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Chicago businesses, like businesses in other cities, often need to ship their goods across town and across the country. This results in the hiring of a Chicago courier service. There are many different ways to ship goods and determine cost. Your choice of courier service is going to largely depend on the size and nature of the items you’re shipping. Obviously, large items will require a bigger truck to get them delivered, thus affecting the cost and time of delivery.

A term common to the shipping industry, “less than truck load” or LTL, means that the item being shipped will not take up the entire available space on the truck. FTL or “full truck load” means that the load will fill the entire truck. Shippers that accommodate full truck loads cater to those customers who typically ship in bulk. The large amount of goods being shipped offsets the cost of a larger truck or semi. For those shipping smaller items or items that won’t fill an entire truck would be best served by using an LTL shipment.

Most LTL loads average between 100 and 10,000 lbs per load. Obviously, this is a large weight range but the layout of how goods are placed on the truck optimizes space and insures a full load on the truck, even if individual shipments by themselves wouldn’t fill it up. These options are ideal for smaller businesses that don’t ship in large volumes like their larger counterparts.

Because of the nature of an LTL load, it can take longer than an FTL load. LTL loads typically have more destinations or pick up locations to accommodate the different needs of the various shipments on board. The larger FTL loads usually contain a shipment for one company and it’s going to one destination. Once picked up, an LTL load will be brought to a main terminal and there it will be weighed and moved to a larger truck where the shipments will be taken to another terminal in the destination region.

From there, the shipments are then dispersed and placed on smaller trucks for delivery to their final destination. This redistribution of the shipment could happen several times before final delivery. This redistribution process can cause further delay and could adversely affect delivery times. Thankfully, a Chicago courier service has perfected this process as much as possible to minimize the time for delivery. If timeliness is of the utmost importance, it’s good to inquire about any potential issues that could cause a delivery to not be delivered on time.

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Source by Zachary Malone

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There’s a lot of hubbub about APUs (Auxiliary Power Units- or generators) these days. Yes, the federal government is allowing up to 400 lbs for trucks with APUs- or any device used to reduce fuel use and emissions. It’s part of the idling reduction strategy- to encourage truckers and trucking companies to install APUs. But that doesn’t mean you can always get it.

The wording of the law says that any vehicle with an APU “may be allowed up to an additional 400 lbs total in gross, axle, tandem, or bridge formula weight limits”- a generator installed on the tractor would not allow for bridge law variance.

The problem is that, though the federal government is allowing the weight increase, the states don’t have to allow it. That means in one state you may be allowed to run up to 80,400 lbs. but in the next state, you may be limited to 80,000 lbs. despite the federal government’s ruling. Many states already have weight tolerances above the 400 lb weight exemption, so the ruling really doesn’t affect the enforcement procedures.

It’s great in theory, but in practice, it’s pretty much worthless.

What we’ve run into is that many officers are unaware of the Federal ruling, so, while a state legislature may have adopted the 400 lb allowance, the enforcement officers may not be aware of it. All of the following information is subject to change and, as always, the right hand may not know what the left hand is doing. Be prepared to show as much documentation as possible whenever you run into a road block!

The following is a list of states and the status of their 400 lb weight exemption status. We are contact state officials directly- none of this is second-hand information. All information is subject to change.

States that have adopted the 400 lb weight allowance (officers at the weigh stations may be unaware):

Arkansas

Arkansas will allow an extra 400 lbs on an axle to account for the APU but will not allow more than 80,000 lbs for gross weight.

California

Idaho

Maine

Maryland

Michigan

Michigan DOES allow 400 lbs for an APU. The problem you may run into is that no weigh station officers we spoke with knew about the Federal ruling and the Michigan Center for Truck Safety was under the impression that Michigan had not adopted the ruling, but could not say for sure. According to Lieutenant Dave Ford, Michigan does indeed honor the 400 lb ruling. Drivers are required to have the APU’s weight documented by the manufacturer and have proof that the documented APU has been installed on that unit (as opposed to a different APU).

