Friday, September 18, 2009

best used trucks


You can tell a lot about a person by the used truck they drive. Don't think so? Savvy used truckbuyers today are demanding both rough and tumble power and still comfortable enough to drive every day. If that doesn’t say "I'm going to push my used truck to the limit, and want to look cool doing it", I don't know what does. Used trucks that fill this tall order may be few and far between. But, when it's time to purchase a used truck more consumers are taking a hard look at the bottom line of buying a used truck, as well as the performance and features that they need.

Recent trends in design have blurred the lines between traditional work trucks and the familysedan. More truck buyers are opting for used trucks that offer the ride, comfort and amenities of upscale vehicles, while delivering the same rugged durability and performance those trucks traditionally provide.

If you're in the market for a used truck, and don't mind doing a little research to make sure your pick is a good one, consider these steps:

1. Do an online search for the reliability of the model that interests you. Type "(your model) lemon" into the search engine field and scan the results. If this used truck has a lousy reputation for dependability and/or recalls, there will be a wealth of information on forums and message boards from people with experience with that particular model to inform your decision.

2. Buy a CARFAX report. This costs around $25, but may save you a ton of money in the long run. The VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is generally stamped on a metal plate located along the bottom of the windshield. Write this number down and submit it to see if this used truck has been in any accidents, recalls, etc.

3. Take it to a trusted mechanic. Make your purchase contingent upon the results of an inspection of the used truck by a mechanic that has no ties to the dealership. If the dealer balks at this provision, take your business elsewhere.

4. Look for a used truck that is still under the manufacturer's warranty. Most late model, low mileage used trucks will still be under the standard manufacturer’s 36 Month/36,000 mile warranty, with the engine and transmission often under warranty for much longer. Double-check to make sure that the used truck’s warranty can be transferred to you.

5. Ask for the truck's maintenance record. This step is key because if the used truck has been cared for with timely maintenance (oil changes, scheduled check-ups, etc.), most of that documentation should be easily located. If this cannot be found, take the used truck to be inspected by an off-site mechanic whom you trust.

6. Look for a used truck that has a Certified, Pre-Owned sticker. Used trucks with CPO stickers have been rigorously tested and have had any needed maintenance taken care of before they appear on the lot. This certification is typically backed by the truck manufacturer and if a problem arises, most repair costs will be covered.

Which used trucks rate the highest in customer satisfaction?

When it comes down to which models of used trucks consistently receive the highest ratings from buyers, we separated used trucks into 3 categories: light trucks, mid-sized trucks, and full-size trucks.

Best Used Trucks - Light Category

· Honda Ridgeline

The Ridgeline scored consistently well with drivers for interior comfort, best road performance, and reliability. It boasts a 255-horsepower V-6 engine with full-time all wheel drive, and has a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds.

Drivers particularly liked the innovative, lockable trunk located under the watertight truck bed and the dual-action tailgate for ease of loading. The Ridgeline received the highest rating for frontal- and side-impact crash tests and had the lowest chance for rollover among all the trucks tested by the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration).

· Nissan Frontier

The Frontier is another model that continues to score well with consumers and professional reviewers alike. Nissan introduced the Frontier over 15 years ago, and its rugged dependability and performance continues to inspire innovation. Used truck models come equipped with a wide variety of engine configurations for economy and heavier workload performance, plus different body styles to appeal to the full spectrum of truck buyers.

The factory-installed spray-on bed liner and adjustable, sliding cleats for secure cargo haulingare incredibly popular features for these used trucks. Under the hood, each engine is quiet (for a truck) and responds well to the throttle under a variety of on- and off-road conditions.

Best Used Trucks - Mid-Size Category

· Toyota Tacoma

In the mid-sized class, the Tacoma towers over the competition for reliability and overall performance. It comes in 18 different style variations including regular, extended-cab, and double-cab body styles as well as short and long beds.

