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France 24 / November 1, 2016 Veteran US director Oliver Stone takes aim at state-sponsored citizen surveillance in his new film "Snowden". Having met with Edward Snowden himself in Russia to prepare the film, he traces the NSA recruit’s journey from patriot to whistleblower. The Academy Award-winning filmmaker talks to Olivia Salazar-Winspear about cyber warfare, policing the digital space and how the war in Vietnam was a turning point in his personal and political life. Stone believes US President Barack Obama should pardon Snowden, who is considered a traitor by US authorities. It would be "a wonderful act of grace if the president did that", he told FRANCE 24. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “The government has the ability to repeat and control the commercial airwaves. In a sense, they repeat every so often: terrorism – fear – terrorism – fear. Repeat, repeat, repeat, that works – propaganda.” “What Washington seems to want to do is lock up and only give the leaks they want, the leaks that favor the U.S., like the Panama Papers. They control those leaks, but not the ones that are critical of the government. We're living in a closed news environment. It's an information war in a bad way." Oliver Stone At the same conference actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who plays Snowden in Stone’s biopic, echoed the director’s sentiments on mass surveillance but pointed out that at least it was being put to the vote in Switzerland. “It’s wonderful it’s being voted on. That is exactly what didn’t happen in the United States. Whether mass surveillance is right or wrong, that’s a complicated issue… but if people vote on it and feel it’s right, that’s at least is following democracy. That is what should have happened in the United States,” Gordon-Levitt said. .

VW is getting off the hook FAR too easy, and culprit Ferdinand Piech isn't even being investigated, much less going to jail.

You could fabricate that yourself.

The part number, 6MF519P2, is correct. But there seems to be serious quality issues with the aftermarket units. When you contacted Watt's Mack at 1-888-304-6225, did they say it no longer available thru Volvo ?

Automotive News / November 1, 2016 Encouraged by the success of the Ford Transit and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Volkswagen Group is weighing whether to enter the U.S. commercial van market with its all-new Crafter. Volkswagen has invested 800 million euros (about $871 million) in a plant in Poland with capacity for 100,000 vehicles annually in 2018. It shouldered the development cost for an exclusive platform. Previously, the Crafter was developed with and built by Mercedes-Benz Vans, which supplied VW with only 50,000 of the vehicles per year. Ford began building its European Transit van for U.S. customers in Kansas City, Missouri, in mid-2014, while Mercedes is expanding its Charleston, South Carolina, site at the cost of $500 million after record sales of 194,000 large vans globally last year. Fiat's Ducato was reborn as a Ram ProMaster equipped with a 3.6-liter Penta-star gasoline engine. "No decision has been made but the option is being analyzed," said a VW source. "The problem is the chicken tax [a 25 percent tariff on light trucks imported into the U.S.], so whether a [complete knockdown] assembly or full production is the most sensible depends on the volume." Another problem is distribution, but the acquisition of a stake in U.S. heavy-truck maker Navistar in September may give VW access to a sales network. New (2017) VW Crafter - http://the-new-crafter.com/com/en/ .

House Republicans question VW settlement The Hill / November 1, 2016 Two Republicans are probing the settlement agreement between the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Volkswagen in the wake of the automaker’s emissions scandal. In two Tuesday letters to the EPA, Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and Rep. Tim Murphy (R-Penn.), the chairman of the committee’s investigative subpanel, requested more information about the $14.7 billion settlement approved by a federal judge last month. The Republicans said they are concerned about the $2 billion VW is set to invest in zero-emission vehicle technologies. Upton and Murphy worry those investments could give VW a competitive edge in the zero-emission vehicle market. “It appears that, just as the company plans to enter the EV market, it will be consenting to a court-required $2 billion investment – potentially into its own infrastructure and to support its own newly entered market,” they wrote. “This is a curious outcome for the settlement of a cheating scandal." The members also requested more data from the EPA about the exact amount of emissions Volkswagen released due to improper software on vehicles that allowed excess pollution. Regulators have estimated VW vehicles equipped with the software emitted up to 40 times the legal limit of nitrogen oxide. The company is paying $2.7 billion for environmental mitigation efforts under the settlement, but the congressmen want more information on the real-world impacts of those emissions. VW and federal officials agreed this summer to a $14.7 billion settlement following revelations of technology installed on some Volkswagen vehicles that turned off pollution controls. More than $10 billion of that will go toward repairing or replacing 2-liter diesel VW and Audi vehicles equipped with the software. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GOP lawmakers question VW settlement with U.S. Automotive News / November 1, 2016 Republican lawmakers today pressed the EPA for answers about aspects of Volkswagen’s deal with the Department of Justice and the agency to settle aspects of the company’s diesel emissions violations, saying the settlement could give VW an advantage as it readies a major electric-vehicle push. Part of the settlement, approved last week by U.S. District Court Judge Charles Breyer, requires VW to invest $2 billion in zero-emission vehicles over the next decade. In a letter to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, U.S. Reps. Fred Upton, D-Mich., and Tim Murphy, R-Pa., said the structure of the required spending may enable VW to “obtain substantial competitive benefits, if not a monopoly” on the burgeoning electric-vehicle charging market. VW’s allocation of the $2 billion also appears to be subject to “limited” federal oversight, the GOP lawmakers said. With VW Group readying plans to launch 30 electric vehicles globally by 2025, the duo called the $2 billion zero-emission vehicle fund a “curious outcome for the settlement of a cheating scandal.” Under the settlement, VW must also set aside $2.7 billion to fund environmental remediation projects to make up for the excess nitrogen oxide emissions spewed by its roughly 475,000 2.0-liter diesel vehicles with rigged emissions software. In a second letter to McCarthy, Upton and Murphy also asked the agency to describe how it determined that $2.7 billion was the appropriate amount to fund those projects. An EPA spokesperson said the agency would review the letters and respond.

