PAL USA offers aftermarket parking sensor systems in 2, 4 and 8 sensor kits to alert drivers of objects behind their vehicle. SPAL's high-quality parking sensor kits feature 21 mm flat or angled sensors and a choice of an audible buzzer or a color display with buzzer. A wireless color display with buzzer featuring a 30-foot range is also available.
For the past year the Los Angeles County Lifeguard Service, a division of the fire department, has used a fleet of 2009 Ford Escape Hybrids to help save lives while reducing fuel consumption and protecting the environment. During the first 11 months of service, Escape Hybrids have played a crucial part in thousands of rescues and more than a million rescue preventions at L.A. County beaches.
According to reports at Google News, vehicles are no longer allowed to enter New York City's Times Square due the large amount of pedestrian traffic and the traffic jams that occur, which results in a large public hazard. Portions of Broadway and 42nd Street to 27th, and 33rd Street to 35th Street are also being closed. The city of New York are being fair with residents by offering a block part in the square and showcase movies on the big screens. The New York Department of Transportation will be monitoring traffic in the area to see how the changes affect it overall. Sounds like a cluster fuck to me.
Nissan issued a recall of over 362,000 2003 to 2007 Murano SUV's due to a condition where the intake air duct may separate from the resonator due to engine movement. The separation can lead to premature aging of the material used and increase the possibility of the engine stalling, leading to a higher risk of crashing. Owners are encouraged to contact Nissan immediately at 1-800-647-7261.
OnStar builds on its reputation for trailblazing emergency services by tapping technology from Microsoft Corp. to provide OnStar advisors with critical 3D details to more accurately guide first responders to hard-to-find or rural locations. Accurate location is the single most important factor in managing automotive emergency services, and OnStar will soon provide unparalleled location information to emergency responders by enhancing GPS location with 3D aerial imagery in Microsoft Virtual Earth. Microsoft Virtual Earth is an application that visualizes geographic and location-based information by combining Microsoft's 3D maps with location data, which in this case will come from the subscriber's OnStar system.
The Detroit News is reporting that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrations (NHTSA) new rules over roof strength standards will cost automotive manufacturers nearly $1.4 billion annually. The new rules change the crush force from 1.5 to 3 times the vehicle's weight, extending up to vehicles that weigh in at the 10,000 pound range (up from a previous 6,000 pound requirement). The new rules won't go into effect until 2010 though with an all compliance industry wide by 2017.
One of our members, Offroad250, came across some idiot that mounted his fifth wheel hitch receiver to the tailgate of his old Chevrolet Blazer. Not only is this combination ridiculously unsafe, it's just a douche thing to do. Moron.
A news station in Boston has discovered a problem with Toyota Tundra pickup trucks where heavy amounts of rust have been showing up on the frames of the popular pickups. The problem effects 2000 to 2001 model year Tundra's, where their frames were cracking, panels falling off, and "unsafe to drive". Some Toyota Tacoma's are also said to have had similar problems. The Boston news station is reporting that Toyota is buying back the effected models at over market value, based off of Kelly Blue Book prices in order to quick fix the solutions with customers and avoid being sued. Toyota has not commented on the total number of cases effected by rust.
Originally created for diesel trains after the replacement of steam trains and for commercial level trucks, the train horn was developed to create a very loud noise for safety purposes when approaching railroads, crossings, and more. In today's world, train horns are an extremely popular modification among heavy duty and large pickup truck owners. Some enthusiasts install them for safety but a majority of owners do it for the cool factor. If I had a heavy duty truck I would too!
Chrysler has issued another recall for their products this week, this time effecting their Jeep brand. Over 42,000 2002 to 2003 Jeep Liberty models have been recalled due to an issue with the front suspension upper control arm ball joint that may experience corrosion and separate while driving, leading to an increased risk of a crash occurring.
Additionally, over 4,300 2009 model year Jeep Commander, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Jeep Wrangler's have also been recalled due to an issue with the vehicle's wiring under the steering column that involves the driver airbag. The module controlling the air bag may not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injuries.
Owners are encouraged to contact their local dealer as soon as possible or Chrysler directly at 800-853-1403.
This story could be considered an early "Friday Beerblog". Police officers down in Australia found a particularly interesting looking wheel lock device also known as "The Club", while investigating Chad Hasting's (18) car after pulling him over for a traffic violation. The cops proceeded to call in additional officers and arrested Mr. Hasting for possession of an armed device. According to Mr. Hasting in an interview, one of the officers made the following comments, "Get a new steering wheel lock, it looks like a bloody gun," and "a lucky boy,", followed by "any other cop would have had you at gunpoint".
The state of California have passed a new law beginning July 1, 2010 that will require nearly 40,000 automotive servicing shops to check tire pressure of vehicles during each visit and correct the tire pressure by adding air if necessary. The law does not require body shops, car washes, glass repair shops or parts stores to check tire pressures.