North Dakota

Oregon

Oregon Senate bill 223 officially allows trucks with APU (auxiliary power units) an extra 400 lbs in their gross weight limits. Oregon complies with the federal ruling and requires written certification of the APU’s weight. Oregon motor carrier enforcement officers have been allowing the 400 pound weight exemption since February of 2006. The APU must be in working condition.

Virginia

The 400 lb weight exemption is allowed on interstate highways only. Drivers on state routes are subject to Virginia’s standard gross and axle weight enforcement.

Washington

States that have not adopted the 400 lb weight exemption and:

*have weight tolerances (for scale variance)

*have low fee amounts and won’t make you offload for 400 lbs overweight

*and states whose officers are very unlikely to give you a ticket unless you provoke them- officer discretion is a factor (the officers in many of these states did not know about the 400 lb weight exemption but said the 400 lbs is too low for them to bother with):

Connecticut

Officers at the Greenwich weigh station didn’t know about the Federal ruling, but they said the chances of them writing a citation for such a small amount is unlikely. That stretch of I 95 is limited to 80,000 lbs no matter what permits a driver is carrying, so the limit is 80,000 lbs. 80,001 lbs may result in a ticket, but it’s not likely until the truck reaches 81,000 lbs, depending on officer discretion. The official word from Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Headquarters is that Connecticut has not adopted the 400 pound weight exemption.

Colorado

Delaware

Georgia

Florida

Kentucky

Depends entirely on officer discretion- you are not likely to get a ticket for 400 lbs.

Louisiana

Montana

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

Officers at the North Carolina weigh stations that we called didn’t know about the Federal 400 lb allowance but said that they have a 500 lb tolerance that they’ll allow before they start writing tickets.

South Dakota

Officers would not disclose their tolerance allowance but say their tolerance is greater than 400 lbs, so, even though the legilature may not have adopted the Federal standard yet, their current standards allow for the increased weight.

Utah

Officers at the Henefer POE say they will allow up to 500 lbs for an APU. Officers at other POEs were unsure about the law.

West Virginia

Wyoming

Officers at the Cheyenne I 25 nb weigh station say they will allow up to 500 lbs over with no ticket.

States that do not allow 400 lbs for an APU (based on our inquiries- subject to change):

Alabama, Arizona, Indiana, New Jersey

There are several states missing from this list. We are still contacting states we have not received an answer from and will provide updated information when it becomes available! Feel free to contact us with your input and experiences.

To get the 400 lb. allowance, you’ll need to be able to provide:

* certified weight of the APU in writing (if your APU only weighs 380 lbs, you’ll only be allowed 380 lbs)

* certified proof (or be able to demonstrate) that the APU is functional (working)

You’ll also want to carry a copy of the Federal regulation with you. You can find it in the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations [http://www.gpoaccess.gov/ECFR/] in Title 23 (Highways), part 658.17 (you’ll find it in section n).

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Source by Suzanne Roquemore

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SmartTruck has a patented Aerodynamic UnderTray System that provides a unique alternative to Trailer Side Skirts. Designed to reduce size of high drag wake, these solutions provide the greatest amount of drag reduction and fuel savings from a trailer aerodynamic device. Incoming airflow under the trailer is compressed and accelerated through the UnderTray components, pulling the high energy airflow from above the trailer into the trailer wake.

Here are five reasons to consider UnderTrays vs Side Skirts for your next trailer:

1. Increased Fuel Efficiency

With verified fuel savings by U.S. EPA’s SmartWay Transport Partnership, even SmartTruck’s basic unit, the UT-1 System, provides a 5.5% MPG Improvement at highway speeds. This translates to 7 Gallons of Fuel Saved per 1000 miles. For those willing to invest a little more, the UT-6 System with Side Fairings provides up to 10% MPG Improvement or 12.5 Gallons saved per 1000 miles.

