Autoblog

How to drift a semi in 18 easy steps

Zach Bowman — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Truck, Videos, Celebrities, Specialty, Diesel, Racing

Mike Ryan is our kind of insane. Not only did the man fling his Freightliner race truck up the winding side of Mount Washington earlier this year, but the professional stunt and race driver has also joined forces with drifting legend Sam Hubinette for a little exhibition show during round six of the Formula Drift Championship.

In preparation of wowing the masses at the FD gathering, Ryan came out for a little shakedown session with the big Freightliner. Things didn't exactly go smoothly at first, with Ryan fighting the truck all over the impromptu course, but it didn't take long to get the kinks ironed out.

Within a matter of hours, Hubinette had Ryan pirouetting around the asphalt and oval track like an drift hero. Fortunately for all involved, the whole experience was recorded for posterity. Hit the jump to check out the video for yourself.

Continue reading How to drift a semi in 18 easy steps

How to drift a semi in 18 easy steps originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Sep 2011 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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1977 International Loadstar scrapes the pavement on its way to stance nation

Jeff Glucker — Thu, 05 May 2011 15:31:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Etc., Design/Style

The "stance movement" refers to an automotive style that looks at vehicles and thinks they need to be sitting lower... a lot lower. If there was a way to push the frame rails through the ground, someone in stance nation would do it. The style of these "stanced" cars and trucks is hit or miss, some look low and lovely while others just look broken. We thought this style was only popular amongst the standard daily-driven machines populating our roadways, but we were wrong. We've just learned that in a very big (yet still low) way thanks to one individual's slammed 1977 International Loadstar.

This is more than just a cut-down big-rig, content to crush the pavement beneath it. This truck has received major attention, and the fabrication work is quite impressive. All the seams on the body have been welded to give the cab a clean look. The wheels have been milled down to wear Falken rubber. Running under the cab and out the back, the frame has been sealed so air can pass through it, allowing it to serve as a 25-gallon tank used to operate the air-bag suspension system. No small task, considering the truck weighs over 10,000-pounds.

Under the hood, this International is powered by a 7.3-liter Ford diesel engine pulled from a 1991 E-350. It's been upgraded with the turbocharger from a 2002 Powerstroke, and the intercooler courtesy of a Dodge vehicle. Put it all together and it's one impressive piece of machinery. We'd love to see it sitting a few inches higher than zero, but we'll gladly give a thumbs up if we ever get to see it rumbling by.

Head over to StanceIsEverything.com for more information and some excellent photographs of the customized rig.

1977 International Loadstar scrapes the pavement on its way to stance nation originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 May 2011 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Study: Half of all European truck drivers don't wear their seatbelts

Zach Bowman — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 07:19:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Europe, Government/Legal, Work, Volvo

Volvo truck during crash testing - Click above for high-res image

New research has revealed that up to 50 percent of European truck drivers don't buckle up when they hit the road. A study by CEASAR Research Institute discovered that seatbelt use among truck drivers varies widely from country to country - from as little as 10 percent to better than 70 percent - it all averages out to the fact that around half of the long-haul drivers don't use their belts.

The study also attempted to figure out why the usage rates were so low. Not surprisingly, there's something of a stigma attached to strapping yourself into a big rig, with some drivers believing they're safer in a large mass vehicle compared to a small passenger car. Even so, the CEASAR study claims that traffic fatalities among truck drivers could be decreased by as much as 40 percent if drivers simply took the time to click it.

Of the countries surveyed, France had the highest seatbelt usage - 70 percent - thanks largely to the fact that the country has legislation on the books to encourage drivers to be safe. Driving without a seatbelt in France will net you points on your license. Too many points, and you're walking to work. Hop the jump for the full press release.

[Source: Volvo]

Continue reading Study: Half of all European truck drivers don't wear their seatbelts

Study: Half of all European truck drivers don't wear their seatbelts originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Apr 2010 07:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Why a boat-tail semi isn't as silly as it might sound

Jonny Lieberman — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:31:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Etc., Technology, Work

Sure, a six-foot protrusion sticking off the rear end of any vehicle is kinda funny looking. Unless we're talking about a Porsche 917/30 or a Plymouth Superbird. Those cars have some very fine rear extensions. Okay, fine - a six-foot protrusion looks a little bit weird when growing out of a semi-truck's rear. Happy?

But a boat-tailed tractor trailer might be just what we need. Why? Because when fitted with such a piece of aerodynamic kit, total fuel-consumption reportedly drops by 7.5%. The tests in question were conducted by the Dutch PART (Platform for Aerodynamic Road Transport) public-private partnership platform on public roads. One truck without any aero-aid was driven around for a year, as was another truck with the boat-tail.

Not only did the boat-tailed machine get a 7.5% fuel economy bump, but at the same time, emissions were slashed by about the same margin. Even though these numbers are indeed promising, PART wants to figure out a way to reduce semi truck fuel consumption and emissions by 20%.

