Let’s Talk About Snowplows

There is nothing wrong with being prepared for the upcoming winter. We will see snow this season, so let’s talk about snowplows.

For most people who are just using a plow for clearing their own driveway, a straight-blade will more than likely be just fine. Snowsport offers a personal plow that is perfect for the homeowner. This system attaches to a front mounted receiver just like a boat trailer would. The U shaped bracket is connected to the receiver and the snow blade rides up and down on these bars to allow for change in terrain your plowing. Because there is no hydraulics involved, all you do is back up and the snow blade lies back skimming over the surface. When driving forward the blade automatically re-engages for plowing. When you are finished, lift the blade back over the push frame into the transport position. The cost of this option is $1644.

K2 is another brand of snowplow designed for the homeowner with acreage. Designed to work with a front receiver hitch, just like the Snowsport, it simply slides in the receiver and locks in place with a hitch lock. The winch is controlled from inside the cab and will raise or lower the height of the blade. The blade comes with a hardened steel cutting edge scraper, rubber snow deflector, skid shoes, and plow markers. It is available in 82”, 84”, and 88” lengths. Cost is $1315.


If you use it to make money then you will want to be able to do the job quick and efficiently, so you may want to go with the multi-position. Multi-position plows are up to 50% faster due to the fact that you can reposition the blades to all straight-blade positions in addition to the scoop and V positions. This makes the plow adaptable to nearly any job you need to do.

When it comes to the composition of the blade you have the choice between steel and poly. The vast majority of snowplows on the market today come with steel blades, although the poly plows are becoming more and more popular. The reason for the growing popularity is that poly is just as strong as steel and maybe stronger. They also have a lower coefficient of friction, which saves on fuel costs and is easier on your vehicle. The poly plows are also saturated with color all the way through so nicks and scratches do not show like they do with steel, plus they do not rust.

Attaching and detaching the plow is very important as well. You do not want to be freezing and trying to deal with getting a blade on and off your truck. Try the attachment system for yourself at the dealer so you can see firsthand how easy or difficult it is to use.

Most snowplow makers use a single halogen light bulb, which are not bright enough; some makers have come out with dual halogen bulbs with the option of upgrading to High Intensity Discharge. These HID lights are four times brighter than standard halogen bulbs and also last ten times as long.
Hydraulics is probably the most important part of the plow, along with the controls. Be sure that the hydraulics system is dependable and the controls are simple and easy to use. Go for quality rather than trying to save a buck. Remember "you get what you pay for" definitely applies here. Cost for these units are $6000 to $8000 depending on the model.

When it comes to the warranty be sure to know exactly what you are getting and what the warranty covers. Some only cover parts, while others cover parts and labor. Warranties are usually either one year or two years; so pay attention to the warranty.

Take all of these things into consideration when shopping for a snowplow and you will be able to choose the right one to suit your needs.

Article written by: Ian Harwood - "The Truck Guy"
Corporate Sales and Operations Manager for Custom Truck Parts

This Big Ram has Plenty of Jam

Strong contender: Dodge provides drivers
with comfort to enjoy and power to spare

The final competitor in Truck Guy’s 2013 Truck of the Year competition is the Ram 1500.

Easy to get into

Few cosmetic changes were made to the 2013 Ram 1500, including the front-end modifications required to facilitate the new active grill shutters.

Full-length side boards make it easy to climb in and out and prevent rocks kicked up from the tires hitting the body. My tester was equipped with the available Ram box that is built into the sides of the truck box.

Great place to lock away items such as fishing rods or golf clubs.

One change that is a real standout is the fully adjustable air-suspension that allows you to increase the truck height for off-road. It also automatically adjusts to a lower height when at highway speeds.

Roomy and comfortable

I was using the Ram 1500 Outdoorsman crew cab 4x4 for my evaluation. The seats were cloth and big and comfortable.

The rear seats are a 40/20/40 bench that fold to allow for more cargo space. The rear sliding window is controlled by a switch just above the
rear view mirror.

The entertainment centre is an 8.4-inch touch screen with a 30GB hard drive that has a capacity of 6,700 songs. There are nine speakers located throughout the cab area in addition to a subwoofer throughout the cab area.

