Shifting Gears

For 2008, manufacturers have heeded the call of customers who need more power, functionality and security. They have equipped their trucks and vans with features that specifically respond to the practical needs of contractors.

Recognizing that a contractor’s vehicle is the key to his livelihood, today’s trucks and vans are efficient, powerful and upfit-ready. Since many work vehicles serve a dual purpose as weekend cruiser, there are plenty of cool new bells and whistles available for sheer pleasure. And they are backed by a service network trained to cater to commercial customers.

Today, fuel economy is everyone’s concern, but when selecting a commercial vehicle, it is a secondary consideration. The primary goal is to choose a vehicle that is powerful enough to handle the job the owner needs it to do and manage the load it must carry. So simple physics dictates that the vehicle’s fuel efficiency is strongly impacted by the amount of weight the vehicle carries.

“Fuel efficiency isn’t really an issue with commercial customers but it is one of the important measures to keep in mind,” says Todd Kaufman, Ford chassis cab marketing manager. “Building trucks is a series of trade-offs. The trade-off for fuel economy is capability — what the truck can do for the business.”

“In vehicles over 8,500 gross weight rating, obviously there are no fuel economy ratings,” says David Gutman, Ford commercial truck and van marketing manager. “The way that you spec it and the stuff you load on it are big variables that can move the fuel economy up or down.

“Year after year in vans and trucks, the request is for more GVW (gross vehicle weight) because they want the truck to have more capability than before,” says Gutman. “You’ve got to engineer it so you can tow more, carry more haul more because the consumer is demanding increased capability.”

The Ford F-Series Super Duty has been overhauled for the 2008 model year. Ford’s Super Duty pickup has been the leader in the over 8,500-lb. truck segment since its launch, offering best-in-class payload, GVWR and trailer tow ratings. Offered in three cab styles — Regular Cab, SuperCab and Crew Cab — and with two bed lengths, the new Super Duty features a bold new look and includes a state-of-the-art Power Stroke V8 Turbo Diesel. The F-450 pickup incorporates a new rear leaf-spring suspension while using the radius arm front suspension from the F-450 chassis cab. This setup provides for a tight turning radius, greatly improving maneuverability when towing. The F-450 pickup offers a maximum payload of more than 6,000 lbs. and towing capacity of more than 24,000 lbs.

“Our light duty offers class leading fuel efficiency,” says Robert Minton, GM fleet and commercial director of communications. “Some of our trucks are available with diesel as opposed to gas engines, and six-speed transmissions. If you’ve got more gears to choose from, the truck can choose the most efficient gear for the given speed and load its bearing so it allows the engine to run at optimal efficiency.”

Weight capacity is a larger concern for contractors than for the average consumer. “Most consumers, even if they do the weekend Home Depot trips, are not even close to maxing out the vehicle’s load capability,” adds Minton. “But on the contractor side, that’s something they need to pay attention to. That’s going to determine the type of vehicle you need.”

Chevrolet Silverado heavy-duties are offered in a range of 2500HD (3-quarter-ton) and 3500HD (1-ton) models. The range of configurations includes three cab styles, three cargo box styles and five wheelbase lengths. Silverado HD pickups offer 18,500-lb. gross combined vehicle weight rating for vehicles with a gas V-8 and a 13,000-lb. conventional trailer weight rating enabled by a larger-capacity trailer hitch platform. Maximum towing capacity is 16,700 lbs., when equipped with a fifth-wheel hitch. Changes to the Silverado 2500HD and 3500HD for 2008 include standard XM Satellite Radio on all models, availability of a power-adjustable driver’s seat on regular cab models with a bench seat, brighter instrument pointers in the gauge cluster and two new exterior colors: Dark Cherry Metallic and Deep Ruby Metallic.