With the fuel savings provided with either system most owner-operators or fleets will recover their investment within the first year!

2. Less Maintenance Than Traditional Skirts

The UnderTray System is installed inside the footprint of your trailer high off the ground to avoid contact with steep loading docks or other obstacles. Made of durable polyethylene plastic it is suitable for all weather. Whereas with a blowout skirts can often be damaged, ripped or completely destroyed, these systems are designed to last as long as your trailer.

3. Easier Accessibility

With traditional skirts a driver loses access to the undercarriage of a trailer where spare tires and other parts may be stored. With the unique design of the Smart Truck Under Tray Systems a driver now has complete access to the spacing beneath their trailer.

4. A Bolder Look

Most truck drivers take pride in their equipment. The aerodynamic design of the Under Tray Systems provides a sleeker, bolder look than traditional side skirts which typically become mud stained, rusted or damaged from rocks and debris flying up while on the road. As SmartTruck’s catch phrase proves, they are “Changing the Shape of Trucking.”

5. CARB Compliant Trailer System

To operate in California a fleet is required to meet the CARB requirements for trailers. Whether you decide to use traditional skirts or move to a more modern solution like SmartTruck’s Undertrays, a trailer system for fuel efficiency will be necessary to avoid fines that could be potentially catastrophic. Prime Time Equipment can help your fleet meet California CARB requirements.

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Source by B. Bluhm

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Forklift trucks are not just known for lifting materials but also for being a flexible machine that has different functions depending on the attachment you connect to it. There are various attachments available there that you can use as an alternative function of a forklift, such as rotator, sideshifter, pole attachment and many more. However, the forklift parts would consist of truck frame, cab, overhead guard, power source, mast, load back rest, counter weight, and tilt cylinders. These are the forklift parts that are responsible in making it a useful device.

Each of the forklift component has its identified function. The truck frame is the most visible part since it is the base of all the other forklift buddy parts. It is where the axles, counterweight, mast, and the power source are connected. Some truck frame of forklift already has its tanks as part of the frame but there other model of forklift that as a separate part for the fluid tank. The counterweight serves as a counterbalance of the machine. It is a cast iron that has a very heavy weight attached at the rear part of the forklift truck. The part that has the pedals, levers, switches, steering wheel, and the dashboard, which contains the operator red outs, is called the cab.

The power source is where the internal combustion is located, which can be powered using an LPG gas, gasoline, or the CNG gas. The part that protects the driver from falling objects is the overhead guard. The hydraulic cylinder that is connected in the truck frame is called the tilt cylinders. The mast is responsible in raising or lowering the equipments that needs to be transferred. The part where the fork is connected is known as the carriage and the part that prevents the equipment from moving backward is the load back rest. These are the different forklift parts with its function.

Forklift parts can also be replaced in case it has been damaged or does not function well.

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Source by Gino Walker

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Automobiles have become an integral part of our society. Intended to be used as a tool to get from point A to point B cars have extended their use in today’s society.

This article discusses a few points on car selection and personality. Cars have long stopped being tools that get us from one point to another and have transformed into status symbols and reflect the driver’s values and personality.

Often people judge a person by the car they drive. If you are stepping out a Bentley for example, you would garner much respect from just about anyone who witnesses you getting out of the car.

The condition and look of your car has extended the mantra of your discipline being reflected on how your wear your clothes. Being seen parking a dirty car is the equivalent to going to the office in a disheveled suit. Analogously, alighting from an impeccably detailed car is the prim and proper look that many office executives are known for.

In fact nowadays what you drive adds more to your reputation than what you wear. Studies have shown than rides reflect more of the personality of the person than clothes. Cars have ceased becoming tools and have transcended into the realm of lifestyle.

Playboys want fast looking coupes while daddies are opting to get minivans. Buicks are said to cater to the less internet savvy drivers compared to Honda which has an overwhelmingly digital age buyer group.

