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Grind Your Own Gears

6/22/2018

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We love manual transmissions. Unfortunately, over the past few years they have become increasingly less common. This has been the result of a combination of factors: Waning public interest, more efficient automatic transmissions, and fading margins. Purists like us will argue that there’s still something magical about rowing your own gears, and while true, it’s hit a point where automatics can do the job faster, heck a slush-box equipped Corvette is quicker than the stick version. Crazy.
 
While there’s just shy of 100 2018 model year manual-equipped vehicles available on dealer lots, only three of them are pickups and eight are SUVs. It’s a shame, really, but there’s a real chance that we’ll see the manual transmission go extinct in our lifetime.
 
Chevrolet Colorado
Nissan Frontier 
Toyota Tacoma
 
Fiat 500 and 500X
Jeep Compass, Renegade, and Wrangler
Kia Soul
Mini Clubman and Countryman   
 
- Trucks-365 Staff

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Vaughn Gittin Jr. Drifts A Raptor Around The Nurburgring!

6/11/2018

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You have seen the video of drift legend Vaughn Gittin Jr. drifting a Ford F-150 Raptor around the Nurburgring in Germany right? Wait, you haven’t? Well lucky for you the team that put the original film together has released even more footage. There’s now the original cut, an extended directors edition, and a behind-the-scenes video. Seriously, we can’t get enough of it.
 
The story goes like this… Vaughn travels to Germany with the intent to drift his Ford Mustang RTR around the famous race circuit. Weather had a different idea. With the Mustang shoot rained out the team, instead of scrapping the day, pulled out a Ford F-150 Raptor and sent Vaughn on his merry way.
 
Being ever the skeptics that we are, we can’t help but wonder just what the team was doing with a Raptor in Germany to begin with, and if this wasn’t planned (or at least a back up plan) the entire time. Either way, the video is a fun and fresh take on traditional drift and Ring videos that us truck folks quickly grow tired of watching. It’s just a bummer the Raptor doesn’t sound more like the Mustang… because man that Raptor sounds awful!
 
Check out the videos and a ton of behind-the-scenes photos below!
 
- Trucks-365 Staff
Source: Michael Crenshaw and Team RTR

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RJ Anderson's Snow Blind Video!

6/11/2018

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If you’ve never driven a UTV you are seriously missing out. They may be expensive golf carts but they are a hell of a lot of fun. The power-to-weight ratio is insane and suspension travel rivals may off-road race vehicles. We can forgive not driving one, but what we can’t forgive is not watching one of off-road racer RJ Anderson’s viral UTV videos.
 
The latest, Snow Blind, follows the massive XP1K series. With four installments, aptly named XP1K, XP1K2, XP1K3, and XP1K4 the series has amassed nearly 10 million views on YouTube. For Snow Blind the crew teamed up with legendary snowboarder Thorstein Horgmo and took over the Donner Ranch Ski Resort located in northern California. The vehicle piloted by Anderson was an all-new 2018 Polaris RZR XP Turbo-S. It was modified with a Holz Racing Products roll cage, Walker Evans Racing wheels and chocks, BFGoodrich KR2 Baja T/A studded tires, communications from Rugged Radios, and Sparco seats.
 
Check out the video below and let us know what you think!
 
- Trucks-365 Staff
- Source: Mad Media

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"From the design of the car to the integration of Rockstar's Torstein Horgmo, we really wanted to make this project something special," commented Co-Director, Matt Martelli.  "We've always wanted to create an automotive film integrating our love for snowboarding.  This project was both challenging and fun in many ways."
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National Donut Day... Enthusiast Style!

6/1/2018

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We love donuts! Glazed, sprinkles, sugar, heck even plain donuts are amazing! What’s even more impressive are donuts made of smoke, dust, and tire rubber. As lovers of all things power, performance, and speed we would never turn down the opportunity to roast rubber. In celebration we’ve scoured the Internet and found a few folks who understand the true meaning of this special day. Whether it’s a high horsepower racecar, a beat up hooptie running on three cylinders, or a daily driver getting down in the dirt we love it all. Now let’s all sit back with some fried dough, bonus points if there’s bacon involved, and enjoy the hilarity that is National Donut Day!

- Trucks-365 Staff

duPont Regestry gets in on the action... 
https://blog.dupontregistry.com/features/dozen-exotics-national-doughnut-day-2018/

Car and Driver shares the fun...
https://www.caranddriver.com/news/nissan-celebrates-national-doughnut-day-the-right-way

The Drive teaches us how to do donuts...
http://www.thedrive.com/news/21209/national-donut-day-is-time-to-make-the-donuts-the-gearhead-way

AutoGuide gives us the ten best cars to do donuts in...
http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2016/06/top-10-best-cars-to-do-donuts-in.html

Hagerty lays down a history lesson...
https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/keyword/donut-day

And, best of all, LifeHacker shows were to get fat for free...
https://lifehacker.com/where-to-get-free-donuts-today-1826482171

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Top 10 Ford F-150 Diesel First Drives!

