Utility Bodywerks - Manufacturer of RV Hauler Beds
 
Ranchmate FD RV Hauler
Features:

• All Aluminum frame construction
• 5" Aluminum tube frame rails
• 4" Aluminum tube cross members 
• 3/16" Bright diamond plate deck
• Painted Aluminum headache rack with two work / stop / turn / tail lights
• Four (4) recessed tie downs on deck
• Fuel access knock-out(s) on driver side
• Access opening for optional gooseneck hitch w/ two safety chain loops
• Integrated rear bumper with aluminum tread plate trim
• Full length painted 3/16" smooth rear skirt
• 7 way trailer plug at rear of bed
• Full length painted aluminum side skirts with rub-a-fender & aluminum tread plate trim 
• Rear bed corners tapered for turning radius
• 2" lip on sides of deck
• Stop / turn /tail / back-up lights at rear of bed
• DOT required lighting on sides (Clearance and Marker Lights)
• All lighting wired to meet all DOT requirements as originally intended by the vehicle manufacturer
 
 
 
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Posted by Mike Levine | July 8, 2010

Ford's mighty three-valve, 6.8-liter Triton V-10 is one of our favorite gasoline engines because of its diesel-like performance. Although Ford discontinued the V-10 as an option for its 2011 F-Series Super Duty pickups — substituting the all-new two-valve 6.2-liter V-8 gasser in its place — the company is keeping the 10-cylinder mill for 2011 F-450 and F-550 chassis cabs and the F53 motorhome chassis, and Ford has just announced that it will offer the V-10 as a brand-new option for 2012 F-650 and F-750 medium-duty chassis cabs.

Today's Ford F-650 and F-750 commercials are offered with a Cummins inline-six diesel engine, a variation of the same six-cylinder oil burner offered in Ram HD pickups and chassis cabs. By adding the V-10 for its Class 6 and 7 work trucks, Ford will become the only manufacturer to offer a gas-powered vehicle in every truck class from 1 to 7.

GM used to offer an 8.1-liter V-8 gas engine for its medium-duty GMC TopKick and Chevrolet Kodiak chassis cabs, but production of those rigs ended last year.

“No other manufacturer offers this wide of a range of options and solutions for truck customers,” said Len Deluca, Ford's director of commercial truck sales and marketing. “The availability of a gas engine in this medium-duty segment will be welcome news to many businesses and municipalities.”

The powerful V-10 is rated at 362 horsepower and 457 pounds-feet of torque, but its biggest advantage may be its price relative to traditional diesel engines that dominate in classes 6 and 7. Gas engines burn cleaner than diesels. They don't require the same complex exhaust-scrubbing hardware, which can mean saving thousands of dollars in upfront purchase costs.

Instead of being paired with Ford's legacy 5R110 five-speed automatic transmission, the 6.8 will be mated with the all-new 6R140 six-speed gearbox that debuted in 2011 F-Series Super Duty pickup trucks for both the 6.7-liter V-8 diesel and 6.2-liter V-8 gas engines.

The 6R140 features Live Drive power takeoff with an output shaft linked directly to the engine crankshaft providing constant PTO operation any time the engine is running, regardless of vehicle speed. It provides the capability to power PTO-driven accessories such as dump bodies, generators, salt spreaders and snowplows.

Compressed natural gas or propane alt-fuel packages will also be available as an option for the 6.8-liter V-10. The conversion will be available starting this fall on F-450 and F-550 Super Duty chassis cab trucks.

The new gas-powered chassis cabs can be ordered starting in late 2011.

[Source: Ford]
 
 
 
The Environmental Protection Agency Monday released the proposed 2011 percentage standards for its Renewable Fuel Standard.

The standard serves as a guide for the volumes of renewable fuel that fuel refiners, importers and blenders must ensure is used in transportation fuel, EPA said.

The proposed volumes are:

• Biomass-based diesel: 0.80 billion gallons; 0.68%

• Advanced biofuels: 1.35 billion gallons; 0.77%

• Cellulosic biofuels: 5 – 17.1 million gallons; 0.004% – 0.015%

• Total renewable fuels: 13.95 billion gallons; 7.95%

Public comments for the proposed volumes are due to the EPA 30 days after the proposed standards were released.
 
 
BY BRENT SNAVELY
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER

While sales of cars and trucks in the U.S. continue to be more sluggish than expected, automakers -- especially the Detroit Three -- are enjoying the largest increase in average transaction prices in more than five years.

Industrywide, consumers spent an estimated average of $29,217 on a new car or truck from January through May -- an increase of $1,057, or 3.7%, compared with last year, according to estimates provided by Edmunds.com. Edmunds' estimate is based on a sampling of data from about 40% of U.S. dealers.

But, the Detroit Three are outpacing the industry's gains -- giving the automakers an opportunity to improve profit margins. Edmunds says average transaction prices increased 5.5% for Chrysler, 4.3% for Ford and 3.8% for General Motors.

Thomas King, senior director at J.D. Power and Associates, said the recent financial collapse, which helped the automakers restructure and close extra plants, helped automakers reduce production and cut incentives.

"In the past, you had manufacturers focusing a little more on improving volume and reducing prices to get that volume," King said.

Now, King said automakers have embraced a more disciplined approach that represents a fundamental "change in the dynamic of the industry."

New technology While the underlying reasons for the transaction increases are somewhat different for each automaker, they generally include inventory reductions, reduced incentives, a demographic shift among buyers this year and consumers deciding to buy new technology and options.