Wednesday, February 27, 2013

2013 Dodge Ram 1500 To Offer V-6 EcoDiesel

  • 3.0-liter V-6 EcoDiesel to deliver best-in-class fuel economy, a title already owned by the 2013 Ram 1500
  • Clean diesel features low CO2 emissions and impressive V-6 capability
  • Diesel engines praised for outstanding range and torque
  • Ram first to market with game-changing technologies

February 14, 2013 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - Beginning in third-quarter 2013, Ram will become the only brand to offer a small-displacement diesel for its half-ton line of trucks.

The 2014 Ram 1500 will offer a new, 3.0-liter EcoDiesel engine, mated with the eight-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission. The powertrain is expected to deliver an outstanding combination of best-in-class fuel efficiency, best-in-class torque and impressive capability.

“Truck owners have been emphatically asking for it, and Ram will be the only manufacturer to offer a diesel powertrain in the half-ton segment with the 2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel,” said Fred Diaz, President and CEO — Ram Truck Brand and Chrysler de Mexico, Chrysler Group LLC. “The half-ton truck market is incredibly competitive, and although we’re honored the Ram 1500 has received a number of prestigious awards, we cannot rest on what we have accomplished, we must keep pushing.”

The 2013 Ram 1500 won Motor Trend’s Truck of the Year, The North American Truck of the Year and Truck of Texas -- a rare trifecta in the pickup segment. Building on the award-winning truck, the 2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel will further stretch its best-in-class fuel economy title lead and continue to raise the innovation bar in one of the automotive industry’s most customer-loyal segments.

“The Ram 1500 with 3.0-liter V-6 turbo EcoDiesel and TorqueFlite eight-speed transmission deliver on the demands of truckers by providing best-in-class torque, fuel economy and range. There’s no doubt that being the only truck manufacturer to offer this game changing technology will provide Ram with a competitive advantage,” added Diaz.

The new 3.0-liter V-6 EcoDiesel is among today's most advanced diesel engines. Its emissions are 60 percent less than those produced by diesel powertrains 25 years ago. The impressive combination of torque and fuel economy marks new levels of performance for small V-6 engines.

Ram’s newest turbo diesel engine is manufactured by VM Motori, a Chrysler Group diesel engine supplier since 1992.

Over the past 10 months, the Ram Truck brand has set an aggressive product cadence. Ram’s big push began in April 2012 with the introduction of the Ram 1500 with class-leading 25 mpg fuel efficiency and innovative features such as Active Level four-corner air suspension.

The Ram Brand followed that news with the launch of the Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty pickups. Their 30,000-pound trailer-tow rating – more than three tons more than their closest competitor -- and 850 lb.-ft. of torque are at the top of their class. Most recently, Ram introduced the new 2014 Ram ProMaster van with its own list of best-in-class features, including fuel efficiency, payload, cargo capacity and lowest cost of ownership.

About Ram Truck Brand

The Ram Truck brand continues to establish its own identity and clearly define its customer since its launch as a standalone vehicle brand. Creating a distinct brand for Ram trucks has allowed the brand to concentrate on how core customers use their trucks and what new features they'd like to see. Whether focusing on a family that uses its half-ton truck day in and day out, a hard-working Ram Heavy Duty owner or a business that depends on its commercial vehicles every day, Ram has the truck market covered.

The Ram Truck brand has the most innovative lineup of full-size trucks on the market. Ram Truck has emerged as a full-size truck leader by investing substantially in new products, infusing them with great looks, refined interiors, durable engines and features that further enhance their capabilities. Truck customers, from half-ton to commercial, have a demanding range of needs and require their vehicles to provide high levels of capability. Ram trucks are designed to deliver a total package.

Follow Ram and Chrysler Group LLC news and video on: Ram Trucks: http://www.ramtrucks.com
Ram Zone blog: http://www.ramzone.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/chrysler and http://twitter.com/RamTrucks
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/ramtrucks and http://www.youtube.com/pentastarvideo
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/RamTrucks
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ramtrucks
Chrysler Connect blog: http://blog.chryslergroupllc.com

Monday, February 25, 2013

Forklift Loadable Rack-It Pickup Rack for Central Washington Refridgeration




Here's a Rack-It pickup rack mounted on a Dodge pickup and built for Central Washington Refrigeration, Yakima, Washington.

This is Rack-It's new HD Square Tube Commercial Forklift Loadable Rack. While this style of rack is typically made for service body applications, as you can see, we can also build these forklift loadable racks to fit pickup beds as well.

The Rack-It Forklift Loadable Rack provides maximum support for heavy loads and is designed to support the load on the crossbars. The side bars are lowered to allow the forklift forks to lower the load and retreat back without disturbing it. 