The Uconnect system is one of the easiest systems in which to connect your smartphone and allows you voice commands to do a variety of functions without distracting you from the road.

A rear video entertainment system is also available as an option.

The Ram 1500’s drive selector is mounted on the dash next to the volume control for the radio. This positioning means you need to be careful when turning up the volume and not switching into reverse.

Most truck owners like the feel of a shifter that you can grab and feel going into gear as opposed to a dial. The other hang-up I have is the manual mode shift buttons mounted on the steering wheel. They’re too small and located too close together.

The last thing you want to do coming down a long hill hauling a heavy trailer is searching for a small button to shift down.

Not short on safety

Plenty to offer here, including driver and passenger front airbags with occupant sensor, side curtain airbags, Sentry key engine immobilizer, tire pressure monitoring system, electronic stability program (ESP), all-speed traction control, trailer sway control, brake assist, hill start assist, electronic roll mitigation, park sense Rear Park assist system, security alarm and a rear park view backup camera.

Choose your power

Three solid power plants to choose from:
A 3.6-litre Pentastar that produces 305 hp and 269 lbs.-ft of torque
a 4.7-litre flex fuel V8 with 310 hp and 330 lbs.-ft of torque
the last is a 5.7-litre Hemi V8 with 395 hp and 407 lbs.-ft of torque

Pump frequency

V6: 13.0/8.5 L/100 km (city/highway)

Warranty support

Basic 3 years/ 60,000 km
Powertrain 5 year/ 100,000 km

Roadworthy

My test vehicle was equipped with the 3.6-litre Pentastar engine mated to the eight-speed torqueflite transmission. This transmission coupled with the highly efficient V6 engine is the key to a fuel efficient truck.

Throw in the stop-start system, active grill shutters, and automatic levelling air suspension and you have a gas miser that is fun to drive. The towing capacity of this particular truck is 2,653 kg (5850 lbs.) with a gear ratio of 3.55.

I towed a 2,700-pound trailer with a 1,200-pound UTV on board. Handled well and power wasn’t a concern.

Check out next weeks article where we'll announce the winner of Truck Guy’s 2013 Truck of the Year competition.

Sticker price

ST $19,995
Tradesman $20,695
SXT $20,495
SLT $24,795
HFE $25,295
Outdoorsman $28,045
Big Horn $30,145
Sport $31,745
Laramie $36,095
Laramie Longhorn $42,595


Article written by: Ian Harwood - "The Truck Guy"
Corporate Sales and Operations Manager for Custom Truck Parts

Silverado stays course for good reason

Chevrolet 1500: 2013 version of pickup offers the quality look and solid features it’s had for several years

Part 2 of Truck Guy’s 2013 Truck of the Year competition feature’s the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500.

Looks similar for now

Except for a few cosmetic changes, the Silverado has virtually stayed the same since 2007. It has been a successful look for GM and I haven’t heard too many complaints about body styling. In fact, there has been a lot of praise for the design. That said, winds of change are coming for the 2014 model.

Interior works

Chevy trucks have long had well appointed interiors. Whether you choose cloth seats or leather you can expect large comfortable seating. The Silverado is no exception. The dash is well laid out and easy to manoeuvre around without distracting you from driving. The centre console is large enough to hold files and also acts as an armrest. The 40/20/40 split-bench front seats are available on the WT , LT and Hybrid models with a 10-way adjustable driver and front passenger seat on the LTZ model. The rear seat is 60/40 split folding and can be found on extended and crew-cab models.

Safety a priority

Standard features include dual stage, driver and right front passenger airbag, side head curtain airbags that run the full length of the cab, seat-mounted side impact bags for driver and right front passenger. GM’s OnStar system comes free for the first six months, then available with a subscription after that.

Power to spare

No shortage of engines in the 2013 Silverado, with five to choose from. The 4.3-litre V6 with 195 horsepower and 260 lbs.-ft of torque is good on fuel economy and powerful enough to get you to you where you need to go. Next up is the 4.8-litre V8 Flex fuel with 302 horsepower and 305 lbs.-ft of torque. The 5.3-litre V8 Flex Fuel features an active fuel management system, 315 horsepower and 335 lbs.- ft of torque. The 6.2-litre V8 is also Flex Fuel capable and features variable valve timing active fuel management, 403 horsepower with 417 lbs.-ft of torque. The final choice is the 6.0L LIVC V8 Hybrid with electric propulsion system, 300-volt hybrid battery pack and high voltage management module. Its power ratings are 332 horsepower and 367 lbs.-ft of torque. A 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive and tow/ haul mode come with the 4.3L and the 4.8L, while a six-speed automatic with tap-up/tap-down shift control and tow/haul mode are mated to the 5.3L, 6.2L engines. When properly equipped, this truck can tow up to 4854 kg (10,700 lbs.).

