A man named Gottlieb Daimler built the first ever-motorized truck back in 1896. He was a German automotive pioneer who also invented the very first motorcycle, as well as the world’s first taxi. Daimler’s truck consisted of a four horsepower engine, a belt drive, one reverse speed and two speeds for going forward.

In early times, the intended use and purpose of a truck was for industrial reasons. They were used to haul things, and as new needs developed, so did new types of trucks. In early times of war, trucks were used to move ammunition and troops from one place to another, as well as to transport the injured and causalities among the soldiers.

Trucks were also invented that could be used for commercial purposes such as logging, farming, and later to mix and pour materials such as concrete. Later on, huge trucks were invented for the sole purpose of hauling other trucks and vehicles from their place of manufacture to sales centers all over the world.

Today, trucks are used for a myriad of reasons, and many different types of people own and drive them. Farmers everywhere use trucks to haul hay and small farm equipment, to move cattle as well as supplies. Those in the landscape and lawn maintenance industries also use trucks; wherein trailers are attached to the trucks in order to get lawn equipment from job to job.

Trucks are not only used for job related tasks, boating enthusiasts also utilize them. There are not many reliable cars that are going to be able to pull a large, recreational type boat, and where would you put the skis, ice chests and other necessities if the trucks’ spacious bed were not available?

Trucks are made by a number of vehicle manufacturers. There are the regular size passenger trucks that seat only two people, and the large extended cab trucks that can seat five people comfortably. There are the plain trucks that come with just the basics, and trucks that come fully loaded with every available option.

Some people enjoy the sport of four wheeling, and so they purchase trucks that allow them to drive over rough terrain and through bogs of mud! These trucks are equipped with 4-wheel drive, while other trucks not intended for this purpose would come standard with 2-wheel drive.

When in search of a truck, you will need to examine your needs, and also determine exactly what the truck will be used for. If you have a large family, then a truck would probably not make a good primary vehicle for you. However, if you need a solid piece of transportation that can be utilized to haul things around, and that you can attach a trailer to, a truck might just be a worthwhile investment.

www.hitchanything.com

A Guide to Trailer Hitch Covers

Parts of most trailer hitches are removable. The ball part of the hitch, the part that is used to fasten the cargo to the truck usually rests in the trailer hitch receiver opening. When the ball is removed, the receiver opening is left hollow. This opening protrudes from the tail of the truck and has sharp edges. People could bump into the metal rod or cut themselves on its sharp corners.    

It is a good idea to use a trailer hitch cover to protect the trailer hitch receiver opening. Trailer hitch covers can cover the opening and keep any debris from clogging it. Trailer hitch covers also protect people from cutting themselves or bumping into the hard edges.

It can be inconvenient and time consuming to remove foreign objects from the hitch receiver opening. Dead, wet leaves, mud, sand, and other disgusting substances can clog the opening and make it difficult to secure the hitch to the truck. No debris can get into the opening if a cover blocks it. The trailer hitch cover fits into the receiver opening and covers the sharp and hard edges. Many trailer hitch covers are padded, so that people who bump into them do not get bruised. The covers are secured in the opening so that they do not fall out when the truck is in motion.

There are a wide variety of trailer hitch covers available. They can have nearly any type of theme imaginable. Some have college logos, animal shapes, catchphrases, emblems, or cartoon characters on them.  People can add their own personal touch to the appearance of their truck by choosing one of these unique covers. Other trailer hitch covers contain working break lights that help alert drivers behind the truck when the truck is slowing down.  

Trailer hitch covers provide safety to a pickup truck. People can’t injure themselves on the trailer hitch receiver opening if a protective cover blocks it. With the wide variety of covers available, anyone is sure to find a cover that fits their personality.

www.hitchanything.com

Ford vs Chevy

As much as auto critics love to wring their hands over GM’s and Ford’s misfortunes the two automakers are locked in a perpetual battle for the coveted big pickup truck category.  The Chevrolet Silverado and Ford F Series continue to duke it out for the number one spot. There is more at stake here than meets the eye…and just what would that be?

For 28 years running the top selling vehicle in the US has not been a car, rather a pick up truck. That’s right, America’s love of pick ups extends to the point where the Ford F Series traditionally outsells the bestselling car by a factor of nearly 2 to 1 [the Toyota Camry is the best selling car, FYI]. Indeed, the second best selling truck for most of that time has been the Chevy Silverado, nemesis of the Ford.

