Truck Trend

GM Hesitant on Truck Brake Lines Despite Massive Recall Campaign

By Michael J. Moody 2 months ago

Under scrutiny from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Congress, and the car-buying public, General Motors has issued an unprecedented number of recalls in 2014, now affecting nearly 26 million vehicles. But Bloomberg reports the company has been hesitant to take action on a safety issue that has been under investigation by NHTSA since 2011. The agency received reports of brake line corrosion and failure in ’99-’03–model fullsize trucks and SUVs. A total of 1.8 million vehicles could be potentially affected. The agency has received reports of 26 crashes, three injuries, and 10 instances where the vehicle had to be steered off the road or into another lane to avoid a collision.

According to the report, GM offers a repair kit for the brake lines available to both dealerships as well as independent repair shops. The repair typically costs $500. GM says regular inspection of the brake lines

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Do You Really Need Snow Tires?

By Michael J. Moody 2 months ago

When the weather starts to get colder, it’s time to think about repacking your winter survival gear like shovels, blankets, and non-perishable food into your truck cabin. However, there is one overlooked item may make the biggest difference this year: snow tires.

Why Snow Tires?

Driving in the winter is all about traction and many drivers fall prey to over-confidence. The thinking is typically that since they have a four-wheel-drive pickup, they are covered from calamity when the snow and ice hit. This is simply not accurate.

While four-wheel-drive and limited-slip differentials are helpful for accelerating and managing power sent to the wheels, they don’t provide all the traction you need when turning or stopping. This is why you quite often see vehicles in the ditch; these drivers got the false sense of security when driving off, yet they simply didn’t have the traction when they turned.

Simply put, if

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Chevrolet Teases 2019 Silverado 4500HD and 5500HD, Slated for March Debut

By Michael J. Moody 2 months ago
Chevrolet will reveal its all-new Silverado 4500HD and 5500HD medium-duty trucks this March, using the Work Truck Show 2018 to commemorate the unveiling.
The show—North America’s largest gathering of fleet operators, trucks, and truck equipment—gives Chevy a captive audience of potential customers for its Class 4 and Class 5 conventional trucks. The all-new medium-duty Silverado will be available in regular or crew cab models, with or without four-wheel drive. That variability, as well as a wide range of gross weight ratings and wheelbases, should make the trucks popular with a variety of customers.
Styling-wise, the shadowy image Chevy released makes us think the new Silverado will retain the headlamps and design features of the current 2018 Silverado HD. Expect a much larger front clip sitting in front of a current-generation passenger cabin. Chassis and suspension engineering will be much stouter than any Silverado currently on the market, befitting the new
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SPIED: 2017 Ford F-150 Diesel?

By Michael J. Moody 2 months ago

A Ford F-150 with camouflage material on its bed was recently spotted testing in Dearborn, Michigan, but the most interesting aspect of the truck was hiding in plain sight.

Clearly visible under the truck’s rocker panels is a Venturi-type exhaust tip, similar to the ones used in Ford’s Power Stroke–powered F-Series Super Duty pickups. That, combined with the engine noise our photographers reported, suggests that Ford may bring a light-duty diesel to its 1/2-ton pickup, the F-150.

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  |   2017 Ford F 150 Diesel Exhaust Venturi Tip Close

Ford recently federalized a 3.2L I-5 diesel for the Transit van, where it makes 185 hp and 350 lb-ft, but by comparison, that doesn’t even out-twist the smaller 2.8L Duramax I-4 found in the GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado. For a diesel Ford F-150 to be competitive, it would need to turn the wick up on the 3.2L Power Stroke.

Photo

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