Paul, as far as China buying into Australian dairy and cattle farms, it takes a seller in order to have a buyer. Yes, China's government is pushing their companies to make worthwhile global investments. But they can't do it unless someone is selling. All the seller has to do is say......no. As for that free trade agreement between Australia and China, they got the better half of that deal. Who signed that???

Rear cab mounts, at least on the early ones (what the rear of the cab sat on). The Mack N and Ford C had the same rear cab mounting arrangement.

CNN / October 31, 2016 Libertarian presidential nominee and former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson says Hillary Clinton could face impeachment over the continued FBI investigation into her private email server if she is elected president. "I think unquestionably if [Clinton] takes office she is going to be under criminal investigation, unquestionably this is going to be the nation's agenda for the entire time she is office and it may well end up in impeachment," Johnson said. "This is Watergate kind of stuff. This is really, really deep, real stuff and all you have to say, all you have to recognize is the FBI would not have done this -- this is not political, this is anything but political, because of the fact they dropped this investigation in July, saying, to clear the decks for the election. That was also clearly, I don't even want to call it a political move, as much as a move that would clear up the election, that people would feel like this was not overhanging. Well, now it's overhanging, and it's overhanging for a reason. There's so much smoke in the room that it will never, ever get ventilated over the next four years. Never." "Let me just point out the obvious: the FBI is not doing this lightly, they recognize just what a bombshell this is, especially having exonerated her in July," Johnson said. "To come back and say this with 11 days to go, knowing that there will be no resolution prior to election, but knowing if they don't release this, knowing how damnable all of this is, this is the horrible situation that the FBI has placed itself in it just points to the gravity of the situation."

The cowl-mounted rectangular rubber hood rest in the photo above, we sourced from Ford. They were stamped Fomoco. It was borrowed from the N-model, which shared it with the Ford C-Series.

Car & Driver / November 1, 2016 The Jeep CJ66 is just the latest in a long and storied line of Jeep concept vehicles to emerge from the creative minds at Jeep and Mopar. Built with a variety of Jeep components including bits from the TJ-, CJ-, and JK-series Jeeps, the Moab-inspired CJ66 makes its debut at the 2016 SEMA show in Las Vegas. Starting with a Jeep Wrangler TJ frame, the team dug deep into the brand’s legacy and came up with a 1966 Jeep CJ Universal Tuxedo Park body. While the specific details regarding the low-volume Tuxedo Park Jeeps are highly contested, most experts agreed it debuted as an option package in 1961 to imbue the rugged Jeep with more upscale appeal for the general consumers. It achieved this by adding chrome bumpers, hood hinges, and badging, plus whitewall tires and other minor trim upgrades. In 1964, Kaiser introduced the Tuxedo Park Mark IV as a new model of sorts. Rare in any configuration, the rarest is the long-wheelbase Universal model, which is what Mopar used for the CJ66 concept. Jeep called this one Universal because it let buyers outfit their Jeep to fit their needs with numerous hard- and soft-top options and even the opportunity to specify a PTO to run a post-hole digger or other agricultural equipment. Whatever the backstory, it’s hard to ignore this rig’s Copper Canyon finish, the 35-inch BFGoodrich all-terrain tires, and the Jeep Performance Parts 17-inch beadlock wheels with color-matched beadlock rings. A two-way air system takes the hassle out of airing the tires up and down for conditions at hand, and a two-inch lift kit keeps some daylight between the rubber and metal. A new, as-yet-unspecified Mopar crate V-8 mates with a six-speed manual transmission, which sends torque to a pair of Mopar Dana 44 axles. Mopar also supplies the engine cover, the cold air intake, and the cat-back exhaust. Oversize concept fender flares team with front and rear Mopar 10th Anniversary Wrangler JK Rubicon bumper kits; the skid plates, front bumper plates, and concept rock rails come from Jeep Performance Parts. Matte-black accents contrast with the Copper Canyon paint on the hood, the seven-slot Jeep grille, the bezels of the Wrangler JK headlamps, the hood hinges, and the latches. The LED amber fog lamps and a Warn winch with fairlead come from Mopar. As a finishing touch, the race-inspired fuel filler cap is shifted to the inside fender wheel well. A custom-built roll cage, mandrel bent to match the two-inch chop of the windshield, surrounds the seats, which are sourced from the Viper. The center console and shifter were swiped from a JK, and Mopar provides the instrument-panel gauges and the all-weather mats. Finally, the steering wheel center features the special 50th Anniversary Moab Easter Jeep Safari logo, unveiled earlier this year. Image gallery - http://www.caranddriver.com/photo-gallery/get-your-kicks-cj66-concept-melds-generations-of-jeeps-with-modern-mopar-hardware#1

