10/31/14

Transfer Flow 40 Gallon Refueling Assembly


Ben from Transfer Flow goes over their new 40 gallon refueling tank at
the latest Nor Cal Ford Truck Club event in Woodridge CA.  

10/28/14

Exploring the Texas King Ranch in a Ford King Ranch

 
Ford developed its first special-edition King Ranch pickup for the 2001 model year, and today, more than a decade later, its offspring include three luxury versions: an F-150 pickup, an F-Series Super Duty truck, and an Expedition SUV.

The King Ranch brand has been appealing to Ford buyers, and its heritage is similar to the actual family-run King Ranch, which is located in Kingsville, Texas, and which is known as the birthplace of the American ranching industry. The ranch is one of the oldest family corporations in the U.S., and is nearly the size of Rhode Island, a massive 825,000 acres of land that sprawls across six Texas counties. It comprises nearly 1,300 square miles in south Texas, several turf grass farms there, and has significant agriculture holdings in Florida.

The History

The Ranch dates to the middle of the 19th century, when Captain King was captivated by a region known as the Wild Horse Desert. King and his wife Henrietta developed the Ranch, regarded by many as the birthplace of some of the finest quarter horses in America.

Because Ford's design team used the King Ranch to "reinvigorate" and authenticate the update to the 2015 Ford F-Series Super Duty King Ranch edition, we drove the 2015 Ford F-350 King Ranch with the PowerStroke diesel engine to take a look at how the Ranch uses a fleet of more than 250 Ford pickups every day.

What drew Ford designers to the ranch for inspiration? "What really stood out is how prominent the 'Running W' is, and how it defines and unifies the ranch," said Barb Whalen, Ford color and material design manager. "Similarly, we wanted that brand to define the new Super Duty King Ranch." The Running W is actually the brand burned into cattle on the ranch.

On the new Super Duty King Ranch, that Running W is the focal point for the interior. It has been cut and stitched to make the seat backs and center console appear branded. What's new is a lighter, richer shade of Mesa leather that trims the seats, center console lid, armrests and steering wheel. The exterior has darker Caribou paint for the wheel lip moldings, bumpers and lower body, while the bed rail caps, bumper caps and running boards are trimmed in black, with Running W wheel caps.
Texas is a focal point for Ford, because more pickups are sold in Texas than any other state; in fact, it's the top truck market in the world. Not surprisingly, Texas is the top-selling market for Ford's F-Series trucks and its Expedition SUV, and the King Ranch is one of the top trims on the F-150, Super Duty trucks and the Expedition. Ford frequently conducts market research in Texas that helps shape future products.

The Ranch

Arriving at the ranch for our two-day visit, we learned that all the trucks and buses used by the Ranch are Ford King Ranch vehicles. "We depend very heavily on the durability and reliability of Ford vehicles," explained Dave DeLaney, the current VP and GM of the South Texas ranches. "This is very rugged country and we need trucks that can last."

King Ranch Chairman Jamey Clement agreed. "To us, there are so many similarities with Ford. We have the same value: taking care of people," explained the King family descendant. "What it's about is relationships and the more we understand each other, the more we get in a truck and it feels like 'us.' It's a way of life, and people want to be part of the winning team and want to experience it," he said. "What is the King Ranch 'family brand'? It's all interrelated; if you listen to our people talk, they say 'my truck, my cattle.'"

Finding the right partner is difficult, said Doug Scott, Ford Truck Group Marketing Manager. "We have a very select group of partners and the King Ranch is one of the few," Scott said. "It has to work right for us … with the idea of retailing and how it works for Ford dealers on the show room floor. One of the key tenets for us is brand authenticity and picking the right partners."