5/22/2018

4 Comments

 
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We've been talking about the impending Ford F-150 Power Stroke diesel engine for what feels like an eternity. Thankfully, it's finally here! Under the hood of the 2018 F-150 is an optional 3.0L V-6 diesel engine, which turns out 250 horsepower and 440 lb-ft of torque. Transferring this power to the ground is a 10-speed automatic transmission. When properly equipped it can tow more than 12,000 pounds, haul upwards of 2,000 pounds of payload, and achieve 30 miles per gallon on the highway. Ford recently invited the automotive press out to Denver, Colorado, for a first drive of this new powertrain. Here are the Top 10 first drive reviews from around the web!

- Trucks-365 Staff
Source: Ford

Motor Trend
www.http://www.motortrend.com/cars/ford/f-150/2018/2018-ford-f-150-diesel-first-drive-review/

Car and Driver
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2018-ford-f-150-30l-v-6-power-stroke-diesel-first-drive-review

Road Show by CNet
https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/2018-ford-f150-power-stroke-diesel-first-drive-review/
 
Digital Trends
https://www.digitaltrends.com/car-reviews/2018-ford-f150-power-stroke-diesel-review/
 
Autoweek
http://autoweek.com/article/car-reviews/2018-ford-f-150-power-stroke-diesel-first-drive-tow-machine
 
Motor1
https://www.motor1.com/reviews/240602/2018-ford-f150-diesel-first-drive/
 
Truck Trend
http://www.trucktrend.com/features/1804-first-drive-2018-ford-f-150-diesel/
 
Automobile
http://www.automobilemag.com/news/2018-ford-f-150-power-stroke-review-first-drive/
 
The Detroit News
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/opinion/columnists/henry-payne/2018/05/02/review-ford-power-stroke-diesel/34492633/



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2019 Ram 1500 First Drives!

3/29/2018

4 Comments

 
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Ram introduced its all-new 1500 back at the Detroit auto show in January, and has now held its first drive event for journalists. We’ve scoured the Internet and compiled a list of our Top 10 best first drive reviews. Check them all out and let us know what you think of this impressive new pickup from Ram!
 
- Trucks-365 Staff

Motor Trend
www.motortrend.com/cars/ram/1500/2019/2019-ram-1500-first-drive-truck-rides-like-car/

AutoWeek
autoweek.com/article/car-reviews/2019-ram-1500-first-drive-review-we-test-all-new-full-size-pickup-photos-and

Car & Driver
www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2019-ram-1500-first-drive-review

Motor 1
www.motor1.com/reviews/236295/2019-ram-1500-first-drive/

Truck Trend
www.trucktrend.com/features/1803-first-drive-2019-ram-1500/

RoadShow by CNET
www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/2019-dodge-ram-1500-truck-first-drive-review/
Digital Trends
www.digitaltrends.com/car-reviews/2019-ram-1500-review/
Edmunds
www.edmunds.com/car-news/first-impressions/2019-ram-1500-pickup-first-drive.html

Autoblog
www.autoblog.com/2018/03/16/2019-ram-1500-v8-first-drive-review/

PickupTrucks.com
news.pickuptrucks.com/2018/03/first-drive-does-the-all-new-2019-ram-1500-deliver.html


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Shocking! Volkswagen Tanoak Pickup Concept Shown In New York

3/29/2018

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Volkswagen shocked us all this week when it unveiled a new mid-size pickup concept at the New York International Auto Show. The Tanoak is based on VW’s MQB or modular transverse matrix architecture and shares much in common with the Atlas SUV. Tanoak is two inches taller, 15.8 inches longer overall, and has a wheelbase that is 11 inches longer than Atlas. Drivetrain is a 3.6L V-6 that produces 276 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque. An eight-speed transmission backs the V-6 engine and power is transferred to all four corners through a 4MOTION all-wheel drive system with Active Control. VW claims Tanoak will power from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 8.5 seconds, which is respectable but not earth shattering.
 
Although the Tanoak is based on the Atlas SUV the similarities end at the B-pillar. The rear doors are blended into the body and hinged at the C-pillar. The rear of Tanoak is anchored by its low-hinged tailgate, that when opened extends the 64.1-inch cargo bed is lengthened by 26.1 to an effective length of 90.2 inches. Lighting is all LED and body accents are all reflective of the exuberant concept that it is.
 
We love the idea of a Volkswagen Atlas based pickup. Even thought it’s just a concept we love the styling and list of available features. Hopefully this is a vision of what’s soon to come, and not just a fun exorcise for the auto show circuit.

- Trucks-365 Staff
Source: Volkswagen

2 Comments

Ford's Bronco Is Back! And It's Electric?

