|
About Me
I'm the Pickups host here at Edmunds CarSpace.com - be sure to check out the Pickups forums if you have or are interested in one!
Recent Posts
Categories
CarSpace
The Big Rigs
We're gonna talk about the big ones... trucks and buses that require those 3 marker lights front and rear. Everything from dual rear wheel pickups to class 8 trucks to the bus that takes you to work.
Sorry to have been so long since the last entry... been a wild year for me.
Let's see, what's been going on?
Well, my friend Vikki who piloted the red Peterbilt in the left margin has opted from the trucking ranks. That Pete spent too much time in her driveway and not enough on the highway. And when you're paid by the mile, that isn't gonna cut it, even for a company driver. So she returned the rig to headquarters this summer and has gone on to other work, although she is keeping her CDL just in case.
I stayed away from commenting on the Chrysler and GM bankruptcies (at least here -- I did comment elsewhere at Edmunds), but since they're out and re-establishing themselves, I will say this much... I think Chrysler under Marchionne has a far better chance than GM under Henderson. GM still has too many layers, too many executives from the past, and they are still trying to live on the old mantra of "as GM goes, so goes America." News flash, GM... America moved on without you a while ago. Marchionne assumed control of Chrylser to find a company that had not begun development of anything smaller than the next 300/Charger in nearly 3 years. But unlike the old multi-layered management structure of decision makers, Marchionne put in place a culture of fast action. He gave the design and engineering teams just 18 months to refresh the Avenger and Sebring - normally a 36 month project - which will get freshened product into the mainstream until the fully redesigned models on Fiat platforms can be implemented. GM has tried to look "lean" by dropping or selling brands, while they hang their hopes on a $40K electric compact. Yeah, that'll work.
Getting back to trucks, the 2010 Ram HD models are in production, the 2011 Ford Super Duty line was revealed in September for a winter start-up (somewhere around February 2010), and GM... oh yeah, remember them from the above paragraph... will hope that their production stock holds up because between January and March, they will be unable to produce any HD diesel engines. The Cummins used by Dodge was 2010-legal back in 2007. Ford is changing engine suppliers from International to in-house, so they can be up to speed with new engine prouction when the old engines run out. But GM has to shut down the Duramax plant and retool in order to make their 2010-legal engine - which means if a Chevy or GMC dealer doesn't have the HD pickup someone wants in stock, they're going to go to a Dodge or Ford dealer with the ability to custom-order the truck that meets their needs. Way to plan, GM.
As for the 2010 Ram vs the 2011 Super Duty... the 2010 Ram is a brand new body on a proven chassis with a proven powertain. The 2011 SD is a new front clip on a proven chassis (the cab and bed have been unchanged since the Super Duty line was introduced in January 1998 as early 99 models) and a completely new engine and transmission. Leem tell ya - in the world of trucks from class 2 and up, no one minds a new body if they trust the metal underneath. This will be Ford's third new engine launch in 6 years... and Dearborn better hope they get this one right, becauise the 6.0 and 6.4 Internationals hit the streets with lots of documented problems.
Could be the perfect storm that allows Chrysler to generate badly needed revenue until all the new cars are ready. Stay tuned.
 As the former owner of a 1996 Ram 3500 and the present owner of a 2005 Ram 3500, I've been awaiting this introduction for quite some time. It was going to determine whether I hung on to my 05 or started saving for a new one.
In my blog post on the 2009 Ram 1500, I noted three things that I hoped would appear on the 2010 Ram HD, and it looks like I scored on all three. The front bumper is indeed fully separate from the body (unlike the 1500) so that auxiliary equipment like plows and winches can be installed easily. The ST model offers an all-vinyl interior that you can get dirty. And the front springs in particular have been uprated and it now appears that they may permit a snow-plow package for the diesel pickups (a Dodge first, Ford has offered it for years).
As for the truck itself...
