Archive for November, 2008
7 Good Gifts For Truck Owners Under $25
With the holiday shopping season looming on the horizon, and with consumer confidence lower than ever, we thought it might be nice to put together a list of gifts that you can get the truck owner in your life that each cost less than $25. Of course, the challenge is coming up with a list of good gifts. No gloves, no ties, no official TundraHeadquarters merchandise (not that it’s not good), no digital tire pressure gauges, etc. Here’s our favorites:
TIP: If you’re the truck owner and you want something on this list, why not “accidentally” leave this website on the screen when you’re done with the computer? You could also print this list out and “accidentally” leave it somewhere anyone can find it. Anyways, on to the list…
The original LifeHammer can break a vehicle window out in an emergency, making it a great gift for showing you care (not to mention how cool it is to get a nifty looking orange hammer). The best part? It’s on sale right now for less than $20.
LifeHammer – What better way to show you care than to get someone a gift that just might save their life? This little hammer can bust a vehicle window with a modest strike, making it a potential life-saver after a crash when a vehicle door won’t open.
Deltran Battery Charger – This is a nice, inexpensive addition to any home garage. Since it’s a “trickle-charger,” it’s especially helpful for anyone with a vehicle (say a motorcycle, boat, atv, or second vehicle) that sits for weeks without use. Get the Deltran Jr. Battry charger for less than $25.
Accupark’s Tire Stop is a smart buy for anyone with a tight-fitting garage.
Popularity: 5%
Opinion – Detroit Automakers Deserve To Fail
This piece is the opinion of Roger Nasser and does not reflect the opinion of TundraHeadquarters.com (not affiliated with Toyota).
The latest solution to the American auto industry’s woes (while waiting for a government bailout), apparently, is to sell – either in toto or in pieces. That “strategy” is favored because it’s much less bloody than actually trying to figure out what’s gone wrong over the last 40 years.
Of course, none of the principals have accepted any responsibility in the sales slumps or financial losses. At Ford, GM, and Chrysler (the Detroit three), the management has been blaming the unions and the EPA. Dwindling numbers of overpaid autoworkers point their fingers at the salary packages doled out to management. Consumers lambaste the Detroit three for making nothing but gas guzzlers, but who was buying all those SUVs in the 90’s?
Of course, all of these excuses ignore the fact that Asian and European car companies selling products in the U.S. have many of the same issues to overcome, not to mention currency fluctuations and ever increasing international transportation costs. For the Detroit Three , blaming somebody else is more satisfying.
Popularity: 2%
2008 Tundra WOW THAT SUCKS Prize
One of our featured vehicles, Mickey’s Traveling Tundra Crew, suffered a little damage a while back. A negligent and uninsured 7 point buck ran out in front of Mickey’s truck while it was going 70 mph. While Mickey managed to slow down to 35 mph (a full-fledged emergency stop), the deer was just too close. You can read the full story on the Deer Strike thread in the TundraNetwork Forums.
Here’s the BEFORE picture:
Here are the AFTER pictures:
Popularity: 4%
2008 Tundra vs. 2009 Dodge Ram Part Three – Ride, Handling, and Comfort
The third and final installment of our 2008 Tundra 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 comparison compares the ride, handling, and comfort of the two trucks. If you haven’t read part one – Mechnicals – or part two – Features and Pricing – then you might want to take a look.
RIDE:
We have to insert our caveats here. Both vehicles were tested empty. Also, it’s important to remember the most subjective judgments concern ride, handling and comfort.
The Ram rides like a car. Indeed, that was Dodge’s goal with the rear suspension re-design. Gone are the rear leaf springs, in come multi-link coils. The goal is to deliver a smooth, even ride empty or loaded – it works. You literally can’t feel the road on civilized city streets.
On the other hand, you can feel the road in the Tundra. That’s not a negative in our view – if you value a good ride, you probably shouldn’t be buying a truck in the first place. Our freelancer conducted “The Murphy Slalom Test,” which resulted in a stiffer feel (which Dan liked). Still, there’s no denying the Ram 1500 rides better than the Tundra (at least empty).
Winner:
Popularity: 5%
2008 Tundra vs. 2009 Dodge Ram Part Two – Features and Pricing
The second part of our 2008 Tundra vs 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 comparison will compare the relative costs of the two trucks and available features for both. If you haven’t already read part one of our 2009 Dodge Ram Tundra comparison – Mechanicals – you might want to.
INTERIOR:
The Ram Laramie cab is exquisite – wood grain, everything within easy reach and the peripheral vision is perfect. There’s a full-on vehicle information center between the speedometer and tach that shows temperature, miles to empty, odometer, and the radio station ID. Controls on the steering wheel let you scroll up and down for even more info. It’s got Bluetooth technology, stores photos, playlists, maps and, oh yeah, there’s the GPS with turn-by-turn guidance in three languages. The storage alternatives are mind boggling: double-decker glove compartment (wonder where they got that idea?), nooks and crannies everywhere. The roomy center console opens to a tray, then opens even more to a bottomless pit. There are storage compartments in the Crew Cab back floor with plastic liners so you can empty out the crumbs or use it as an ice chest.
Our test Tundra (an SR5) didn’t have the luxurious finishes of the Ram. The smaller recessed gauges disappear as soon as you put on sun glasses and the stereo system controls, while within easy reach, lie just outside comfortable peripheral vision. It’s more difficult to determine exactly where the front of the truck ends too (for drivers new to the Tundra), but it’s definitely something you’ll get used to. Still, our freelance contributor Dan Murhpy found it a bit disconcerting pulling out of a crowded lot. The Tundra has many of the same storage and technology features (except for Dodge’s UConnect system, which is amazing as well), but Dodge’s top quality interior is excellent. Dodge is even offering heated rear seats in the top-end Laramie edition. It’s gimmicky, but if you’re looking to one-up your fellow truck owners, it’s a good feature to buy.
Winner:
Popularity: 5%