These used trucks come in 2- and 4-wheel drive models, and feature a wide array of 4-cylinder or V-6 engines to accommodate truck lovers desire for versatility and performance on- and off-road. The flexible deck rail system with 4 adjustable tie-down cleats easily handles every type of cargo configuration, and the resale value of these used trucks continues to out-perform every other used truck in this class.

Best Used Trucks - Full-Size Category

· Ford F -150

The F-150 dominates this class and has been the best-selling full-size truck for almost 30 years. Buyers praise its dependability, performance, interior comfort and ease of use on- and off-road. This workhorse comes in a wide array of body and power train configurations and features both V-6 and V-8 engines with exceptional towing capacity.

The F-150 is also the only used truck in its class to receive the NHTSA's 5-star rating for frontal-crash safety and boasts a more comfortable ride than the Nissan Titan in comparison studies. Overall satisfaction inspires used truck buyers to remain loyal to this line again and again.

· Nissan Titan

In a class where the Ford F-150 has been the standard for full-sized trucks for decades, the Nissan Titan gives Ford a run for its money. Reviewers regard these 2 trucks as near-equals in most categories, with the Titan getting a small edge in tow capacity and power from a standard 5.6 Liter V-8.

Used truck buyers claim that the Titan's ride is a bit harsher than the F-150, but both trucks offer virtually the same mileage and resale value. The Titan’s interior is regarded as less comfortable than the F-150, but Nissan continues to encroach on Ford’s market share with innovation and sheer powertrain muscle.

Whether you're looking for a used truck to help you run your business, make your work life easier, or simply as useful for casual fun as it is for serious labor, you may be in the market for a used truck. With a little research, you can find the best used truck for your money, and the best truck for your needs, no matter if you need the rugged durability of a full sized used truck, or the dependable towing power of a smaller used truck.

Source: http://autos.aol.com/article/best-used-trucks

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Sunday, September 13, 2009

Truck Accidents - the Dangers of Driving at Night

Driving at night is inherently more dangerous. It is harder to see, making reaction time for responding to hazards longer. In addition, people are more tired and sleepy, and with the disappearance of the scenery into the blackness of night, the road can become hypnotic, making even well-rested drivers lethargic.

The problems of night-driving are exacerbated for truckers. Faster delivery means more profits, and more hours on the road means faster delivery. Therefore, trucking companies insist on it as part of their desire for unrealistically fast schedules for delivery of goods. Lobbyists for trucking companies have long fought to increase the hours drivers can spend on the road, and they have succeeded in recent years. With new, less restrictive guidelines on when and how long drivers can be on the road (known as Hours of Service (HoS), set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)), drivers can be on the road for as many as 88 hours in 8 days, on a rotating schedule of driving and resting, meaning that they sleep and/or drive at all hours of the day and night. All of these factors make truck accidents far more likely at night.

Dangers of the Road at Night

At night, the main hazard of the road is our inability to see. Humans are diurnal, meaning we are awake during the day and sleep at night, and our eyes are daylight-adapted. No matter how well-lit the roadway is, it is not equivalent to daylight. Point light sources create shadows that can hide dangers or create false perceptions of hazards. In addition, headlights from other vehicles create glare, temporarily blinding drivers. Light reflecting off the roadway or other vehicles can impair a driver's ability to properly gauge distances and speeds. Finally, dirt, dust, and scratches on windshields or glasses catch and reflect light from all sources. These factors create a minefield of perceived dangers while the real dangers are hidden in the dark. Even an alert driver is sometimes taken by surprise.

Dangers of Driving at Night

But at night most drivers are not alert. Many drivers have been driving all day. According to HoS rules, truckers can drive for as many as 11 hours a day. In the 11th hour of driving at the end of an 88-hour week, a trucker is completely wiped out. No matter how much he tries to keep his focus on the road, it wanders, and the center lines blur from a series of yellow streaks to an amorphous blob. It is 3 or 4 in the morning, and there have been no cars on the road for hours. Whenever the driver thought there was a car, it turned out to be nothing. The pedal goes down to make time. Your car, merging unexpectedly onto the highway is not seen, or is dismissed, and your life is changed forever as the tremendous force of impact hurls the twisted wreckage of your vehicle off the roadway, through the barrier, into a ditch.

