One of the Largest Collections of Pre-war Ford Vehicles

When you travel to Holland as a tourist, you expect to see tulips and windmills. You probably wouldn’t expect to see one of the largest collections of pre-war Ford vehicles. But, on a recent trip to Amsterdam, we ventured southwest to Hillegom, Holland, and that’s exactly what we found at den Hartogh Ford Museum.

What started as a fleet of work trucks for the den Hartogh company at the turn of the last century grew into a fantastic collection of early Ford cars and trucks. Do you have a classic Ford vehicle? Tell us your story!

Once we overcame the awe of stepping into the first room in the museum holding dozens of Model A, N, T and other model Ford cars, we dove deeper into each vehicle to enjoy the mechanical history spread before us.

It is only natural that the first car you see in the collection is a reproduction of the Ford Quadricycle Runabout. The original Quadricycle is part of the collection at the Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan. This was the first horseless carriage that Henry Ford created in 1896, and led to other innovations and, ultimately, the Ford Motor Company.

From there, we made our way down a row of Model T cars, each a variation of the one beside it, with various mechanical and cosmetic options originally offered. One of the vehicles that captured our attention in the first hall was a 1930 Ford Phaeton that was used as a taxi in Egypt until 1995!

Another one that stood out was a Ford Model A pickup truck that featured triple rear axles with a track drive, and skis under the front axle. The perfect vehicle for making deliveries in northern, snow-laden regions!

Any one of these vehicles by themselves would be nice to spend some time admiring. This collection, spanning 50 years of early Ford history, was simply incredible.  If you find yourself in the land of tulips, take a detour to experience this world-class collection of Ford cars and trucks at den Hartogh Ford Museum.

Silverado Concepts Target Extremes of Preparedness

Specialty trucks dedicated to volunteer first responders and ultimate survival 

DALLAS – Chevrolet is using the 2014 Silverado full-size pickup to explore the extremes of preparedness with the Volunteer Firefighter and Black Ops concepts shown publicly for the first time Friday at the State Fair of Texas.

Chevrolet developed the Silverado Z71 Volunteer Firefighter concept truck, which honors the service of grassroots first responders, with input from the National Volunteer Fire Council. The concept vehicle features a full complement of rescue equipment incorporated on a new Silverado Double Cab equipped with the Z71 Off Road suspension.

The sinister-looking Black Ops concept is based on the Silverado Crew Cab 4x4, building on its strength, performance and safety with features designed to turn the wasteland into an oasis, including custom-fabricated lower body armor and a lockable, bed-mounted Truck Vault storage unit. It holds a solar power pack, a pair of gas masks, gloves, military First Aid Kit, folding shovel and rope.

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.

2015 Ford F-Series Super Duty Features Improved Power Stroke Diesel, Stronger F-450, Revamped King Ranch Edition

 

•     Engineering improvements boost the performance, capability and durability of the Ford-designed and Ford-built 6.7-liter Power Stroke® V8 turbo diesel engine
•     Upgraded 2015 Ford F-450 pickup offers more towing capability than ever
•     2015 Ford F-Series Super Duty King Ranch restyled, combining authentic Texas heritage with modern luxury

Ford, America’s truck leader, introduces the 2015 F-Series Super Duty lineup today at State Fair of Texas, featuring a second-generation 6.7-liter Power Stroke® V8 turbo diesel engine; increased towing capabilities; and a refreshed, Texas-inspired King Ranch model.

“Truck leadership means never resting, and the Super Duty team has been tireless in finding ways to improve the industry’s most popular heavy-duty pickups,” said Joe Hinrichs, executive vice president and president of The Americas, Ford Motor Company. “Super Duty diesel customers will benefit from improved performance and features backed by outstanding Built Ford Tough durability.”

Since the 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 turbo diesel debuted in 2011, Ford engineers have listened to customers and continued to examine each component of the engine to develop improved performance.

Ford is the only heavy-duty pickup truck manufacturer that designs and builds its own diesel engine and transmission combination, ensuring the powertrain will work seamlessly with all chassis components and vehicle calibrations – from concept to execution. This approach also enables Ford engineers to optimize the vehicle’s performance across the entire lineup.

A key Ford innovation on the original 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 turbo diesel was its so-called reverse-flow layout. The advanced design places the exhaust inside the engine’s V-shape while the air intake is positioned on the outside of the V. This segment-exclusive design naturally improves a variety of attributes:

    Shorter airflow from the exhaust system to the turbocharger sitting between the engine’s cylinder banks improves turbo responsiveness – key to providing torque quickly to truck customers when they need it most
    Positioning the turbo inside the engine’s valley helps isolate the engine’s hottest temperatures, improving performance and efficiency, while also reducing noise, vibration and harshness

Ford engineers built upon the many benefits of this design as they upgraded the Power Stroke. One improvement is a larger GT37 turbocharger that replaces the previous GT32 model, enabling more airflow to the engine to produce more power beyond today’s 400 horsepower and 800 lb.-ft. of torque.