I agree that North America (excluding Mexico) are mature markets that are no longer growing. Asia is still booming. China and india are completely different from each other. India is 20 years behind China, with different metrics. Great place to invest though. Car sales in China are booming (world's largest new car market). Aside from the tier one cities, driving (and parking) a car is no problem. Ford does need a medium-duty COE. I'd certainly like to see one. Perhaps, with the launch of the MY2018 Cargo (H62X Global Cargo Modular Cab - GCMC), we'll see a new medium-duty Cargo for the US market.

Dagens Industri / October 31, 2016 Cevian Capital's Christer Gardell believes that Volvo needs to focus on trucks alone and do away with Volvo Construction Equipment (VCE). According to Christer Gardell, Volvo has made progress toward a less complex structure and construction machinery is now the last large part to deal with. Volvo's management and board have Cevian’s confidence and "we trust that they will handle this in a smart way," says Christer Gardell. Cevian Capital owns an 8 percent stake in Volvo Group, and over 14 percent of the voting rights, as of September 30. .

Hungarian PM Accuses Soros of Stoking Refugee Wave to Weaken Europe Bloomberg / October 30, 2015 Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban accused billionaire investor George Soros of being a prominent member of a circle of "activists" trying to undermine European nations by supporting refugees [economic migrants] heading to the continent from the Middle East and beyond. "His name is perhaps the strongest example of those who support anything that weakens nation states, they support everything that changes the traditional European lifestyle," "These activists who support immigrants inadvertently become part of this international human-smuggling network," said Orban. Rights groups have criticized Orban for building a razor-wire fence on the border, tightening asylum laws and boosting his support among voters with anti-immigrant rhetoric. Soros, who was born in Hungary and is one of the biggest philanthropists in eastern Europe via his foundations and university, gives grants to organizations that provide legal assistance to asylum seekers [economic migrants]. Soros said in a statement that a six-point plan published by his foundation helps “uphold European values” while Orban’s actions “undermine those values.” “His plan treats the protection of national borders as the objective and the refugees [economic migrants] as an obstacle,” Soros said in the statement. “Our plan treats the protection of refugees as the objective and national borders as the obstacle.”

Ford Press Release - https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2016/10/31/ford-returns-to-baja-1000-with-all-new-2017-f-150-raptor.html .

Outside the US, I'm constantly told by people that the email scandal is a secondary issue. The global audience feels the actual issue that Americans should be focusing on is Hungarian-American billionaire George Soros, i.e. his massive contributions to the Clinton Foundation and Hillary Clinton. They feel that Soros is at the heart of it all, which is interesting, given that he's not on the radar in U.S. news (and there may be a reason for that, the "closed news" environment that Oliver Stone mentions*). * http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/47524-oliver-stone-obama-pardoning-snowden-would-be-a-wonderful-act-of-grace/

The Australian Value-Liner and the U.S. market Value-Liner were two completely different trucks. They're not comparable. E8 ?

Designed specifically for the US market but also with the China market in mind (where VW has virtually been a non-participant in their red hot SUV market over the last 3-4 years), the new SUV is terrible. VW has never been able to design an attractive and competitive SUV. .

No surprise that the global Ford Ranger, particularly with the optional 3.2L diesel, was the star performer. Designed by Ford Australia, the Ranger is simply the best mid-sized pickup in the world.