If you have been hurt by a fatigued trucker driving at night to maintain the unrealistic schedule imposed by his trucking company, you need to take advantage of your legal recourses to make sure that trucking companies and drivers know that it is unacceptable for them to risk your life for their profit.
source: http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/213806/trucks/truck_accidents___the_dangers_of_driving_at_night.html

What Should you Know Before Buying a Used Truck

i like theses informations about used trucks:
Buying a used truck is no small thing as lot of money is involved and this investment is also directly responsible for making your work more efficient. Earlier, trucks were pretty simple with the basic build and there were not many options or confusion when it came to buying a truck be it new or old. Things have taken a change for the better off late with trucks coming with so many added accessories and attachments that it is not an easy task to buy one especially if it is old as it will indirectly imply that all these parts have been or will sooner be liable to damage. Some points to be noted when buying a used truck could be:

&bull If you know an automaker known for producing quality trucks, go for that brand &bull Size: Size matters as it will also affect the cost of the truck. Decide if you want a compact one or if your needs are heavier then you can opt for the full sized large truck. &bull Engine Size: Engine size will affect your fuel consumption which in turn will affect cost. Compact trucks usually have four to six cylinders while the large trucks have more resulting in more fuel consumption. &bull Seating capacity: How many people would the truck have to accommodate at a given time would determine the seating capacity of the truck. The standard ones usually are two seat-ers in which the seats are of the bucket type. There is no second row in these types. Storage space at the back of the seats is also less. &bull Towing needs: The size of the truck will depend on the towing needs. If the truck requires towing heavy objects, making sure you buy one which fits those needs.

I have been using goverment and police car auctions for more than 7 years. This is my business. I buy cars at a very low price and resell them later. At the website below you can read a review of the auction which provides me with great car delas every month.
source: http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/213796/trucks/what_should_you_know_before_buying_a_used_truck.html

Why Buy a Lifted Truck?

A lot of people ask this question. Why waste money and time lifting your truck, pimping it with customized rims and very very big tires??? The reason is simple, BIG BAD ATTITUDE.

Yes, when you have a very very big big bad lifted truck, you come in as mean but not in a bad way. You show that you mean business by playing and working hard. You show that you have the strength and brute force to make things go your way.

Other than attitude, a lifted truck has many benefits that normal cars do not. For example, you will be able to see through traffic much better because of your elevation. You are also much more safer because of the “muscles” that this truck have.

There are many makers to choose from. That list would include GMC, Ford, Nissan, Chevy and Dodge lifted trucks. It is up to what type of attitude you want to portray with the various designs from the different makes.

So you see buying a lifted truck is definitely a good decision if you have the money and the attitude to do so. And if you are in that buying mode, just check out the whole site for lifted trucks for sale and see which one is for you.

source: http://www.cheapliftedtrucksforsale.com/

The obligatory towing accessories when you buy tow trucks

i read this and i liked it:
If everything else fits and you do not have a decent pair of mud flaps, sling straps, hooks and ratchets, don’t even think of hitting the road! Mud flaps are the first most important thing on your tow truck. Tow truck for sale has to have some basic accessories that make it ready to tow right away. So buy tow truck that meets the minimal requirements concerning safe towing of your trailer, wrecked car, camper or whatever.

Do not shame to give a bit more for wide and thick quality mud flaps. Even though those tow trucks for sale you see on online auctions seem to have a good price, it does not mean you cannot bargain even a better deal if there is something important missing on that truck. This mistake is often made by fresh tow truck owners. They buy their cheap used towtrucks for nothing and hit the road with their expensive trailer secured with fancy trailer straps.