Key components of the new GT37 turbocharger:
The GT37 features a single, larger 88-millimeter compressor wheel that replaces the GT32’s dual-sided compressor design. The compressor forces air into the engine’s cylinders to improve performance – especially at high altitude where the air is thinner than at sea level. The turbine size is increased to 72.5 millimeters from 64 millimeters, so exhaust gases have a larger surface area to spin the turbo, providing extra power. The wastegate and the wastegate controls are eliminated, because the turbo operates at lower peak pressures than the GT32.
Second-Generation 6.7-liter Power Stroke® V8 Turbo Diesel Engine

“The original designers of the current Power Stroke V8 diesel forecasted needs for higher output. This facilitated the larger turbocharger, increasing airflow and creating more power,” said David Ives, Power Stroke technical specialist. “We’ve dramatically improved performance while reducing overall engine complexity by focusing on the turbo system.”

A further benefit of the larger turbo is improved engine exhaust braking, manually controlled by a push-button switch on the dashboard. Extra braking power helps reduce wear and tear on wheel brakes and requires less manual brake application from the driver, especially on downhill grades.

Fuel system improvements:
Turbo changes drove improvements to the fuel delivery system, specifically a new high-pressure fuel pump and fuel injectors. The pump’s cam stroke is increased to deliver more fuel when desired for increased power. All-new injector tips better atomize the fuel, resulting in improved combustion that enables lower noise, vibration and harshness. Other benefits include cleaner emissions and a reduction in the buildup of fuel deposits on the valves over time.

In addition, a new exhaust temperature sensor enables more accurate fuel control, which improves both durability and driveability – especially when towing – and helps the customer drive the Power Stroke diesel to its maximum capability.

Even though the fuel system delivers extra fuel as needed to provide more power, other efficiency improvements ensure 2015 Ford F-Series Super Duty pickup customers see similar performance to today’s best-in-class fuel economy.

Further enhancements to Ford Power Stroke diesel include:

•     Ford-designed and -engineered 6R140 TorqShift® six-speed transmission uses a new torque converter to manage increased horsepower and torque
•     New polymer coating on main bearings for improved wear-and-tear durability and lower friction
•     Improved crankshaft fillet design – the transition point between the crankshaft’s journals – to increase crankshaft power carrying capability
•     Increased crankshaft damper weight to reduce rotating forces on the crankshaft when the engine is performing at peak power levels
•     New five-layer head gasket to handle wider range of engine firing pressures resulting from more powerful engine performance
•     Added material to the engine’s cylinder heads, exhaust manifold and valvetrain to handle increased power levels
•     Redesigned turbo oil and cooling lines to improve sealing
•     Piston assembly upgrades to increase load-bearing capability
•     New four-layer exhaust manifold gasket for improved durability

 2015 Ford F-450 Super Duty:

2015 Ford F-450 upgrades
The 2015 Ford F-450 tops the F-Series Super Duty pickup truck lineup with maximum towing and hauling capability. Changes for 2015 include a strengthened frame, suspension, new commercial-grade 19.5-inch wheels and tires, and core work components shared with F-Series Super Duty chassis cab models.

Just as the next-generation Power Stroke engine reflects changes that improve power while maintaining durability, the Super Duty engineering team took specific actions to bolster key F-450 components to improve towing capability, including:

•     Upgraded rear driveline U-joints
•     Upgraded suspension components, including new rear leaf springs, front and rear stabilizer bars and shocks
•     Increased fifth-wheel and gooseneck trailer capacity
•     Stronger steering gears and steering linkages
•     Larger brakes shared with Super Duty chassis cab models, including wheel brakes, parking brake and new antilock brake calibration
•     F-450-specific Power Stroke diesel engine calibration
•  

2015 Ford F-250 Super Duty King Ranch:

King Ranch expresses authentic, rugged luxury
The reinvigorated update to the 2015 Ford F-Series Super Duty King Ranch edition is inspired by the place where American ranching was born.

“King Ranch is an American original with a proud heritage of hard work that defines the American ranching lifestyle,” said Doug Scott, Ford Truck group marketing manager. “The 2015 Ford Super Duty King Ranch seamlessly combines elements of Texas-inspired luxury and Ford capability.”

As part of the Ford Truck commitment to continuous improvement, the F-Series design team traveled to King Ranch, founded in 1853, for fresh perspective and inspiration from the 825,000-acre working ranch, which is bigger than the state of Rhode Island.

“What really stood out is how prominent the ‘Running W’ is, and how it defines and unifies the ranch,” said Barb Whalen, Ford color and material design manager. “Similarly, we wanted that brand to define the new Super Duty King Ranch.”