3/18/2018

2 Comments

 
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“Ford helped start the off-road phenomenon and has majored in off-road capability for decades – from the Bronco to the Raptor,” said Jim Farley, Ford president, Global Markets. “Now, we’re ready to reclaim our rightful place as the off-road vehicle leader.”
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Ok, it’s not fully electric, but rather a gas-electric hybrid. Ford dropped the bombshell at a press conference aimed at explaining the company’s vision for pickups and SUVs for the next several years, held at its headquarters in Dearborn. After years of speculation Ford acknowledged at the 2017 North American International Auto Show in Detroit that the Bronco nameplate would in fact be returning to North America in 2020. Still to this day there are those who have their doubts. So, along with the news about the hybrid powertrain Ford also released a photo of the 2020 Bronco.
 
Unfortunately all we could see was the SUVs shapely outline hidden under a sheet, but it’s enough to prove that it exists in some form. From what we can tell, since there’s nothing to gauge proportion against, the new Bronco will look like the bastard love child of a Toyota FJ Cruiser, Jeep Wrangler, and Bronco II. The wheel wells look large enough for at least a 33-inch tire, and it would appear to be a two-door, just like the Bronco of old. A spare tire hangs off the rear and we can only hope it has a removable top. We expect a solid rear axle and independent front, though Ford could still surprise us with more of a Wrangler-fighter than Raptor kin, but the later is more likely.
 
Along with the Bronco Ford also teased a never-before-seen compact off-road SUV, which it says will be coming to market soon. Nothing else is known about this vehicle, so we’ll speculate that it will be similar in size to Escape, and sport a fully electric powertrain. Stay tuned as this story develops.
 
- Trucks-365 Staff
Source: Ford
2 Comments

What Happened Chevy?

3/18/2018

2 Comments

 
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We’ve surely all seen it by now. Chevrolet introduced us to its all-new 2019 Silverado 1500 back in January at the 2018 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. When the sheets were pulled back there was an audible gasp from those in attendance at the grand unveiling. Applause soon followed and interest from those watching on the Internet skyrocketed shortly after the polarizing design found the light of day.
 
So what happened? It would appear that designers and engineers at General Motors made the decision to design a new pickup that would last for many years, both in the styling department and efficiency. You see, a lot of what many see as questionable design was implemented for the sake of aerodynamic efficiency. The air curtains built into the front bumper are a prime example of this, as well as one of the main features that’s been criticized in the mainstream media. These “catfish gills” as they’ve been referred to by some actually work to direct airflow out and around the front suspension, helping the truck slip through the air with less resistance.
 
The design is bold, with a large muscular grille and squared off fenders. The headlights give a weird nod back to Ford’s 2015 F-150 with a notch in the center of the unit, and the body accent line that runs through the bedsides is quite reminiscent of Toyota’s current Tundra. The rear windows also appear to draw inspiration from Chevy’s mid-size Colorado pickup.
 
We’re still on the fence with this one. Admittedly, our first reaction was that of mild shock. However, as more models and trims are introduced and we begin to see the truck in its natural habitat, not on a show floor, we’re starting to come around.
 
What do you think of the new 2019 Silverado? Leave us a comment below!
 
- Trucks-365 Staff
Source: Chevrolet

2 Comments

Top 5 Worst Jeep Wrangler JK Mods

3/13/2018

5 Comments

 
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We’ve all been young and done things we regret. Thankfully we eventually learn from our mistakes and recognize the error of our way. This holds true for many areas of life, but what we’re talking about today revolves around the horrible things people do to their vehicles. While there’s a lot of personal taste that factors into any custom vehicle, there are a few mods that are universally disliked. Today we look what is quite possibly the most customized vehicle of all time, the 2007 to 2018 Jeep Wrangler JK and what we feel are the top five worst modifications that we see.
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#5 – Lowering It 
This one shouldn’t even require mentioning, but alas here we are. Far too many people have taken to the trend of lowering their Wrangler. For the love of all things holy just stop. Jeeps should be lifted, or at very worst left factory height. We’re pretty sure a puppy dies every time a Wrangler is lowered, it’s that bad.

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#4 – Big Wheels
Complimenting the previous terrible modification is adding big wheels to a Wrangler. Unfortunately this hasn’t been kept to the few lowered Wranglers but has transitioned to the lifted mall-crawlers as well. Look, big wheels have their place, but it’s not on a Wrangler. Can we all just agree that 17-inch wheels are the ideal size for a Wrangler with 35 to 40-inch tires and call it a day?
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#3 – Too Many Light Bars
We have no problem with light bars. Wranglers are square, light bars are rectangle so it just works. But there comes a point where you have too many, and far too often when we spot these Jeeps the bars aren’t even wired into anything. One on the roof, one on the bumper, and use the damn things for night wheeling. No more, no less.

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