Obama appears to be distancing himself from Clinton without actually saying so. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Press Briefing by Press Secretary Josh Earnest, 10/31/2016 James S. Brady Press Briefing Room / 1:07 P.M. EDT I'll neither defend nor criticize what Director Comey has decided to communicate to the public about this investigation. What I will say is that the Department of Justice and our democracy has given the expansive authority to conduct investigations. The Department of Justice has given subpoena power. They're allowed to compel witnesses to testify. They are able to collect evidence that's not readily available necessarily. They're even allowed to impanel a grand jury. Those are substantial authorities. It's important, in the mind of the President, that those authorities are tempered by an adherence to longstanding tradition and practice and norms that limit public discussion of facts that are collected in the context of those investigations. And there are a variety of good reasons for that. And the President believes that it's important for those norms and traditions and guidelines to be followed. The President believes that Director Comey is a man of integrity, he's a man of principle, and he's a man of good character. That, presumably, is the reason that President Bush chose him to serve in a senior position at the Bush administration's Department of Justice. These same character traits are what led a strong majority of Democratic and Republican senators to confirm him to this job. These are the traits that led the President to select him to be the Director of the FBI. And these are tough questions. And so it’s a good thing that he’s a man of integrity and character to take them on. What I have observed in the past is that Director Comey is a man of integrity. He’s a man of principle. He’s a man who is well regarded by senior officials in both parties. He’s somebody who’s served in a senior position in the Bush administration. And he’s somebody who got strong bipartisan support when his nomination to be the Director of the FBI was considered by the United States Senate. So all those things are true. They speak to his good character. And the President’s assessment of his integrity and his character has not changed. For example, the President doesn’t believe that Director Comey is intentionally trying to influence the outcome of an election. The President doesn’t believe that he’s secretly strategizing to benefit one candidate or one political party. He’s in a tough spot, and he’s the one who will be in a position to defend his actions in the face of significant criticism from a variety of legal experts, including individuals who served in senior Department of Justice positions in administrations that were led by presidents in both parties. But that kind of -- but I’m just not going to be in a position to, frankly, either defend or criticize the decisions that he’s made with what regard -- with regard to what to communicate in public. That is separate from the kind of prosecutorial and investigative decisions that are made by the FBI and the Department of Justice. That is their institutional responsibility -- to make those decisions about investigations and prosecutions independent of any sort of political interference, and I will defend their right to do that. In fact, it’s their responsibility. The President is somebody who, three years ago, nominated Director Comey because he’s a man of character, he’s a man of integrity, he’s a man of principle. He is somebody who’s had a distinguished legal career that’s been rooted in making sure that his own political views don’t interfere with his responsibilities as an attorney or as a law enforcement officer. The President thinks very highly of Director Comey. And, yes, you can assert that he continues to have confidence in his ability to do his job. The President is completely confident that Director Comey has not taken any steps to try to intentionally influence the outcome of the election or to advantage one candidate or one political party. Question: Josh, has the President spoken with Attorney General Lynch about this issue and her apparent disagreement with the FBI Director? Mr. Earnest: He has not. Question: And when exactly did the White House find out about the FBI letter? Mr. Earnest: Well, as my colleague, Eric, in answering this question last week told you all, the White House was not given advance knowledge of the decision by the FBI Director to submit this letter to Congress. So we learned about this letter the same time all of you did. Question: Through the media? Mr. Earnest: That's correct. Question: So just to confirm and clarify, everything the White House has learned to date about the latest probe by the FBI on Hillary Clinton’s -- these newly discovered emails has been through media reports? There hasn’t been a letter? There hasn’t been any type of call? This has all been through media reports? Mr. Earnest: So, Kenneth, let me just be as precise as I possibly can here. The White House was not given advance notice of the fact that the Department of Justice was sending a letter to Capitol Hill. The White House became aware of that letter through media reports when individuals in Congress presumably made the decision to make that letter public. And since then, the Department of Justice has not provided any sort of briefing or consultation -- or sought any consultation with the White House about this matter moving forward. .