Likes:
I like the overall design appearance. Even though the cab is the same as the 1500 introduced last year, the HD doesn't have a "consumer" truck look to it.
I am very pleased to see that Dodge followed GM's lead and is using a steel integral fender on the dual-rear-wheel trucks. Ditching the bolt-on fiberglass fenders makes for a cleaner appearance, more paint options, better build quality, and better airflow.
I do like the more aggressive hood and grille. The 1500 has a smoother rounded look, while the HD has a chiseled grille, taller hood with extra clearance for the Cummins diesel, and even scalloped "louvers" on the sides.
The tow mirrors are slightly larger and incorporate a larger convex section. And I appreciate the return to black-faced gauges with white markings... I thought my white-face gauges on my 2005 were pretty cool when I got them, but after 4 years, that novelty wore off long ago, and depending on where the sun is, shadows can make them tricky to glance at.
Dislikes:
As I mentioned with the 1500, I'm no fan of single "uni-bulb" taillights. My 2005 has separate rear turn/hazard lights, which means people behind me have a better idea of what I'm about to do.
 While I like the hood itself, I am very displeased by what's under it. The underhood access on my 1996 was excellent. The 2005 is OK. Dodge knows full well these trucks use a LARGE inline six-cylinder diesel, so hood length should be taken into account during the design process. Not only is the underhood area more snug than my 05, but now they've added one of those huge black shrouds around the engine. I guess in their research, they forgot to ask how many HD truck owners do their own maintenance. When combined with the fact that the grille is no longer attached to the hood, anything in front of the engine (fan belt, etc.) will require the removal of this shroud... and I don't even want to think of what will happen if it's not tightly secured when it's reinstalled.
I'm a bit disappointed that the floor-shift for the 4x4 system is now limited to the base ST trim level and the off-road themed Power Wagon. I have always gotten the "comfortable" SLT trim level, but now that means I must have the electric dash control for 4WD. I had it on my 93 Ford F150, so I'm not a stranger to it, but I prefer the feel of that floor lever. (I know everything is computer-controlled anyway, but what the heck.)
Surprises:
 The Mega Cab is back! Who knew they were actually going to retain this, with the introduction of the new Crew Cab? But unlike the 1500, the HD line will no longer offer the Quad Cab (which is the equivalent to everyone else's extended cab model) - instead, they will offer the regular, Crew, and Mega cabs to the HD market. This makes Dodge the only truck manufacturer with 4 cab sizes.
Overall, I think Chrysler did a pretty good job on the redesign... I'll give them a solid B grade. Guess I should start socking away the money for a new Ram 3500 Crew Cab DRW 4x4... with the Cummins diesel of course!
A couple of good articles from the November/December issue of Road King magazine that are worth a look...
 Color Me Safe - High visibility seat belts encourage truckers to buckle up - more truck manufacturers are offering, and more operators are installing, brightly colored seat belts.
Trying Times - During some tough years this driver discovered his resolve to succeed - a 25-year veteran of the highway shares his experiences with health, family, and finances.
And of course, it's nice to report that diesel prices have dropped dramatically from this summer, although they have not matched the far steeper drop in the price of gasoline. In July, I paid a staggering $5.179 at my local station for diesel... just 4 months later, the price at the same station is down about 45% (around $2.95), and without too much effort, I can find it for quite a bit less than that - in the $2.60 range.
Thankfully, Vikki and her red Pete 379 have been on the road, although not nearly as much as a year or two ago. She said she was getting bored very quickly at home with the Pete in the driveway, instead of catching some z's in the sleeper at a truck stop. Even though fuel prices have come back down to more sensible levels and shipping rates have dropped the fuel surcharges, the economy means keeping tighter reins on the budget for people who need to get items from point A to point B. And with financing hard to come by, the buyers aren't there for the bigger ticket items that get shipped by 18-wheeler. So the loads aren't quite back up to snuff yet.