Now here's the weak part. The shops effected, which are service locations, smog checking stations, oil changing stations, etc, will be notified by the state on how much they should charge for the tire pressure check. California's Air Resources Board defended their new law stating it would "save 75 million gallons of fuel per year, while also eliminating 700,000 metric tons of greenhouse gasses".
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is launching a new roof strength rating system to help consumers pick vehicles that will help protect them in rollover crashes. Twelve small SUVs are the first to be put to the test. Only 4 earn the top rating of good. The Volkswagen Tiguan has the strongest rated roof and the Kia Sportage has the weakest among the 2008-09 models evaluated. This new rating system is based on Institute research showing that occupants in rollover crashes benefit from stronger roofs. Vehicles rated good must have roofs that are more than twice as strong as minimum federal safety standards require.
The all-new 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Regular Cab and Quad® Cab earned 5-star ratings for driver- and front-passenger protection in a frontal crash, the highest ratings in the U.S. government’s safety crash test program. The 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Crew Cab received the same five-star ratings earlier this year. “Safety is an engineering priority in all Chrysler vehicles and the all-new 2009 Dodge Ram is proof of our efforts,” said Scott Kunselman, Vice President – Body on Frame Product Team, Chrysler LLC. “The all-new Dodge Ram offers enhanced passive safety protection as well as the latest active safety technologies. We have integrated more than 35 safety and security features, instilling the confidence our customers want and expect.”
Ford Motor Company is taking full advantage of the fuel economy, performance and reliability benefits associated with Electric Power Steering (EPS) on a variety of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury products, but the company isn’t stopping there. Customers already behind the wheel of the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner, one of Ford’s first products to sport EPS, also are enjoying other clever – yet subtle – steering characteristics that enhance drive quality. One such EPS-enabled feature, pull-drift compensation, is a software-based technology that helps drivers offset vehicle pulling or drifting that can occur in steady crosswinds or on uneven roads.
New television ads began airing this week around the country touting the unparalleled safety features that make the 2009 Ford F-150 America’s Safest Truck. The new safety ads continue the straightforward, no-nonsense campaign launched last fall. In rapid-fire fashion, the narrator tells viewers: “All right, so you’re driving down the freeway doing about 60 when you notice the guy next to you is steering with his knees, eating a cheeseburger and talking on the phone. And that is exactly why the Ford F-150 is the safest truck in America. It's got a high-strength steel safety cage, side-impact air bags, safety canopy, five-star crash rating, and roll stability control. Because it’s not just crazy out there, it’s certifiably insane. It’s not just a pickup truck. It’s the 2009 Motor Trend Truck of the Year.”
Mitsubishi have issued a recall of nearly 40,000 2008 to 2009 Outlander sport utility vehicles. The recall involves an incorrect material composition of the brake booster check valve that may cause the valve to stick closed even when the engine is off, causing an insufficient braking assist. The lack of brake assistance may increase the stopping distance of the vehicle, potentially leading to an increased risk of crash. Owners are encouraged to contact their local dealer as soon as possible via Mitsubishi at 800-222-0037.
Toyota Motor Corporation announces it has developed a Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) rear-seat center airbag-the first*1 in the world-to help reduce the severity of secondary injuries incurred by rear-seat passengers in a side-on collision. The new airbag is fitted in a large, fixed, rear-seat center console that comes in a version of a Toyota model to be launched in Japan in the near future. When the vehicle is hit side-on, the airbag deploys from the top of the console to act as a barrier that helps lessen injuries caused by passengers colliding with each other or into the console.
Toyota is in trouble over a 1996 recall involving a series of pickup trucks with defective relay rods. The rod connects the steering wheel to the front spindle and can possibly fracture, resulting in an increased risk of crash or death. An NBC investigation video uncovers Toyota's failure of issuing a recall notice about the defective part for nearly ten years, originating in 1996, and ignoring the recall until 2005. You can view NBC's investigation below.
The dude in this YouTube video managed to get his Jeep stuck in mud so badly that while pulling the truck out, his entire front suspension gets twisted and ripped apart from underneath the Jeep. His buddy then yells out "Damn Dude, Holy Fuck" in reaction to the carnage. Talk about having a bad day.
According to sources across the intarweb, police officers in Massachusetts are pulling over motorists in unmarked Ford F-150 pickup trucks. A uniformed officer was spotted ticketing a motorist from his F-150 without any police markings except for the blue and red lights mounted on the interior dash. Very sly!
When they say “Built Ford Tough” about the all-new 2009 F-150 they aren’t just talking about brawny stuff like high strength steel. They’re also talking about cushiony features such as air bags – the kind of air bags other trucks wish they had, namely a “K-Bag”.
