12/31/16

Tommy Gate - Railgate Series - Bi-Fold, High-Cycle Models Operation


Operational Video for the Tommy Gate Railgate Series, Bi-Fold High-Cycle Models. 

12/29/16

Air N Arc 250 Walk-Around Video


A brief walk-around video demonstrating the benefits of our ALL-IN-ONE Power System and the advantages this piece of equipment has over the competition.

12/27/16

Lincoln AirVantage Operation Tour


Video tour of how to operate the air compressor on your Lincoln Air Vantage system.

12/25/16

Happy Holidays from Harbor Truck Bodies!


Warmest Thoughts and Best Wishes for a Wonderful Holiday and a Very Happy New Year

12/23/16

Ram 1500 Dominates Cost-of-Ownership Diesel Analysis


Just because you have a diesel engine in your full-size pickup truck doesn’t automatically mean you’re saving money. There are many factors that have to be considered. In fact, according to the most recent Vincentric U.S. Diesel Analysis, only one full-size diesel choice is more cost-effective than its gasoline-engine counterpart: the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel.

Vincentric is an automotive data company that calculates which cars and trucks have the lowest and highest cost of ownership based on several key factors. In its U.S. Diesel Analysis, the firm calculated the comparative costs of owning a gas engine pickup versus a diesel (where applicable). Not surprisingly — since there is only one small V-6 diesel in a full-size pickup — when calculating the cost of fuel, maintenance, insurance, repairs and more over five years and 15,000 miles between diesel and gas V-8 engines, several versions of the 2016 Ram 1500 came out on top. The calculations did not favor any of the three-quarter or one-ton diesel pickups due in large part to their substantial cost premium over the gas equivalent.

This particular survey did not compare Ram 1500 EcoDiesel numbers with the 3.6-liter V-6 Pentastar gas engine (only the Hemi V-8), nor did it include the Chevrolet Colorado or GMC Canyon I-4 diesel and V-6 gas engines. Our guess is that those vehicles would have scored pretty well here, too, given the parameters and assumptions.

Note: The survey calculated fuel prices at $2.20 for regular unleaded, $2.47 for mid-grade, $2.71 for premium and $2.39 for diesel, depending on what the factory recommendations called for. Of course, these fuel prices will vary depending on where you live. Additionally, people who purchase full-size pickups, especially ones with diesel engines, are much more likely to keep their pickup longer than just five years. Still, there are some interesting results here.

The most cost-effective full-size two-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive four-door diesel pickups when compared to their gas V-8 counterparts were:

—Ram 1500 HFE Quad Cab 2WD short-wheelbase, with a total-cost-of-ownership savings of $3,323

—Ram 1500 Tradesman Quad Cab 4WD short-wheelbase, with a total cost savings of $3,042

—Ram 1500 Laramie Crew Cab 4WD long-wheelbase, with a total cost savings of $1,926

—Ram 1500 SLT Quad Cab 4WD short-wheelbase, with a total-cost-of-ownership savings of $1,920

—Ram 1500 Laramie Quad Cab 4WD short-wheelbase, with a total cost savings of $1,918

Cars.com photo by Evan Sears

Source: http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2016/12/ram-1500-dominates-cost-of-ownership-diesel-analysis.html


12/19/16

How BOLT Locks Work


A brief video demonstration on how a BOLT Lock works.

12/17/16

Harbor WorkMaster Body - Great for Advertising Your Business!




Advertise your business on the side of the WorkMaster body. Here are a couple of examples, notice that whether its on the larger WorkMaster or the smaller WorkMaster, you get a very large proportional space to promote your business. Good for plumbers, good for electricians, good for all kinds of contractors, good for any business!

So go ahead advertise; make it big and bold!  Unless of course you are working undercover like the photo of a Swat Truck WorkMaster body photo below!




Visit our website at www.htbi.net and call Harbor at 800-433-9452.