And more in line with my thoughts and wants, NAIAS is about a month away, and Chrysler is still scheduled to reveal the 2010 Dodge Ram heavy duty models, a direct replacement to what I have now. Hopefully, the automakers will be solvent enough to actually get to next month.
Can't leave Chrysler out. Today, the Pentastar announced they will close St. Louis South (minivan plant) and cut St. Louis North (Dodge Ram plant) to just one shift. Chrysler has ridden the minivans and Rams for nearly 15 years - for a period time, both plants were open daily with multiple shifts.
This is not great news, considering the minivans were redesigned for 2008, the new Ram 1500 debuts this fall, and the new Ram 2500/3500 will likely be shown to the public at NAIAS next January.
And to update Pare 2, GM stocks traded today briefly at $10.57 - the lowest split-adjusted price for General Motors common stock since September 22, 1954 when it traded at $10.49.
 This is the first of 1145 new buses headed for New Jersey streets. They are being manufactured by North American Bus Industries (NABI) of Anniston, Alabama and will be delivered over 6 years. The total contract is worth $409 million. This unit was put on display for the press on February 13.
There will be 1070 transit (local/city) buses, and 75 suburbans (equipped with high back seats, overhead parcel racks, and reading lights). 5201 shown here is a suburban.
This is a redesigned front end for the NABI model 416, with new-style round headlights and a sculptured windshield and front sign area. While the industry trend is to low-floor buses that have no steps at the doors other than the initial entry point from the ground, NJ Transit opted for the standard floor (two-step entry) model because they get more seats and legroom, plus some of the regions of New Jersey where these buses will operate are older infrastructure and rural areas where low floor buses may be at an operating disadvantage (e.g. country roads with high crowns and no curbs).
These buses are fully ADA compliant with wheelchair lifts, oversize destination signs, PA systems, and other features. They also exceed federal EPA emissions regulations for clean diesel.
 The excuse for getting rid of the floor-mounted 4-wheel-drive shifter was to improve front seat legroom and reduce floorspace clutter. As such, my 2005 Ram may be the last truck I own with such a floor shifter.
Then I saw the new trucks introduced at NAIAS, the 2009 Ram 1500 and F150. Both have introduced these huge full center consoles with floor-mounted automatic transmission shifters (the Ram is pictured to your right)... especially odd for the F150 which no longer offers a manual transmission.
I have had a fair number of people ask me if the front bench is actually still available - or in today's trucks, the 40/20/40. It wasn't all that long ago that trucks didn't even have head restraints. My 1990 F150 had none, and a bench seat so flat, you might get similar lumbar and thigh support from the bleachers at your high school's football field. And the old shifters were directly connected to what they were shifting. With drive-by-wire, you can mount the shifter to the ceiling if you wanted. Some buses have had pushbutton trans controls for over 20 years.
So now, manufacturers are telling me, at least in these new half-tons, a full console with a floor shifter is the next greatest thing. So if it's not a problem for this huge console that wipes out a front passenger seat, can I have my 4x4 floor shifter back when the heavy duty pickups are redesigned?
The 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 and Ford F150 were revealed today at the North American international Auto Show. As a current Ram owner and former F150 owner, I certainly feel qualified to offer my pair of pennies on these new designs. So here goes:
 2009 Dodge Ram 1500
I like the evolutionary design changes on the exterior. The lines are cleaner, getting the aero value back down to where it was with the 1994 design. I understand why the grille is no longer attached to the hood, but i will miss that. I also have a problem with the rear "uni-bulb". My 2005 Ram has separate rear turn signals/hazard lights, and since I drive in the dark every work night, complete lighting is very important to me. A single bulb can be misconstrued by inattentive drivers, plus you lose brake light function when hazards are on - only the high-mount brake light actually functions in this situation. There is certainly enough room in the new truck to allow for separate rear turn/hazard lights. I think Dodge made a good move by creating a crew cab over continuing the oversized Mega Cab. They may lose some bragging rights, but the truck will be a lot easier to handle. One thing I find very annoying though - on both the quad and crew Cabs, the rear seat cushion is cut down in the center - this makes child-seat placement almost impossible - especially for a rearward facing infant seat, as there's not enough cushion to support it.