The Ride

How did the second-generation turbo-diesel 6.7-liter Powerstroke V8 Super Duty F-350 drive? We clocked from 14 to nearly 18 mpg on our highway drives, but we faced strong headwinds as we motored from Austin to the ranch, which borders the Gulf Coast. As we returned, we encountered heavy downpours, both of which took a nip out of the truck's fuel economy. Our luxury-laden Crew Cab model is a true boulevard-cruiser, with Clydesdale-like horsepower (440) and torque (860 pound-feet) and a host of electronic features like Bluetooth, navigation and the newly included MyFord Touch and Sync systems.

What did we like best? The quietness of the interior, which has a plentiful array of nooks and cubbies for stowage, and the pickup's ergonomics. My driving partner and I are both height-challenged drivers and used the running boards to aid with getting in and out, we liked the adjustable pedals and height-adjustable seatbelts, as well as the overall ergonomics that provided good visibility and comfort in the leather-appointed Captain's Chairs. We came to the conclusion, after our time behind the wheel, that Captain King would have approved.

For more information about the 2015 Super Duty F-350 King Ranch Crew Cab, you can read about our first experience with the truck earlier this year.


(Editor's note: Official Texas State Photographer, Wyman Meinzer, captured the spirit of Ford's long-standing partnership with the King Ranch in a series of photos of trucks at the Ranch. Those images can be found at: www.wymanmeinzer.com.)

www. pickuptrucks.com

10/27/14

SpaceKap WILD Water Test


Watch the SpaceKap WILD undergo the Ultimate Water Test and pass with flying colours. Not a single drop got in!!!!

10/25/14

F-150 BoxLink


BoxLink™ cargo management system includes lockable, die-cast aluminum tie-down cleats, and provides a unique interface to the box for improved flexibility and organization, as well as additional locations for tie-downs. Available segment-first cargo ramps can be stowed on the sides of the pickup box via the BoxLink system and mounted quickly on the tailgate to enable easy loading of ATVs, motorcycles or mowers

10/23/14

2015 F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4x4, Contractor Body




 2015 F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4x4, Contractor Body

(Stock #F343594)

This F350 features a Scelzi Contractors Body with 15" Fold Downs w/Stainless Steel Stakes and Aluminum Slats, Forklift Loadable Rack, Tool Box 72" x 18" x 18" Top Mount Open Top - One per Side and Under Bed Box  36" x 18" x 18",          

2015 F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4x4:

Interior Color     STEEL CLOTH    
Exterior Color Description     BLACK    
Engine Cylinder Count     8    
Wheelbase     176.00    
Stock Type     NEW    
Make     Ford    
Model     F-350    
Cab Type     Crew    
Drive Train     4WD    
Rear Wheels     Dual    
Fuel Type     Diesel    
CA     60    
Contact Hansel Ford for more info.
1-707-893-9000

Body Details:
Body Length     10 ft.    
Cab-to-Axle     60"    
Top-Opening Compartments?     Yes    
Rear Wheels     Dual    
Inside Body Length     120"    
Floor Type     Aluminum    
Sides     15" Fold Downs w/Stainless Steel Stakes and Aluminum Slats    
Body Width     8 ft.    
Receiver Hitch     Class 4    
Tool Box     72" x 18" x 18" Top Mount Open Top - One per Side    
Trailer Connector     7 Prong Flat RV Plug # 12707    
Under Bed Box     36" x 18" x 18" - One per Side    


HANSEL Ford Commercial Truck Department
3075 Corby Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA 95407

707.543.7434

10/21/14

Rack-it Aluminum Truck Rack Features Lighter Weight Construction


Gary Kank, Sales Manager of Rack-it Truck Racks gives an impromptu presentation of the Rack-it Aluminum Truck Rack to Terry Minion of Commercial Truck Success.

Aluminum racks are gaining in popularity to save weight and increase payloads and also for their corrosion resistance. The Aluminum version is the same design as the famous Rack-it Steel Truck Racks.

