Transfer Flow Extended Range Fuel Tanks For The Tundra

There are times when your work or leisure activities might take you a fair distance away from the closest gas station. If you find yourself frequently exploring off-road trails, working on a large farm property or making long-distance drives through isolated areas, then you are probably all too familiar with that sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach as you nervously eye the fuel gauge nearing empty. While it is always a good idea to carefully plan fuel stops along a long drive, not every eventuality can be planned for, and this can introduce a degree of uncertainty when it comes to fuel consumption.

Extend the range of your truck with a bigger fuel tank.

Fortunately, there are a few options available to extend the range of your Toyota Tundra. Read more…

Bully Dog Backup Sensor System

Owning a truck means having to add an extra layer of care when you are operating it around other people. Let’s face it – your Tundra is pretty big, and it’s easy for a person or pet to hide in a blind spot while you are backing up or turning around. Not only can it be difficult to see people who are located directly behind you, objects that are low to the ground like stumps, fire hydrants and lawn equipment also pose a different kind of menace to your truck. No one wants to have to explain a dent on the rear bumper or a damaged differential when the entire incident could have been avoided in the first place.

Unless your Tundra had a backup system installed at the factory, one of the best ways to improve your peace of mind while backing up is to install a backup warning system. Now, when most people hear the phrase “backup warning system” they get an image of a beeping semi-truck as it backs out of the supermarket parking lot. While these systems still exist and are required on commercial vehicles, modern technology has updated our ability to avoid unnecessary collisions through the use of advanced techniques previously only used by the military.

Bullydog's Backup Sensor costs anywhere from $100-$200, making it an inexpensive accident avoidance accessory.

An example of such progress is the Bully Dog Backup Sensor System. Read more…

5 Ways Toyota Is Screwing Up The Tundra

Toyota needs to stop being so damn conservative when it comes to the Tundra. Since 2007, Toyota has built a truck that can stand toe-to-toe with the best that Ford, GM, and Dodge had to offer. Never before has Toyota offered a truck with so much capability at such a great value. Consumers responded strongly to the new Tundra in 2007, and that response stayed strong through the debut of the TRD supercharger in 2008. After that, enthusiasm started to sputter. Toyota started out winning the battle for the hearts and minds of truck owners, but then they pulled back. What gives?

While it’s easy to blame a downturn in the truck market (and aggressive incentives from struggling domestic rivals) for the Tundra’s loss of momentum, the problem is deeper than that. The problem, plain and simple, is Toyota’s poor management of the development of the Tundra. Here’s what they’ve done wrong: Read more…

09 F150 and Ram Recalls and Funny Pictures

Just in case you missed it last week, there were a couple of “little” recalls on the 2009 Ford F150 and the 2009 Dodge Ram. Nothing big mind you, just a couple of small items that won’t be a big deal (unless of course they become a big deal).

First, the Ram. According to TruckBlog.com:

Chrysler has issued a recall of nearly 40,000 2009 Dodge Ram light duty pickup trucks equipped with the manual temperature control where the software programmed for the heating ventilation and air condition module may cause the defrosting and defogging functions to become non-functional. The result of this can lead to a decrease in visibility and raise the chance of crashing.

No big deal really…unless your defroster doesn’t work and you can see out of the winsheild. At least you can stick your head out the window.

2009 Dodge Ram owners might have to stick their heads out of their trucks.
photo credit: Fillmore Photography

Next up, Ford’s minor recall for the 2009 F150. According to Edmunds.com:

Ford is recalling 8,735 of its 2009 F-150 trucks because a faulty brake stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to fail to illuminate

No big deal – unless someone is counting on seeing your brake lights to keep from running into you (you know, like while driving).

Every manufacturer has recalls (and both of these are relatively minor), and we’re certainly not trying to make light of the safety risks these recalls present, but the next time a Ford or Dodge owner razzes you about your Tundra, you know what to hit them back with. Now for a couple of funny pictures: Read more…

New Fuel Economy Rules Won’t Stop Big Trucks – Big V8s Are Here Forever

The Obama administration seems to have solidified the direction of fuel economy and emissions regulations for the next decade. Here’s the basics of the plan laid down yesterday:

• An automaker’s “fleet average” – i.e. the average fuel economy of all the vehicles an automaker sells adjusted by sales volume – must be 35.5 mpg by 2016 (up from 2009’s fleet requirement of 25 mpg).
• CO2 emissions have to drop to 250 grams per mile (down from 380).
• Plug-in electric and hydrogen powered vehicles will qualify for “super credits” – meaning that selling one plug-in electric and/or hydrogen powered vehicle will cancel out 2 or more “regular” vehicles.

These new rules are great for the environment and widely popular, and considering that all the auto manufacturers have signed off on the plan (as well as the UAW), this looks as good as done. So, the question for us is, What do these new fuel economy and emissions rules mean for pickup trucks? Read more…