New Tow Truck?

[reelapeelin]

If yer thinkin' about a new tow-motor, ya might wanna hold off til this baby hits the showroom floors...


http://media.ford.com/newsroom/release_display.cfm?release=22295

[msbhammer]

FORD MAN all the way !!! ;D

[lumberslinger178]

futureristic ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[76GMC1500]

Something about hydrogen doesn't seem very economical. Maybe the fact that it is cracked from propane whose price is at an all time high right now?

[Kajun]

schweet!...Built Ford Tough!

[macojoe]

I won't be waiting in line thats for sure!

1. Its fug ugly!~!

2. That thing is going to be nothing but problems for the first few years, till they figure it out for the real world!

3. Did I say it is ugly yet??

4. and most of all, its a FORD http://syncboard.com/albums/album02/puke.gif

[frayed_knot]

Don't worry, the production model will look nothing like that. Take the new Mustang for instance. I loved the concept version, and although the new model is very nice, it is "ho-hum" compared to the concept. I think the styling on this truck is over the top, too bold, and I doubt you will see it like that off the end of the line. Never ever buy a vehicle with a new engine concept for the first few years. Give them time to figure this bad boy out. The thing I thought was funny was that the direct displacement supercharger only kicks in when burning Hydrogen. WTH!!! I thought that if the blower were to quit turning, the engine would't run, it blocks the air path to the engine. That always cracked me up about the Mad Max movies, you know, where he presses a button and thet great big blower would engage, LOL. Never would work that way.

[76GMC1500]

The blower spins freely when disengaged. *It provides little restriction to the incoming air. There may also be a bypass valve which allows air to be drawn in from underneath the blower.

What ever happened to the days when people got fired for doing poor work. *Americans don't buy American anymore because the cars are so ugly.

GM had something good going in 2000 when they released the latest generation of their truck. *Then, they put the squinted headlights on it. *Now, they just made their trucks look ugly. *When will they learn?

[willy]

Ford and the rest of them better get off their arses, hydrogen is definetly going to be the fuel of the future but they have al had technology that would perform better than that with more power and being clean. But because of the goverment preventing importation using high tariffs and the oil companies 800 pound gorilla in the congress and white house we have not developed or imported them.
For an example, Mercedes has an over 300 horsepower motor in their 70.000 dollar car that also get over 50 MPG's and has been tested repeatedly to be the most durable if not the most durable engine ever made. It is a turbo diesel and you can go buy one now if you want to lay out the money.
Other manufactures such as ford dodge and gm have also had options over the years to produce turbo diesels, that were smaller, lighter and just as powereful as the big behemoths they put in the trucks today. Where the F@CK are they?
If you travel around the world for the past two decades you will see Toyota Nissan/Datsu Tohatsu Izuzu Ford YEA FORD cars and trucks that get 50 to 60 mpgs on diesel but they would not let them be imported here.
When I was in the Dominican Republic with my family we went on a ride into their high mountains there. We rode in a Toyota van that was four wheel drive, had great ground clearance and it was a turbo diesel, it towed a small trailer behind us loaded to over flowing with supplies for the horses we were going to, it had my family of six pus the driver and that thing went like a bat out of h@ll down the highway and towed/carried all of us like nothing. It also got near as I was able to convert over 40 mpg's while doing it.
I'd sell my truck, MJ's truck and all of your trucks to buy that van.
WHERE THE F@CK IS IT :(
Go down and buy it, can't. It along with all the other similar vehicles sold all over the world but here can't be bought here. Even those made by GM Ford etc. Thats right they make them too but don't import them.
This country would be more secure, there would be more money by a large margin in our pockets and you would still be able to do everything you wanted travel wise, towing wise if the big Unions, the big Oil companies and the snakey c@nts in the congress and white house would do the right thing. You won't see it though from Dems or Repubs period.
What a shame.

[Airslot]

Willy, take a deep breath man. Maybe sip a liltte of that Pussers rum. ;D By the way, I agree with every word. ;D

Airslot

[parishht]

Willy,

You are absolutely correct.
FORD, GM, DCx, Toyota, Nissan and al the rest of them
cannot even build these vehicles in the US.
I know this first, because of my involvement in the industry,
specificall in the South American market.
It is a sin what our government puts us through.