GM up, Ford down. Why? Automotive News / October 30, 2016 Profit gap widens as U.S. market plateaus General Motors and Ford Motor Co. both posted single-digit U.S. sales declines in the third quarter. But financially, Detroit's two largest automakers appear headed in opposite directions, with GM achieving a record third-quarter profit at the same time that Ford had its weakest quarter in nearly two years. GM is increasing North American production in the fourth quarter, according to analysts, whereas Ford has taken or scheduled downtime at six of its 11 North American assembly plants to reduce inventories. Time will tell whether Ford is getting ahead of a coming downturn in the market, as it did in 2006 by mortgaging major assets before credit markets dried up, or is acting too conservatively at a time when U.S. sales remain near record levels. "I would call our approach realism. Not optimism, not pessimism; it's realism," Ford CEO Mark Fields said on a conference call with analysts last week. "We don't see a recession on the horizon, but we do see a marketplace that, from a cycle standpoint, it's matured." GM's third-quarter results, including record revenue for any quarter since its 2009 bankruptcy and net income that more than doubled from a year ago, are validation of the company's retail-focused strategy in the U.S., where essentially all of its profits were generated. GM's retail sales were flat from July through September, while fleet deliveries dropped 15 percent. In contrast, the bulk of Ford's 6 percent decline in third-quarter sales volume was at retail. "We're running a different play, and it's generating different results," GM CFO Chuck Stevens told analysts on the company's earnings call. "We're very focused on retail in a very disciplined way. Our retail market share is up; we're less reliant on less profitable daily rental, and that's showing up in our results." Stevens said GM is confident that, even as U.S. sales flatten out after six consecutive years of steady growth, "we can continue to sustain strong margins in North America like we have done over the past couple of years." Fiat Chrysler Automobiles also is on an upward trajectory. It posted a 29 percent gain in third-quarter net income and raised its full-year operating profit forecast to at least $6.3 billion. Meanwhile, Ford's outlook has taken on a more negative tone since midyear. Its third-quarter net income fell 56 percent, a drop that executives attributed to a costly recall, ramping up production of the redesigned Super Duty pickup and the plateau in U.S. sales. Ford also cited "normalization" of F-150 sales compared with a year ago, when early buyers of the redesigned model were loading them up with expensive options. Ford's full-year guidance implies a 23 percent drop in its fourth-quarter adjusted pretax profit, while GM's forecast suggests a decline of at least 16 percent in the quarter. Industry results mixed Results from dealership groups, suppliers and lenders have been mixed as consumer demand levels off and growth becomes harder to achieve. Both Lear and Gentex said their third-quarter net income rose 18 percent, but BorgWarner reported a 47 percent decline, and Ally Financial posted a 22 percent drop amid increasing delinquencies and fewer loan originations. AutoNation, Group 1 Automotive and Asbury Automotive Group reported lower earnings, while Penske Automotive managed a slight gain. Ford generated about $500 more revenue per vehicle sold in the last quarter in North America than GM, but GM's profit per vehicle was more than double that of Ford's. Even when excluding a $600 million charge that Ford took in the quarter for recalling faulty door latches, GM earned 40 percent more from each sale. The disparity correlates to the higher transaction prices generated from retail sales, which accounted for 85 percent of GM's third-quarter volume and 77 percent of Ford's. "That all translates right through to the bottom line," David Kudla, CEO of Mainstay Capital. "A car sold at retail versus a car sold at fleet, that's a big deal when you take that down to the net profit per car. It matters." GM earned 5.9 percent more in North America during the first nine months of 2016, even though its U.S. market share fell to just 16.9 percent, a drop of 0.7 points. Ford's share was unchanged through September at 15.1 percent, and its North American pretax profits were down 3.7 percent. GM's stronger results come at a time when Ford is at a low point in its product-launch schedule. The 2015 "Car Wars" report from Bank of America/Merrill Lynch, which asserts that fresh showrooms lead to higher profitability, listed GM's replacement rate in the 2016 and 2017 model years as above average for the industry, while Ford ranked last among the major automakers. GM is overhauling its crossover lineup next year, while Ford doesn't have major redesigns planned for many important vehicles until 2018 and 2019. Strong full-year profits GM raised its full-year guidance last week, affirming that it's on track for one of its best annual profits ever -- but so is Ford, despite the weaker third quarter. Beyond that, about the only similarity between the two companies right now is the level of apathy toward their results on Wall Street, particularly in comparison to the far-less-profitable Tesla. GM shares dropped more than 4 percent last Tuesday after beating analyst expectations by almost 20 percent. Ford shares tumbled after its own announcement on Thursday. "We imagine this is quite disheartening. There doesn't seem to be much they can say that will alter investor concerns" about U.S. auto sales peaking, Barclays Capital analyst Brian Johnson wrote of GM. "We hope that somewhere in the executive suites of the RenCen, "Shake it Off' is being played on repeat, with management saying "haters gonna hate.'"

If your water pump's hub has 4 notches and you have a viscous fan clutch, you need a 316GC1211AX. .

Reuters / October 28, 2016 The European Commission fears steps taken by Volkswagen to refit polluting diesel cars may damage the vehicles' engines, the Spiegel magazine reported, citing unidentified staff at the European Union's executive branch. Software updates carried out by Volkswagen could inflict greater stress on engine components, according to the European Commission. Officials are basing their concerns on feedback from experts at the Vehicle Emissions Laboratory (VELA) in northern Italy. https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/research-facility/vehicle-emissions-laboratory-vela VW denied its technical modifications would cause damage to the cars. "The software update will have no adverse influences on (fuel) consumption or the durability of the engine and its components," a VW spokesman said. "We need VW to guarantee, in a legally binding way and without any time limit, that the repairs will work and do not have any negative impact," a European Commission official said on Monday. "An advanced guarantee declaration is not necessary," a VW spokesman replied.