On the new Super Duty King Ranch, the Running W – the brand used on cattle raised at the ranch – provides a focal point for the interior. It is cut out and stitched to make the seat backs and center console appear to have been branded.

A lighter, richer shade of Mesa leather trims the seats, center console lid, armrests and steering wheel.

Exterior updates include the new, darker Caribou paint for the wheel lip moldings, bumpers and lower body. The bed rail caps, bumper caps and running boards are executed in black. The Running W brings focus to the wheel caps as well.

“Through premium materials and thoughtful execution, we strived to make the 2015 Ford Super Duty King Ranch have a look and a feel as authentic as the ranch itself,” said Scott.
About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 177,000 employees and 65 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit corporate.ford.com.

Knapheide KUV Gets a Rack-It Rack

This rack was built by Rack-It Truck racks for a  truck equipment distributor. It is designed for a Knapheide KUV body, and is constructed of 2x2 square tubing. Because of the way the roof of the body angles, The feet of the rack were designed to to pivot, ensuring a solid connection to the roof.

It has six cross bars for support,an extremely stout load handling solution for this application. The rack was finished off with a heavy duty, industrial grade black powder coat finish. 

To find out more, you may call Rack-It truck racks at 800-445-7666.

Also find us at http://rackitinc.com/

The Ultimate Truck Bed Tool Box by truck-tool-box.com

Register for the Work Truck Show - 2014

 North America's Largest Work Truck Event

• 500,000 square feet of vocational trucks and equipment

• Newest products and technical support from more than 500 exhibitors

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Innovative Products

 Innovative-Products
• Truck Chassis
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   Equipment
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Industry Education

World-Class-Education 
• Three-day Educational
   Curriculum
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• Green Truck Summit
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To Register:

https://www.compusystems.com/servlet/AttendeeRegLoginServlet?evt_uid=2226&site=INQ

Securely Carry Your Conduit and Pipe

Its called a Conduit Carrier and it's is a great option for any rack where you will be carrying conduit, pipe and other long objects.  Lockable with your padlock and secured to the truck rack making it a safer and more secure load!

Close-Up Views

Sometimes you need just a little something extra, like this conduit pack. No problem. Just give us a call at 800-445-7666 and we can take care of whatever customizations you might need. For our standardized products, see http://www.rackitinc.com/.

A Great Looking Rack-It Sets Off A Great Looking Truck!

With Rack-It's unique design, the rack looks so attractive on your truck you hardly notice it has a rack at all!  It could be the little curved section at the back we call the candy cane, the amount of taper and the taper point, the round pipe instead of square or rectangular, the smooth flow of the lines over the cab.

Well, we think it is all those and more. Unlike those big, heavy duty, square things they see on a lot of work trucks. We offer the best of both in that they are strong like the square ones, but follow the lines of your truck to blend in with its good looks and style. Yet, with all its truck-side beauty, it is one seriously tough work rack too. Built to last, powder coated to have enduring good looks, and all the options and accessories you might desire.

Just as in this photo . . . one could just enjoy the view for a time appreciating the beauty of the thing. . .

See more about Rack-It Truck Racks at http://www.rackitinc.com/

Ford and American Humane Association Remind Pickup Truck Drivers: Dogs Ride Inside

• American Humane Association experts caution that pets should never be transported in the bed of a pickup truck

• 100,000 dogs die each year riding in truck beds

• Simple, basic steps can help keep pets safe and driver distractions down

Ford and the American Humane Association have teamed up in a new pet safety campaign to remind pickup truck drivers that dogs should never ride in the bed of a pickup truck. Called “Dogs Ride Inside,” the campaign reminds all drivers that simple, basic actions can prevent serious injury or death while transporting a beloved family pet.

“It is estimated that 100,000 dogs die each year riding in truck beds” said Dr. Robin Ganzert, president and CEO of American Humane Association, the country’s first national humane organization. “Unfortunately, we have all seen dogs riding in the bed of a pickup truck, which is an extremely dangerous way to transport your pet.”

“As America’s truck leader, this is an issue that’s close to the heart for us,” said Doug Scott, Ford Truck Group Marketing Manager. “We’re not asking that people go to onerous lengths while driving with pets, but even the smallest steps can make a difference in keeping all passengers in our vehicles safe.”

The American Humane Association and Ford recommend:

• All animals should ride inside a pickup truck cab – never in the bed of a truck.

• At the very minimum, your pet should always ride in the back seat if your truck has one. An animal in the front seat can quickly become a driver distraction and cause an accident, jeopardizing the pet and everyone else in the vehicle. The highest volume F-Series trucks – the F-150 SuperCrew^® and Super Duty Crew Cab both have spacious second-row seats ideal for man’s best friend. Better yet is to restrain, contain or crate your pet with a pet carrier or specially designed pet seatbelt.