Contact Rack-it at 800-445-7666 and visit their website at www.rackitinc.com

10/19/14

Tricked-Out All-New F-150 Pickups Seek 'Hottest Truck' Award at SEMA Show

  •     Ford F-Series trucks – specifically, the all-new 2015 F-150 – will vie for a fifth consecutive “Hottest Truck” award this November at the Specialty Equipment Market Association Show
  •     Ford collaborated with SEMA builders to help produce the radical F-150 trucks that will be displayed at the annual Las Vegas tradeshow
  •     Shedding up to 700 pounds from the 2014 model, the 2015 F-150 is the smartest, toughest, most capable F-150 ever
DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 17, 2014 – From off-road prowess to street performance, custom versions of the all-new 2015 Ford F-150 – the smartest, toughest, most capable F-150 ever – will vie this November for the “Hottest Truck” award at the Specialty Equipment Market Association tradeshow in Las Vegas.

The SEMA award, won by Ford F-Series trucks for four years running, recognizes the most popular vehicles the organization’s members feature in their displays at the weeklong event.

Custom versions of the all-new F-150 will be displayed on the SEMA floor. They include:


The Deegan 38 project built a personal connection between Ford Racing’s Brian Deegan and the all-new F-150 with the 3.5-liter, twin-turbo EcoBoost® engine. Industry leaders including Addictive Desert Designs, Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels, FOX Racing Shox, KC Hilites, Mastercraft Safety, Rockford Fosgate, Full-Race Motorsports, Leading Edge Tuning, ProEFI and SCT Performance joined forces to provide extreme motorsport enthusiasts with the ultimate example of the world’s most capable truck.

 “This F-150 should inspire the vast off-road, extreme-lifestyle-loving fan base to push the possibilities of the kick-ass new 2015 F-150 and the awesome 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine,” said
Boasting 12 inches of King shock-controlled travel via a Kibbetech custom suspension, this 2015 F-150 purpose-built by Formula DRIFT superstar Vaughn Gittin Jr. is designed to take full advantage of the weight savings and serious torque offered by the all-new F-150. With its unique, aggressive looks and Air Lift Performance air ride, this street truck aims to turn heads and elicit huge smiles, while providing massive amounts of fun and adrenaline for up to five passengers who strap into its Recaro seats.

 “I love trucks, and to build one that has daily on- and off-road capabilities, as well as drifting and jumping capabilities is something I have always wanted to do,” said Gittin. “I am really pumped to get crazy in this F-150 at SEMA this year.

” About Ford Motor Company Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 186,000 employees and 65 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit corporate.ford.com.

10/17/14

All-New Ford F-150 BoxLink, LED Box Lights and Remote Tailgate Release Revolutionize Truck Bed Cargo Management



  •     Debuting in the all-new 2015 Ford F-150, class-exclusive BoxLink™ cargo management system includes lockable, die-cast zinc tie-down cleats, and provides a unique interface to the pickup bed for improved flexibility and organization, as well as additional locations for tie-downs
  •     All-new F-150 offers first LED box lights on a Ford truck, plus the availability of two segment-first features – power locking remote tailgate release and cargo ramps
  •     Ramps can be stowed on the sides of the pickup box via the BoxLink system and mounted quickly on the tailgate to enable easy loading of ATVs, motorcycles and mowers
From the days of horse-drawn carts, humans have used square-shaped boxes to move cargo.

Now, Ford is revolutionizing the management and stowage of cargo inside the pickup truck box with its patented BoxLink™ system debuting on the all-new Ford F-150. Along with LED box lights, a power locking and remote tailgate release, and segment-first cargo ramps, the 2015 F-150 is better equipped to help manage loads more efficiently.

BoxLink includes four lockable, die-cast zinc tie-down cleats, and provides a unique interface to the box for improved flexibility and organization, as well as additional locations for tie-downs.

“Rooted in the shape of the horse-drawn cart, the pickup truck box has been a standard, relatively unchanged fixture for nearly a century,” said Alana Strager, Ford program management analyst and co-inventor of the BoxLink system. “The industry’s acceptance of this shape meant the innovations we developed couldn’t alter the box, but rather needed to enhance and evolve its flexibility and modularity to create infinitely customizable solutions for hauling cargo.”