The all-new 2009 Ford F-150 – which features exclusive “K-bag” side air bag technology – provides better side-impact crash safety ratings than the Chevrolet Silverado and Dodge Ram, according to a new study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Ford has issued a recall of over 11,000 2009 Ranger 4x2 pickup trucks due to an improperly manufactured front wheel spindle that can possibly fracture while driving increasing the risk of a crash or even death. Owners of the brand new pickups are urged to contact their local dealer as soon as possible, where dealers will replace the part free of charge. Owners can contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332 or by visiting www.safecar.gov
The Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Dodge Ram 1500, and Nissan Titan are billed as workhorses, but the side crash protection these 2009 model large pickups provide is wimpy, at best. The trio earns either poor or marginal ratings in side tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Even with side airbags, occupant protection in these crew-cab pickups is no better than marginal.
Chrysler have issued a recall of 32,865 2008 to 2009 Dodge Ram 2500, Ram 3500, and Ram 3500 Chassis Cab pickup trucks equipped with the Powers and Sons steering linkages. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the steering linkage drag link inner tie rod can fracture causing a loss of control of steering. Owners are encouraged to contact their local dealers as soon as possible to have the problem fixed. For more information you can contact Chrysler directly at 800-853-1403 or call the NHTSA vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236.
A new "wild" story showed up on the internet yesterday, where a man was carjacked by thieves who got away with his BMW, cash and cellphone. The man waits a couple days (after contacting authorities) and sends a text to his cell phone from a buddies phone stating "I've got a bunch of hot chicks...we've got some drugs too". The the thieves then answered back with their address and were greeted by the not-so-hot Columbus police department.
Note to self: If your truck is ever stolen, bribe thieves with Mort hot women and drugs...and beer.
Automotive drifting phenomenon, Rhys Millen, attempted to perform a back flip in a Red Bull Trophy Truck in 2007 which failed miserably and landed him in the hospital with a broken back. To ring in 2009, last Wednesday night (or Thursday morning however you look at it), Rhys attempted another back flip in his truck and failed again, although this time not so badly. Rhys managed to land the truck somewhat straight but the brute force of hitting the ground and the rear end bottoming out flipped the truck onto its side. Check it out below.
The 2009 Dodge Dakota four door pickup truck has received a five star crash test rating by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for the front driver, front passenger, side driver and side rear passenger spots. The truck was not equipped with side impact air bags as well as electronic stability control. The NHTSA also gave the Dakota pickup a four star rating for roll overs in both the two wheel drive and four wheel drive models, with a 17 and 19 percent chance of a roll over.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have delayed passing an increase for higher crash test standards citing a "new ratings system will make it more difficult to achieve top scores and the new standards were scheduled to take effect for the 2010 model year". The adjustment in crash test standards come as a relief for automakers, specifically for companies based in the United States, as tighter standards would cause "more financial headaches". The NHTSA disagrees though, saying "it will make the situation tougher for consumers in the long run".
Pickuptrucks posted the latest NHTSA roll over crash test ratings for the 2009 Ford F-150 and 2009 Dodge Ram, and the results were not that great for the four wheel drive platforms. "The 2009 four wheel drive Ford F-150 was given a 22 percent chance of a roll over versus 19 percent in the 2008 F-150". The Dodge Ram increased as well, earning a "21 percent chance of a roll over compared to 19 percent in the 2008 Ram 1500". The new roll over tests drop the two trucks' ratings from 5 stars to only 3. You can check out more information about each pickup truck by heading on over to their site.
Reports have come in that NBC Networks have decided to pass on airing Top Gear USA to their new lineup due to the current and late failure of Knight Rider. BBC is reportedly shopping for cable networks in the U.S. to feature their hit European show.
I don't see how NBC could place the two shows in the same arena. Knight Rider is a fictional entertainment series that sucks and is full of shit that would never happen in real life, versus Top Gear, a show dedicated to automotive enthusiasts who test vehicles in real life situations. But then again this is the same NBC that brought back American Gladiators...come on.
Chrysler have issued a new recall this morning, this time affecting their 2007 to 2008 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks equipped with the 6.7 liter diesel motor. The part effected is a silencer pad that can sag and contact the exhaust gas recirculation cooler (EGR). This contact can result in an engine compartment fire and is highly serious. Owners are urged to contact dealers as soon as possible for a support bracket to be installed. Owners can contact Chrysler directly at 1-800-853-1403 or their local dealer.
Weighing in at 5,488 pounds, the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 four door Crew Cab pickup truck has been awarded a 5 star rating in driver and passenger front crash tests by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The truck tested was equipped with side impact curtain air bags, which did help the pickup trucks score. Check out the crash test video inside.
RightPSI is proud to introduce the patented RightPSI tire pressure management system. RightPSI mounts quickly and easily to any tire valve stem. Three different colored tire-pressure indicators provide a visual reference for tire pressure status – orange for low pressure, black for correct pressure, and yellow for over-fill status. The colored indicator can be seen from up to 15 feet away making it easy to effectively and consistently monitor tire pressure. RightPSI is the only product of its kind that can be used as a tire-pressure gauge, tire-pressure fill point, and over-fill indicator simultaneously.