This trend even goes to driving tendencies. Sports cars owners tend to be a little less patient on the stop light than station wagon drivers. The gigantic proportions of some SUVs tend to make their owners bully smaller sized vehicles in rush hour traffic.

Brands like Lexus are tend to be bought by wealth and well educated owners. Aside from that demographic the brand caters mostly to married couples. This reflects stability and a more settled down personality for the buyers.

Your choices in the car you are driving very much reflect your personality. Stop thinking of your car as something that takes from one place to another but take great care in choosing your car. You may not think it matters but your peers will gauge your personality on the car you drive.

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Source by M. Maxx

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If you are new to selling a used car on Craigslist, you may be unsure how to proceed. Stop right now. Whatever you do, don’t mosey on over to Craigslist and post “I have a red truck for sale.” This will get you nowhere and it does nothing but waste your time and the time of everyone who reads your ad.

So what should you do when selling a car on Craigslist?

1 – Take a Picture

Even if your Craigslist location page is for a relatively small size city, there are still likely hundreds of other used cars listed for sale. Guess what? Most of them have pictures and yours should too. Craigslist buyers aren’t necessarily lazy, but why should they spend five minutes emailing you to ask for pictures when it would have taken you that long to upload a picture?

2 – Use the Kelley Blue Book

Don’t just pull a figure out of midair or base your selling price around how much money you want to make. This will get you nowhere, especially if you are living in dreamland. It is best to use the Kelley Blue Book’s online version. It is free and will take you less than 5 minutes to get an estimated value for your car. Base your selling price around this.

3 – Be Realistic

As previously stated, use the Kelley Blue Book to get an estimated value from your car. Pulling a figure out of nowhere and trying to justify it by using phrases like “car runs like new,” “this is a great deal,” and so forth won’t change the fact you are asking too much. Craigslist used car sellers aren’t the only ones who know how to use the Kelley Blue Book; buyer know too. Pop that bubble you are living in or come back down to reality.

4 – Don’t Use Stupid Phrases

Many buyers on Craigslist aren’t avid internet users. Many of them just heard through the grapevine that Craigslist was a great place to buy a cheap used vehicle. These potential buyers are not familiar with internet lingo. You know, LN and OBO means like new and or best offer respectively, but not everyone else does. It takes a total of one second to actually type out the words, so do it. Also, avoid common clichés, like “still runs,” “runs like a dream,” “great car to get from Point A to Point B,” and so forth.

5 – Don’t Keyword Stuff

When selling on Craigslist, you choose keywords for your articles. These help your for sale car listing appear in searches that interested buyers perform. You are selling a Ford truck, so state so. Use the make, model, and year as your keywords, but don’t overstuff your ad with irrelevant keywords, like car, van, SUV, and so forth. This does nothing but tick off the internet users who now have more junk to weed through.

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Source by Adnan Masood

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You could start your own mobile tire installation service business, and be in business for yourself! You could offer your service, by contacting certain tire dealers, in your neighborhood. Talk to them, and let them know, you want to start your own business, and you would like to get a discount on tires from them, if you become a regular customer for them, and better them, than their competition, up the street.

Tires stores are just about everywhere these days! Everyone needs tires eventually, just no way around it, and that is good for you! It is a hassle, for most people to take their car to a tire dealer, wait sometimes forever, if they are busy, and then get shoddy service, and hidden extra charges, almost all the time.

If you take that worry away from your customer, you will do good! If your customer had to pay $500 for a set of tires from the same dealer you just made a deal with, to get them, say, for example, $400, you would make an instant $100 profit on that, and then if you install them, and charge another $100 for that, you could make $200, in just one or two hours time! Walk around any neighborhood, and look at the cars you see in the driveways, or on the road. You could go threw any parking lot in America, and look at the tires on cars as you walk around. The cars with the bald tires will be your best customers!

Let them know you will take care of everything. In the beginning, you can come to their house, put their car up on jacks, take the tires to the tire dealer, have them put the new tires on, and take them back, and install them, back on their car, and your customer will be happy, that they did not even have to leave the house!