If you are a GM fan, your immediate thought is to cry “foul” over the whole matter. In reality, Chevrolet’s parent company -- General Motors -- sells more full size pick up trucks than Ford year in and year out. However “the general” markets its truck under two different nameplates: Chevrolet and GMC. So, what appears to be a long running streak for Ford is just not that. At least according to GM fans.

Beyond the pick up truck sales, the matter of who is number one is a source of pride for the big automakers as they have been beaten and bruised over the years by increased competition. Asian automakers continue to take away sales, as even Toyota and Nissan are now building full sized pick up trucks. Dodge, too, has grown in size and influence ever since its redone Rams hit the market in the early 1990s. So, the last area of dominance for Ford and GM is also being chipped away and no one wants to be the first to admit defeat.

If you want to influence the battle, you have only one month to make a difference. Both manufacturers are certain to have amazing end of the year clearances, so shop smartly and you will come out as a winner no matter whose product you choose.

www.hitchanything.com

Trailers for all kinds of Hauling

If you a vehicle owner or in any way related to the transport industry, then you must be familiar with the term of trailers and also its usage. Depending upon the usage and requirement, you can choose from various types of trailers, such as open-air trailers or enclosed trailers. 

Open trailers are also known as car haulers as they are used to transport cars from one place to another location. Apart from it, they can also be utilized to haul farm tractors, ATVs, motorcycles, lawn equipments and materials that have to be dumped. On the other hand, concessions, general cargo, miscellaneous equipments, ATVs, cars, motorcycles and snowmobiles are hauled by using enclosed trailers. 

Enclosed haulers are in a way better than open haulers as they provide protection against hazards, such as UV light damage, theft, vandalism, bad weather and other security and road hazards. 

While you are planning to purchase a trailer, always consider the requirement of the specific size of the trailer. The maximum tongue weight and load carrying capacity of the tow vehicle are the other factors that should be considered. Do not forget to verify your trailer’s weight once it is fully loaded with what you have actually decided to haul. So, it is better to determine the weight of items you are planning to tow.

Weight is a great determiner to know how many axles will be required for your trailer. Apart from weight and size of the expected load, purpose, turning radius and budget of the load are some other aspects that should be analyzed before making the purchase of the trailer. 

A single axle trailer is used for loads varying from light to moderate loads whereas tandem axle trailer is good for heavy loads. Travel trailers and utility trailers are available in multiple and single axle varieties that permit tow vehicles of different sizes. 

A gooseneck trailer is another important variety that is mainly employed for equipments and heavy loads towing as it has a tighter turning radius and improved stability. 

Utility trailers are of great use for both home owners and contactors as well. These multipurpose utility trailers are available in varied sizes so as to cater to your specific requirements like for lifting lawn mowers, vehicles, golf carts as well as ideal for hauling small equipment too. Car haulers are used for specific purpose of hauling your vehicles, including personal car or racing car. Apart from car haulers, another variety is equipment trailer which are used to transfer skid loaders, excavators, and small tractors. Dump trailers are used for small purposes at homes as well as for commercial purposes. These types of dump trailers are available in various types of models, sizes and weights. 

Accessories for your Semi

The best way to add value to your semi-trailer truck is to accessorize it. While these words may seem like a sales pitch by an accessory dealer, the fact is that often the first thing noticed by a potential customer for a trucker’s services is his equipment. If the truck, or the whole fleet for that matter, looks well kept and attractive, the impression of that business is positive. This is true for a tow operator, fruit and produce distributor, over-the-road hauler, even sanitation pick-up and septic tank services.

Pride in a job well done and concern for customer service is reflected in the way a big rig is maintained. This can accomplished with a simple but well thought out paint job, and can go to the extreme with elaborate lighting and chrome accessories. For example, semi truck wheels can be simply painted and decorated with lug nut covers, or they can be covered with a variety of wheel accessories like axle covers or complete stainless simulators. A more expensive choice would be aluminum wheels with stainless axle covers and lug nut covers.

Increase Safety and Looks with LED Lights

Lighting is another method of displaying pride in your ride. Besides adding to the safety factor, today’s LED lights use a minimum of amperage and deliver a big wallop. A trucker can use ten times the number of lights than in past years, and yet not draw any more power from the battery. LED lights are available in a large variety of styles and colors, and can be installed in unusual places on the vehicle – in wheel wells, in the grille, on a visor and in air breathers.

