Ford F-150 has been selected as 2018’s Truck of the Year NTT

Everyone try not to look so shocked: the most popular and best-selling truck in America has officially earned a title it has unofficially held for years.

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The Ford F-150 was recently named Motor Trend’s Truck of the Year, continuing to hold the market captive, and still for really good reason. The F-150 has been the industry standard for several decades now, and really no other truck can hold a candle to its status as the country’s favorite truck.

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And to be clear, that applies to cars, too: the Ford F-150 has long been the country’s best selling vehicle, with sales outperforming every car, truck and SUV for decades in a row.

Just when we think that Ford couldn’t possible approve on this beloved vehicle, the 2018 model continues to prove us wrong. Ford continues to impress with every new release, always improving the F-150 with the addition of new features, luxuries and improved capabilities.

The 2018 model continues to impress with new and innovative features life an automated parking feature (it’ll even parallel park for you!), a brand new infotainment system and new and improved Bluetooth integration capabilities.

Ford has also implemented changes to help you reduce the dollars you put into your gas tank. With an improved engine system, the 2018 F-150 boasts its best-ever fuel economy.

But more impressive and perhaps more importantly to truck enthusiasts all over the country, the 2018 has set a new record for power and performance. Its body is a slightly lighter model to help improve acceleration at no cost to its sturdiness and versatility: the 2018 model can tow up to over thirteen thousand pounds when you need it to. It’s the perfect mix of driveable and capable.

Ford F-150 Parts & Accessories from American Trucks

The best-selling pickup in the USA meets the cutting edge of 21st century automotive engineering with the Ford F-150’s 13th generation, using top grade, weight-saving aluminum construction over a 77% high-strength steel frame. The use of aluminum makes the body panels rust-proof, while slashing ~500 lbs off the weight and helping with the 2015-2019 F-150’s 20% better fuel efficiency. Early generation trucks feature four engine choices – the 3.5L Cyclone V6, 2.7L EcoBoost V6, 5.0L Coyote V8, and 3.5L EcoBoost V8 – but the 2018 F-150 changes that lineup for boosted power and efficiency. Using advanced twin-injection systems plus retuning, the 2018 pickup’s engines generate more power, with even the 3.3L Cyclone V6 that’s replacing the 3.5L V6 cranking out +8 horsepower and +12 ft-lbs of torque. Options widen with a 3.0L PowerStroke Turbo-diesel V6 as the new, fifth engine choice, developing 254 hp and 440 ft-lbs.

All engine choices except the 3.3L V6 now come standard with 10-speed automatic transmissions. More sophisticated electronics include a pedestrian detection and automatic braking system, plus adaptive cruise control that relieves you of the headache of stop-and-go driving in heavy traffic. There are still plenty of possibilities for modding your 2015-2019 Ford F-150, too, which American Trucks lets you explore with our quality selection of cat-back exhaust systems for better flow and a more aggressive sound, head-turning aftermarket wheels with handsome combinations of spoke sculpting and color, brilliant LED off-road lighting, hitches and accessories to turn your machine into a real workhorse, and more.

With a rugged steel frame clad in a military-grade aluminum alloy body, the 2015-2019 Ford F-150 is an exciting new take on Ford’s winning formula for a rough-and-tough pickup workhorse. The aluminum cab and bed cut weight drastically without sacrificing strength, and will never rust, either. The 70K-psi frame uses three times as much high-strength steel as 2014’s model at 78%. All this adds up to 700 lbs of weight savings, cutting your fuel use and putting extra power at your command. Keyless ignition, LED bed lighting, and 360 degree cameras give your truck a futuristic edge, too. Four engine choices include two Ecoboost options – 2.7L and 3.5L – along with a 3.5L V6 and a 5.0L V8. The excellent power-to-weight ratio makes the 2015-2019 F-150 work harder for you while saving up to 20% fuel compared to any model that went before.

Here at AmericanTrucks, you can find the top quality aftermarket parts you need to tailor the advanced, extra-rugged 2015-2019 F-150 to work even better for you. Extra lighting for working at night or off-roading, grille guards so your truck can muscle its way through brush and look tough on the road, too, upgraded exhaust systems to kick the power levels higher while giving your F-150 a fierce sound, and many other features can be added to meet your needs and tastes. Kit out your F-150 with carefully chosen add-on components to make a great new pickup even better.