Matt Wood, Trade Trucks AU / October 27, 2016 Today’s popular dual-cab 4x4 utes make big claims when it comes to tow ratings and payloads but are they really up to serious yakka? Matt Wood and Fraser Stronach ask them to muscle up to prove it Towing is the latest marketing buzzword when it comes to workhorse utes. Three tonne? Three and a half? Automotive manufacturers would have you believe these utes can do the job without raising a sweat. But how do they actually drive with that much weight hanging off the back? We decided to put the manufacturers’ claims to the test. But first we had to tackle the unsexy notion of gross combination mass (GCM) and axle load ratings. Without getting bogged down in too much detail, it basically means that for every kilo put on the trailer hitch, the less you can put on the actual ute. The all-singing, all-dancing ad campaigns don’t tell you that, for the overwhelming majority of these vehicles, 3,000 to 3,500kg of braked trailer load on the back equals close to no payload in the tow vehicle. So we’ve assembled seven of the most popular dual-cab 4x4s on the market to see how they perform at or near maximum towing capacity. And, of course, we made sure they were fitted with electric trailer brakes. We also tested them at maximum GVM without a trailer. You may ask why they’re all autos. Well, in Oz, it’s by far the most popular tranny choice. Volkswagen declined to be a part of the test due to the need for electric trailer brakes to be fitted. A quick squiz at the Kennards Hire website found us some equipment payload, while the guys at KADS Hire happened to have some heavy plant trailers that suited our purpose for 3,500kg towing. Throw in some bagged cement from Bunnings, and we were in business. We loaded the larger trailer with the site forklift and a pallet of bagged cement, weighing 3,500kg in total. To cater for the lighter-rated Toyota Hilux (3,200kg) and Mitsubishi Triton (3,100Kg), we had a second trailer carrying an excavator totalling 2,800kg. To test load carrying, we had a pallet of bagged cement weighing 800kg, which, when added to the other payload elements (driver and passenger, etc.), brings the total payload to close to 1,000kg – effectively the maximum payload in the class, give or take a little. In each case, the 800kg pallet was loaded up against the front of the tub, not an easy task given the tailgates don’t drop right down on any of these mid- and up-spec utes. Before and after loading, the ride-height (at the axle) was measured to see how far the rear of each ute dropped. The tow and load tests were conducted separately (see GCM, GVM and payload). For the separate load and tow tests, the vehicle was driven over a set course encompassing an uphill winding road followed by a downhill descent, again with lots of corners. The course was covered at least twice for both load and the tow tests, so four or more runs for each vehicle. Ford Ranger The Ford Ranger is almost single-handedly responsible for the tow capacity arms race. With its ‘big’ 3.2 five-cylinder engine, the Ranger looks to have a headstart when it comes to our ute tow review. (https://www.tradetrucks.com.au/truck-reviews/1610/ford-ranger-ute-tow-review) Holden Colorado The Holden Colorado has been tweaked here and there since it arrived in 2012, but nothing like what has been put into this MY17 model. MY17 also means electric power steering for Colorado and, like the Ford, this means very little steering effort at parking speeds, a bonus with all the weight in the back. (https://www.tradetrucks.com.au/truck-reviews/1610/holden-colorado-ute-tow-review) Isuzu D-Max The Isuzu D-Max is one of the oldest designs here, so is it up to competing with the new boys? It’s hard not to use words like bombproof when it comes to the D-Max. (https://www.tradetrucks.com.au/truck-reviews/1610/isuzu-d-max-ute-tow-review) Mazda BT-50 Even with the 800kg weight of the default payload (driver, observer and towbar), that leaves up to 200kg payload to spare on the lightest BT-50 4x4 dual-cab pick-up, and around 100kg to spare on the heavier top-spec