12/15/16

Zonar Ushers in a New Era of Fleet Management Technology with Zonar Connect

ELD-Ready Smart Fleet Tablet and Seamless Software Platform Allows Fleets to Customize and Upgrade for Future Growth


Seattle Wash. – October 1, 2016 – Zonar, the leader in smart fleet management technology, today announced Zonar ConnectTM, a next generation tablet and software ecosystem that empowers commercial fleets to take greater control of their operations. Connect allows fleets to seamlessly enter the next era in fleet management technology using a smart fleet platform which is faster, more responsive, readily customizable and more user-friendly than current solutions in the commercial fleet marketplace. This ruggedized, high-performance, easy-to-use tablet delivers management tools for commercial vehicle operations including compliance, safety and efficiency monitoring.

“We are entering an age in connected commercial vehicles where the capabilities go beyond the individual vehicle and extend to fleet management and industry decisions regarding job bidding, safety, efficiency and compliance,” said Ian McKerlich, President of Zonar. “Connect is designed to exceed industry needs with Electronic Logging Device (ELD) readiness, Electronic Verified Inspection Reporting (EVIR) and a growing number of apps built in a scalable environment to address needs further down the road. We believe that Connect is the path forward for designing and delivering the next generation of solutions for the smart fleet management era.”

Connect is always connected whether it is docked or undocked representing a significant milestone in smart fleet management. For example, a driver can submit a completed EVIR inspection back to dispatch without returning to the cab of the truck. The tablet-based platform further connects vehicles, driver/operators and fleet managers with critical information such as vehicle health, efficiency, driver hours of service, performance, data capture, compliance, safety and asset utilization.

“Just as smartphones have become an integral part of our daily lives, you soon won’t be able to run your fleet operations efficiently without a smart fleet technology like Connect,” said Brett Brinton, co-founder and CEO of Zonar. “Connect will help operators manage their fleets more effectively as technology changes with hardware that supports over-the-air updates to give them greater flexibility and scalability to grow.”

Connect has the ease of use of everyday consumer devices with the power and ruggedization needed for commercial vehicles. With it, drivers and operators can streamline daily tasks, such as pre- and post-trip inspections; hours of service logging with Roadside ViewTM for compliance inspections; communicating with fleet management; documenting deliveries; navigating routes and – in the case of passenger services – verifying ridership. The tablet also equips drivers and operators with tools that ensure adherence to a broad range of safety and compliance regulations.

Key features:
  • owered by a Quad-Core processor, 2GB of built-in memory and 32GB of storage for enhanced speed and responsiveness
  • Scalable Android™ platform supports options for third-party and custom Zonar apps to increase driver productivity and fleet compliance
  • Compliant with Automatic On-Board Recording Device (AOBRD) and Hours of Service regulations
  • Ready for the Electronic Logging Device (ELD) mandate with capability for over-the-air software update service
  • LTE, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity keeps drivers connected to fleet managers, dispatch, and operations
  • Constructed with a ruggedized hardware design and a DragontrailTM Glass screen to endure harsh conditions
  • Seamlessly integrates with Zonar’s Ground Traffic Control® web portal and third-party programs including maintenance, payroll, navigation, workforce management software and more

“Zonar Connect tablet and platform represent an extremely compelling offer for fleet managers across a variety of industry verticals,” said Clem Driscoll, president of consulting and research firm C.J. Driscoll & Associates. “It’s a very rugged, state-of-the-art piece of hardware connected to a software ecosystem that offers new flexibility for customers to add third-party apps and upgrade easily as technology advances. It’s clear that Zonar listened to customers and upgraded an already-compelling product based on what they learned.”

For more information on Zonar Connect visit: www.zonarsystems.com/connect

About Zonar
Founded in 2001, Zonar has pioneered smart fleet management technology by providing innovative technology that has changed fleet operations in the vocational, pupil and commercial trucking industries. With a unique focus on this field, the Company offers a complete suite of solutions and specialized platforms for our customers in multiple markets. Our patented, award-winning technology keeps fleet owners and managers connected to their fleets and drivers to dispatchers. Headquartered in Seattle, Zonar also has a Technology Development Center in downtown Seattle, a regional office in Cincinnati, and a distribution center outside of Atlanta.