Big Rig Accessories Make Long Hours Behind the Wheel Enjoyable

Other standard equipment – fenders, bumpers, tool boxes, exhaust pipes, mud flaps – can be left in stock condition, but are often seen in chrome and stainless. These all contribute to a fine public image of your truck. Interior accessories, while not necessarily visible to the public, also give a sense of pride of ownership and make the long hours spent in the cab more pleasant. For example, there are dashboard accessories, designer steering wheels and gear shift knobs. Chrome and stainless accessories are available for most semi truck models, and custom items can often be fabricated. In all, these items add a touch of class to any big rig!

Make that truck shine with chrome

A large variety of chrome goodies are available to customize the look of both large and smaller trucks on the market. These enhancements are constructed in a variety of materials, such as stainless steel, chrome plated steel and chrome plastic, including cut-outs, light brackets, license plate holders, hood ornaments, headlight accessories and chrome tape. Some of the most chrome truck parts include Chrome Cut Outs, Chrome Tape, Edge Molding, Grab Handles, Headlight Accessories, Hood Ornaments, License Plate Holders, Nut Covers, Permit Holder, Shift Knob. Chrome is not only a beautiful way to accessorize a truck, but it can also protect an extend the life of many truck parts.

Types of trucks

Dump trucks or production trucks are those that are used for transporting loose material such as sand, dirt, and gravel for construction. The typical dump truck is equipped with a hydraulically operated open box bed hinged at the rear, with the front being able to be lifted up to allow the contents to fall out on the ground at the site of delivery.
Dump trucks come in many different configurations with each one specified to accomplish a specific task in the construction chain. Standard dump truck The standard dump truck is a full truck chassis with the dump body mounted onto the frame. The dump body is raised by a hydraulic ram lift that is mounted forward of the front bulkhead, normally between the truck cab and the dump body.  The standard dump truck also has one front axle, and one or more rear axles which normally has dual wheels on each side. The common configurations for standard dump trucks include the six wheeler and ten wheeler. 


Transfer dump truck


For the amount of noise made when transferring, the transfer dump truck is easy to recognize. It’s a standard dump truck that pulls a separate trailer which can be loaded with sand, asphalt, gravel,  dirt, etc.


The B box or aggregate container on the trailer is powered by an electric motor and rides on wheels and rolls off of the trailer and into the main dump box. The biggest advantage with this configuration is to maximize payload capacity without having to sacrifice the maneuverability of the short and nimble dump truck standards.  Semi trailer end dump truck The semi end dump truck is a tractor trailer  combination where the trailer itself contains the hydraulic hoist. The average semi end dump truck has a 3 axle tractor that pulls a 2 axle semi trailer. The advantage to having a semi end dump truck is rapid unloading.


Semi trailer bottom dump truck
A bottom dump truck is a 3 axle tractor that pulls a 2 axle trailer with a clam shell type dump gate in the belly of the trailer. The biggest advantage of a semi bottom dump truck is the ability to lay material in a wind row. This type of truck is also maneuverable in reverse as well, unlike the double and triple trailer configurations.


Double and triple trailer 
The double and triple bottom dump trucks consist of a 2 axle tractor pulling a semi axle semi  trailer and an additional trailer. These types of dump trucks allow the driver to lay material in wind rows without having to leave the cab or stop the truck. The biggest disadvantage is the  difficulty in going in reverse. 


Side dump trucks.
Side dump trucks consist of a 3 axle trailer pulling a 2 axle semi trailer. It offers hydraulic rams that tilt the dump body onto the side, which spills the material to the left or right side of the trailer. The biggest advantages with these types of dump trucks are that they allow rapid unloading and carry more weight than other dump trucks. In addition to this, side dump trucks are almost impossible to tip over while dumping, unlike the semi end dump trucks which are very prone to being upset or tipped over. The length of these trucks impede maneuverability and limit versatility.


Off road dump trucks
Off road trucks resemble heavy construction equipment more than they do highway dump trucks. They are used strictly for off road mining and heavy dirt hauling jobs, such as excavation work. They are  very big in size, and perfect for those time when you need to dig out roads and need something to haul the massive amounts of dirt to another  location.