The Forklift Loadable rack can also be built to specific dimensions to accommodate high side tool boxes. We also can add custom mounting plates to attach the tool boxes to the rack for maximum support.

Last, but not least, we added an expanded metal frame behind the rear window, further customizing the rack to exactly what the customer was looking for. Once again, if you have a customer looking to customize a rack, we love to take on these cool projects, big or small.



To find out more, you may call Rack-It truck racks at 800-445-7666.
Also find us at http://rackitinc.com/

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Watch the new 2014 Chevrolet Silverado Pickup Debut in Detroit



The brand new 2014 Chevrolet Silverado Pickup broke cover weeks before the Detroit Auto Show and we were there to watch the truck explode onto the stage. And yes it literally exploded unto the world stage. Check out this video as we capture the new Chevy pickup's official public debut along with the GMC Sierra. Both trucks will feature three engine choices that promise to deliver better fuel economy as all three engines will be direct injected, come with variable timing and feature cylinder deactivation. But why read about the new Chevy Silverado when you can watch the debut for yourself in this exclusive TFLcar video from Detroit.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Rack-It Truck Rack Adorns Chevy Pick-Up On ESPN Winter X Games

Chevrolet Hits the Slopes with ‘Mountain Movers’ Series



Going behind the scenes of perilous work building action sports venues 
DETROIT – When ESPN Winter X Games course designer Chris “Gunny” Gunnarson and award-winning television producer Jason Carbone set out to create a behind-the-scenes series of action sports competitions, they knew they needed to team up with Chevrolet.
The brand has been part of Gunnarson’s action-packed life since he bought his great-grandmother’s 1964 Bel Air at the age of 16.
These days, Gunnarson, owner and president of Snow Park Technologies, personally relies on a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD dually to handle heavy duty work in harsh conditions – the kind that will provide real-life drama on the new National Geographic Channel series, Mountain Movers, set to premiere this spring.
“When athletes like Shaun White, Louie Vito and Danny Davis perform freestyle tricks in the halfpipe, it is one of the most exciting things you'll see in sports," said Chris Perry, U.S. vice president of Chevrolet Marketing.  "Mountain Movers is a great fit for Chevrolet, because it’s authentic. The show's hardworking, dedicated crew overcomes the odds each week using skill and creativity to design and build world-class winter action sports venues."
Jason Carbone’s Good Clean Fun (Tia & Tamera, Run’s House, Life of Ryan), is developing and producing the series for NGC.  From the first time he met Gunnarson and was introduced to his world, Carbone knew that he had to capture for television the real-life drama of these men defying the fiercest that Mother Nature can dish out to create the pulse-pounding competition courses for the world’s most popular action sports events.
“Snow Park Technologies works in the most remote locations under extreme conditions, exactly the type of programming NatGeo is famous for,” Carbone said. “From avalanche control to building a half-pipe in blizzard conditions, Mountain Movers is going to take the viewer to locations and place them in experiences that are truly one of a kind.”
Gunnarson and his Snow Park Technologies crew have designed and built more than 250 competition courses, including all of the Winter X Games in the United States and Europe, World Snowboard Championships and the Winter Dew Tour, among others.
Mountain Movers will show Gunnarson and his crew creating innovative snow sport venues in epic settings, where the hazards of winter weather, avalanches and working with heavy machinery present constant challenges.
“Building snow parks is tricky business under the best of conditions. Mountain Movers is about taking on the big challenges and having the right tools to get the job done,” Gunnarson said. “I know Chevy trucks can handle the heavy duty work we do, and in the nastiest environments a mountain can offer because I use them every day.”
Added Michael Cascio, executive vice president of programming for National Geographic Channel: “Mountain Movers will have all the elements that National Geographic Channel loves in developing great TV: insane feats, high-intensity projects, hazards around every corner and engrossing personalities. Chevrolet is a perfect match for this adrenaline-packed project and we are looking forward to rolling out each action snow sport episode for our television audience.”
General Motors is a co-producing partner for Mountain Movers and key advertiser across the National Geographic Channel program schedule. Chevrolet is the lead media partner of Mountain Movers, which includes integration.
Mountain Movers is expected to appeal to young male fans of adrenaline-fueled winter sports competitions that typically feature high-flying snowboarding, skiing and snowmobiling. TV viewership for these events is on the rise. The 2012 Winter X Games saw a 32-percent increase in viewership from the previous year, including a 17-percent increase among males ages 18 to 34.
For more information, visit natgeotv.com.
# # #
About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world's largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more than 4.5 million cars and trucks a year.  Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature spirited performance, expressive design, and high quality. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

About Snow Park Technologies
Snow Park Technologies (SPT) is the world’s leading consulting team for special projects on snow. SPT’s wide range of expertise includes designing and building some of the most renowned resort terrain parks and halfpipes, high profile ski and snowboard competition courses and countless on-snow productions. SPT also provides event production services, sport organizing and marketing services aimed at youth categories. The SPT team is a collection of the most experienced and talented freestyle park and pipe innovators in the world, whose dedication and passion for snowsports has redefined the winter landscape and what is possible on snow.  For more information, visit SPT’s web site at http://www.snowparktech.com.

