” he said. “With (the close of the plant) we are consolidating that service at (the Fayette, Ala., headquarters) but will be using the (Bennettsville) site for logistics. We’ll manage chassis and finished trucks for our customer at the location so they won’t be affected by the actual plant closure.”

The company is a designer, manufacturer and installer of medium and heavy duty Class 6- 8 dump bodies, platforms, pup trailer bodies, trash bodies and related dump truck body accessories.

Pilger said the trucking industry has been a challenge lately and it was important for the company to be cost and production effective.

Marlboro County Administrator Cecil Kimrey said it’s tough when something closes and the county will have to roll with the punches.

“We hate to lose any employment with our unemployment rate as it is right now,” he said. “We’ll just have to work harder to find more companies for the area.

“I was aware that (Ox Bodies) wasn’t doing well here and knew there was a possibil-ity that it could close but you really hate to see them go.”

According to the latest unemployment figures for June, Marlboro County was the only county out of seven counties in the Pee Dee to show no change in unemployment rates.

All other counties showed slight increases for June, according to the S.C. Employ-ment Security Commission’s monthly report released July 18.

Marlboro County was ranked third in the state for unemployment in May, but now ties Chester County for fifth in the state with a 10.8 percent unemployment rate for June.

Doris Ann Breeden, executive director of Marlboro County’s One Stop Workforce Center, said the effect of the layoff already has been seen in the unemployment office.

“The laid off employees have already come in and filed their claims,” she said. “It’s been about two weeks since they came in and, of course, we encourage them to register for work that’s available to them that they are qualified for.”

Breeden said the employees were furloughed June 30.

“This just adds to the (unemployment) numbers we have,” she said. “It’s going to be tough because a lot of those people that were laid off from Ox Bodies were local people that aren’t used to commuting far to work.

“The possibility of commuting to Florence or Myrtle Beach will be an adjustment for them.”

Pilger said there would be one employee stationed at the Bennettsville location to handle logistics.

Ford Extends Plan to Make Small Pickup

Ford Motor Co. plans to keep open for an additional two years a small-pickup plant in St. Paul, Minn., that had been slated to close in 2009, according to two people briefed on the company’s plans.

The move is expected to be announced Thursday as part of a plan to overhaul U.S. plants so Ford can make more cars and small vehicles and fewer large trucks and sport-utility vehicles, these people said.

Ford will also report its second-quarter earnings Thursday. Analysts expect the company to report a substantial loss. The Dearborn, Mich., auto maker has had massive declines in sales for its full-size pickups and SUVs, mainly as a result of rising fuel prices and a softening economy. The company has shut down truck production in several plants for most of the summer and delayed the launch of its 2009 F-150 pickup by two months until November.

Relatively consistent demand for Ford’s small pickup, the Ford Ranger, is one of the few bright spots in the dismal truck market. While sales of the Ford Explorer SUV fell 33.2% and its F-series pickups dropped 22.7% for the first half of the year, Ranger sales declined only 3.9% for the same period. As part of the company’s cutbacks first announced in 2006, Ford said it would shutter the Twin Cities Assembly Plant, which makes Rangers, by 2008. In 2007, the company revised its plans, saying the small-truck plant would close sometime in 2009. Now the life of the plant, while working with a single shift, has been extended until 2011.

News of the plant’s life extension will coincide with an announcement about a broad reshuffling of Ford’s product portfolio. The auto maker plans to convert three truck plants to car production as demand in the U.S. market reacts to $4-a-gallon gasoline prices.

How to choose best Equipment trailers?

Equipment trailer is one of the most important utility vehicles for all those who deal in heavy industry, building supplies, automobiles and numerous other goods and services where there is a constant use of equipment trailer and utility trailer.

Well, in case you plan to buy a new car hauler or gooseneck trailer, one should go for the right kind of trailer or hauler so as to benefit the most from perfect trailer that makes the loading and unloading work easy. First of all, while buying a utility trailer, one has to know exactly what kind of trailer one is looking forward. It means regarding its use, one can classify the trailers such as car carriers, tandem axle, custom trailers, motorcycle and ATV, equipment trailers, dump trailers, take 3 trailers, titan trailer and single axle to name a few. Application and user end purpose is one of the most significant factors while choosing the equipment trailers.

The decision of open and enclosed trailers purely depends upon the utility that is going to be served by the equipment trailer. For products that are no weather friendly or fragile, one should go for enclosed equipment trailer so as to enhance the safety and security of cargo.

In comparison to open trailers, enclosed trailers are of much help as they are free from spoil sport weather that can damage the cargo while ferrying from one place to another. It may be that open trailers are relatively cheaper than enclosed trailers, yet, one may have to pay heavy price if the goods are damaged. Same rule applies for choosing a single or double axle trailer. With single axle equipment trailer, one gets just a single load carrying axle. Usually, the single axle trailer comes with the option of breaks.