Pump frequency:

4.3L 2WD 14.1/10.00 L/100km (city/highway)
4.8L 4WD 15.0/11.4 L/100km (city/highway)
5.3L 2WD 15.2/10.6 L/100km (city/highway)
5.3L 4WD 15.9/ 11.2 L/100km (city/highway)
6.2L 2WD 17.0/11.1 L/100km (city/highway)
6.2L 4WD 17.7/11.4 L/100km (city/highway)

Warranty support

Basic three years/ 60,000 km
Powertrain five years/ 160,000 km
Hybrid Components eight years/160,000 km

Comfort for long trips

I drove two models for a week. The first was the 4.3-litre 2WD and the second was the 5.3-litre 4WD . The 4.3L had plenty of power, which came as a pleasant surprise. The move up to the 5.3L wasn’t all that much different but you could feel it on the hills. A little extra horsepower goes a long way. Driving both models with a trailer you can really notice the difference. I like the interiors and have for a number of years although the heavy use of plastic is not appealing but seems to work in the GM products. The seats are comfortable and on long drives this is noticeable — and appreciated. Visibility is good and, as mentioned, the gauges and controls are well laid out.

Here’s the verdict

With the competition as fierce as it is in this segment, I think GM should have introduced a new model a little sooner. The technology that I see in other brands is a bit more advanced, but with that said, sometimes it’s not always best to be the first to market.

Sticker Price:

WT 2WD Reg Cab $27,205
LT 2WD Reg Cab $31,020
WT 4WD Reg Cab $32,405
LT 4WD Reg Cab $36,770
LS 2WD Ext Cab $32,030
LS 4WD Ext Cab $38,875
LT 2WD Ext Cab $36,155
LT 4WD Ext Cab $40,305
LTZ 2WD Ext Cab $44,615
LTZ 4WD Ext Cab $48,815
LS 2WD Crew Cab $34,390
LS 4WD Crew Cab $40,490
LT 2WD Crew Cab $37,820
LT 4WD Crew Cab $41,970
LTZ 2WD Crew Cab $45,770
LTZ 4WD Crew Cab $50,130

Article written by: Ian Harwood - "The Truck Guy"
Corporate Sales and Operations Manager for Custom Truck Parts

2013 Ford F150 still large and in charge

Truck of the year: Affordability, improved fuel economy help boost traditional top-seller in Canada

Over the next three weeks I’ll be evaluating three pickup trucks; today it’s the 2013 Ford F150; next Tuesday is the 2013 Chevy Silverado 1500; and the 2013 Ram 1500 on Tuesday, July 2.

The result will determine the Truck Guy Pickup of the Year. We have been conducting a poll on Facebook for the past two months and will share these results with you at the end (www.facebook.com/CustomTruckParts).

The Ford F150 has always been a top-seller in Canada, and the 2013 model is no exception, and that has a lot to do with its pricing and its improved fuel economy.

Looks

Little has changed over the last few years when it comes to F150 body styling. That said, the grille has seen some attention over the years and this helps determine the model year. With 10 F150 models to choose from, Ford has something for everybody. This truck has a nice shape to it. Its large side mirrors fold in, the large cab windows provide excellent visibility and the large wheel wells allow for excellent suspension travel. Notice a pattern here? Large and in charge!

In The Cab

The 2013 F150 has a very well appointed interior with stitching and textured plastic along the dash and console and very comfortable front seats. My tester was equipped with heated and ventilated seats along with a leather-wrapped steering wheel. The rear seats are a one-touch 60/40 split that folds up to allow for a fully flat floor area for cargo. The back of the centre console has a 110 power plug and flow-through vents. Ford Sync, part computer and part music storage, is optional, as is the voice-activated navigation system that uses an eight-inch LCD touch screen with interactive maps, can play DVDs while in park and stores up to 10 gigabytes of music.