Perfecting the box

The BoxLink cargo management system allows for the customization of the pickup truck bed. A customer can attach to the BoxLink cleats in four locations, or hook directly to the BoxLink Interface plate with a bungee cord, S-hook or E-track fitting.

“Customers told us not to touch the box,” said Adrian Aguirre, Ford engineer and co-inventor of BoxLink. “They want to tailor it to their unique needs, and this system allows for easy adaptation to a variety of applications.”

BoxLink adds four additional tie-down locations in the box to complement the four fixed tie-down hooks carried over from the previous model, for a total of eight. Additionally, BoxLink is located on a reinforced area of the box at mid-level – accommodating the majority of cargo loads. Reinforcement of the cleats allows them to accommodate a horizontal (cross-box) load of 275 pounds and a diagonal load of 600 pounds.

Available segment-first cargo ramps can be stowed on the sides of the pickup box via the BoxLink system and mounted quickly on the tailgate to enable easy loading of ATVs, motorcycles and mowers. The length of telescoping ramps can be extended or shortened to accommodate multiple loading positions.

An altogether better box

The all-new F-150’s cargo box features many other significant upgrades to make it more versatile and driver-friendly.

LED cargo box interior lighting allows for excellent visibility in the truck bed at night or when a bed cover or cap is used. A bed-mounted button, as well as one inside the cab, turns the lights on or off. Lariat Mid or Luxury, King Ranch and Platinum models feature a remote tailgate release that includes an LED spotlight integrated into the release handle that illuminates the trailer hitch – a much appreciated convenience when hooking up after dark.

An available power locking and remote tailgate can be released with the push of a button on the key fob to help customers when their hands are full – a first for a pickup. The tailgate is damped and drops down, hands-free, to a flat position when opened.

2015 F-150 XLT models and higher benefit from a power locking tailgate for improved security. The feature is available for XL series trucks as well.

Ford’s pioneering tailgate step has been redesigned to be fully integrated into the tailgate and virtually invisible when not in use – restoring the open tailgate as a flat work surface. Using the step is simple: Customers drop the tailgate into the down position, grab the bottom step, pull it straight out from the tailgate and drop it down into the step position – all in one easy motion. The grab handle is now housed inside the tailgate, keeping the inner surface of the tailgate uniformly flat.

BoxLink designed for endless customization

Ford is allowing aftermarket manufacturers to leverage its BoxLink system to develop even more customized solutions for the pickup truck bed.

“This is an open system,” explained Strager. “We have facilitated the aftermarket in a way that has never been done before by an automaker. The possibilities are endless.”
About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 186,000 employees and 65 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit corporate.ford.com.

10/15/14

Sharp Red F350 Crew Cab 2WD SRW with Scelzi Service Body



Here's a nice Red F350 Crew Cab 2WD with Single Rear Wheels. The work end of the truck sports a Scelzi Service body with a Forklift Loadable  Rack and Heavy Duty Bumper with corner mounted Vice Bracket.

This truck is gas fueled and has a steel cloth interior.

Call Darron Kendall at Hansel Ford for more details - 877-398-1875


















10/13/14

Transit 250 Med Height Cargo Van with EcoBoost



John Turic of Hansel Ford Commercial/Fleet Department shows off a new Transit 250 medium height cargo van with the optional EcoBoost V6 engine. Check out the massive cargo space with a relatively small footprint. It is also extremely comfortable to drive and has excellent visibility and driveablility. See more at http://www.HanselWorkTrucks.com

10/11/14

10' Scelzi Combo Body on New F350 Super Cab XLT Dually



John Turic of Hansel Ford in Santa Rosa CA shows off a recent arrival. This unit is a new HD Ford F350 Dual Rear Wheel Super Cab Chassis with Alcoa Wheels, Running Boards, XLT uplevel trim and all the power features. Why not ride in style and comfort?