Well, if you are plan to felly heavy cargo, it is essential to have trailers that support break. In case of heavy stuff, it is essential to go for double axle trailers that have two axles for load bearing. These are some of the important features that one should definitely check before buying a good equipment trailer for ferrying heavy goods from one place to another.

While buying equipment trailer, one should never ever compromise on quality. One should research more about the equipment trailer manufacturer or provider so as to avail the best quality trailer. Always remember that a good manufacturer will definitely provide guaranteed products that come with heavy load bearing capacity.

So, for all those who are looking forward to buy equipment trailer or car hauler, it is essential to have a clear idea about one’s preference and utility. This will definitely give you an added advantage while choosing a perfect trailer that ensures quality good ferrying service from one place to other. In case of specific requirements, one can go forward for custom made trailers such as custom smokers, custom utility trailer, golf cart trailers, air force trailers and numerous other to name a few. So, get the best trailer for ferrying goods and services.

Truck Runs On Cooking Oil

It’s French fries - no, make that egg rolls. Wherever “Big Brown Betty” goes, the rusty 1985 Ford truck leaves the hot smell of deep-fried food in her wake.

“The other day, I was getting building materials from a man for a project,” said Nathan Turner, the truck’s owner. “His wife came outside, and said, “Are you grilling out?”‘

Big Brown Betty runs on used fryer grease, which Turner, 32, collects free from various restaurants.

He saves money, but the greater satisfaction is that using vegetable oil as fuel reduces his carbon footprint.

So it goes at the Turner household in Berea, where the focus is on sustainability and a laid-back lifestyle.

Nathan and his wife, Jessa, 29, are in the midst of a new project: building a house using feedbags filled with earth. The house will look like a futuristic tan igloo when finished.

Jessa is working on the 500-square-foot “earthbag home,” which she says is the first of its kind to be code-approved in Kentucky. Currently, the house has several layers of earthbag “bricks,” and Jessa is working on the home’s electrical wiring. Once finished, the house, in Egrets Cove - a self-sustaining community near Berea - will comfortably house a local retiree.

The Turners think houses like these not only help save the environment, but will save money.

The earthbag home will take eight weeks to complete and cost just $8,000.

Just down the trail at Egrets Cove, a family is building a 960-square-foot straw-bale home that will cost $30,000.

“We’re essentially building custom-made homes,” she said. “You couldn’t even buy a God-awful trailer with that money.”

The Turners aren’t your typical Kentuckians, they say, pointing out they would probably be more at home on the West Coast with other vegetarian neo-hippies in, say, Oregon.

Jessa, who wears messy pigtail buns and Teva-like sandals, adores Oregon.

At 21, she hitchhiked around the nation, and she became fascinated by the entirely self-sustaining communities she saw in Oregon. The communities grew their own food and used solar and wind energy.

“I thought, man, I really need to take this home,” she said.

She established HomeGrown HideAways, found online at homegrownhideaways.org, a year ago to teach others eco-friendly construction techniques.

The Turners, who have known each other since they were teenagers, originally started small, by figuring out a way to reduce carbon emissions in their own lives.

One of these steps was converting a diesel vehicle so it could run on vegetable oil at the flip of a switch.

“Doing the math, it comes out to less than a dollar per gallon, but it’s a lot of work,” said Nathan, who says this is not a job for the dainty. His clothes are covered in grease.

“I have to pick up grease and then filter and strain it. It’s not for people who want to pull up to a pump and stand there with a credit card.”

Jessa and Nathan’s dream is to find 100 acres near Berea and have a self-sustaining property where they can grow their own food and teach others how to do the same.

It’s not an easy lifestyle to consider for Americans who are nurtured on a culture of air conditioning at the flip of a switch and a cheeseburger in five minutes. There are only a few self-sustaining communities in Kentucky, and two are in the Berea area.

But these fringe communities serve as incubators for mainstream green concepts, said Jim Embry, director of the Sustainable Communities Network in Lexington.

“The value of doing this is tremendous,” he said.

Looking at Various Cargo Accessories for a Pick Up Truck

Moving cargo is not an easy venture. Different types of cargo may require different approaches to transport. Additionally, there are a number of concerns one has to take into consideration when transporting cargo in a pickup truck. These areas of concern include efficiency, organization and safety. Thankfully, there are a number of cargo accessories that can be affixed to a pick up truck to handle the various purposes. A brief overview of some of the common accessories might prove quite helpful to those who may have use of them.