For more information about Zonar Systems, go to www.zonarsystems.com

12/13/16

Winter Tire Test: Some Treads Are Better Than Others



By Bruce W. Smith

Every so often I find myself checking out the tires of the vehicles around me when stopped in traffic, wondering how this or that one performs compared to the factory tires on my pickup truck. My questions become even more pointed in winter: Should I invest in a set of winter tires? Would mud tires be a good choice or all-terrain? Would it be worth the investment to buy a dedicated snow tire and run them half the year?

To find out, we went to the snow-covered hills just a few miles outside Steamboat Springs, Colo. Carved into the deep snow were three perfectly groomed snow courses with big berms and a variety of twists, turns and elevation changes. These tracks are the training grounds for the Bridgestone Winter Driving School. They also serve as the perfect location to test tires — and for us to see how popular pickup tire tread patterns compare when pitted against each other under controlled winter driving conditions.

And even though it's spring, the information we're offering here should help you decide what kind of tires you want next winter.

The Contenders
We spent two days this past winter with Woody Rogers and T.J. Campbell, product information specialists for Tire Rack, comparing popular 275/65R18 tires on a twisting, curving half-mile section of track three behind the wheel of two identical 2016 Ford F-150 4x4s. The tire comparison contenders were:

  • Goodyear Wrangler Fortitude HT OWL SL (P-metric)
  • Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 SL (P-metric)
  • Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice WRT LT (E load range)
  • BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 RWL LT (C load range)
  • Firestone Destination MT LT (E load range)

Source: www.pickuptrucks.com

Read more at: http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2016/03/winter-tire-test-some-treads-are-better-than-others.html

12/11/16

Should You Lease or Buy Work Trucks?


Lease or buy? It is one of the most fundamental questions a fleet manager must answer. And, because nothing in business is carved in stone, it is a question that will have to be answered many times over the course of a career.

Many fleet managers have a preference when it comes to acquiring new vehicles. But, ever-changing financial options and business demands can often mean new opportunities — and new doubts. Because no matter what path you choose to acquire new vehicles, there is always a nagging doubt in the back of your mind, wondering if you made the right choice — or could have cut a better deal.

“How you pay for your vehicles and equipment is critical to the purchase decision,” said Lee Gross, commercial brand director at Ford Credit.

He said that leasing and buying both have distinct advantages depending upon your company’s needs and objectives. And, although the many financing choices that confront a fleet manager in acquisition mode can be daunting, he said they actually work in your favor, since the more options you have up front, the better decision you can make for your company.

Carl Webb, vice president and general manager of International’s Medium Duty product line, said that the decision to lease or buy new trucks is as diverse as the universe of fleets and the jobs they do.

“Really, you have to get to know their business before you can give them the right advice,” he said. “Take a small customer — a landscaper with four or five trucks. He’s got a decent business built up and files his own tax returns and wants that vehicle value depreciation working in his favor. Additionally, he can handle the maintenance aspect of ownership. That guy is probably going to buy his trucks for those reasons and because he wants that asset in hand to trade in when it’s time to refresh his fleet.”

In contrast, Webb said many larger fleets — notably beverage companies — have moved away from purchasing to leasing trucks.

“In some cases, it’s because they don’t want to make the investments in infrastructure and personnel required to maintain those vehicles,” he explained. “But, they still want the peace of mind of a comprehensive maintenance program. For them, a lease package that includes full vehicle maintenance allows them to concentrate on their core business — delivering soft drinks or beer — while offloading an expensive maintenance package to a dealership that excels at keeping those trucks rolling.”

Read the whole article at: http://www.worktruckonline.com/channel/leasing/article/story/2016/11/the-how-s-and-why-s-of-lease-vs-buy.aspx


12/09/16

No pickup matches the premium status of the 2017 GMC Canyon Denali.