GT. (https://www.tradetrucks.com.au/truck-reviews/1610/mazda-bt-50-ute-tow-review) Mitsubishi Triton Mitsubishi’s new Triton is the lightweight in this lot but does that really matter? The diminutive donk punches above its weight once it gets some boost and some rpm up, and puts the 430Nm it creates into play. (https://www.tradetrucks.com.au/truck-reviews/1610/mitsubishi-triton-ute-tow-review) Nissan Navara The Nissan Navara stands out here for a number of reasons. Firstly, all bar one NP300 dual-cab pick-ups come with coil springs at the rear, and the NP300 is the only ute here to have two turbos rather than one. (https://www.tradetrucks.com.au/truck-reviews/1610/nissan-navara-ute-tow-review) Toyota Hilux Toyota’s all-new Hilux has muscled up in its towing capacity despite a downsize in engine capacity. The 2.8-litre is also a polished performer with the 970kg payload and hardly felt the weight at all. With 450Nm on tap at just 1600rpm, it’s not far shy of what the considerably bigger 3.2 ‘fives’ in the Ford and the Mazda can do. (https://www.tradetrucks.com.au/truck-reviews/1610/toyota-hilux-ute-tow-review) GCM, GVM AND PAYLOAD When it comes to carrying and towing, there are a few things you need to know to be legal and safe. Gross vehicle mass, or GVM, is how much the vehicle can weigh when it’s fully loaded. So that includes the weight of the vehicle itself, known as the kerb weight. The difference between the GVM and the kerb weight is the payload. Before you put anything into the tub, however, payload includes all passengers and any and all accessories fitted, even a towbar. Some manufactures don’t claim a kerb weight, which includes a full tank of fuel, but a tare weight instead, which includes 10 litres of fuel only. In this case, any extra fuel over 10 litres also eats into the payload. Payload figures for cab-chassis models (not tested here) don’t even include the tray weight. When towing, the tow ball weight also becomes part of the payload and not necessarily at a one-to-one ratio, so you need to check the manufacturer’s towing information. Gross combination mass, or GCM, is the towed weight added to the weight of the vehicle plus any payload. None of these utes can be loaded to their GVM and tow their rated maximum at the same time, as in each case – although in varying degrees – this exceeds the GCM and overloads the rear axle. When you are towing at or near the maximum tow rating, the GCM is the critical factor in determining how much you can carry at the same time. VERDICT Ultimately, in the real world none of these vehicles are great for constant everyday heavy towing. Some do it better than others, but there remains a dearth of information to educate buyers about what weight they can or cannot load into their utes, and what weight they can tow safely. And the last person you’d want to ask is a car salesman! The marketing hype has gotten a little out of hand. For constant towing over three tonne with a load on the tray, the best vehicles for the job remain the 70-series Toyota Landcruiser, a converted American pick-up, or a light truck. A tradie towing a load like our excavator would also likely have a selection of buckets, fuel, tools grease and a bunch of accessories to go with it. It’s a balancing act that makes it very easy to overload a ute that is not even at maximum GCM. CLASS RESULTS Big League - 3,500kg 1. Ford Ranger: A combination of grunt, finesse and solid engineering. 2. Holden Colorado: This ute can finally haul with a degree of classy comfort. There's plenty of power on tap and the new steering is excellent under load. 3. Mazda BT-50: It may lack the updated kit of both the Ranger and the Colorado, but it's a solid tow unit that's confident and capable. 4. Isuzu D-Max: Has a go, but lacks the grunt and capability of recent arrivals and updates 5. Nissan Navara NP300: Just don't. Little League - 2,800kg 1. Toyota Hilux: A good all-rounder that is no doubt capable of more. We'd love to try it in manual 3500kg guise. 2. Mitsubishi Triton: Very capable at this weight, a surprising performer. It's hard to ignore the value proposition.

