Truck Topics

Featured Products - November

Keeping your engine's air and oil clean

AMSOIL INC. has been marketing synthetic lubricant and filtration products since 1972.  The company has announced that it now represents Donaldson Endurance air and oil filters.

Donaldson filters are specially designed for GVW Class 6, 7 and 8 over-the-road commercial vehicles including vans, beverage trucks, school buses, box trucks, tow trucks, city transports, fuel trucks, cement mixers, heavy construction cabs, refrigerated vans, and more.

The company states that this unique nanofiber technology traps sub micron containment below 1 micron in size (a human hair is 50-80 microns in diameter). Donaldson Endurance air filters utilize a sub micron, ultra-fine web that captures these fine contaminants at a very high efficiency level. Donaldson Endurance air filters from AMSOIL® provide the following cost saving benefits:

Longer engine life Longer filter life Extends maintenance intervals Twice the distance guarantee
 

Donaldson Endurance lube filters are made with premium advanced synthetic media that incorporates sub micron fibers in size, shape and fiber diameter. The Donaldson Endurance lube filters from AMSOIL® provide the following cost saving benefits:

Extended service life Extended service lifeSuperior engine protection Improved lubricant flow Improved cold starts Reduced operating costs

For more information about AMSOIL synthetic lubricants and performance filtration products contact your nearest AMSOIL distributor, check the Yellow Pages under Lubricants, visit www.amsoil.com or call AMSOIL at 1-800-777-8491. AMSOIL INC., AMSOIL Building, Superior, WI 54880.

Let your trailer sprout wings!

Freight Wing™ products represent the world’s first effective, practical and complete solution to semi trailer aerodynamics, says the company. Developed through a U.S. Department of Energy grant, these patented products reduce aerodynamic drag in three key areas; the bottom, front and the rear of the trailer.

According to the company, Freight Wingâ„¢ fairings have been proven by the nation's leading independent research facility to reduce fuel consumption of class 8 trucks by 7% using Society of Automotive Engineers(SAE)/Technology and Maintenance Council(TMC) J1321 Type II standardized tests.

The SAE/TMC standardized tests are trusted throughout the industry as the only accurate and impartial means of measuring improvements to fuel economy. In addition to fuel savings, Freight Wing products are designed to meet the rigorous demands of the trucking industry. They are lightweight, durable, maintenance-free, easily repaired if necessary, and do not interfere with a truck's operation. Extensive road tests have proven the products reliability and the fairings are now in everyday use across America.

The Freight Wing Aerodynamic System is composed of three attachments or fairings designed to reduce wind drag.

*Freight Wing Gap Fairing(TM) is mounted on the front of the trailer. Air that curves around the tractor is guided smoothly over the flat face of the trailer by the Gap Fairing. Freight Wing's product is unique in that it is the first gap fairing designed specifically for use with modern, aerodynamic tractors.

*Freight Wing Belly Fairing(TM) consists of two identical wind deflectors attached to the underside of the trailer, adjacent its side walls. The Belly Fairing prevents wind from hitting the rear wheels, and smoothes airflow around the sides and bottom of the trailer.

*Freight Wing Rear Fairing(TM) is mounted on the back of the trailer. In streamlining the trailer's box end, the Rear Fairing acts in the same manner as wings on an airplane, guiding air moving along the sides into the wake of the trailer.

A 7% reduction in fuel consumption saves average trucks over $2,000 every 100,000 miles. Rising fuel prices and environmental legislation will continue to increase the fuel savings made possible by Freight Wingâ„¢ enhanced aerodynamics.

Custom graphics are available for fleet branding, advertising, and owner operators.

Contact this company at www.freightwing.com

Truck boxes and more!

White City, Oregon is the home of Highway Products, Inc.  Since 1980, the family-owned business has built products for the light, medium, and heavy truck industry.

The company has grown from it's humble beginnings in a garage under the family home to it's current location on an 8 1/2 acre plot that houses a 50,000 square foot facility with over 60 employees.