The new 2009 Ford F-150 is the latest Ford vehicle to earn the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s “Top Safety Pick” award. With the award, Ford Motor Company, including Volvo, adds to its leading number of 16 IIHS “Top Safety Pick” ratings, further separating itself from Honda’s second place tally of 13. IIHS awarded the F-150 its highest rating for front and side impact tests and in evaluations of seats and head restraints. The F-150’s standard offering of Ford’s exclusive AdvanceTrac® with RSC® (Roll Stability Control) also met a newer requirement that vehicles must offer electronic stability control to earn IIHS’s top rating. Ford has been aggressively implementing this safety technology across its vehicle lineup.
Although General Motors are struggling with selling vehicles on dealer lots resulting to their huge third quarter losses, GM is working on a new version of the presidential vehicle called "Cadillac One", a stretched Cadillac DTS for the Presidential-Elect, Barack Obama. Based off of a GMC TopKick heavy duty truck platform, the Cadillac will essentially be transformed into a portal bunker for the new president. The United States Secret Service will not release any specific details about the vehicle, to help protect the future president. Reported by Boston.
The Detroit News is reporting that Nissan Motor Company have issued a recall of more than 200,000 vehicles which includes their 2007 to 2008 Murano sports utility vehicle, to fix a sensor system error that involves the passenger side air bag. The electronic component can interrupt a signal within the sensor, preventing the passenger air bag from deploying. A spokesman for Nissan stated there have "been no injuries or crashes" and that "most of the recalled vehicles are in the United States".
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety this week revised its crash test rating of the 2008 Jeep Patriot, upgrading the frontal crash test result to “Good,” the institute’s top rating. In addition to the top rating for frontal protection, the 2008 Jeep Patriot equipped with available front torso airbags also was rated “Good” for side impact protection and “Acceptable” for rear crash protection. Jeep Patriot was among eight small SUVs rated in an August 20, 2008, press release from the Institute.
Last week we bought you two new SEMA project trucks, the Turbonetics 2009 F-150 and ICON's Toyota FJ45 classic pickup truck. The 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Crew Cab truck was put to the test, as well as Toyota placing the Tundra Heavy Duty under its own tests of whether or not the truck will survive. General Motors and Toyota Motor Corporation both announced huge savings deals on new vehicles, and Ford's new 6.7 liter diesel engine was spotted.
Ford Motor Company, building on its safety and technology leadership, announced it will offer a new advanced "active" collision-avoidance technology, Collision Warning with Brake Support, on certain Ford and Lincoln vehicles next year. Collision Warning with Brake Support uses radar to detect moving vehicles directly ahead. When the danger of a collision is detected, the system warns the driver with an authoritative beep and a red warning light projected on the windshield above the instrument panel. The system also automatically pre-charges brakes and engages a brake-assist feature that helps drivers quickly reach maximum braking once the brakes are engaged.
After letting the rule time frame expire, the Bush Administration have requested more time to rewrite the current government's rulings on vehicle roof strength and rigidity. Transportation Secretary, Mary Peters, said "she has notified Congress of the need for additional time" but did not offer any explanation as to why the Bush Administration needed more time. "We must ensure that any final rules we issue are as successful as possible. Accordingly, we have informed Congress today that we need more time to complete a new roof strength standard that effectively protects motorists" said Secretary Peters.
Talk about having a case of the Mundays (Office Space reference). This unfortunate guy got pulled over on the side of the highway and actually received more than what he bargained for. Upon driving to the shoulder, a semi-truck comes up from behind and plows right into his car. Epic Fail.
It's always a good idea to have a backup plan, especially when operating with heavy machinery, automobiles, fire, cell phones, the wife, or any other life threatening situation. The operator of this (very nice) tow truck did not have a backup plan on this particular rescue operation and while flipping over a stranded semi truck on the highway, the semi begins to roll back and causes the tow truck to flip over. Epic FAIL.
General Motors made the announcement that the company has discontinued the production of their heated windshield washer fluid system on all models including pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles after announcing a recall of over 850,000 pickup truck and sport utility vehicles last month. Any vehicle that was previously ordered with the option will have it removed from the vehicle if already equipped or deleted from the order entirely. Models effected are the following:
Cadillac: CTS, DTS, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT
Chevrolet: Tahoe, Suburban, Avalanche, Silverado, Traverse
GMC: Acadia, Yukon, Denali, Yukon XL, Denali XL, Sierra, Sierra Denali
Hummer: H2
Saturn: Outlook SUV
General Motors Corp is recalling 857,735 vehicles equipped with a heated windshield wiper fluid system for a potential short-circuit problem.
Man would this suck or what. A Japanese towing company thought of a new way to commandeer (like Jack Sparrow) your vehicle using a crane to do the dirty work. I don't think this would work too well with a full size Ford or Chevrolet, but hey, I'm sure someone has tried. Check the video inside.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued a second consumer advisory regarding non-repaired Ford, Lincoln and Mercury pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles and other passenger cars, equipped with faulty cruise control switches and have not yet had the problem corrected. Nearly 5 million vehicles are still effected out of the total 12 million that were recalled. Ford commented on their original recall notices and said "the return rate has been lower than expected or hoped (for)".
