New fuel locking device prevents theft and vandalizing; 30-second easy installation

Diesel Fuel is expensive. There has been a short reprieve and now it is once again on the rise. With higher fuel prices comes an increase in the risk of fuel theft. Our product, The Fuel Lock is the only totally secure way of preventing fuel theft and/or sabotage.

The Fuel Lock was designed by a trucker for trucker’s. After having the misfortune to be victimized, Doug Adolph tried other locking devices available on the market only to find that those products were easily destroyed, allowing him to be victimized once again. He decided that there must be a way to design a product to address these issues and The Fuel Lock is the result of his determination.

Through careful design and precise manufacturing practices, using premium grade steel, the latest equipment (computerized laser cutting, robotic welding, together with our own powder coating process which exceeds industry standards) we are able to provide the consumer with the highest quality in the industry.

This product is the leading edge and is unsurpassed as we only use Timbren Industries of Canada’s engineers, draftsmen, design staff, welders and fabrication personnel.

The Fuel Lock comes in a variety of sizes, fitting filler necks with a diameter of 2½ inches, 3 inches, 3½ inches, 4 inches and 4½ inches and includes a high security cylinder lock complete with a protective weather cap and lanyard that holds 600 lbs. pressure and is made of UV resistant polyethylene.

This weather cap is designed to help protect the high security cylinder lock against the harshest weather.

Installation of The Fuel Lock is simple, takes less than 30 seconds and only requires a 7” clearance around the cap.

The Fuel Lock is placed over the filler neck of a fuel tank and the left and right sides are brought together to a closed position, the two parts of the cylinder lock form a complete lock receiver that accepts the high security cylinder lock to be inserted and locked with a key.

Once locked, it eliminates the removal of the fuel cap and cannot be tampered with.

The newest addition to The Fuel Lock line is an in-ground storage lock. Using the same basic design on a much larger scale, this lock can prevent large storage containers from being vandalized and pilfered.

The Fuel Lock is ideal for Smaller Trucks, Transport Trucks, Refrigeration Trucks, Construction Equipment, Farm Equipment and Underground Storage Tanks.

Fuel theft is a theft of opportunity! Prevent this from happening to YOU! Purchase The Fuel Lock today by visiting www.TheFuelLock.com or by calling toll free 1-866-990-3835.

DON’T GET CAUGHT WITH YOUR CAPS OFF AND YOUR TANKS DRY!

ProPickup

Custom Rigs editor shares time with sister publication’s launch

by Tom Jackson, ProPickup Executive Editor

Where did you learn what you know about pickup trucks?

I’ll never forget the day in 1979 when I threw all our tools, equipment and supplies (plus two hitchhiking Mexican roofers) in the bed of my tiny Toyota pickup and piled two fellow carpenters into the cab and tried to outrun a nasty Texas thunderstorm. It was then that I realized a “quarter ton,” doesn’t mean much.

Today’s trucks, Toyota’s included, can handle five guys and a full load no problem. That much I’ve learned.

But like most, what I’ve learned came from trial and error and word of mouth. People in construction like to talk trucks, but friends and coworkers can sometimes be wrong. Consumer magazines cover trucks as a hobby, but there’s never been a single source of information on trucks for contractors– until now.

That’s the premise of ProPickup. Last year we surveyed the readers of our construction magazines, Equipment World, Total Landscape Care, Better Roads and Aggregates Manager, and found that you own more than a million pickup trucks. That’s an average of eight per company. What’s more, the Wall Street Journal recently reported that 75 percent of all full-sized pickup truck buyers were businesses.

Since businesspeople like you dominate the pickup market, we figured it was time you had your own truck magazine.

At the heart of this enterprise are two experts I wished I’d known back when I was shoveling concrete and standing up homes. First is Bruce Smith, the editor of our sister publication Custom Rigs magazine.

Bruce has been writing about trucks and automobiles for three decades with titles such as Four Wheeler, Auto World Weekly, Truck Trend, Truck Test Digest, Motor Trend, Diesel World and Diesel Power to his credit.

Second, Oregon based photojournalist Larry Walton backs up everything he writes with more than 20 years of construction experience; and in the last six years Larry’s been putting that knowledge into print working as an automotive journalist specializing in pickups.

With these two I think we have the best combination of construction and trucking knowledge for the task at hand, and I hope you like the results you see here. Fire off an email and let us know what you think.

Tell us what you’d like to see in future issues. And be sure to check out our additional content, news, Project Big Boss updates (page 20) and discussion forums on our website www.propickupmag.com.

New kit provides stress-free trailer landing gear operation

Owners of custom  big-rigs who want to quickly and easily drop their trailer landing gear can now turn to The Griffin Tool from Transport Product Solutions.

The Griffin Tool, designed by a truck driver, utilizes your truck’s low-pressure air system to power-assist the raising/lowering of the landing gear, virtually eliminating stress on the body and significantly speeding up the entire trailer connect/disconnect process.

