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16 Sep 08 Different Types Of Biggest Dump Trucks

Maybe run a construction or mining company and want to maximize the efficiency of operations by being able to fill each dump truck with more waste and make fewer trips. Or maybe just curious because like mechanics, trucks, or strange records to tell buddies about over a couple of beers.

Why need to know is not necessarily important, but still want to know: what is the biggest dump truck in the world? Do really need the biggest dump truck or are just wondering?

If seriously want to purchase the biggest new or used dump truck in the world,better have one of the deepest wallets in the world. But if it will increase the efficiency of construction business exponentially, might it not be worth the investment, if can afford it?

Some truck manufacturers claim that the world’s biggest dump truck is actually the Komatsu 930E. The Komatsu 930E is in the running for the biggest dump truck in the world because it towers above the construction workers at 21 feet high, 26 feet wide, and 46 feet long.

The Komatsu 930E has a capacity of 319 tons and is designed with mine work in mind. It has max speeds of 40 miles per hour and a 2700 horsepower engine. It costs a mere $3 million. If think the Komatsu 930E is the biggest dump truck in the world, though,have another surprise coming!

The Komatsu  has been dethroned by the real biggest dump truck in the world, one which can reach top speeds of 42 miles per hour and has a 3550 horsepower engine. The biggest make of dump trucks may be the Caterpillar 797B, which clocks in at 25 feet tall, 32 feet wide, and 47.5 feet long.

The Caterpillar, the biggest dump truck in the world, can carry up to 345 tons of waste. Usually used in open put mining, this is one big dump truck that could make any construction or mining project much easier.

Maintaining the biggest dump truck in the world is no cheap endeavor. The tires alone are 13 feet tall and weigh four tons each—and need to be replaced every 35,000 miles or so at the cost of $40,000 EACH.

But if bought the biggest dump truck in the world,probably expecting that kind of maintenance cost. The Caterpillar itself costs between $4.6-5.7 million. The Caterpillar is so big that it will have to be shipped to in parts and assembled.

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19 Aug 08 Pickup Trucks And Safety

A few years back, we heard the complaint about SUVs. The uproar - and America’s reluctance to give up their SUVs despite safety concerns - prompted truck manufacturers to add safety features to Sport Utility Vehicles.

Several pickup trucks, however, already have a leg up on the competition. Specifically, Isuzu’s two high-performance pickup trucks: the i-290 and i-370. Both models offer a wide variety of safety features you might only expect to find on a Sport Utility.

The first and perhaps most important, is the Electronic Traction Control option which also includes Automatic Locking Rear Differential. The feature helps provide more controlled acceleration on slippery surfaces and in severe weather conditions by reducing engine power to reduce wheel spin. Another features is the pickup’s push-system that allows the driver to shift from 2-wheel-drive to 4-wheel drive on-the-fly. Anti-Lock Braking Systems are a must when it comes to safety.

By comparison, here’s a list of the pickup trucks that made the list of the Top 20 Most Dangerous: the Ford Ranger/Mazda B-Series which doesn’t offer stability control, side airbags or curtain airbags; the Nissan Frontier (Extended Cab) ; and the Dodge Dakota 4-door pickup (side airbags and curtain airbags are optional). A few SUVs also made the list like the Nissan Xterra, and the remainder was populated by very small economy cars such as the Saturn ION and Mazda3.

While the trend is typically to make vehicles safer by adding both passive and active safety features, the reality is that certain cars tend to fare better in accidents than others. Small, lightweight cars are no match in a collision with an SUV even if they possess enhanced safety features. While pickup trucks tend to fare better than cars in SUV collisions.

Demanding SUV safety features be added either as standard or optional to pickups is the first step. Purchasing pickups that have these features - like the Isuzu i-370 or i-290 - will entice others in the automotive industry to follow suit and soon, pickups will be as safe as SUVs.

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17 Jun 08 Are Hybrid Trucks The Wave Of the Future?

With fuel prices just getting higher and higher, everyone just feels the weight of the expense of fueling their cars. If a person who only has one car to maintain feels this burden, the more that truck operators feel this pain that’s burning their pockets. Imagine how many trucks they have to put fuel on day in and day out. Their trucks are on the road most of the day and sometimes even seven days a week.

Hybrid Truck

But the fuel price is not just the only problem that these truck operators and everyone else faces today. The other big problem related to the use of cars is the effects brought about by its fuel fumes to the environment.For these two problems, there is one answer. Hybrid trucks have been developed in response to these two dilemmas. At first, it was tested for military use. And then tests and development continued until these recent years that truck manufacturers have finally announced its soon release dates. These hybrid trucks have been showcased in truck shows.

Two of the leaders in this arena are Peterbilt and Kenworth. Peterbilt is set to release the first hybrid trucks soon. They will be available in shows this year and preorders are accepted as early as now. Peterbilt is also looking into entering a contract with Wal-mart. Should this push through Peterbilt will be getting a big deal Wal-mart being the second largest truck operations in the US today. Kenworth, on the other hand, will be following Peterbilt’s release of hybrid trucks. Even though it showcased its hybrid trucks earlier, the release of their brand will come second to Peterbilt’s. The company has not reported any big prospects as of yet though.

The development and the news of the release of these hybrid trucks has got many truckers excited and eager to make the switch. Others are hesitating though because of the high costs of buying hybrid trucks. Still, with the savings it promises to give truck operators many of them still find it profitable and really worth to invest in these vehicles. Each hybrid trucks is said to give savings to them up to as much as $10,000 every year so it’s just something that truckers think they should have. With such great savings, their business would be more profitable. The expensive upfront cost of buying a hybrid truck would surely be worth it because of the saving in daily fuel expenses.

What’s also nice about using these hybrid trucks is that there would be less harm done in the environment. With the many trucks the truck owners and operators have, the impact would really be great. The environment would be saved and operators will also be able to save on gas money. With these two hand and hand, everybody will come out happier and healthier.

While skeptics are not as sold out on the idea of hybrid trucks, supporters who are very eager to update their trucks with the new hybrid trucks are ordering them already. This stir is quite great that more and more companies are vying replace their trucks with new hybrid trucks.

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