Safety First

Sensors are used in the advanced personal safety system that control deployment of the dual stage front airbags, front seat side airbags, and side canopy airbags. AdvanceTrac and roll stability control comes standard. If you swerve or corner too quickly, the two gyroscopic sensors measure the vehicle roll and turning rates then apply the individual brakes and modify engine power to help keep all four wheels firmly in place. Pretty cool. Mykey technology allows you to program the ignition keys with reminders to drive at appropriate speeds, limit the volume on audio system, limiting the vehicle’s top speed and muting the audio system until the front seatbelts are fastened.

Power

The 3.5-lire V6 engine is mated with a six-speed automatic transmission and puts out 365 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 420 lbs.-ft of torque at 2,500 rpm. New this year is a 136-litre fuel tank that comes standard on the EcoBoost 4x4s, allowing you to drive over 1,400 highway kilometres before stopping to refuel.

Pump Frequency

12.9/9.0 L/100km (city/highway)

Warranty support

Basic warranty 36 months/ 60,000 km
Powertrain warranty 60 months/100,000 km
Corrosion perforation warranty 60 months/unlimited distance
Roadside assistance 60 months/100,000 km

Roadworthy

Full marks for towing, and the technology in the Ford brake control unit is amazing. It takes the white knuckles out of your vacation plans. Gas mileage is also deserving of full marks. Comfort is another quality that is hard to beat. Long trips just became a little easier.

Verdict

 

Strong out of the gate, and sets the bar. We will see how the other two competitors stack up.

 

Sticker price

XL $21,559
STX $23,855
XLT $27,103
FX2 $36,287
Lariat $42,335
FX4 $42,895
Raptor $67,591
King Ranch $59,359
Platinum $60,031
Limited $64,735

Article written by: Ian Harwood - "The Truck Guy" Corporate Sales and Operations Manager for Custom Truck Parts

The Future of Pickup Trucks is Here

Ford’s Atlas offers a shuttered front grille, self-charging batteries and fold-up running boards

The future of the Ford F150 - The Atlas concept truck

Ford Atlas Concept Truck

The Atlas looks like an F150 on steroids. It’s got large wheel-well flares, and LED headlights and tail lights that offer a significant improvement over conventional halogen or HID lights. The side mirror and cargo box light are also LED. The hood is a raised power dome which wraps around the unique front grille, which features active shutters that remain open when cooling is needed and close automatically to improve aerodynamics when driving at highway speeds. The wheels also feature shutters that automatically close at higher speed. The self charging batteries use energy from wheel motion to power the shutters. The front air dam also drops at high speed and raises to provide more clearance off-road. Power running boards drop down into position when the doors are opened up and remain tight against the body when the truck is in motion. The tailgate step also can rise up to provide a cradle for holding long pieces of cargo. And the lowered section of the cab roof has tie downs to secure a ladder or lumber.

In The Cab
Covered in an ambience of blue, this interior was designed to be comfortable and highly efficient. The instrument cluster is a 3D series of displays, similar to the Ford Focus. The real meat and potatoes is the navigation screen, providing a vast array of important information, music, phone connectivity, and a highly sophisticated backup camera. And the 360-degree point-of-view camera helps drivers navigate tight parking spots. With a twist of a knob, the camera can help back up your trailer. That’s right; Ford can guide your trailer into a parking spot.

Safety First
No specs on these yet, but I would assume that the safety features from an F150 would carry over in this vehicle, with a high-tech addition or two.

Power
The next generation EcoBoost engine uses gasoline direct injection and turbocharging to deliver fuel economy gains of up to 20 per cent and a 15 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions. It also features auto start-stop technology that shuts the engine off when stopped to save fuel. It is also knows when you’re towing to disable this feature.

Pump Frequency
Not available at this time

Warranty Support
Not available at this time

Verdict
Although most concept vehicles never come to fruition, they do provide a window to what designers and engineers are working. If some of this technology finds its way onto
the 2015 Ford F150, we will be in for a treat. I say stick this beast into production and don’t change a thing.

Article written by: Ian Harwood - "The Truck Guy"
Corporate Sales and Operations Manager for Custom Truck Parts