Will Congress Outlaw Pickup Trucks?

Last week I heard on the news that the Federal Government has mandated to Auto manufacturers that the standards for gas mileage are going to be 35.5 for cars and trucks.


Now I drive a small truck, and that got me to thinking. I’d love to get that kind of mileage on mine. I drive a Dodge Dakota, you know the little brother of the big Dodge trucks.

Even though it’s not a full size truck, it does have a full size appetite, at least to me. I get fifteen to seventeen miles a gallon.

There are a number of reasons by trucks are not as gas efficient as a car. The first is that generally they have larger engines, so by default, they generally burn more gas. Also a larger engine is heavier, so that cuts the gas mileage down also.

The second is higher wind resistance. Cars today are much more aerodynamic than trucks, and you also have wind resistance if you have an uncovered bed. But even if you have a cover on the bed of the truck, your gas mileage will not be equal to a car.

The third is the difference in the rear end. No, not the driver, (even though that may be a possibility,) but trucks are designed not only as transportation; many people use them to pull trailers, boats, camper’s etc. Having a rear end designed for towing reducing fuel efficiency.



The last is that trucks are heavier than cars. Simple dynamics. It takes more energy to move a heavier weight.

Now to focus on normal trucks, like mine, or the ram, or the Ford 150, etc,

In 2012 the manufacturer has to have them get twenty five miles a gallon, but by 2016, they have to get 28.3.



What are they going to have to do to hit that mark?



I think that the makers are going to have to do the same things that they’re doing to cars.

The problem with that is, we don’t use our trucks like we use cars. Can you see a Prius towing a Boat? Or a Corolla pulling a 16 foot camper? No way.



I don’t think Congress gets it. How can you go against simple physics? It takes a lot of energy to pull these, and to do so that vehicle has to be designed to haul that pay load.



When the makers get to that point, will they simply stop producing these vehicles? Will you have to spend thousands of dollars in modifications to simply haul your boat or Jet Ski?



This will also mean reduction in recreational items like campers, boats, and travel trailers. Will this also affect the people that make the supporting item, like skis, life jackets, etc.



Over 8 million light trucks are made each year. (And I’m not talking about SUV’s. That’s a lot of damage this will do to our economy.



Now there are exemptions, such as farm use, etc. But for us guys that fall outside, they are screwing with our quality of life, aren’t they?



So they only option we will have is that we will NOT buy these abominations made to look like a honest hard working truck, and we’ll have to keep our faithful trucks for a lot longer than we normally have been.



Of course, that also means that we’ll be spending less, so we can focus more on the upkeep.



I have other blogs posted that has tips on how to extend the life of your vehicle, and that will be even more important for our trucks.



Also check out my blog that shows you how to use a HHO generator to increase your gas mileage 20 to 40 percent, and has the added benefit of reducing emissions that can fail your vehicle.



Guys, this bill has passed, and you need to let Congress know how damaging this can be.

Check out my website for more information on how to increase your gas mileage.

7 WAYS TO SAVE GAS AND MONEY ON YOUR VEHICLE

As expensive as gasoline is now, and with no end in sight, we need to become serious in how to stretch a few more miles from every gallon. Some people may go with more fuel efficient vehicles, but when you consider the cost of fuel efficient vehicles, versus working with an older vehicle, it would be cost effective to extend the life of an older vehicle. Here are some inexpensive ways to save money on gasoline, and on vehicle upkeep.


The new car smell is nice, but you’ll spend tens of thousands of dollars on a new vehicle, and in today’s economy, it makes sense to be frugal.

1. MAKE SURE YOUR TIRES ARE PROPERLY INFLATED! Check your owner’s manual to see what the maximum is and keep your air pressure within 5 pounds of the recommended MAXIMUM pressure for good gas mileage, because the tire is flexing less. Also, by keeping your tires inflated close to the maximum, not only will your fuel mileage increase, you will also maximize your tire life, thereby saving your money. If the ride is too harsh, reduce the pressure in three pound increments, but realize you are giving up pleasure for mileage. By keeping the air pressure up, your tire versus the road will give you the minimum resistance, thus maximizing your results. Remember to check your air pressure with a good quality pressure gauge in the morning before driving.

2. Buy A GOOD QUALITY TIRE! It’s so hard to find a good quality tire nowadays. The tires that were good in past years may not the quality today. This is a personal preference, but I’ve found that the Michelin tire has a better life, and may be able to increase your gas mileage. Remember, the faster a tire wears out, the more expensive it is.



3. Wheel Alignments. Uneven wear on the tires can mean that either the tire is “out of round” which means the tire is defective, or that the steering is in need of an alignment. Nowadays, the technology allows all four wheels to be aligned, unlike the old days when only the front wheels were aligned. Symptoms are, uneven wear on a tire, the vehicle pulling, or the inside or outside of the tire wearing out. A vehicle that is out of alignment will cause the tires to drag, which uses more fuel to propel your vehicle. You’re spending more money to simply to wear out your tires.





4. CHANGE YOUR OIL Changing your oil when recommended will extend the life of your engine, but

the SYNTHETIC OILS HAVE the added advantage of extra fuel savings. By using the right VISCOSITY,

(Or thickness of the oil) means that you’re only using the right thickness for your vehicle. The thicker the oil,  the less fuel efficient it is, and you may also be damaging your vehicle. The synthetic oils have the advantage

of being a slicker oil, which can add one to two miles per gallon.

5. USE THE SAME BRAND GASOLINE Use a good quality fuel, not an off brand, and use the same company. Also, if your vehicle asks for regular, use that. Many people use a higher grade of gasoline thinking that the higher octane will save them money. If your vehicle’s valves are not clattering, then the higher octane is a waste. UNLESS your mechanic specifically directs you to do so, then it is a waste of time.

6. WHEN CHANGING PARTS, STAY AWAY FROM THE DISCOUNT AUTO STORES. I’ve had the misfortune of having to change a starter three times that came from a discount store. The durability was not there. Get the Original Equipment whenever possible.


7. CONVERT YOUR VEHICLE TO A HYBRID Okay, this one is outside the lines, but knowing that the gas prices are NOT going to come down, you need to be aggressive on this. I’ve checked out a number of the modifications that are available, and I’m convinced that this can give you the greatest increase in the gas mileage. The cost to build one is pennies, versus the savings. I have the details and videos on my website, so after checking it out, get the plans and either install it yourself or get a competent mechanic and see about getting one installed.


By investing in a few dollars today, you’ll be able to enjoy these savings for years to come. A car is a depreciating asset, so by not spending money on a new car means you can take those savings and pay off debt, or save money for the future.