Jump to content

New Light & Medium Duty News


Recommended Posts

4 hours ago, 7Mary3 said:

GM did pretty good by using a cab made out of some full size van parts on the Kodiak and TopKick, I was hoping Ford would try something like that.  I think if Ford went to the current aluminum Super Duty cab on the 650 and 750 it would be an improvement. 


If Ford designs an all-new cab to share in part with E-Series vans, I hope they make it much wider.  Since E-Series is only available as a Cutaway, and practically all are used with 90-inch bodies or wider, a more spacious E-Series cab makes sense to me.  Why keep cabs designed for 80-inch-wide vans and pickups; other than to minimize investment of course.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 9/21/2024 at 12:25 PM, 7Mary3 said:

Whether or not you think the F-650 looks good it looks the way it does because Ford used the old Super Duty cab on it.  No doubt that decision was made to save money, but that cab works reasonably well.  However (and this comes from the personal experience of driving a LOT of late model medium duty trucks) trucks like International and Freightliner that use cabs specifically designed for large commercial trucks do have significant advantages.  Visibility, ease of entry/exit, instrument panel layout (seen where Ford puts the brake air pressure gauge?), significantly larger in every dimensioin (in particular room for a GOOD air ride seat), and a better steering column angle.  GM did pretty good by using a cab made out of some full size van parts on the Kodiak and TopKick, I was hoping Ford would try something like that.  I think if Ford went to the current aluminum Super Duty cab on the 650 and 750 it would be an improvement. 

 

That new Postal vehilce has to be the ultimate 'form follows function' vehicle I have ever seen!  It's so ugly it HAS to work great!

The familiar box vehicle which was the Grumman LLV (long-life vehicle) was the best design you could ask for. It used the 1985 Chevy S10 engine/chassis which was reasonably bulletproof. But then again so was the Chrysler 225 6 cyl. and the Ford 289 V8!  Almost everything made back in the 80's was bulletproof compared to today's engines. The LLV had mirrors providing vision around the entire truck. The body was aluminum and it could turn on a dime. There's still a ton of them on the road after 40 years!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

57 minutes ago, Joe771476 said:

The familiar box vehicle which was the Grumman LLV (long-life vehicle) was the best design you could ask for. It used the 1985 Chevy S10 engine/chassis which was reasonably bulletproof. But then again so was the Chrysler 225 6 cyl. and the Ford 289 V8!  Almost everything made back in the 80's was bulletproof compared to today's engines. The LLV had mirrors providing vision around the entire truck. The body was aluminum and it could turn on a dime. There's still a ton of them on the road after 40 years!

 

Not trying to take anything away from the Grumman LLV, but the chassis it was based on was from the stone age - the giant mirrors would get ripped off under maneuvering and the chassis would routinely rot out from under the LLV's aluminum body - there was quite the cottage industry in replacement frames. It was overall a decent design that replaced the Postal Jeep DJ series which began with 1955's DJ-3A and ended in 1984 with the DJ-5M when the LLV replaced it. Imagine what the next Postal vehicle design will look like 40-50 years from now.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

17 hours ago, twintornados said:

 

Not trying to take anything away from the Grumman LLV, but the chassis it was based on was from the stone age - the giant mirrors would get ripped off under maneuvering and the chassis would routinely rot out from under the LLV's aluminum body - there was quite the cottage industry in replacement frames. It was overall a decent design that replaced the Postal Jeep DJ series which began with 1955's DJ-3A and ended in 1984 with the DJ-5M when the LLV replaced it. Imagine what the next Postal vehicle design will look like 40-50 years from now.

TT....The bigger question...will we have a need for a "Postal" system in 40 yrs😎

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

19 hours ago, ausrutherford said:

 

I think this is the replacement for JMC Lushun which was Ford's first attempt at selling E-van in China. You can see that E-Fushun now has Ford Transit doors and windshield which the fleet buyers will like. Lushun looked like it was clobbered together in a high school metal shop. 

 

And as noted already, E-Fushun doesn't look like ICE Fushun so the naming is a bit peculiar. 

 

Ford also sells E-Transit which has a different body but I wouldn't be surprised if E-Fushun and E-Transit have the same chassis and drivetrain. Not much info available on the E-Fushun other than it will be cheaper than E-Transit. 

 

Ford's current van offerings in China (roughly in order or starting MSRP):

  • JMC Teshun (2nd gen RWD full size Transit)
  • JMC Fushun (3rd gen RWD full size Transit)
  • Ford Transit (1st gen FWD mid size Transit Custom)
  • Ford Transit T8 (4th gen RWD full size Transit - although it has a lower but longer hood than the ROW version)
  • Ford Transit Pro (3rd gen full size Transit)
  • E-Lushun (unknown FWD chassis)
  • E-Fushun (unknown but maybe share the drivetrain with E-Transit?)
  • E-Transit (T8 body but FWD chassis from Transit Custom and EV drivetrain)

 

Teshun and Fushun prices are actually very similar. The major difference and appeal to the market is engine choices. Teshun has the old Isuzu based 2.8 diesel while Fushun (and Transit, T8, and Pro) have Ford Puma family diesel. 