Texas Armoring Corporation, a leading worldwide supplier of armored passenger vehicles, announced today that the company has been in contact with key security personnel affiliated with the National Football League (NFL). Following the recent attack on Jacksonville Jaguars Offensive Tackle Richard Collier, representatives of professional athletes and their security staff have reached out to Texas Armoring Corporation to provide them with custom bulletproof car solutions. According to the company, approximately 80-90% of attacks occur while victims are traveling by automobile, thus a bulletproof vehicle is the first line of defense for individuals in the public eye.
If you were too concentrated on the
Republican National Convention last week and did not check out Truckblog at all (which is a depressing thing), this is your chance to get a recap on our top stories.
Also for our jubilee of "Office Space" remembrance this week I ask, how many pieces of flare did you wear to work today or over the weekend?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have closed an ongoing investigation of sudden acceleration problems among Toyota Tacoma pickup trucks, stating there was not enough concrete evidence to conclude an individual cause of the 400 complaints. Toyota Motor Corporation denied any accounts of their Tacoma pickups being a cause of the 51 crashes and 12 injuries. The model years effected by the investigation were 775,000 Tacomas built between 2004 and 2008.
During the famous Gumball 3000 race last week, one driver caught a hefty accident on tape while cruising along of a Ford Excursion towing a large trailer in the slow lane and all of a sudden, the trailer starts fish tailing and causes the Excursion to whip around, jackknife, and flip over. This video leaves me thinking, WWJD?
Automakers are improving the crashworthiness of their vehicles and quickly installing side airbags and electronic stability control, an important crash avoidance feature, on more models. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently completed front, side, and rear crash test evaluations of 8 small SUV models. For the first time, every model the Institute tested comes equipped with electronic stability control as standard equipment. Check out the graded chart inside.
The 2009 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner compact sport utility vehicles added to Ford's leading number of top-safety-rated vehicles by earning five stars in each of the government's crash-worthiness tests. The results top the Toyota RAV-4 and, with the 2009 Escape's improved fuel efficiency, offer better combined safety and fuel efficiency ratings than the Honda CR-V.
When you attended your "Monday meeting" this morning did your boss ask everyone "is this good for the company?" in reference to any negative actions that occurred around the workplace lately, just like Bill Lumbergh does in "Office Space"? Searching for the latest apps on iTunes for your iPhone or checking your email for hours on end may be not be the best, but subscribing and watching our Truckblog.TV podcast and reading through our best blogs of last week certainly won't hurt the company at all.
Four United States residents crossing the border from Del Rio, Texas into Cuidad Acuna, Mexico last Friday had their trucks impounded and were fined for carrying extra diesel across the border. Those fines are equal to "70 percent of the value of the diesel confiscated", the city report stated. Diesel fuel prices in Mexico are about $2.25 per gallon and drivers have been trying to sneak diesel fuel across the border for months.
According to the Detroit News, Nissan Motor Company will soon be selling vehicles featuring their "ECO Pedal" system, which forces the gas pedal upward when it senses the vehicle speeding up too quickly, helping improve fuel efficiency by 5 to 10 percent. The system "calculates the most efficient rate of acceleration in a vehicle based on how fast fuel is being burned and other factors and causes the gas pedal to push back to alert overzealous drivers".
The all-new 2009 Dodge Ram is loaded with safety and security features. “We engineered comfort and security into every single corner of our all-new 2009 Dodge Ram,” said Scott Kunselman, Vice President – Truck Product Development, Chrysler LLC. “With 35 safety and security features, our all-new Dodge Ram is designed to protect and perform.” In addition to offering a standard four-wheel Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) and standard Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with Hill Start Assist (HSA) and Trailer Sway Control (TSC), all-new 2009 Dodge Ram safety and security features include standard advanced multi-stage front driver and passenger air bags, standard supplemental side-curtain air bags and available ParkSense Rear Park Assist System.
Did you have a severe road rage incident while driving to work this morning just like Samir Nainanajad does in the beginning of the comedy movie "Office Space"? Now that you are at work and have hopefully cooled down before receiving your TPS reports (you can go ahead and ignore them), take some time to check out our big blogs from last week, then watch the best of Office Space on YouTube so that you understand all of my Office Space references I've made every Monday morning for the past six months. Once you are done with that, please subscribe to our free podcast on iTunes and check out our latest Truckblog.TV episode.
A couple of dumb ass guys decided it would be cool to jump an old beater truck several feet in the air over a home made jump, after crashing the truck into a tree a dozen times (what's with people these days?). In doing so, one of them ends up in the hospital with a couple pins in his back (serves him right). The video's titling is pretty rad too, way better than our Truckblog.TV videos...not. By the way, make sure you check out our podcast on iTunes (sorry for the shameless plug). You can see the video of all the jumping, crashing, and destruction inside.