Cargo netting is one of the cheapest and simplest cargo accessories to add to the truck. Netting is used to keep the cargo from sliding around in the back of the bed. Now, some might be skeptical that cargo netting will be effective in its task. Well, such an assessment may be based on initial looks but not on actual function. In other words, the material used to create cargo netting is of the highest quality. Also, it is incredibly strong as well. Yes, cargo netting does its intended tasks quite safely and effectively even if it looks somewhat innocuous on the surface.

One of the most innovative cargo accessories for a pick up truck is the concept of a “pack mule” cargo holder. Just as a pack mule carries a place holder bag on its back, a pickup truck can house a series of connected unique place holders in its bed. Built with durable and weather resistant fabric, these cargo holders provide a number of bags designed to keep the contents placed in the bags in place safe and secure. The installation of these cargo holders is quite easy and they can be removed quite easily as well. This eliminates the need for placing a permanent cargo holder in the bed. A pack mule style cargo holder can he installed and removed quite easily with little effort.

A hitch for a cargo carrier is also a helpful accessory that can be effectively added to any pick up truck. Mounting a cargo hauler hitch is not as tough as it appears. Once it is mounted it will stay put. Some may wonder why there is a need for a hitch when the bed of the truck is sufficient. Well, the bed might not be sufficient! There may be items that you would wish to keep out of the bed if a hitch can hold it more securely. Such might be the case when holding a motor bike in place, for example. Then again, there may be instances where the bed is just not large enough to house and move the intended cargo. In such an instance, a hitch with a cargo carrier might provide the best possible solution to the problem.

Cargo accessories are simple, safe, secure and cost effective. As such, if you intend on moving large cargo employing their use may prove quite helpful.

Truck Accessories

Trucks are still popular
Pick-up trucks and sports utility vehicles (SUVs) were originally most popular among farmers, ranchers, builders, and tradesmen who had jobs to get done. Today, in spite of the gas prices, they are still often the vehicle of choice for many Americans.  Adding accessories personalizes the vehicle and gives it pizzazz.

Line-X Bedliners
Trucks are roomier and have more versatility than cars. You can travel comfortably while at the same time hauling a load of cargo or towing a trailer. To protect the bed of your truck, adding a truck bed liner is a popular vehicle accessory. At Street Image Truck and Auto Accessories in Spearfish and Rapid City, you can add a spray-on Line-X truck bedliner. The Line-X system has the the highest tear strength, and the highest abrasion resistance of any spray-on bedliner available.

Running boards
Because trucks and SUVs are bigger and heavier than passenger cars, they sit higher, and offer better visibility. Because of the height, running boards are one of the most popular truck accessories, and they have many benefits. In addition to making the vehicle easier to get in and out of, they also provide a place to kick off sand in the summer and snow in the winter and allow you to reach the windshield and top when you’re washing it. They also improve the overall appearance of the vehicle. Running boards are available in a variety of finishes and come in numerous lengths and designs.

Bug Shields
Hood shields are another great-looking but useful truck or car accessory. Not only do they redirect the bugs away from your windshield, they protect the hood from chips. They work by redirecting the wind flow, so instead of heading directly towards the vehicle’s windshield, the air flows slightly upward, pushing an insect or rock up and over the windshield.

Window TintSUV and truck accessories
With summer arriving and all the sun, now is a great time to add window tinting to your truck or SUV. Formulaone Performance Automotive Film will protect your vehicle and your passengers from the damaging UV rays. Window tint reduces heat build-up and the glare inside your vehicle for a more comfortable ride.

Lambo Doors
Yes, you may even be able to add Lambo doors to your favorite SUV.  Check out the possibilities at Street Image Truck and Auto Accessories in Spearfish and Rapid City for all your vehicle accessories.

2008 Nissan Titan Truck

The new model from Nissan, 2008 Nissan Titan truck is available in 2 different models; they are long wheelbase having 37 gallon gas tank and another model a Titan PRO-4X that is off-road version. The Titan PRO-4X features a controlled locking rear differential and also boosts an 18 inch aluminum alloy wheels and 275/70R18 tires, the model also features skid plates having lower radiator, oil pan, transfer case and a fuel tank. The overall 2008 Nissan Titan truck is made up with unique interiors, styling and seating arrangement.

The 2 different body styles in the new machine are the King Cab and Crew Cab, the different drive configurations available in the models are 4×2 and 4×4 with 4 different bed sizes. The machine is available with a Flexible Fuel Vehicle that is FFV, the new truck has improved front end with added new wheel styles. The model has lots of new feature which are not found in its earlier models, it has unique seat design and also a revamped instrument cluster, other various feature of the new machine includes a heated leather, XM satellite radio, Bluetooth Hands free phone system, newly designed center stack, 8 inch DVD screen and various other accessories.