Edited by bzcat
Link to comment
Share on other sites

23 hours ago, Bob Rosadini said:

TT....The bigger question...will we have a need for a "Postal" system in 40 yrs😎

Good one Bob!  While "normal" mail volume of first class letters has decreased, the USPS (Postal Service) as well as UPS, FedEx has experienced tremendous growth in package delivery. Did you know when Amazon first became huge, the USPS (Post Office) delivered 90% of their packages? Does anybody know that USPS Post Offices across the nation receive millions of packages a day from UPS trucks which the Post office delivers the next day because UPS doesn't have the trucks or manpower to deliver to the "last mile?" The post office also delivers packages from other small delivery services. Nobody has a clue what the USPS does!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, Joe771476 said:

Good one Bob!  While "normal" mail volume of first class letters has decreased, the USPS (Postal Service) as well as UPS, FedEx has experienced tremendous growth in package delivery. Did you know when Amazon first became huge, the USPS (Post Office) delivered 90% of their packages? Does anybody know that USPS Post Offices across the nation receive millions of packages a day from UPS trucks which the Post office delivers the next day because UPS doesn't have the trucks or manpower to deliver to the "last mile?" The post office also delivers packages from other small delivery services. Nobody has a clue what the USPS does!

 

USPS still delivers some Amazon packages......I'll see them delivering Amazon packages in the USPS vehicles on Sundays (they don't deliver mail on Sundays)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, rmc523 said:

 

USPS still delivers some Amazon packages......I'll see them delivering Amazon packages in the USPS vehicles on Sundays (they don't deliver mail on Sundays)

From what I’m told, their contract with Amazon actually prioritizes Amazon deliveries over their own deliveries. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 9/24/2024 at 9:35 AM, Joe771476 said:

Good one Bob!  While "normal" mail volume of first class letters has decreased, the USPS (Postal Service) as well as UPS, FedEx has experienced tremendous growth in package delivery. Did you know when Amazon first became huge, the USPS (Post Office) delivered 90% of their packages? Does anybody know that USPS Post Offices across the nation receive millions of packages a day from UPS trucks which the Post office delivers the next day because UPS doesn't have the trucks or manpower to deliver to the "last mile?" The post office also delivers packages from other small delivery services. Nobody has a clue what the USPS does!

What about non-profits?  My late wife would donate to whatever charity sent us something...not much but 25 bucks and you are on the mailing list and I think they sell their lists.  I routinely get up to 10 pieces a day.  And yes, USPS brings most of my small packages.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

The ICE version got Ford engine, Ford transmission, Ford ADAS, Ford steering wheel. The EV version probably will have the same battery and motors as E-Transit Custom.

Edited by bzcat
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
On 10/11/2024 at 6:33 PM, 7Mary3 said:

Reading the rationale for the breakaway of trucks from the "car" biz, one only has to look at "Ford Pro" as proof that passenger vehicle mindsets don't fit in when it comes to trucks.  If so we would have seen Ford taking a bigger position in the class 6-7 business-or so it seems.

 

Daimler didn't seem to be hamstrung by management who viewed commercial vehicles as a "side business" so I can only imagine how focused  the new entity will be- much the same as the Swedes are not distracted.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The American Truck Historical Society (ATHS) had its annual show in June at the PA State Fairgrounds in York PA.  A total of 898 trucks were on display from all over the US and a couple of foreign countries.

IMG_2336.thumb.jpeg.e27080dfcb83e623eab179b9254cf031.jpeg

Of the top five, Mack had the highest representation at 185, with Peterbilt second at 146, Kenworth third at 124, Ford fourth at 58, and International fifth at 55.

 

Not surprising that Mack, Ford and International did as well given eastern location.  Closer show is held closer to west coast, Paccar rules.

 

Nice to see the ATHS show issue of 180 pages had this "two story Falcon" on the cover.  Company that owns this also had a beautiful LT 9000 at the show and both are still used moving equipment.  Note cover refers to this as an LTL an obvious

error as it is a CLT

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

I'm seeing a more than usual amount of new F750's in the vocational arena including building material crane bodies  and utility bucket trucks. You might ask how can I tell? Well for one thing, Asplundh Tree Services' newest trucks are white instead of orange.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

Article says it is both the new Yuhu and new Baodian. They have different grille and trims.

 

I'm not really digging the new look... the old one was much better looking. Just based on a quick glance, it looks like Ford has migrated Yuhu and Baodian to the Dadao platform and body. But at a lower price point of course.

 

 

 

 

Edited by bzcat
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...