And then there was one…

Full-size pickup trucks usually carry the reputation as “indestructible”, mostly due to their stature.  Well, size doesn’t always mean that they are safe. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) challenged this theory in a round of crash-tests. The IIHS put extended-cab and crew-cab versions of the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado, Ram 1500, and Toyota Tundra through its full battery of tests. Of the seven vehicles tested, Ford was the only model to pass the small-overlap crash test earning the “good” rating that is required to obtain the Top Safety Pick award.

The crew-cab and extended-cab versions of the Ram 1500, as well as the crew-cab Toyota Tundra and Chevrolet Silverado, earned a “marginal” rating in the small-overlap test. Fairing slightly better were the extended-cab versions of the Tundra and the General Motors pickups gaining an “acceptable” rating. The IIHS reported that all of these models allowed for a substantial breach into the passenger area, particularly in the driver’s foot well.  “Drivers in these pickups would need help freeing their legs from the wreckage following a small-overlap crash,” said IIHS Vehicle Research Center vice president Raul Arbelaez in a statement.

The IIHS decided to test the two different body styles this year due to the significant structural counter measure discrepancies found between the crew and the extended-cab in the 2015 Ford F-150 last year.  In 2015, the crew-cab models received a “good” rating, while the extended-cab models received a “marginal”. Ford has since fitted additional structure to all versions of the F-150 to ensure a passing rating all around.  It only seems likely that the other companies will soon follow suit with similar structural changes to improve their performance on these IIHS tests. Watch the IIHS You Tube video here.   

If you are looking to build the ultimate work truck, then Fleetwest offers innovative solutions. Our service bodies are a universal fit for most full size pickup trucks including Ford, Chevy, Dodge and Toyota. These service bodies are fully transferable from one truck bed to another, even fully loaded, thus eliminating any downtime required for vehicle maintenance or repair. Transfer on/off via crane, forklift or lifting jacks is made possible by a no-holes drilled installation. Fleetwest utility bodies can be customized for your trade, provide additional storage and offer more flexibility to improve technician efficiency. For more information, call a Fleetwest representative toll-free in the U.S. at (866) 497-7200.

Prime Design: Rear Access Ladder

Prime Design, a Safe Fleet brand, introduces a new product that makes accessing 
equipment on high-roof cargo vans safer. Weighing less than 20 pounds, the ladder 
installs in minutes without drilling and eliminates using a slippery tire or bumper as 
a step surface providing superior stability in accessing roof cargo. Made from anodized
aluminum, the ladder resists corrosion from harsh road chemicals and provides
Prime Design’s standard three-year warranty.

Own a Dale Jr. No. 88 Special Edition

Photos and information are courtesy of Hendricks Motorsports and various blogs.

You’re used to seeing the No. 88 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS every weekend on NASCAR, but Dale Jr. is also an enthusiastic truck aficionado. Dale Earnhardt Jr. teamed up with Hendricks Motorsports to create a truck inspired by his personal journey with his favorite GM trucks. Now race fans will have a chance to own a Dale Jr. No. 88 Special Edition Chevrolet Silverado of their very own.

The special edition is available on the 1500 Crew Cab Short Bed models. It includes premium GM accessories, such as the sports bar with LED off-road lights, nudge bar and custom off-road step bars; adorned with black Chevy bowtie emblems and a dynamic five-spoke 22” machined black wheels that sport rugged all-terrain tires. To connect with NASCAR fans, custom No. 88 badges are featured as well as a 3D tilted graphic across the unique black tailgate decal.

It’s not just an eye-catcher either. Speed and power are important to Earnhardt’s SS on the track, so of course additional horsepower was added to this special edition. That horsepower comes courtesy of a specially designed Borla exhaust system, highlighted by performance tips.

In a Hendricks Motorsports press release, Earnhardt said, “I had a lot of fun working on this with Hendricks Motorsports.” “I’ve always owned Chevy trucks, and for me, tricking them out is a large part of the fun of owning one.” “I’m really proud of how this one turned out,” Earnhardt said. ”I hope the fans love it as much as I do.”

Although GM has not published a press release on the truck, the Dale Jr. No. 88 Special Edition is exclusively available at participating Chevrolet dealerships.

This special edition build reminds me of the custom “Big Red” give-away by Pro Pickup Magazine back in 2013. Pro Pickup Magazine took a fully loaded Chevy 3500, topped it with a Fleetwest Load’N’Go Powerbody and painted it a matching red. It was a thing of beauty!

Fleetwest has the work truck solutions to suit your trade. Our utility truck bodies are ergonomically engineered to provide the convenience and flexibility needed to increase your productivity. They are 100% transferable, even fully loaded, from one truck bed to another with a no-holes drilled installation. Customize from our list of options, from custom shelving and slide out trays to ladder racks. Everything you’d need to turn your truck into the ultimate work truck.  Call a Fleetwest representative and get started today! Toll-free in the U.S. at (866) 497-7200.