From the leather-appointed seating inside to the signature chrome grille outside GMC Director of Design Matt 
None explains why you won’t find another mid-size pickup matching the premium status of the 2017 GMC Canyon Denali. 

For more information about the GMC Canyon Denali, visit: http://www.gmc.com/trucks/canyon-dena..

12/07/16

Daycabs, Vocational Trucks Are Priorities for Nikola


A daycab version of Nikola Motor Co.’s hydrogen-electric heavy-duty tractor will probably be the first one to enter production, said the firm’s founder and CEO, Trevor Milton, at the conclusion of a series of technical briefings on the products on Friday morning. And vocational straight trucks might be close behind.

Fleetmatics, Click Here....
An unveiling of a Nikola One, a streamlined sleeper-cab tractor, the previous evening put nearly all emphasis on the long-haul model. But short and regional hauling is as important and the daycab Nikola Two is simpler, he told HDT at the event’s conclusion. Daycab tractor versions would share most operational benefits – low maintenance and operating costs along with zero emissions – with the over-the-road sleeper model.

Vocational markets will include refuse, and Milton said he and his engineers are already planning a chassis for trash collection. Dump and mixer trucks are likewise probable, and all-wheel drive would make them valuable in some on/off-road duties.

An earlier discussion of a Nikola’s likely lifespan included observations that the electric motors and battery “don’t need air to operate,” and the motors, anyway, could be driven into water and emerge undamaged.

Milton said he’s planning 6x6 and 6x4 versions of the fuel cell electric drive chassis; without front-driving gear, steer-axle wheels could cut sharper, aiding maneuverability in a number of applications.

Engineers initially designed the Nikola with a gas-fueled turbine-electric powertrain, but decided to go to hydrogen fuel cells because they’re much quieter and cleaner, and require no emissions certification.  A turbine version is still possible “for sale into markets where we can’t get hydrogen to,” he said.

The company’s plans to build hundreds of hydrogen fueling stations will include parking and shopping areas, and facilities will be “awesome -- they will be destinations,” Milton said. Existing truck stops were considered to be part of the network, but his team didn’t think their facilities were of the quality that Nikola wants for its customers and their drivers.

Production is three years away because durability testing must go through three winter seasons, and safety-related testing of braking systems and other components will also take time. As announced the night before, Fitzgerald Gliders will build the first 5,000 units and Nikola Motor will erect a factory to assemble subsequent vehicles.

Ryder System will handle sales and service for most Nikolas at its 800-plus facilities in the United States and Canada. Thompson Machinery, a Caterpillar dealer in Kentucky and Tennessee and an early investor in Nikola Motor, will have rights to handle Nikolas in those states.

Related: Nikola One Fuel Cell Electric Truck Promises High Fuel Economy, Low

12/05/16

CargoGlide Gooseneck Application


A unique and  practical application for CargoGlide.

12/03/16

Harbor Truck Bodies - Custom Designed Welders Bodies






It seems that there's no such thing as a standard Welder Body because every welder want something different.Harbor can custom build a Welders Body for each customers unique needs.Here's a 9' Low Pro 34" Open Top Service Body with Stainless Steel lids and with slightly raised front compartments to the standard height of 40" closed compartment style.

This also has a small sized transverse compartment with two compartments for tall gas bottles in storage, while in the main front compartment are bottle brackets and rings for short gas bottles. This also has the rear compartment cut off and an 18" work platform with V-groove on the back plus the standard 8" step bumper.

This is all mounted on a new Dodge 3500 regular cab chassis and makes for a very clean looking rig.

Let Harbor create a unique body for you! Call 800-433-9452. www.htbi.net

12/01/16

EnPak® - a revolutionary, fully-integrated power system for work trucks.

Enpak T4

EnPak combines a rotary-screw air compressor, hydraulic pump, generator and a 24.8 HP, Tier IV Final diesel engine in a single unit and is fully-functional with the truck turned off. - See more at: https://www.millerwelds.com/equipment/welders/engine-driven/enpak-power-system-m00457#sthash.Vxe6pH5R.dpuf