About Good Clean Fun
Good Clean Fun is one of industry’s top producers of celebrity driven reality series, capturing the compelling drama of real life with a proven track record of keeping America tuned in. The LA-based company has cultivated relationships with talent that make it a powerhouse offering viewers insider access to the lives of their favorite celebrities. Breaking onto the scene with Run's House, Good Clean Fun helmed six seasons of this NAACP award-winning hit for MTV, depicting the lives of hip hop royalty, led by patriarch Rev. Run (Joseph Simmons) of Run DMC struggling to wrangle his wife and children into one happy hip hop family. Dubbed "a reality television milestone" by the New York Times, The Life of Ryan introduced America to then 17 year old teen skateboarding phenomenon Ryan Sheckler which broke fresh ground for the genre and brought extreme sports to mass audiences. Good Clean Fun currently produces the Style Network’s hit reality show Tia & Tamera, which premiered in 2011 to record breaking numbers, becoming the most-watched show in the network’s 12 year history. http://www.goodcleanfunllc.com/

Sunday, February 17, 2013

2014 Toyota Tundra Reveal at Chicago Auto Show



Watch highlights of the 2014 Toyota Tundra reveal from the Chicago Auto Show. We see modern, chiseled power and an industrial American look. What do you see? To learn more about the Tundra visit: http://www.toyota.com/tundra

Friday, February 15, 2013

Gary Kank Explains The Rack-It Forklift Loadable Truck Rack


Gary Kank, Sales Manager for Rack-it Truck Racks shows us the differences in a forklift loadable truck. Many contractors prefer the forklift loadable rack so they can have forklifts load material directly on the rack rather than hand loading. Sure saves the back!

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Rack-It HD Truck Rack - A Design For The Toyota Tacoma


The Rack-It HD Rack is specifically designed for the composite bed on the Toyota Tacoma. Gary Kank, Sales Manager of Rack-it Truck Racks, shows us the design and strength of the Rack-it design to create a HD rack system for a truck bed made of composite materials.

See more at http://www.rackitinc.com/ or give Rack-it a call at 800-445-7666 with any questions. Rack-it one-piece truck racks are distributed in the western United States.

Monday, February 11, 2013

Rack-It Truck Racks - HD Steel Pipe And Fully Welded


Because of the all welded design utilizing schedule 10 HD steel pipe, Rack-it Truck Racks are not only strong enough for service and utility bodies, but strong enough for the capacities of the Ford F450/550 and like trucks, just like the one in this photo.

For more information, check out our redesigned and expanded website at http://www.rackitinc.com/, or call us at 800-445-7666.

Saturday, February 9, 2013

The Must-Attend Event For The Work Truck Industry

The Work Truck Show, held in conjunction with the annual NTEA Convention, is the must-attend industry event featuring the newest products, dozens of intensive training programs and technical engineering support from hundreds of exhibitors.


NTEA_WTS12 Show Floor 1


As North America’s largest work truck event, it is the ultimate opportunity for attendees to interact with thousands of industry peers; meet with current suppliers; get answers to critical technical questions; experience special events; and visit with hundreds of exhibiting companies. 


Product Launches and Innovations
The show floor showcases approximately 500,000 sq. ft. of Class 1–8 vocational trucks and equipment, featuring dozens of product launches:
  • Truck Chassis
  • Truck Bodies & Equipment
  • Snow & Ice Control Equipment
  • Cranes & Aerial Devices
  • Liftgates & Material Handling Equipment
  • New Product Spotlight
The Green Truck SummitGTS 2010 LogoHeld in conjunction with The Work Truck Show and produced in partnership with CALSTART, this day-and-a-half intensive program offers valuable insight into real-world deployment and application of green technologies and how they impact commercial trucks:
  • Technology deployment
  • Fuel utilization
  • Fleet and vehicle integration
  • Cost justification
The Latest in Green InitiativesIn addition to the Green Truck Summit, several key event components are tailored to address today’s growing interest and demand for hybrid vehicles and alternative fuel technology, including:
  • The Green Truck Ride-and-Drive
  • CALSTART Clean Technologies and Fuels Pavilion
  • Hybrid & Alternative Fuel Curriculum
  • Green Product Showcase
  • The Work Truck Show Green Award
WTS 11 Recap 6 World-Class Industry TrainingMore than 60 intensive educational programs provide expert knowledge into essential industry topics such as:
  • Truck Specification
  • Truck OEM Update Sessions
  • Industry Trends & Benchmarks
  • Fleet Management
  • Truck Upfitting
  • Regulatory Compliance
www.ntea.com/worktruckshow