[Source: Science Daily]

Why a boat-tail semi isn't as silly as it might sound originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Freightliner debuts RunSmart Predictive Cruise Control

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 13:34:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, Work, Daimler

The next step in cruise control comes courtesy of Freightliner semis and GPS data company NAVTEQ. Freightliner broadened communication between the cruise control and map data: the GPS transmits information on the road ahead up to a mile, and then the cruise control computes the best speed at which to cover the distance with the greatest fuel efficiency.

It's called RunSmart Predictive Cruise, and it employs slope data from the NAVTEQ system that has been collected on 200,000 miles of the most used truck routes. While RunSmart is looking for peak efficiency, it won't sacrifice speed; the system remains within 6% of the set speed. It's an available option on Freightliner's Detroit Diesel DD15-equipped Cascadia model with the 72-inch raised roof.

[Source: Daimler]

Freightliner debuts RunSmart Predictive Cruise Control originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 22 Mar 2009 13:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Big truck... go fast... up hill

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Work

Click above to view video after the jump

For as clean and green and Earth-loving as the Europeans are, they sure do some dirty things... like throw a sooty-exhaust-belching racing semi around hairpin turns with loads of opposite lock - up an impossibly green mountain - just for a hillclimb. But hey, trucks and racing aren't illegal yet, so we say flog 'em while ya got 'em. Check out the video of Markus Boesiger, 2007's Truck Racing Champion, and his dashing diesel after the jump.

[Source: StreetFire]

Continue reading VIDEO: Big truck... go fast... up hill

VIDEO: Big truck... go fast... up hill originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Build your own big rig: International launches configurator for LoneStar

Dan Roth — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 09:57:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Chicago Auto Show, Etc., Work

Truckers are like motorcycle riders in the way that they invariably customize their rides. It's probably just as challenging to find a bone stock tractor as it is an unembellished Fat Boy. When you're plying the roads as much as the big rigs do, why not have some fun and stand apart from the rest of the crowd and their mudflaps decorated with conformist chrome silhouettes of questionable taste? International's new LoneStar truck will be factory trickable with a new line of Navistar accessories called DoubleSix Customs. While the Autoblog Garage isn't quite big enough to hold an 18-wheeler, we did dedicate the better part of an hour to International's website designing the perfect vehicle for hauling our tricked out fleet of Zastavas.

With International's online configurator, you can start with a basic truck and add a splash of color, a dollop of flames, lots of chrome, and nearly as many lights as Vegas. The DoubleSix name takes its inspiration from the mother road, Route 66, which International is hoping still resonates with those who keep our economy rolling. Our only problem? Lack of the proper license. Try it yourself, you can even upload logos and graphics to design your perfect LoneStar. Press release after the jump.

[Source: International]

Continue reading Build your own big rig: International launches configurator for LoneStar

Build your own big rig: International launches configurator for LoneStar originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Apr 2008 09:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Redneck ingenuity to the rescue

Chris Shunk — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 12:32:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Videos, Chevrolet, Ford, Jeep

Click above to view the video

When a 50-ton semi needs to be towed out of a snow bank, it's a good idea to call on a very big tow truck. If you're in the South during a snow storm, however, your best bet just may be the super 'necks. After the jump is video of a Jeep, Silverado and Ford Bronco working in tandem to pull a stranded 18-wheeler out of the snowy muck. We think the heroes of the video are a gaggle of youngins, but with all the camouflage, we couldn't tell you for sure. The video is fun to watch, but when the camera operator says, "This s#%t is going on YouTube," that's just icing on the cake. Kidding aside, it's nice to see a group of kids actually helping someone in need. Nice job guys. Hit the jump for one of the funnier videos we've seen lately, it'll be worth your two minutes.

[Source: Streetfire]

Continue reading VIDEO: Redneck ingenuity to the rescue

VIDEO: Redneck ingenuity to the rescue originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 Mar 2008 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wild Ride: Semi pushes wheelchair-bound man 50mph down highway

Alex Nunez — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 12:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Work

It could have been a horrible tragedy, but at the end of it all, no one was injured, and there were no hard feelings, either. Michigan State Police were skeptical when they started receiving calls saying that a big rig was pushing a wheelchair down the Red Arrow Highway in Paw Paw, Mich., but when the calls didn't abate, they headed out to investigate.

The rig was found in front of a local trucking company and to everyone's shock, there was a wheelchair attached to the front. With a man in it, no less. The occupant was unharmed, and the astonished truck driver had no idea he was even there. Apparently, the wheelchair was in the process of crossing the road in front of the truck. Too low for the driver to see, it was driven into. Miraculously, the chair was positioned in such a way that the handles lodged in the rig's grille and it wound up facing forward. Think about it -- it could have just as easily been knocked over and then run over -- a nightmare scenario for all parties involved.

Instead, the worst thing that happened was that the man in the wheelchair apparently spilled the ~~soda~~ pop he was drinking during his high-speed trip. Of the experience, he told authorities, "It was quite a ride."

Friends, that's today's candidate for understatement of the year.

[Source: South Bend Tribune]

Wild Ride: Semi pushes wheelchair-bound man 50mph down highway originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Jun 2007 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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