Matt Wood, Trade Trucks AU / October 31, 2016 Toyota's updated 70 Series Landcruiser lineup has been improved but it comes at a price Contrary to rumours of its impending demise, Toyota’s 70 Series Landcruiser work horse has just copped a significant update that sees improved emissions, safety and fuel economy. Single cab focus With 60 per cent of the 70’s sales going to business buyers, the bulk of the update focuses on the single cab LC79 while other improvements have trickled into the rest of the range. The single cab-chassis now sits on a substantially bigger and stiffer frame with additional cross members, which has also seen a softer state of suspension tune for the fleet fourby. The LC79 accounts for 8,000 Australia sales a year across the line up. Unsurprisingly the 70 Series also accounts for 20 per cent of the global take up of the hard-edged worker. To keep in sweet with mining fleets the single cab also now features 5 airbags and recently scored a 5 star ACCAP safety rating. All LC79 Series variants benefit from the addition of Electronic Stability Control, which also features Hill Start Assist, Brake Assist, Electronic Brake Force Distribution and Automatic Traction Control. The addition of ATC has seen Toyota drop the limited slip diff from the range. Other fleet friendly features are new 16-inch one piece steel rims which replace the split rims previously found on Workmate models, auto locking hub and a new fuse box to make the fitting of aftermarket accessories like telemetry easier and less invasive. New injectors and an after burner The much loved 4.5-litre 1VD turbo-diesel EGR V8 still provides power for the Cruiser at the same 151kW/430Nm (202hp/317lb/ft) ratings as before. But to keep it in line new Euro 5 emissions a DPF with active regeneration has been added. Keeping in mind concerns about an active afterburner underneath, the LC79 will not go into an automatic regeneration at low speeds off-road. The DPF itself is tucked up beside the transmission and protected by an addition cross member on the chassis. New Piezo injectors have also been added to the V8. The local 100,000km testing regime of the LC also saw Toyota engineers test the injection system’s tolerance of varying quality Outback diesel. Outside, the LC79 has a slightly new look with 12 new body panels. The bonnet has had a remodel with a larger, rounder intercooler bulge that is intended to be more pedestrian friendly. Longer legs A couple of the traditional 70 Series bug bears have been tackled, the main one being gearing. The outgoing model 5-speed transmission was very low geared and saw the tacho needle dancing on 2,500rpm at 100km/h. Expectations that the Cruiser may get a 6-speed didn’t come to fruition however, though the 5 slot ‘box has had the gear ratios for 2nd and 5th revised. Now the big fourby sits on about 1,900rpm at 100km/h which sees Toyota now claim a combined fuel figure for the bent eight oiler of 10.7l/100km (22mpg) combined and 9.4l/100km (25mpg) for the highway. Cruise control is now standard kit across the range but strangely air-con, a $2,700 dealer fit option, is not. The LC79 revamp budget however, didn’t stretch to addressing the narrower wheel track of the rear axle. Which will no doubt keep the aftermarket happy. The biggest selling model, the single cab-chassis has seen the bulk of development however, the range still consists of the dual cab-chassis, wagon and Troopy. Workmate and GXL are the only variants of each again excepting the single cab which now has a mid-range GX variant. The Toyota’s unique status on the Aussie market as the only ute that can carry maximum load while towing maximum weight continues even though the truck has gotten a little heavier with the new kit on board. This gives the single cab a payload of 1,200kg and a tow capacity of 3,500kg. Wading depth remains at 700mm. On and off the road In today’s SUV-clogged market I find it comforting that the 70 Series still exists. No doubt when presented with tightening emissions and safety demands it could well have gone the way of the Dodo or the Defender. Instead it now has the heavy 4x4 ute market all to itself with the departure of the Nissan Y61 Patrol cab-chassis. As you’d expect, it’s still a no nonsense work truck from the driver’s seat. But the recent update is very apparent once you flick the key and get moving. NVH has improved keeping the big 8 iron a little subdued but on the black top the changes in gearing make a huge difference. Previously I’d been in the habit of skip shifting the old ‘box. Now it’s a smoother progression through the cogs. And the Cruiser is much happier on the highway than it has been in the past with the rev counter showing 1,900rpm at 100km/h. The softer suspension tune of the single cab also makes it slightly less jittery when unladen on the open road. The interior is still the same old familiar office but the view has changed slightly over the more imposing bonnet bulge. The LC has a formidable reputation as bush transport and as such still powers down a dirt road happily. The main difference is the ESC cutting in if you try and flick the tail out on a corner. Spoilsports. But, it’s the Landcruiser’s off-road cred that has set it apart from most. And it’s still got the goods in that department, in fact the addition of automatic traction control has improved it. Walking the Cruiser up some pretty gnarly obstacles was quite a relaxed experience. The ATC cuts in and limits wheel spin and some feathering of the throttle keeps it climbing in a rather civilised fashion rather than roaring, clambering and spitting rocks along the way. Some may say that the update softens the tough old bush bus. However, from the driver’s seat it still feels like the venerable workhorse of old. Just with some smoother edges. But it’s the pricing that private buyers may find hard to swallow. The single cab chassis now costs $5,500 more while the other variants have seen a price rise of $3,000 on what was already an expensive truck. It’s become a better truck, but it’s also become serious financial proposition. But then again, now it’s also got the heavy 4x4 ute niche all to itself. 2017 Toyota Landcruiser LC79 Pricing (MRRP Quoted) Workmate Wagon: AU$60,990 (US$46,401) GXL Wagon: AU$64,990 (US$49,445) Workmate Troop Carrier: AU$64,890 (US$49,369) GXL Troop Carrier: AU$67,990 (US$51,727) Workmate Dual Cab Chassis (less tray): AU$64,990 (US$49,444) GXL Dual Cab Chassis (less tray): AU$68,990 (US$52,488) Workmate Single Cab Chassis (less tray): AU$62,490 (US$47,543) GX Single Cab Chassis (less tray): AU$64,490 (US$49,064) GXL Single Cab Chassis (less tray): AU$66,490 (US$50,586) Toyota AU website - http://www3.toyota.com.au/landcruiser-70 .