[bigshrimpin]

Saudi's own a huge stake in TONS of US companies including Ford. Do you think those investors like the idea of a 30mpg truck in the country that burns the most oil? This is EXACTLY why we'll never see willies 40mpg Van in this country or diesel passenger cars for that matter.

http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/4259.html

Earlier this year, Prince Alwaleed announced $2 billion worth of investments in a variety of U.S. companies including Amazon, eBay, the Internet Capital Group, AOL, Compaq, Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Walt Disney, and Ford Motor Corporation. The royal buying spree also included a $50 million investment in Priceline.com.

http://www.washtimes.com/op-ed/20060115-103622-3038r.htm

Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, who claims to abhor bin Laden, seems nevertheless eager to follow his agenda. In an interview with Arab News in May 2002, the prince said that if the Arabs "unite through economic interests," they would achieve influence over the U.S. decision-makers. Since government sources estimate Saudi holdings in the United States at $400 billion to $800 billion, the matter warrants public attention.
The Saudi agenda extends far beyond policy-makers. In the late 1990s, the privately owned Massachusetts technology company, Ptech, designed software used to develop enterprise blueprints that held every important detail of a given concern. The company was financed with more than $22 million, by Saudi multi-millionaire Yasin al Qadi, a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. The Saudis thus gained access to strategic information about many major U.S. corporations such as SYSCO, ENRON, and the U.S. Departments of Defense, Treasury, Justice, Energy, and even the White House. The extent of the damage, if it was investigated, remains a mystery.

http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2006/12/08/best-and-worst-prince-al-waleed-bin-talal-buffett-of-mideast/

Called by Time magazine the "Warren Buffett of Saudi Arabia," Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal is a member of the Saudi royal family, as well as a Lebanese citizen through his mother. Though he is the nephew of Saudi King Abdullah, he is not in line to rule Saudi Arabia and has largely stayed out of politics. He is an entrepreneur and international investor with a net worth estimated in 2006 at $20 billion, and he is ranked as the eighth richest person in the world by Forbes.

He has made large investments, through his Kingdom Holding Company, in Citicorp (NYSE:C), AOL (NYSE:TWX), Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Motorola (NYSE:MOT), Rupert Murdoch's Fox News Corp. (NYSE: NWS), and other technology and media companies. His real estate holdings have included stakes in the Four Seasons hotel chain, the Plaza Hotel in New York, the Monte Carlo Grand Hotel in Monaco, and Euro Disney. In 2005 he purchased the Savoy Hotel in London for £250 million.

[dmoore]

I dont freakin believe it.......Ford is sinking faster than the Titanic and all they can come up with is sum stupid looking truck that looks about as complicated as the space shuttle and cost about as much???!!!Talk about missing the boat.........its too late for Ford, Gm & Dodge.....Toyota is now the largest vehicle manufacturer in the U.S.A. and you can directly blame the greedy upper ecolons for being concerned with profits instead of quality..what a bunch of a--holes....yeah I drive a V8 Tundra that not only looks a damn sight better, but gets better mileage and last a hole hell of a lot longer with hardly no problems......quality job one? Yeah right! Oh no, what have I done? Guess that wasn't politically correct.......oh well Im sick of those a-- holes too! ;D

[macojoe]

Most likely my next truck will be a Toyota Tundra 3/4 ton they are coming out with.

For all the reasons that dmoore said!

[parishht]

Did anyone else notice the similarities between this new FORD design
and the newly released GM design?

Take a look:

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g18/parishht/FORD_GM_compare.jpg

[randlemanboater]

I like my 1972 Chevy Pick Up. It will pull anything, and if I have to work on it when its raining I can crawl in with the motor and pull the hood down.

[macojoe]

Yea and the stupid roof racks they are adding to the roof of the new GM also looks stupid!!
What the hell does a pick up need roof racks for??

I think they are all trying to copy Toyota or Nissan!

I was talking to some one the other day, cause I have been thinking of trading my truck next year (2002 90,000 miles now)and getting something brand new. But they are all getting so ugly!

like my Chevy look, so I might just keep it for a bit longer?? I am going to do a lot of maintains this spring, all 100,000 stuff, and see how it lasts? I have been happy with it so far!! hasn't needed anything but front break pads.

[bigshrimpin]

Willy - I hope they pick you for one of their focus groups so you can bring them a photo of one of these.



http://www.toyota-caribbean.com/showroom/tmc_hiace/index.html?selcon=00

http://www.toyota-caribbean.com/media/global/images/showroom/tmchiace/hia_intro_01a_im_sa.jpg

------------------------------------------------------------

Miles More Performance From Hiace D-4D

Fuel consumption is an important consideration for any commercial vehicle fleet operator, but reliable figures can sometimes be hard to find. That's why Toyota's performance in the RAC/Fleet World MPG Marathon is such an important yardstick of performance.