Which leads me to the rest of the interior. I like the new dash and gauges. The front seats clearly have improved bolstering for more back and side support, which is appreciated by those of us who make long commutes. The increased number of storage bins will be useful for most buyers, and the materials used are definitely an upgrade. But I have my complaints, too. Still using the beige upper interior, no matter what color seats/dash/carpet you order (see my blog entry "Every day is a gray day") tells me the effort to improve the interior is only half-hearted... the common beige pillars and headliner are strictly a cost-savings move. Go the extra mile, will ya? We're paying for these trucks (and quite a bit of money too); don't shortchange us because of an accounting decision. And again, we're only offered tan and gray.
Next year, it is expected that the heavy-duty Rams will be brought to the new body style, and in speaking with fellow Ram owners, there are some things we want to point out:
- the front bumper and fascia can't be integrated with the fenders. Bumpers need to be removable and adjustable for installation of items like winches and snow plows.
- don't forget those who need a truck to actually be a truck... rubber/vinyl interiors that won't be ruined on a muddy ranch, but still have soundproofing where the luxury interiors do, and manual locks and windows that won't freeze on a subzero morning when the job doesn't take a day off for weather.
- heavy duty springs that won't sagf under a load (or in my case, over time from the weight of the Cummins)
Those of us who buy and use this class of truck don't expect the same ride as a Chrysler 300, we expect these trucks to do the job their weight class dictates.
2009 Ford F150
I drove a 1990 and 1993 F150 (broke 'em both, thus my moved to duallies). One thing still bothers me... Ford is still the only manufacturer who thinks the half-ton pickup shouldn't share its body with its big brothers. This cheapens the F150 to a lot of people - it gives a perception of not being as rugged as the Super Duty models.
The exterior changes from the 2004 design are minimal, just as the 2008 Super Duty essentially has just a new front clip and new tailgate... the doors of a 2008 SD are exactly the same as those from the 1999 model introduced 10 years ago. While not a terrible styling exercise, two details stand out as negatives:
- the mirror mounting area in the front door is almost as large as the old vent windows... why does that have to block out so much glass space and visibility?
- I commended Ford for moving the headlights on the 08 SD to the bottom of the cluster, making them more effective by being closer to the road - so why not the same for the new F150?
The interior is a pretty evolutionary change from the current model. Not too crazy about the combination of rectangles and chrome-ringed circles in the dash design... I'm more of a no-nonsense "just give me the controls, ma'am" person (blog entry "Too much information"). I also think 7 trim levels is way too many. The STX and FX4 should be one "sport" trim package, and why so many luxury trucks like the new Platinum? Isn't that what the Mark LT is for?
Then there's the high bed sides. In the Ford press release, Matt O'Leary (who headed the engineering effort of the new truck) noted that owners had trouble reaching the bed due to the high sidewalls, and observed owners trying to climb on the tires, or using objects to stand on. But rather than following the request of owners to lower the sides to previous levels, O'Leary decided that a step attached to the truck was a more progressive solution. Say what? Since when is a step safer than standing on solid ground? Reaching into the bed is usually done to load or unload something... if you have to also balance yourself on a step just to reach the bed, that item you're trying to lift will change that balance and you run a very real risk of losing that balance and falling. Not smart at all, Ford. I've been driving full-size 8-foot-bed pickups exclusi9velyt for over 17 years, and I do not take my personal safety lightly when loading or unloading cargo - I shouldn't have to worry that my feet won't be where I put them.
Personally, I think the Dodge was better executed in this round of redesigns. Both trucks will get their share of truck of the year awards from various sources, but the bottom line will be sales. With the falling market share due to the economy and other factors, the people who will be buying expensive trucks will be us hardcore truckers. Don't give us cars with beds, please.
|
|