The new 2008 Nissan Titan truck has been built on strong platform that is Nissan’s F-Alpha pickup platform, the machine works on 5.6 liter V-8 engine and is capable of producing 317 horsepower and 385 lb-ft of torque. The machine also boosts a 5 speed automatic transmission having haul mode and tow mode it has towing capacity of 9500 pounds and 9400 pounds for king cab version and crew cab version respectively.

The safety features in the new 2008 Nissan Titan Truck includes zone body construction with front and rear crumple zones, it also has an air bag system including dual stage front supplemental air bags having a seat belt sensors and also a front passenger classification sensor. Other features include 3 point front seat belts having pretensioners and load limiters, the front seat active head restrains are standard safety features in any the Nissan models. Optional safety feature in the new Nissan has front seat mounted side impact air bags with optional roof mounted curtain air bags helping for side impact and in case of roll overs.

The 2008 Nissan Titan truck has a sporty handing give you pleasure in driving the vehicle and also having a dampened tailgate, the high towing capacity is its major attraction. The machine has powerful improved acceleration having great towing capacity. The cabin is quite roomy making you feel comfortable.

2009 Chevrolet Colorado

The compact and midsize pickup truck market — inhabited by the likes of the 2009 Chevrolet Colorado among others — could see renewed interest in the next few years by consumers who might not need the capacity or bulk of a full-size truck, but still need a vehicle with a bed -preferably one that doesn’t cost a fortune to fill up.

The Chevrolet Colorado, like its GMC Canyon twin, drives into 2009 with the option of a 5.3L V-8 on extended and crew cab models. Good for a 0-60-mph run in less than seven seconds, according to GM, the powertrain delivers 300 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque, helping the 2009 Colorado achieve a maximum towing capacity of 6000 lb. A ZQ8 sport suspension returns to the lineup in the latter half of the model year, complete with 18-in. wheels and other visual add-ons, with the V-8 at its core. While in any other year the addition of a V-8 for the Colorado would be good news, the new engine’s release is a case unfortunate timing in light of current market issues.

For those looking for less cylinders and more fuel economy from their midsize truck, the Colorado can also be equipped with a 2.9L four (17-18 mpg city/23-25 highway, depending on 2WD or 4WD configuration) or a 3.7L five (16-17 mpg city/22-23 highway), both of which get a revised fuel control module that GM says improves fuel economy by up to 14 percent compared with 2008 models.

StabiliTrack is now standard for the Colorado, and the standard wheel size has been bumped from 15 to 16 in. Also on the safety front, the Colorado brake system has been upgraded: GM says the new binders are more powerful and provide improved pedal feel.

The Colorado is fitted with a standard bedliner and now comes in two new shades of blue. Both the Chevy Colorado and the GMC Canyon have been around for six model years, but the latest changes should help GM’s bid to keep ex-Silverado and Sierra owners in the family should they desire a more fuel-efficient truck.

Semi Trucks Financing

With semi truck prices at or higher than the price of some new homes, it’s important that you examine all of your semi truck financing options before committing yourself to what are sure to be some hefty payments.

In additional to traditional dealer and bank financing, the Internet has opened up some new channels for obtaining semi truck financing that may not have existed when you bought your last truck.

Applying online for semi truck financing gets your application in front of multiple lenders and gives you the best chance of getting the most favorable interest rates and repayment terms. That’s because lenders are in the business of making money and, unless you find a way to let them know that they are competing for your business, they will try to give you semi truck financing terms that are most advantageous to them. When you apply for semi truck financing online, you’re putting those lenders on notice that you’re in the market for the best deal.

Many of the online lenders are the same ones that have been providing semi truck financing for years, and they’re the same ones that would charge you more if you walked into their offices directly. The only real difference is that in the pre-Internet days, it would have taken weeks, or even months, to research as many semi trucking finance sources as you can find online in just a few minutes.

Applying for semi truck financing online is the fastest and easiest way to get a loan. The application process is quick and easy, and online applications can be approved in minutes, in some cases, with the funds being wired directly to the seller without you even having to pick up and deliver a check.

Completing and submitting an online semi truck financing application takes but a few minutes. Not only can you submit your application to one ore more personally-selected lenders, you also have the option of submitting your online application to a broker who specializes in negotiating with semi truck finance companies and banks on your behalf.

If you have excellent credit, a semi truck financing broker can get you the lowest available interest rate. If your credit is less than perfect or even sub prime, an online broker may be your only chance of getting semi truck financing at all.

Tell your broker that you want semi truck financing offers from two, three or more lenders. Then let him or her do all of the work. When the offers arrive, review each one carefully before you make your final decision.