Small pickups aren't providing as much protection in side crashes as many new cars and SUVs. The Toyota Tacoma was the only one of five small pickup trucks, all 2008 models, to earn the highest rating of good for occupant protection in recent side crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The Dodge Dakota, Ford Ranger, and Nissan Frontier are rated marginal, and the Chevrolet Colorado is rated poor in the side test, which simulates a side impact from an SUV or another pickup.
Azentek will be releasing their DS-400GB rear view mirror, also known as the "SmartMirror" at the end of next month to United States customers. Retailed at $799, the "SmartMirror" is packed with integrated GPS Navigation featuring a Samsung S3C244OA-400MHZ processor with 64mb internal memory, 4.0 inch touch screen LCD monitor with 16:9 aspect ratio, and built-in GPS receiver with highly-sensitive (16 channels) dual antenna design.
Ford Motor Company is strengthening its commitment to active safety with plans to offer more new product features and technologies that consumers increasingly want as well as ramping up research and development into next-generation accident avoidance safety technologies. In the next year, Ford will introduce three new active technologies including Adaptive Cruise Control, BLISTM (Blind Spot Information System) with Cross Traffic Alert and a third to be named later in 2008. These features will complement Ford’s industry-exclusive AdvanceTrac with RSC (Roll Stability Control) system that is standard on millions of Ford products.
The 2008 Ford Explorer is more resistant to damage and less likely to cause damage to other vehicles in low-speed crashes than other midsize sport utility vehicles, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reported today. “The Ford Explorer has been the benchmark SUV for family capability, safety and value for two decades,” said Darryl Hazel, president, Ford Customer Service Division. “Insurance companies are more likely to give Explorer customers discounts because of this established track record.”
Cars, SUVs, and pickups share the road but they don't share the same standard for bumpers. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has petitioned the federal government to regulate the bumpers on light trucks (SUVs, pickups, and vans) just as it regulates those on cars. The same bumper rules should apply to all kinds of passenger vehicles. To meet federal rules, car bumpers must be 16 to 20 inches off the ground and limit the amount of damage that can be sustained in a low-speed crash. The idea is to ensure that the bumpers on colliding cars engage, absorbing most of the energy of the impact and keeping damage away from expensive-to-repair parts like fenders, grilles, headlights, and taillights.
If you live in the state of California or Washington, beginning today the law will require drivers to use hands-free devices on cell phones while driving any vehicle. The new law also bans any drivers under the age of 18 years old from using cell phones or other mobile devices while behind the wheel. Many states across the nation are quickly passing laws requiring the hands-free devices to help make the roads safer. There is also a no grace period for drivers caught talking and driving without the hands-free devices. The only clause to the new law is if drivers are making emergency calls to law enforcement, medical, fire department or any emergency services agency. For more information about the law in California, visit dmv.ca.gov and Seattlepi for Washington residents.
Towing a 5th wheel trailer safely is its own concern without having to worry the trailer will impact your truck cab when making sharp turns. Thanks to The Glider from Valley, this fear can be put to rest. The Glider prevents damage to the cab of 6 1/2' short bed pickup trucks by allowing the 5th wheel hitch to glide backward towards the tailgate approximately 9" during tight maneuvers, providing the extra cab clearance you need to park or navigate curves. It allows for greater turning radius with up to 3 1/2" of total adjustment - from 14 1/2" to 18 1/16" - in 1 3/16" increments.
I didn't know whether or not to make this story a "beerblog" this morning. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will be debating next week about how to address the "concerns about the dangers the growing number of quiet-running hybrid vehicles and future electric cars present to visually impaired and blind pedestrians". That's right, advocates now want sound requirements for hybrid vehicles in order to prevent injuries due to their silent motors, although NO injuries have been reported to date.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have increased their investigation of twenty-one General Motors pickup truck and SUV models, that have experienced engine compartment fires that can erupt even when the ignition is turned off. The investigation is checking only the model years 2006 to 2008, which affects 2,700,000 vehicles. Forty-one non crash engine compartment fires have been reported from the incidents, eight of which caused property damage. Click "Full Story" to see the full list of vehicles.
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., announced manufacturer's suggested retail prices (MSRP) today for 2009 Tacoma pickup trucks, which range from $15,170 to $27,075. Tacoma greatly enhances its overall value with the addition of several new features. All Tacoma models will now feature Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), and Traction Control (TRAC) as standard equipment, making Tacoma the latest model to feature Toyota's STAR Safety system consisting of Anti-Lock Brakes, Electronic Brake Force Distribution, Brake Assist, VSC, and TRAC.
Ever since I was a child (some of you can stop laughing now), I have had a fascination for pre-runner desert racing trucks and although I know the sport pretty well, the following video would make me scream for an "oh shit" handle. Driven by Marty Coyne, father of Travis Coyne whom we interviewed last year at Championship Off-Road Racing, managed to save the race truck from rolling over after jumping dozens of feet into the air and landing sideways. Check out the video inside.