You could later, after you get more experience, and a better truck, you could get your own tire machine, and do the tires yourself, right in the back of your truck, and pick the tires up ahead of time, for your customer, so their car, is not up on stands for too long. You would want to have signs made up for your vehicle, and pass out business cards to all the cars you see with bald tires!

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Source by Vince Stead

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Bak Industries make a series of Bakflip truck bed covers and the particular one we are going to review here is the Bakflip F1 tonneau Cover. It is their premier Bakflip truck cover. It is their thickest of truck covers and suggested better than any other folding tonneau cover. We will see how it ranks through the summary of customer reviews I happened to go through. I find customer reviews particularity good to base an opinion upon as the customers usually have the cover on for a period of time allowing for a better opinion to base a review on. Truck forums give you a good indication as well.

I will let you have a brief description of the Bakflip F1 tonneau cover to fill you in on just what this truck bed cover is and how it is structured. First of all it is a hard type folding truck cover. It folds all the way to the cab rear window and can be secured there with the two arms which are supplied. It does cover the rear window and would protect the rear window if you were throwing things into the cargo area of your pickup truck. You are capable of driving with the cover opened. The panels of this cover have a high density EPS core which is sandwiched between a fiberglass top and aluminum underneath. The panels are connected together with a seamless rubber hinge which the company says will outlast your truck.

The F1 Bakflip tonneau cover does not have a lock that you open with a key but it does latch underneath the truck bed cover and you need to lower the tailgate to open it. This is good in the sense that you can add an aftermarket tailgate lock and then you will have a very secure cargo area. Just as well because I was never too thrilled with the locks on the top of a cover. They get moisture in them and freeze up in the winter something terrible. The company also says you can distribute up to 400 pounds on top of the cover. The cover suppose to stay cool to the touch with the UV protection coating it has which is also supposed to keep the cover looking good for years. The company says they made this cover for people who are particularly rough on a truck bed cover and who may live in harsh weather situations such as hail, ice and snow.

After reading many customer reviews and sneaking around in truck forums as well as doing searches on the net, in my opinion I found the Bakflip F1 tonneau cover to be the best folding tonneau cover around as far as craftsmanship and usability. The cover looks great as it is low profile and sits level with your truck box. With some this may be an issue because the rails that the cover sits on are attached between your truck sides which will take away a small amount of space if you really need to squeeze something in there.

Many have complimented the cover on being very water resistant. Some have tested with hoses and car washes and may have found a couple of drops of water might have entered but not any real amount. If your truck does not already have drain holes in each corner of your truck box behind the cab, you will have to drill one in each side to accommodate the drain hose that help make the Bakflip F1 tonneau cover so water resistant. If you have a bedliner you should check from underneath the truck box for pre drilled holes. Some may even have rubber grommets sealing them.

Some major benefits of the Bakflip F1 tonneau cover include the ability for the cover to fold fully open, right up to the cab rear window. At the time of this article no other folding tonneau cover has this capability. This comes in handy when it comes to hauling large items. The cover is also installed between the truck sides so it allows you to use the stake holes for side rails, tie downs, racks that are level or above the truck cab which is another feature that other folding tonneau covers do not have.

In conclusion in my opinion this folding tonneau cover has all the features that I would look for in a folding truck cover. For some reason, truck owners may have width issues and they may not want the bakflip f1 tonneau cover because it is installed between the truck sides. In this case most of the other folding covers sit on top of your truck’s side rails. Others may not wish to drill the holes in the truck bed to accommodate the drain hoses. I am just letting you know all your options, the decision is up to you and your needs.

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Source by Ken Bishop

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So you have a truck with a diesel engine in your truck and it just went bad or is about to and your looking for a replacement. This article has some useful information that can help. If you are looking for one make sure you have the serial number and horsepower off your engine.