In the capable hands of former racing driver, Andy Dawson, the Toyota Hiace 2.5 D-4D completed the 465-mile course on just 10.82 gallons of diesel. That's 43.04mpg - an impressive figure for a van carrying half its 1095kg gross payload.

http://www.carpages.co.uk/toyota/toyota_corolla_wins_mpg_marathon_07_10_02.asp

[bigshrimpin]

Nissian Navara => 30+ MPG


http://avtopark.tomsk.ru/i/a/Navara200510121.jpg

http://www.nissan.co.uk/uk/navara/launch/index.html

With a class leading 171 bhp, which even the all new L200 will not match, and a 297lb ft of torque the new direct injection diesel engine is a perfect complement to the stunning rugged looks.

Or

The Mitsubishi L200 Double Cab => 30+mpg

http://www.mitsubishi-cars.co.uk/images/l200/carimage1.jpg

Power comes as standard in an L200 with the 2.5 litre turbo charged 113 bhp diesel engine, delivering a massive 177lbs. Ft. at just 2000 rpm and will happily pull a mighty 2700kg. The Mitsubishi L200 Double Cab will deal with whatever you throw at it!!

http://www.mitsubishi-cars.co.uk/l200/range.asp

[bigshrimpin]

http://www.newsik.net/pics/11-06-2006/kyb-supplies-isuzu-orig.jpg


Isuzu Rodeo Pickup sets economy Record
14/07/2006 22:10. A standard Isuzu Rodeo pickup has set a new fuel economy record by achieving a remarkable 52.01 mpg after being driven virtually non-stop from Lands End to John oGroats. The luxury four-door five-seat Rodeo Denver Max covered the entire 853-mile trip on a single tank of fuel, using only 16.4 gallons to achieve the record. It is the first time a diesel-engined one-tonne pickup has completed the challenge and the entire exercise took 22 hours from start to finish.

The 3.0 litre Rodeo was driven by Chris Roberts, Dealer Principal at Isuzu dealership St Austell Motor Group, Cornwall, supported by Service Technician co-driver, Matt Saunders. Chris said: "We practiced a little... // marathonrally.com


http://www.newsik.net/cars/isuzu/rodeo/related/2414738.html

http://www.channel4.com/4car/news/news-story.jsp?news_id=15399

[willy]

That toyota is very similar to the one we were in, it went up that rutted out dirt road carrying us the driver for a total of seven and towing a trailer like an army mule. Did 65 mph on the highway getting tothe take off point with plenty of omph left over.
Thats what has got me really PO'd BS. Those vehicles meet all kinds of air standards everywhere else but they won't let them in.
Can you imagine having a 1 ton Pick me Up 4x4 that will tow anything you got and get 40-50 MPG's doing it.
Neither can I because I live in the peoples republic of New Jersey America.
What a shame, and its our own fault for electing these pieces of dung into office over and over again :-/

[bigshrimpin]

Willy - can you imagine how fast those trucks would sell if they could sell them in the US. I see what people here do to get VW TDI's into CA. Dealerships in Oregon and Nevada give them to their employees to drive for 7500 miles and then sell them in CA for more than the sticker price.

[regidog]

Guys don't you know you can't have your cake and eat it too. Those are some very impressive numbers, and I would break my long standing opinion to buy american if they were introduced based on sheer economics. It truely is our own fault for not pushing our representatives to intorduce these vehicles

[macojoe]

Willy, My brother is building a house in DR!! He has told me of a van like you say, bet its the same one!

[76GMC1500]

Do you really want everybody to drive diesels? Think about it. Our refineries are geared to make gasoline. They are extremely efficienct at distilling crude into gasoline. A 42 gallon barrel of crude can be turned into something like 35 gallons of gasoline. Because of the decrease in density from distilling crude into many lighter products like gasoline, more than 42 gallons of product can be made from the 42 gallons of crude. Diesel is much denser than gas. Not as much diesel can be produced from a barrel of crude as gas. Plus, the reason we are so efficient at producing gas is because of carbon cracking and other processes of turning less desirable hydrocarbons into the short hydrocarbon chains that make up gasoline. It may be more difficult to synthesize diesel fuel with its more complex hydrocarbon chains through these practices. Do you want to pay $6 a quart for diesel like you do your synthetic oil? I believe, because of the price of crude oil, it is wisest for us to stick with gasoline at the moment.

[dmoore]

Still looking..................................