What used to be the top selling vehicle in the United States until it fell from the peril of oil prices, the Ford F-150 really is one tough and aggressive pickup truck. Ford has been trying to convey that message for years and until recently, they never explained the "behind the scenes" of their commercials, which are in fact 100 percent real. As part of their website, Ford offers four crazy behind the scenes look of their commercials: Centrifuge, Chinook, Cargo, and Forward Thinking. Click here to remember why this was the top selling truck, despite the $100 dollars it took to fill them up.
Every year vehicles become more sophisticated than ever, making it nearly impossible to debug any problems by yourself without having to make your way to the dealership. A website by the name of www.obd-codes.com is now making it easier for anyone to troubleshoot any OBD-II codes given by your pickup truck or car. Offering tips, symptoms, and possible solutions, www.obd-codes.com is making it easier to obtain the information you need, faster. You can check out their website at www.obd-codes.com.
Ford will roll out 911 Assist, the latest addition to the award-winning SYNC in-vehicle communications system, later this year with full support of one of the nation's leading emergency service associations, the National Emergency Number Association (NENA). "Ford Motor Company is excited to partner with NENA to improve the delivery of critically important emergency services," said Doug VanDagens, Ford's director of Connected Services Solutions. "We believed it was important to work with such an organization to ensure that emergency personnel across the country learn what to expect from 911 Assist as well as to design the system to serve them more effectively."
As the National Safety Council turns the country's attention to distracted driving next week, the Ford Sync™ in-car communications and entertainment system continues gaining popularity as one of the most advanced answers yet to the distractions nearly 190 million Americans encounter as they talk on cell phones while driving.
Ford Motor Company is teaming up with the Los Angeles County Lifeguards, a division of the Los Angeles County Fire Department, to help save lives while protecting the environment. Today, Ford presented the squad with the first 10 of a fleet of 45 eco-friendly Escape Hybrids with Intelligent four-wheel-drive, specially equipped for use on rescue patrol along 72 miles of Southern California coastline.
A car dealer by the name of Max Motors in Butler, Missouri, is giving customers who buy a new car, the choice of $250 dollars in gasoline or a free semi-automatic handgun. "We got high gas prices, theft, carjackings, innocent people getting hurt" says Walter Moore of Max Motors.
Aldis Corporation of Oak Ridge Tennessee, are currently developing a new camera and software system for automated traffic signals, that will help with the flow of traffic and increase vehicle gas mileage. At current intersections, engineers have to place detectors in the road to determine the distance of vehicles to the intersection. These detectors are expensive to install and quite often are prone to failure.
As if Hearse Con 2008 wasn't bad enough, this would definitely ruin your day. Apparently in Russia, the roads are absolutely horrible during the spring, summer, fall, and you guessed it, winter seasons. They are however, at their "worst" conditions between seasons, when all of the insane amount of snow begins to melt, creating a mudd bogging paradise for most southerners here in the states. According to the original source, the authorities don't give a crap about the conditions either (sounds like lovely Russia doesn't it?). Check out the pictures inside.
Exactly one week ago, a category 2 tornado with winds of 150 miles per hour touched ground in Leighton, Alabama. Someone crazy enough to stand near a window during this event, captured some remarkable footage of a group of cars in a parking lot being tossed around, like dead leaves that fell off of a tree. Somehow the trucks on the right portion of the screen were not affected. Check out the video inside.
Just like the scene from Office Space when Dom Portwood asks Peter if he received the memo about his TPS reports, today I ask you Truckblog fans, did you get that memo from last week about Truckblog TV and our other huge stories? If you didn't, below is a list of our top blogs from last week for you to read this Monday morning. "So if you could just remember to do that from now on, that'd be great. All right!".
Are you feeling the Friday Beerblog love yet? This new one was found on Gizmodo, where the latest way to lift your automobile is by hooking up a lift jack balloon to your vehicle's exhaust, using the expelled gas to inflate the bag, thus lifting the car. Is this thing not dumb-ass proof or what? Anyone in their right mind who would get near this inflated hazard, is asking for it, even if the claims are "it's strong enough to lift a three-ton vehicle 18 inches for up to 45 minutes". Videos inside.
“Go Ahead Punk… Make My Day!”… Imagine this familiar voice sounding out from under the hood of your ride; or you pull up in front of your girlfriend’s house and announce your arrival with “I Got You Babe”, or you are out on your boat and you press a button on your FX-550 and – all around you can hear the theme song from “Jaws”. With Horntones the possibilities are endless.
Check out the YouTube video inside! Install article and full review, coming soon.
Researchers at Ford’s advanced driving simulator, Virtual Test Track Experiment (VIRTTEX), are devoting much of 2008 to study how active safety technologies in vehicles should alert drivers of potentially dangerous driving incidents. Ford also conducted customer driving clinics to test warning systems for its new backup system, the Cross Traffic Alert with Blind Spot Monitoring warning system, which alerts drivers backing out of a parking space when traffic is approaching from the sides.