It takes less than five minutes to slip the easy-to-install conversion kit in place and doesn’t require permanent modifications to either trailer or landing gears. The $219 conversion kit includes The Griffin Tool, custom air hose with glad-hand, and air drill. For more information watch the video or contact Transport Product Solutions at 877-219-4317.

Big-Bore mono tube design provides better ride & handling under all driving/load conditions

Shocks are a custom rig’s primary buffer between the road surface and the springs, and on up to the cab. Worn-out or poorly designed shocks means a long, unpleasant  ride for the driver.

Shocks also control the springs, which keep the tires planted on the ground. Bad shocks can lead to premature tire wear.

All that can quickly change for the better by upgrading to the new RoadKing 2- 5/16″ big-bore monotube shock absorbers. These new offerings from RoadKing Shocks LLC are designed with  the sophistication and ruggedness that deliver the ultimate in performance.

The new RoadKing shock absorbers are the biggest bore shocks available for class 8 trucks. RoadKing shocks have been designed specifically for class 8 trucks and deliver up to 10 times more control force then the competition. RoadKing shocks keep the tire connected to the road surface, saving you money and the great ride means less driver fatigue at the end of the run.

The competition offers a shock absorber that was originally designed for passenger cars and light duty pick-up trucks. RoadKing shock absorbers were designed for heavy trucks.

When you compare the RoadKing shock piston displacement area to standard OEM and aftermarket trucks, the RoadKing shocks have 280% more piston surface area. The standard OEM and aftermarket shocks have 1.5 square inches of piston area. The RoadKing shock has a large 4.2 square inch piston area that delivers up to 10 times more control force than the competition.

Features like Spherical rod bearing mounting, two urethane shaft oil seals and the highest rated salt spray chrome shaft available means great savings in tire replacement and shock replacement over the life of the truck.

RoadKing shocks are factory re-buildable and are designed to last 350,000 to 400,000 miles between rebuilds. RoadKing Shocks LLC continues to be the leader in offering the finest ride control products to the class 8 truck owner. Contact RoadKing Shocks today and get all the facts on why RoadKing Shocks are the best choice in class 8 truck shocks.

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4 State Trucks/CSM celebrate 30^th anniversary with Joplin blowout

The invite for the early October truck show simply said, “Come join us for our 3oth Anniversary Celebration. We guarantee a good time will be had by all.”

When you get an invitation from the boyz at the Chrome Shop Mafia like that there’s no way one can turn it down. You just know the turn out is going to be good and the hospitality terrific.

We weren’t disappointed, either. When we arrived Friday afternoon at 4 State Trucks Joplin, Missouri, compound the rains had subsided and the cold winds had begun to diminish.

We also found 97 trucks on site—72 of them registered in the Chrome Shop Mafia’s Truck Show.

It was the first day of their two-day gig, and Bryan “Bossman” Martin and his brother Bryce were up to their cold ears trying to get vendors and show participants shuffled around and squeezed into 4 State’s parking lots.

“Weather wise it wasn’t looking too good yesterday and this morning,” says Bryan. “But this storm’s blowin’ out and it’ll be good tomorrow.” And it was.

Unlike miserable Friday, Saturday morning was perfect for a truck show; the sky was clear and blue, the temp cool and crisp, and the wind just a light breeze. By 10am the crowds were rolling in and by noon parking spaces for spectators were getting very hard to find. By 2pm it was a capacity crowd.

Ice Road Trucker Alex Debogorsky

Freightliner was showing off their new 2010 Coronado and giving away four NASCR tckets w/pit passes and four Petty Driving Experience to some lucky winners later in the day.

Alex Debogorsky from Ice Road Truckers was there to shake hands and sign autographs, as were the CSM gang who were celebrities themselves. Dozens of people lined up every time the Bossman gave “VIP” tours of their shop and showroom during the day, too.

We also learned a dozen of the rigs on display were treated quite special by being photographed by Paul Hartley for the Chrome Shop Mafia’s 2010 calendar.

“Saturday night a huge bonfire we lit off in the 4 State compound as Matt Coleman & Road Hammers wound up the crowd with some kickin’ tunes,” says Martin of the end-of-day events. “And there was no shortage of BBG and food thanks to our friends at Red Hot & Blue ( a local Joplin purveyor of such cuisine.)

“Everybody in attendance was relaxed, havin a good time, ‘all smiles’ and had a ‘spring in their step’ as Joplin was ‘right where they wanted to be,” say the Bossman.