[willy]

GM you have more experience than me thats for sure when it comes to engines, but in my humble opinion all that about the cost of diesel is poppycock. It is less refined than gas, and according to motor trend magazine the newer low sulfur diesel is great from an emmisions stand point. The reason diesel is more pricey here is because of what you say about out capacity to refine being vastly weighted toward gas.
Which is precisely why you won't see these vehicles here. Because big oil and all their political sh!tbirds in their pockets of both parties have a situation here in which they are making astronomical profits, the highest they have ever seen and they will not change anything. I don't care if the country goes into a huge recession, the market crashes or war brakes out all over the world. They will not have their profits touched.
That is why we need to do it in the elections. We need to do it, thats all.

[Airslot]

Was that Rodeo truly a 1=ton? That would be incredible if true. Yep, them vehicles are to efficient to sell over here.

Airslot

[reelapeelin]

Great numbers on those trucks...but the reel litnus test...will they TOW a V20?... ;) ;D ...

[bigshrimpin]

All of them except the Hiace are rated to tow more than 5,000lbs.

[bigshrimpin]

GMC - You're saying we could run 2x's as many pickup trucks on the current amount of refined Diesel fuel and produce the amount of gasoline for our other vehicles.

[imported_admin]

No what I am saying is BS check your pm's ;) ;D

[Hammerhead]

Great numbers on those trucks...but the reel litnus test...will they TOW a V20?... ;) ;D ...

I tow my V-20 with a Ford Van powered by a V6 ( tow package included ) It handles the boat just fine.

[reelapeelin]

Hammerhead, you're RIGHT about the tow-pckg...all the difference!! ;) ...

[macojoe]

I think Vans tow the best!! I had a couple for Business reasons few years back and they must block all the wind or something!
I could adjust the trailer so I could lift with one finger, and the thing would never sway!

[76GMC1500]

I'm saying that the if we increase our demand for diesel, we may increase our demand for crude because the it will take more crude to produce the same Btu's of diesel when compared to gasoline. The increase in demand for crude would drive the prices of everything up. I don't have any sources or anything, it's just some thing I've been thinking about.

Some statistics I have found...

A barrel of crude produces:
19.4 gallons of gasoline.
9.7 gallons of light distillate oils including heating oil and diesel #2.
4.3 gallons of kerosene
1.9 gallons of residual fuel oil (HFO)
1.9 gallons of liquified refinery gasses
some other stuff

Less than half the amount of diesel can be produced form a gallon of crude. If we were to replace all of our gas burning vehicles with diesel burning vehicles, we would double our demand for crude oil.

[parishht]

I think we should change to water power.

I found this interesting website by just doing research on
water powered cars.

http://waterpoweredcar.com/

They mention an add on that is being sold in Canada
that converts water to hydrogen and then injects
it into the fuel stream.

Sounds pretty interesting to me.

They also mention a guy who developed a vehicle
that ran completely on water.
The guy mysteriously got poisened and then
a few days later all his research and prototypes disappeared,
never to be seen again, except for what could be
recreated through what was left.

[Airslot]

76GMC I think those figures are the average of what we produce out of a barrell of crude. I think that pending demand those numbers can be flexed many different ways. I'm pretty sure we could refine more #2 oil and less gasoline if thats what the demand was for. There is a good chance that I'm wrong on this, but that what I think...

Airslot

[76GMC1500]

Even if the refineries were completely retooled to make #2, I don't think they could approach the amount of gasoline produced from a barrel of crude. I do believe some refineries that specifically make gasoline can make nearly 35 gallons starting with 42.

[reelapeelin]

I think we should change to water power.

I found this interesting website by just doing research on
water powered cars.

http://waterpoweredcar.com/

They mention an add on that is being sold in Canada
that converts water to hydrogen and then injects
it into the fuel stream.









Sounds pretty interesting to me.

They also mention a guy who developed a vehicle
that ran completely on water.
The guy mysteriously got poisened and then
a few days later all his research and prototypes disappeared,
never to be seen again, except for what could be
recreated through what was left.









So what happens after we burn up all the world's water, huh??... what then??...
;D ;D ...

[parishht]

Well we have to do something to use all the water that is
coming from the melting polar ice.
This could even save Manhattan from going uder water.
Not to mention MSBHAMMER's house, but then he wouldn't have to
cement his yard and paint it.
Oops and my summer trailer will then not go under water,
but then again, the shoreline will be closer to my Pa. residence.
OOOOOHHHHHHHH I am so torn, use water for fuel,
or let global warming move the shoreline closer to my house. Decisions, decisions. :-/

[macojoe]

I guess you could kiss Cape Cod away!!

[reelapeelin]

I guess you could kiss Cape Cod away!!



I'd sure make haveing a good boat more important ;) ::) ...just think, MJ...you'd be Ocean Front for a while anyway ;) ...