By: Jeffrey Ross
Autotropolis.com
Regarding current concerns of oil reserves, this article may be considered X-rated for some. Although fuel prices continue to drop and the number of small cars rises, when all is said and done, 2007 may turn out to be the year of the full-size truck. Ford, GM and DaimlerChrysler are all rolling out new heavy duty pickups and Toyota is coming out with a brand-new Tundra. While it may be politically correct to own a hybrid these days, there are still boats to be towed, people to be hauled and jobs to be done. While most big trucks are designed to get work done, it is apparent that this next breed of truck is built for both form and function.
-As far as styling goes, the 2007 Toyota Tundra sticks out the most. With its less-than-conventional design, this truck is bigger than the previous model in just about every way. The second generation Tundra Double Cab with a long bed has an overall length that stretches 30 inches more than any other Tundra before it and includes an increase in wheelbase of almost 40 inches. Regardless of which model is chosen, the 2007 Tundra dwarfs its predecessor by large amounts.
-DaimlerChrysler, while working with a design that is going on four years old, keeps the competition on their toes with a multitude of recent updates. A new sharper front end for the 2007 Dodge Ram HD lineup adds to the looks and a new Cummins engine that offers 325 horsepower, 610 foot-pounds of torque, a new six-speed automatic transmission and a new frame are allowing Dodge to fully compete in the heavy-duty truck market. Not only will the Dodge Ram 3500 Mega Cab be a mouthful to repeat, but it should be quite a handful in local shopping mall parking lots.
-Chevrolet and GMC are releasing heavy duty models of their all-new Silverado and Sierra lines. These trucks will boast the most powerful diesel engines of the group. The 6.6 liter Duramax will put out 365 horsepower and 660 foot-pounds of torque. By far, GM’s new heavy duty trucks are the most conservatively styled, but the total redesign will put this truck years ahead of the competition.
-Ford, the overall leader in heavy duty and commercial trucks, is the most recent to release their new truck to the public. Similar to Dodge, Ford reworks its truck line with a number of updates from new sheetmetal and interior design and a few new ponies under the hood. The new Power Stroke diesel that will be used has 350 horsepower and 650 foot-pounds of torque. The most capable of the new F-Series Super Dutys is the stout F-450. Previously, only available as a cab and chassis, the new F-450 pickup will have a towing capacity of over 24,000 pounds and a payload of around 6,000 pounds.
With the release of these trucks, it’s clear that not only are gas prices shrinking, but so is the list of stuff that can be towed.