2012 Ford F-150 EcoBoost 4X4 Now Comes Standard with Extra Long Range

by Paul Crowe

in 4X4 Trucks, New Trucks

2012 Ford F-150 EcoBoost goes a long way

2012 Ford F-150 EcoBoost goes a long way

The 2012 Ford F-150 EcoBoost 4X4 now comes standard with a 36 gallon tank, combined with 21mpg on the highway, you’ll be going a mighty long way before you need to look for gas, almost the entire length of California, for instance. No need for one of those aftermarket fuel tanks in the bed, this truck will get you there and back, up to 756 miles.

Ford says the EcoBoost V6 has become a best seller:

The F-150’s 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine, which debuted earlier this year, has quickly become the industry’s top-selling V6 engine in full-sized pickups. The F-150 EcoBoost outsells all competitive V6 full-sized trucks – Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, Toyota Tundra and Dodge Ram – combined.

Yes, the fill up is a big one, but once done, you’re good to go. No worrying about gas while you’re on the job, plan your fuel stops to fit your schedule. Nice touch.

Legacy Classic Trucks Give New Life to Vintage Haulers

by Paul Crowe

in 4X4 Trucks, Truck Restoration

Legacy Classic Trucks Dodge Power Wagon

Legacy Classic Trucks Dodge Power Wagon

When did the line between trucks and cars get blurry? Some years back, trucks not only worked hard, they had a look all their own. Those big rounded fenders and spartan interiors just made you want to roll up your sleeves and get the job done. Today, a lot of those hard working vintage trucks are finding new homes in the garages of guys who want something that looks like a truck and is a whole lot simpler than what you can find in your local Ford or Chevy showroom, but the years have taken their toll and those trucks often need work, sometimes, a lot of work, before they’re ready for daily or even weekly duty. If you’ve found your truck but it needs more than your available time or skills can carry out, Legacy Classic Trucks might be able to help. Whether classic pickup or old Dodge Power Wagon, you should see what they’ve been doing.

Legacy Classic Trucks Chevy Pickup

Legacy Classic Trucks Chevy Pickup

Legacy Classic Trucks provides three levels of restorations:

  • Stage 1 is pretty much everything you need to make your truck a reliable daily driver and work truck. It will start, stop and run like it’s supposed to and it will pass safety inspections required by your local motor vehicle department.
  • Stage 2 is a full body on frame restoration. Engines and mechanical systems are rebuilt or replaced, electrical upgrades to handle a few more accessories and maybe some modern conveniences to make your truck more up to date and a touch less spartan.
  • Stage 3 is a body off restoration and rotisserie paint job. Everything is an option, full interior makeovers, just about anything you want and can afford. What you get is show truck quality and appearance while still having a truck you can drive proudly anywhere.

If you can appreciate these classic trucks but really need some experienced hands to do the work, this is a shop that might be worth a look. The full restorations aren’t cheap, the Power Wagons are in six figures, but what you get for that investment would look good parked next to your hunting lodge and it would get you there and back no matter how bad the weather.

Not for everyone, but maybe for you? Check ‘em out.

Link: Legacy Classic Trucks

Callaway SportTruck Joins the High Performance Pickup Crowd

by Paul Crowe

in Performance Trucks

Callaway C19 SportTruck

Callaway C19 SportTruck

Roush and Saleen have been building high performance pickups for some time now, both adding their attention and considerable talent to Ford’s extremely popular F150. Now Callaway joins the fray with the Callaway SportTruck, a supercharged version of Chevrolet’s line of light and medium duty pickups based on Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500 HD, Avalanche, Suburban 1/2 Ton and 3/4 Ton, and Tahoe chassis. They can be either 2WD or 4WD and with any equipment group, cab style or bed length.

The SportTruck comes in SC450, SC490 and SC540 versions:

SC450 – Supercharged 5.3 liter V8, 450 bhp/450 lb-ft torque Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe
SC490 – Supercharged 6.0 liter V8, 490 bhp/481 lb-ft torque Silverado 2500HD
SC540 – Supercharged 6.2 liter V8, 540 bhp/522 lb-ft torque Silverado 1500

The best part is you get the same fuel mileage as the original, excellent drivability and 50 state legal emission compliance. Not bad. I guess all of that work on Corvettes and Camaros works on pickups, too.