• Dogs love sticking their heads outside of a moving car, but that’s also one of the easiest ways for a pet to be injured, whether it’s from a flying rock or even falling out of the vehicle. It’s OK to briefly roll the window down to satisfy a curious nose, but not more than that. Wind can seriously irritate mucous membranes and blow pieces of grit into their eyes.

• Just in case you and your pet become separated, be sure that all ID tags are properly affixed to your pet’s collar and that they have your current contact information, including cell number(s). Your pet should also have an ID microchip implanted – and make sure the microchip registration and pet license information is up-to-date. Consider including the name and phone number of an emergency contact.

• Never leave pets unattended inside of vehicles. Remember that cars heat up fast – even with the windows cracked.

This fall, Ford will sponsor a month-long adoption and pet safety tour in conjunction with Fido Friendly magazine. “Get Your Licks on Route 66” will visit 15 cities from Los Angeles to Chicago promoting pet safety and adoption; in the first four years of the tour more than 1,500 animals have been placed in new homes. Shelters along the route and dates can be found at getyourlicksonroute66.com.

About American Humane Association

American Humane Association is the country’s first national humane organization and the only one dedicated to protecting both children and animals. Since 1877 American Humane Association has been at the forefront of virtually every major advance in protecting our most vulnerable from cruelty, abuse and neglect. Today they're also leading the way in understanding the human-animal bond and its role in therapy, medicine and society. American Humane Association reaches millions of people every day through groundbreaking research, education, training and services that span a wide network of organizations, agencies and businesses. You can help make a difference, too. Visit American Humane Association at www.americanhumane.org and remember to follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 177,000 employees and 65 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit corporate.ford.com.

It’s Official: 2014 Silverado and Sierra Deliver Most Power

 New Chevrolet, GMC light duty pickups also deliver best towing capacity in class

DETROIT – The 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and High Country and the GMC Sierra and Sierra Denali 1500, available this fall, with a 6.2L V-8 produces an SAE-certified 420 horsepower (at 5600 rpm) and 460 lb-ft of torque (at 4100 rpm), the most power of any pickup engine and torque of any light duty pickup truck engine.

The 6.2L V-8 available for Silverado LTZ and High Country and Sierra SLT and Denali models also delivers class-leading maximum available trailering capacity of 12,000 pounds when properly equipped.

“Power and towing capacity are fundamental capabilities for full-size pickups,” said Jeff Luke, General Motors Executive Chief Engineer for full- and mid-size trucks. “The 2014 Silverado and Sierra deliver unmatched power and towing capability with a host of ingenious driver aids.”

The optional Max Trailering Package is available on 2WD and 4WD V-8 crew cab and double cab models and includes:

§  Trailering package with seven-pin and four-pin connector

§  Enhanced cooling

§  Automatic locking rear differential

§  Heavy-duty 9.75-inch rear axle with 3.73 ratio

§  Increased-capacity rear leaf springs

§  Revised shock tuning for increased control

§  Integrated trailer brake controller.

In addition to the 6.2L V8, Silverado 1500 and Sierra 1500 will offer a 4.3L V-6 SAE-certified at 285 horsepower and 305 lb-ft of torque and a 5.3L V-8 certified at 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque.

Silverado and Sierra trucks equipped with the 4.3L V-6 will have available towing ratings of up to 7,600 pounds, the highest for any base V-6 in the segment. Silverado and Sierra trucks equipped with the 5.3L V-8 and the max towing package, available later this year, will have towing ratings of up to 11,500 pounds when properly equipped.

All three engines feature direct fuel injection, Active Fuel Management (cylinder deactivation) and continuously variable valve timing, a combination not found in competitor vehicles. The engines also use a compact overhead-valve design and weight-saving components such as aluminum blocks and cylinder heads to reduce mass for additional energy savings.

All three provide the proven power, torque and dependability of a large-displacement engine, seamlessly switching to four-cylinder mode to save fuel during light-load driving. The 5.3L V-8 has EPA-estimated fuel economy of up to 23 mpg highway (2WD models), the best of any V-8 pickup, and better than Ford EcoBoost V-6. .

EPA fuel economy estimates for the 6.2L V-8 will be finalized in the near future.

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 GMC
GMC has manufactured trucks since 1902. 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. The 2014 Sierra half-ton pickup boasts all-new powertrains and design, and the Sierra Heavy Duty pickups are the most capable and powerful trucks ever built by GMC. Every retail GMC model, including Yukon and Yukon XL full-size SUVs, is now available in Denali luxury trim. Details on all GMC models are available at http://www.gmc.com/, on Twitter at @thisisgmc or at http://www.facebook.com/gmc.

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