If you’ve been behind on the curve on the F-150, this may be the best-ever year to check out the Ford F-150.

Article 10:

How to winterize your car

Summer lovers are currently united in mourning the coming cold season. The leaves are changing, our toes are freezing, and your car is about to be subject to some potentially damaging effects as it gets exposed to extremely cold weather.

As we approach freezing temperatures and overnight icy onslaughts, car owners can take a few steps to keep their cars safe, functional and prepared to handle the demands of the environment with some simple winterizing measures.

Getting your car ready for the cold weather months is absolutely crucial for both your wallet and for your safety. Here’s what you can do to get ready for the cold season.

It’s time for an oil (type) change

Summer months encourage the use of thick motor oil to keep your engine safe even throughout exposure to extreme heat.

So it follows: when the weather takes a turn toward the chilly, it’s time to switch to a thinner oil. Often labeled as winter-grade oil, the use of this particular kind of oil is what gives your engine the ability to start right up even on freezing winter mornings — and it relieves your battery of some strain, too.

Check your fuel tank, antifreeze and your battery

All throughout the winter, you’ll want to keep an eye on all three of these factors. Your fuel tank can collect condensation if it’s anything less than half-full, which can then freeze up and block the lines. The battery stands a risk of cracking in colder weather, and experiences additional strain in general when it’s cold. And your antifreeze, obviously, prevents your engine from freezing when the temperature reaching ridiculously cold lows.

Prepare for the worst: get your emergency kit together now

The worst time to have to prepare for an emergency is after it has happened. In the winter months, you never know what’s coming up, and you are especially vulnerable to the possibility of getting stranded in extremely cold weather.

Your winter emergency kit should carry the same things as it does year round, like jumper cables, a flashlight, and a first aid kit, but for the winter you should also add a snow shovel, some non-perishable food items, and some well-insulated blankets.

Check your battery. Cold weather is tough on your car’s battery. The chemical reactions required to generate power in a car battery slow down in extremely cold temperatures. At 5 degrees F, a fully charged lead-acid battery has only half its rated amp-hour capacity. On top of that, during cold weather, your engine requires more current from the battery in order to get the engine started. Combine less power output with more power requirements and you get a car that won’t start on a cold winter morning. So have a mechanic run a battery load test to see if you need to replace the battery. Even if you don’t, he’ll check for and clean up any corrosion he finds on your posts and connections. The mechanic might also fill your battery with distilled water if needed.

Change your wiper blades and refill your wiper fluid. You need to see the road to drive safely, but the build-up of winter precipitation and salt on your windshield can greatly reduce visibility. Working windshield wipers and a solid supply of wiper fluid will ensure that you have a clear line of sight even in the nastiest snowstorm. Wiper blades are only good for a year. Replace yours if they look frayed or worn. If your neck of the woods gets hit by hard winters, you might consider buying wiper blades designed for winter weather. Top off your wiper fluid reservoir with a brand that has a lower freezing temperature.

Consider getting snow tires. If you live in an area that’s covered with snow for most of the winter, you should swap your regular all-season tires out for snow tires. Snow tires are made of a softer rubber than all-season tires which allows them to retain flexibility in the bitterest of cold. Snow tires also have tread patterns specially designed to grip into snow and ice. Don’t get the wrong idea about snow tires. They won’t magically remove the chance of you slipping and sliding in your car, but they do provide more traction than the regular variety.

Check your tire pressure. If you don’t replace your regular tires with snow tires, at least keep them properly inflated during the winter. Cold weather causes air pressure in your tires to drop. For every 10 degree drop in temperature, your tire’s air pressure will drop about 1psi. A properly inflated tire ensures the best possible contact between the road and the tires which is essential for safe traction when driving in wintry conditions.

Check your four-wheel drive. Four-wheel drive can provide better traction when driving on snowy and icy roads… that is if it’s working correctly. Have your 4WD checked by a mechanic before winter weather sets in. They’ll ensure the system engages smoothly and that the transmission and gear fluids are at their correct level. Also, if you haven’t used your vehicle’s 4WD in awhile, now’s a good time to review how to operate it.