But used trucks have deep profiled tires, their tires are wide and when hitting the highway those tires are act as a vacuum cleaner and rocket launcher in one. They will collect not stones, but nearly rocks and catapult them with speeds up to 80 miles per hour directly into whatever you are towing behind. We are not talking about an old John Deere Vintage tractor bought on sale reaching not more than 15 mph on an open road.


To make the thing even worse, poorly secured wrecker tow trucks without or with inappropriate mud flaps will get your ass sued like you wouldn’t imagine. Those rocks launching out of your tires do not know the difference between the cheap trailer you tow and a passing $150.000 Mercedes.

source: http://www.usedtowtrucksforsale.net/

Buy Used Tow Trucks For Sale 2 (The chassis)

i liked this great used trucks tips
Let it be a pickup truck or a custom heavy duty tow truck, the chassis has to be solid. These vehicles are made for towing twice the weight of themselves and the forces upon their construction are simply enormous. Do not fall for the looks if you see the primary cage of the truck and the chassis deteriorated, oxidized or damaged beyond reasonable repair.
Sales of rollback pickups and heavy duty tow trucks are skyrocketing. There are all kind of lemons on those auction sites. The seller should be one that gives a thorough description of his truck on sale. If he seems to be hiding something, do not bother contacting him.

Selling used tow trucks is much easier than buying one. And if are a fan of vintage tow trucks, well then other criteria come in place when rating the seller of that old truck. Vintage wreckers are usually not used for active trucking but more for shows and conventions. To use a slightly different language, vintage trucks are more the ones that would rather get towed than be towing themselves.

It is OK to find out a specific trucks on sale was heavily used by its owner, but it is not OK to see it was heavily misused by the owner.

source:http://www.usedtowtrucksforsale.net/

Buy Used Tow Trucks For Sale 1

i've learned too much about used trucks , learn like me:

Towing is a profitable business in all of its aspects! Firstly a pre-owned tow truck, or a pickup is a good alternative for towing your trailer, boat, bike or a car. It is far cheaper than having to pay for a heavy duty pickup tow truck service. When you buy a surplus tow truck or a wrecker, the money you invested will return in less than 3 years. It won’t bring in its entire price within the first year, but in 2-3 years the cost of second hand rollback truck becomes smaller than the price you would have to pay for having to call towing company each single time you need a lift.

Tow trucking companies are always charging as if they were in heavy duty business. Even if they move your wrecked car or a trailer for less than 50 miles it ends up in a pure rip-off. That why towing business is one of the most profitable businesses in America. And all sorts of used wreckers and pre-owned pickup trucks are high in demand.

So finding a good used ford, gmc or Toyota tow truck for little money is a hard thing to do. There are a couple of really good tow truck auction sites, but not every truck on sale is worth its money. It is far from impossible but quite a challenge for anyone who looks to find good wreckers on sales. The three things to watch out for when deciding to give your money out for buying surplus towing vehicles:

1. The condition of the motor
Trucks and pickups offered on online auction sites are not always in a perfect condition. People that sell them know very well why are they selling their truck for a price that seems too good to be true. The motor is the heart of any truck. 4×4 pickups with towing capacity are usually not treated with soft hand. They are constantly on the road and exposed to all kinds of conditions. Used tow trucks for sale are working mules.

So on the outside they may seem like a totally missed opportunity but you really should discard the outer appearance of that truck it the machine is a good one. Bare in mind that some manufacturers are expensive in terms of buying truck parts for your vehicle.

What it counts is the motor and the maintenance costs (as mentioned before, do your homework and check out the prices for towing accessories and spare parts for your used towing vehicle) . Does it smoke too much when it starts? Does it have the original mileage on the console? Does it consume oil more than it should? What are the average annual maintenance costs? Do not let expensive truck parts ruin you within the first year of buying your truck on sale.

source: http://www.usedtowtrucksforsale.net/