Link: Callaway SportTruck

Lil Big Rig – Peterbilt and Kenworth Body Kits for Ford F250 Pickups

by Paul Crowe

in Truck Body Kits

Lil Pete - Peterbilt conversion for Ford F250

Lil Pete - Peterbilt conversion for Ford F250

A few years ago, if you wanted a Peterbilt pickup, you needed a lot of fabrication skills and loads of time. The finished conversions were really popular, but not everyone can take on a project of that magnitude which means Bob Suffern of Nashville, Tennessee is the man you want to see. His company, Lil Big Rigs, can set you up with a body kit to convert your long bed extended cab 2WD F-250 7.3 diesel Ford pickup (late 1980’s to early 1998 models) into a truck with Kenworth or Peterbilt big rig looks and pickup size.

Lil Kenny Kenworth conversion on a Ford F250

Lil Kenny Kenworth conversion on a Ford F250

These conversions have the proportions to really fool the eye until you see someone standing alongside, the prices are right and the tools and skills necessary are something most guys can handle. Pretty neat.

Prices start at $12,950.00 with various options available.

Link: Lil Big Rig

Lil Pete and a full size Peterbilt for a size comparison

Lil Pete and a full size Peterbilt for a size comparison

Lawrence Livermore National Lab and Navistar Study Aerodynamics for Fuel Efficiency

by Paul Crowe

in Truck Accessories, Truck Body Kits, Truck Business

Lawrence Livermore National Lab and Navistar work on aerodynamics

Lawrence Livermore National Lab and Navistar work on aerodynamics

There’s a lot of work going on these days to increase fuel efficiency, but most folks tend to think more about cars or light trucks, but think instead about the amount of fuel burned by the big rigs and you’ll realize the benefits of making them more efficient. Lawrence Livermore National Lab and Navistar are putting the 18 wheelers in a wind tunnel to test various methods of reducing aerodynamic drag. At highway speeds, 50 percent of engine power is used just to push the truck through the air, rolling resistance accounts for only 30 percent by comparison.

Streamlining has been gaining ground for some years but the trailers are still, basically, a big box, inducing large air pressure differentials. With properly designed devices attached below and behind the trailers, drag can be substantially reduced. The benefit could be at least a 12 percent increase in fuel economy, with ever improving results down the road. Even better, these add on devices could be installed on trucks currently on the road, not just on new trucks meaning the results could come fast.

Many companies or independent operators would love to see those kinds of fuel economy gains and these kinds of aerodynamic body and trailer kits could be on the market in just a few years.

Link: Lawrence Livermore National Lab via Forbes

International Introduces LoneStar Harley-Davidson Special Edition

by Paul Crowe

in Featured, New Trucks, Truck Business

International LoneStar Harley-Davidson Special Edition

International LoneStar Harley-Davidson Special Edition

International has introduced the International LoneStar Harley-Davidson Special Edition, a limited edition of their popular LoneStar model and it has all of the Harley Davidson badging and special touches that will make it stand out.

A special paint scheme, headlamps, Harley badging on the chrome fuel tanks, Harley gauge faces and more will identify this as the home on the road of a Harley rider. The sleeper only model will be limited to 250 units with production beginning in June. 40 customization options will most likely raise the base $155,000 price tag to something well north of that figure but if you spend more time in your truck than in your house, why not make it something special?

Link: The Kneeslider

Stacey David’s Copperhead Chevy C-10 For Sale

by Paul Crowe

in Performance Trucks

Copperhead Chevy C-10

Copperhead Chevy C-10

If you ever watched the TV show Trucks a couple of years ago, you probably remember Copperhead, the Chevy C-10 pickup Stacey David built up over a long series of episodes. Powered by the very first 620 horsepower 572 GM crate engine offered to the public, Copperhead had the power to back up its show truck looks.

An absolutely stunning truck from end to end, Copperhead is now for sale on eBay, so if you think it might look good with you in it, check it out.

Link: Copperhead – listing has ended

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