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Custom Trucks - Rack-It Dealers in Four Western States



Custom Trucks is a Rack-It Dealer in California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington States.
1-888-255-0011   www.customtrucks.com

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Ford F-Series - 65th Anniversary


On January 16, 1948, the Ford Motor Company publicly revealed the iconic F-1 pickup, beginning the F-Series legacy of tough trucks. This mini-site includes original launch press releases and photography, presented here as issued 65 years ago. Since 1948, more than 32 million trucks have proudly worn the F-Series badge. These legendary trucks have been the best-selling pickups for 36 consecutive years, and America's overall best-selling vehicle for 31 years. As Ford looks forward to the future of Built Ford Tough, it is appropriate to celebrate the 1948 Ford F-1 pickup that started it all. Happy 65th anniversary and long may you run.

Follow these links to the copies of Original Documents from the Greenfield Village Research Center and the Henry Ford Museum: 

Original Press Release

 Series F1 Fact Sheet 

Body Builders Dimensional Drawing

 Photos

Sunday, February 3, 2013

GMC Heading to the Big Easy for the Big Game



Brand’s newest vehicles part of an engaging Super Bowl XLVII activation



DETROIT – GMC will have more than 450 vehicles on display and driving around New Orleans during its activities throughout Super Bowl XLVII Week. 

They include:

Never Say Never Moment of the Year
By voting at www.NFL.com/GMC, football fans have had the opportunity to help decide the “2012 GMC Never Say Never Moment of the Year” from five finalists selected earlier this month. The winner will be announced during the second annual “NFL Honors” awards show on CBS the night of Feb. 2.
This year’s finalists include wide receiver Torrey Smith and Victor Cruz, along with quarterbacks Drew Brees, Peyton Manning and Kirk Cousins.

“Like our owners and engineers do every day, the five finalists demonstrated a ‘Never Say Never’ attitude that helped their teams win,” said Craig Bierley, GMC Advertising and Sales Promotion director. “All five have proven they are equally deserving, but only one can be crowned this year’s top performer.”

Fans who vote for their favorite performance will also be eligible to win a new 2013 GMC vehicle of their choosing.

NFL Experience
GMC will be the presenting sponsor of the 21st edition of NFL Experience, pro football’s interactive theme park, taking place at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center from Wednesday, Jan. 30- Sunday, Feb. 3. The NFL Experience features activities for football fans of all ages and appearances by more than 100 current and former NFL players.

Football legends Barry Sanders, Jim Brown and Jerry Rice will be among the athletes meeting and greeting fans at the GMC display area.

Fresh off its first public appearance at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the all-new 2014 GMC Sierra will show its bold new design in an “Auto Show” space constructed within the convention center.

Also included is an interactive display that takes a series of photos of fans catching a pass in front of a stadium backdrop that can be posted to social networks like Facebook or Twitter.

Additionally, attendees will have an opportunity to create a pre-game video segment with announcer Mike Tirico and win prizes including autographs and signed memorabilia.

On Sunday, Feb.3, GMC will be the presenting sponsor of the Game Day Fan Plaza, which will provide fans with additional opportunities to meet players and experience the brand’s newest vehicles.

GMC also had a presence at last weekend’s NFL Pro Bowl in Hawaii. The brand provided transportation for approximately 2,000 children of parents in the military to attend open practice and 500 tickets to the game to the U.S. Pacific Command for wounded warriors. Pro Bowl MVP Kyle Rudolph will also be given a GMC of his choosing for his game-changing performance.

GMC has manufactured trucks since 1902, and is one of the industry's healthiest brands. Innovation and engineering excellence is built into all GMC vehicles and the brand is evolving to offer more fuel-efficient trucks and crossovers, including the Terrain small SUV and Acadia crossover.  GMC is the only manufacturer to offer three full-size hybrid trucks with the Yukon, Yukon Denali SUVs and the Sierra pickup. The Sierra Heavy Duty pickups are the most capable and powerful trucks in the market. Details on all GMC models are available at http://www.gmc.com/, on Twitter at @thisisgmc or at http://www.facebook.com/gmc.