To redesign the 2009 F-150, the Ford engineering team worked with its customer base to determine the needs and wants of today’s truck buyer. The 2009 F-150 gives Ford owners more choice and more options than before – with the ability to create 35 separate configurations – all delivered with Ford quality.
Ford is actively addressing drivers’ demands for increased visibility with the introduction of two new features, the Blind Spot Mirror and the Cross Traffic Alert with Blind-Spot Monitoring System, arriving in 2009. “Ford is delivering innovative features aiding in a better drive experience for the customer,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford Group Vice President, Global Product Development.
Chrysler have announced they will be offering In-Car Internet, beginning this year. "The feature will be added to existing vehicles by dealers beginning this year and later be installed on the assembly line" stated Chrysler's Product Development Chief, Frank Klegon. Chrysler also hopes to make the radio itself a WiFi port. The technology will not be free though, and will utilize mobile phone towers for its signal, so you will need a wireless phone carrier for the system to work. The new Internet option can be added to existing models and will be worked into the future assembly line soon. Now you have an excuse to check out Truckblog even more, and become an even greater traffic hazard! What happened to safety?
Ford will bolster the 2009 Explorer by including Trailer Sway Control. Trailer Sway Control joins an already impressive list of standard safety features, including industry-exclusive AdvanceTrac® with RSC® (Roll Stability Control).
4wdworld.com sells a product called the EEzy Wheel, which is an inflatable device that lifts your truck tire and wheel onto the hub of your pickup for you, effortlessly. The unit operates from air pressure in your spare tire, eliminating the need for an air compressor (although you can use one if you'd like). The EEzy Wheel Lift supports up to 175 pounds, and is compact and can be easily stored away.
Ford Motor Company has been ordered to pay out $82.6 Million dollars to Benetta Buell-Wilson, now paralyzed from the waist down, for when her 1997 Ford Explorer rolled 4 times during an accident and the roof had collapsed, which severed her spinal cord.
Toyota Motor Sales (TMS) U.S.A., Inc. will launch a Customer Support Program to extend warranty coverage on certain 1995 through 2000 model year Tacoma truck frames. Toyota has received reports regarding a small number of Tacoma vehicles exhibiting excessive corrosion of the frame, causing perforation of the metal. The frames of some vehicles may not have adequate corrosion protection. When exposed to severe environmental conditions, including accumulation of road salts, these vehicles may develop corrosion beyond normal surface rust commonly found on metal after years of exposure.
Chrysler has issued a recall for the 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Jeep Commander SUV's, due to a problem with the vehicle stalling while driving. “The front control module may have been incorrectly manufactured. This could cause the engine to stall while driving or nor to start", stated The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
In an article by USA Today, the 2009 Nissan Murano performed the best out of 9 SUV's, in new crash tests of mid-size SUV's, released by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Popular electronics blog, Engadget, posted a story about a designer from the automotive design company, Pininfarina, who developed a wiperless windshield that keeps the front glass clear of water and debris featuring a multi-layer system.
Rostra Precision Controls, Inc. has introduced a ParkPilot Ultrasonic Smart Parking System designed specifically for trucks that did not come factory equipped with obstacle sensing. The new ParkPilot Truck Kit uses ultrasonic technology to detect moving and static objects up to six feet behind the vehicle, alerting drivers of unseen objects and facilitating ease of parking.
Porsche has announced a recall of 19,000 Cayenne SUVs, sold between November 30, 2006 to January 18, 2008 because of a fuel line problem. The fuel line can come into contact with the engine block while driving, possibly leaving abrasions in the fuel line and causing sounds. Only five instances have occured and no injuries or accidents have been reported. If you have purchased a new Cayenne since 2006, talk to your dealer as soon as possible. As reported by Detroit News.
Just in case you were trapped in that corporate meeting last week, or you did not have enough time to check out the blog, here is a list of our top blogs from last week.
Ford is further expanding its ‘smart’ features for truck customers, announcing today a collection of industry-exclusive technologies for F-Series trucks and commercial E-Series vans that will help make business owners more productive and successful.
Every Monday morning we give you a re-cap of last weeks festivities, from automotive manufacturer announcements to the hottest (and sometimes worst) products available. Below is a list of last weeks top stories:
As posted by Yahoo Finance, Ford Motor Company announced this past weekend of another recall, effecting 225,000 vehicles this time that were already repaired from the previous cruise control catastrophe. Ford says "the affected vehicles represent a small portion of the about 10 million vehicles that have been recalled since 1999 related to the cruise control switch problem".
Autoweek has published their review of the 2008 Nissan Frontier Nismo King Cab, stating "This is a nice piece to drive, solidly built, plenty of power, good steering feel and handling, given what it is, even a really nice ride for an off-roadable truck. The Nismo folks have gotten their sums right." Powered by a 260 horse power 4.0 liter V-6, this little pickup is guaranteed to handle the trails. Click Here to check out the review.