Form what we could tell, the 30tth anniversary bash was a winner. We have been told we’re on the invite list for next year’s October Fest—Chrome Shop Mafia style. Woooo-Hoooo!—CR

GBATS WINNER’S LIST

Winners:

Poker Run: Jayme Snow

$650  gift pack: Shannon Crenshaw

$1000 gift pack: Chad Blackwell

$2000 gift pack; Cupp Farms

Lights:2nd – Jerry Kissinger

1st -  Billy Carter/Steve Hendershot

Paint:  2nd – Matt McCord

1st  – Jeremy Graves

Interior:2nd – Dallas McCord

1st – Paul Saline

Stereo: 2nd -Colin Stuart

1st  -Jeremy Graves

Peoples Choice:

Bobtail – Thomas Ivy

Combo – Jeremy Graves

Competitors Choice:

Bobtail 2nd place……..:Doug perkins

Bobtail-Best Of Show..:Matt McCord

Competitors Choice:

Combo 2nd Place…….:.Jeremy Graves

Combo Best of Show..: Wayne Baker

Larry Martin Memorial Award.: Randy Huddleston

2010 CSM CALENDAR TRUCKS

Hoewing Trucking

Troy Huddleston

Randy Rebillard

Andy FIero

A.Wise Trkg

Dave Schroyer

Chad Blackwell

Gary Salisbury

Jeremy Graves

Nathan Deacon

Paul Saline

Doug Perkins

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Neil Holsomback assumes on-site operations management while new show dates are set and more shows to be added in 2010

In an on-going effort to expand and refine Custom Rigs Pride & Polish truck beauty shows, the Randall-Reilly Events Division has just announced the selection of Neal Holsomback, Victor Verret, Barbara Holsomback and Suzanne Stempinski to manage the logistics, judging and on-site operations for all 2010 Pride & Polish truck beauty events.

The Pride & Polish on-site management team has more than 50 years combined experience in overseeing truck beauty events and are well known throughout the trucking industry.

“We are excited to have this group involved with all of our Pride and Polish events,” says Alan K. Sims, vice president/executive director, Randall-Reilly Events Group. “The experience and credibility that they bring to our shows is unmatched.”

The 2010 Pride and Polish series has truck beauty events scheduled at 75 Chrome Shop in Wildwood, Fla., April 24-25; The Great West Truck Show – Las Vegas, Nev. June 17-19;  and The Great American Trucking Show, Dallas,  August 26-28.

Sims says Custom Rigs Pride & Polish events will attract more than 70,000 visitors, and additional  show locations are expected to be announced in the near future.

For more information go to www.prideandpolish.com, or call 888-349-4287

Iowa 80 Constructs Exhibit on Vintage Electric Trucks

WALCOTT, IOWA — In recent times we have witnessed sharp increases in gasoline and diesel prices. Combined with the public’s heightened awareness of the environment, this has led to the renewed interest in, and the reintroduction of, electrically powered vehicles.

Many are under the impression that electric vehicles are a relatively new concept, when in fact use of electric trucks in the U.S. is more than 100 years old.

The Iowa 80 Trucking Museum, which is adjacent to Iowa 80 Truckstop, I-80 Exit 284, has constructed a new exhibit on vintage electric trucks to educate the public on the history and origins of electric vehicles. Included in the exhibit is a 1911 Walker Electric Milk Delivery Truck.

“We are pleased to be able to share this fantastic piece of history with the general public,” says Dave Meier, Museum Curator. “Since there wasn’t a supporting infrastructure for the electric vehicle, the gasoline powered vehicle became
the favored type and many don’t even realize that both were invented at roughly the same time.”

The exhibit displays information about how electric vehicles came to be, their use as well as specific information about the 1911 Walker on display. The Iowa 80 Trucking Museum is open to the general public Wednesday thru Sunday. Admission is free.

From the Editor’s Desk

CUSTOM RIGS HEADED FOR GATS DEBUT

Custom shops working overtime for Dallas Pride & Polish

By Bruce W. Smith, Editor

Poison Ivy being painted at the Chrome Shop Mafia in preparation for its debut at GATS Pride & Polish.

Our Great American Trucking Show in Dallas is just a few weeks down the road (Aug-19-22).

That also means a lot of our Custom Rigs readers and customizing partners are sweating few bullets trying to tidy up the last bits on rigs they are bringing to our Pride & Polish beauty show.

How do I know that? Well, Bryan Martin at the Chrome Shop Mafia e-mailed and said they are working feverishly trying to get the final touches done on a brand new custom rig called “Poison Ivy,” which is owned by a Texan.

Meanwhile, my buddy down at Triple R Diesel, Raul Mendez, sent us a few snaps of three equally cool custom rigs they are bringing from their shop in Atascosa, Texas, to Dallas.

One is the bad-ass end dump combo shown above, and the other two are heavily customized bobtails. And he says, “We are working from 8am to midnight every night to get all three done in time.”

Man, these shop’s four rigs alone would be worth seeing first-hand, let alone the others I know will be showing up to take a shot at the Pride trophies. If you haven’t made plans to attend, swing a load through the Lone Star state and spend a day checking out the convention and seeing the custom rigs!