This great truck is matched to a Scelzi Enterprises 10' Combo Body with a 3' rear work platform standard. This body also has 4 deep HD drawers in the curbside front compartment, Master Lock System, HD Forklift-loadable Rack with Rack-Straps, Fold-down Gates in the rear and HD Receiver and Trailer Plug. Get work done easily on the job site with this great Combo Body.

10/05/14

12' Scelzi Stakebed Leads A Dually Life As A Dump Body



John Turic of Hansel Ford in Santa Rosa CA shows off a new Ford F350 dual rear wheel chassis with PowerStroke Diesel engine, and sports a 12' Flatbed with Gates, Underbed Boxes, Class IV Receiver and Trailer Plug, Apitong Wood Floor. It is also a dump body with a Rugby Hoist and Subframe. This is a great truck to get all kinds of work done and save time and money.

10/03/14

Consumer Test Drives of All-New Ford F-150 About to Begin in 38 Markets Across the United States

  •     Soon, consumers can test drive the all-new 2015 Ford F-150 ahead of the truck’s availability in dealer showrooms
  •     Tour visits 38 markets across the United States, Oct. 13 through Dec. 21
  •     Consumers can register and schedule their test drive at F150drive.com
Consumers wanting to drive the future of trucks can get behind the wheel of the 2015 Ford F-150 – the toughest, smartest, most capable F-150 ever – in 38 markets across the United States beginning Oct. 13.
The tour will make stops in 38 major markets and run through Dec. 21. Truck customers can drive the all-new model on a short route with product experts along for the ride to explain the new innovations and answer questions.

Consumers can register and schedule their test drive at F150drive.com. Walk-up participation is encouraged.

“The new F-150 is a game changer,” said Doug Scott, Ford Truck group marketing manager. “Truck customers are going to learn about and experience the F-150’s new features and improved performance from the best place possible – the driver’s seat.”

Tour vehicles will feature the all-new 2.7-liter EcoBoost® V6 that produces 325 horsepower and 375 lb.-ft. of torque and includes Auto Start-Stop designed to enhance fuel economy in stop-and-go driving. The 3.5-liter EcoBoost that produces 365 horsepower and 420 lb.-ft. of torque will be available to test drive as well.

Participants registered online or in attendance at the event can enter for a chance to win an all-new 2015 Ford F-150.*

The tour also will feature interactive displays to help consumers gain a better understanding of the technical aspects of the all-new F-150, including its high-strength steel frame construction and high-strength, military-grade, aluminum-alloy body panels.
2015 Ford F-150





Drive events will take place in the parking lots of large retailers and office parks. Details can be found on F150drive.com.

“This is the most anticipated truck in Ford history,” said Scott. “Consumers will see for themselves how Ford reinvented the pickup, and experience how the all-new F-150 is a more capable and efficient tool that can make their daily lives easier and more productive.”

Consumers can visit F150drive.com to find the tour stop nearest them. Here is a list of tour stops by route:


Week  of  West West  Central  East Central  East
Oct 20 Seattle Minneapolis          Buffalo, NY      Boston
Oct. 20 Portland, Ore. Chicago Cleveland New York
Oct. 27 Sacramento, Calif. St. Louis Pittsburgh Philadelphia
Nov. 3 San Francisco Kansas City, Kan. Columbus, Ohio Washington, D.C.
Indianapolis
Nov. 10 Salt Lake City Tulsa, Okla. Nashville, Tenn. Raleigh, N.C.
Nov. 17 Denver Oklahoma City, Okla. Little Rock, Ark. Atlanta
Dec. 1 Phoenix Dallas Baton Rouge, La. Orlando, Fla.
Dec. 8 Riverside, Calif. Austin, Texas New Orleans Tampa, Fla.
Dec. 15 Los Angeles San Antonio Houston Miami



*No purchase necessary. Open to licensed drivers 18 and over. Ends Dec. 31, 2014. Complete rules available at F150drive.com.