The company offers a complete line of manufactured truck tool boxes (including top-lid boxes), truck cab guards, RV tow bodies, aluminum flatbeds, and other accessories for pickup trucks, vans, medium trucks, and heavy duty trucks. 

Step Tool Boxes
These rugged step boxes are made from 1/8" marine grade aluminum and are designed to help get up on the truck safely while adding secure storage space.

This product is ideal for straps, cleaning equipment, extra oil, or anything that the driver needs to keep handy. The company uses it's own "Star Step" which gives excellent traction. 

The step boxes are available in 12", 18", and 24" standard sizes or the company will custom-build to the customer's spec's. They come standard with internal mounting brackets which allows  easy installation to the frame of the truck.

Underbody Tool Boxes
Highway Products, Inc. offers over 100 standard sizes of these boxes, or will custom-build to the customer's needs.  The company uses a variety of materials including:  1/8-inch thickness marine grade aluminum, polished aluminum diamond plate, 14-gauge steel, and stainless steel in mill or mirror finish.

The manufacturer says that weak hinges can be a trouble spot and that it has eliminated this problem by using 14-gauge stainless steel continuous hinges with a 1/4-inch pin on all of its underbody boxes.

Mounting Brackets 
The customer can order mounting brackets (availiable in steel and aluminum) along with the tool box to expedite mounting the boxes.  Highway Products, Inc. can also build special mounting systems and sizes to minimize the labor for the customer.

Frame Steps
Designed to be mounted to the truck frame, the Frame Step units come in three standard sizes 12, 18, and 24 inch, but can also be built in custom sizes. Highway Products' "Starstep" design is used for a slip-resistent step.
 
For information, call toll-free (800) 866-5269, or visit www.800toolbox.com.

Some more ponies for your truck!

Freightliner Trucks began offering the 2004 Mercedes-Benz MBE926 7.2-liter engine for the Freightliner Trucks medium-duty Business Class® M2 line of vehicles in June of this year.

Freightliner says that the 7.2-liter engine offers excellent fuel economy as well as superb durability and performance with lower operating costs. “We are pleased to announce the availability and production of the 7.2-liter version engine for our medium-duty customers,” said Mark Lampert, Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Freightliner Trucks. “This engine rounds out the availability of the highly-successful Mercedes-Benz MBE900 series of engines for Freightliner Trucks.”

Freightliner Trucks introduced the MBE900 series engines to the market in late 1999 for use in its Business Class M2 product line. The company says that the engines are ideal for use in medium-duty applications including distribution, food and beverage delivery, towing, utilities and fire and emergency service.

The 6-cylinder MBE926 offers horsepower ratings from 250 to 330 and torque range from 800 to 1,000 lb. ft.  According to a company press release, the 7.2-liter engine delivers high torque at a low RPM, increasing performance with smoother shifts, better driveability and increased capacity for climbing hills and negotiating stop-and-go traffic.

The 7.2-liter MBE926 offers an exhaust brake which provides more braking horsepower for improved vehicle control and less service brake wear. The brake is quiet, producing less noise in city operations. The exhaust brake can be combined with the MBE compression brake for up to 215 braking horsepower (182 BHP @ 2300 RPM), the most powerful engine braking available for demanding applications.

The MBE900 series engines use an Exhaust Gas Recirculation system (EGR) which adheres to all applicable 2004 EPA emission regulations. The MBE900 engines also feature sophisticated electronic control systems including full diagnostics for ease of maintenance, fully electronic engine management systems and Detroit Diesel Diagnostic Link software for periodic reporting and comprehensive views of vehicle operation.

The MBE900 engines are backed by a base three-year, 150,000 mile warranty for on-highway applications. The engines are supported by the vast Freightliner Trucks dealer network and the wide-ranging Detroit Diesel parts and service network.

For more information, visit the Freightliner Homepage