Some engines can change out for others, but it is important to note how many pins are on the computer. The older computers will have 40 pins while the newer engines will have 70 pins. They will interchange, but you will need an adapter wiring harness to make it work. Below is a list of serial numbers that will let you know how many pins are on the computer.

Number of pins on your computer:

• 40 pin will be an older engine
• 70 pin will be a newer engine

Serial Numbers:

• 9SZxxxx 8YLxxxxx 7ASxxxxx = 70 PIN computer
• 1WM = 40 PIN computer. Twin air induction on right side of engine
• HEP = 70 PIN computer. Air inlet on left side of engine, one tube faces forward
• 7AS – Can be used in place of a HEP – 70 PIN computer
• 6RW = 70 PIN computer

If you are having trouble finding a good used 3126 with low miles you can use a Caterpillar C7. It will have 70 pins so make sure your computer has 70 pins also or you will need to buy an adapter wiring harness.

You can put the same model engine with a different amount of pins with the addition of the following harnesses.

40 pin computer to 70 pin harness = Mawk Industries Harness, Phone number 602-909-1961

70 pin computer to 40 pin harness = Caterpillar part number 133-8109

Your best value will be to find a used diesel engine, just make sure the place you are buying it from knows the miles off the computer. You are able to find out how many miles are on the engine by hooking up a pro link. All quality heavy truck salvage yards will have one of these.

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Source by Michael Hurwitz

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In the last few years, Redcat Racing has brought to the market a wide range of vehicles from 1/16 scale all the way to 1/8 scale nitro. They have also included in their line four 1/10 scale electric vehicles, making your selection even more abundant.

Everyone knows the bigger companies in the R/C market but I like to find the smaller companies with smaller price tags, quality products and good service! Redcat Racing has some very tough competition and will need vehicles that are affordable and can take abuse in order to compete.

The 1/8 scale Avalanche XPR is the big dog in their line, being slightly larger than the earthquake. First impressions were good. I love the wide stance and beefy look. This truck looks durable!

Specs:

Model: Avalanche XP

Price: $359.99

Type: 1/8 Monster Truck

Length: 20″

Width: 16″

Height: 10″

Wheelbase: 15″

Ground Clearance: 3″

Weight: 7.25 lbs

Engine: M28 P3

Transmission: 1:17.7 Single Speed

Differentials: Metal Gear

Clutch: 3-Shoe Aluminum

Chassis: 2.5″ 6061 Aluminum

Shocks: 4 Adjustable Oil Filled

Brakes: Dual Steel Disk

Fuel Tank: 125cc

FIRST IMPRESSION

When you open the box you are greeted with a brightly colored body. There are optional bodies available if you don’t like the color or scheme of the one that comes with the truck. And you can always pick up a 1/8 scale body from your favorite hobby shop! The body that comes with this truck is complete and need no further decals!

There is however one little thing about the body on this truck, and it appears to be normal business for the Redcat line of Nitro cars and trucks. You will notice there is no engine opening and the body is not cut to provide clearance for the exhaust exit. Both are quick and simple things to take care of and I rather enjoyed working on mine. You will notice the body mount holes are pre-drilled!

This truck is sold as a ready to run (RTR) truck. That means it comes with everything you need to use the truck except for the transmitter batteries, fuel and field equipment.

The Avalanche comes with a 2.4GHz radio system that is quite sufficient for this truck. If you prefer to use your own radio you may have to replace the receiver to match your transmitter as the Redcat radio systems may not be compatible with other brands.

CHASSIS

You will notice the Avalanche shares it’s chassis with other models in the Redcat lineup. However, it benefits from bigger tires, stronger shocks and towers. This truck is somewhere between a small monster truck and an overgrown truggy. Whatever you decide to call it, the Avalanche looks good and should take some punishment with this design.

The front suspension and steering system looks very robust. One thing I often order when I get a new truck is suspension parts. Roles, flips and cartwheels are hard on a truck of this size and it is not uncommon to snap a hub or control arm but the Avalanche appears to be quite robust and I hope to be pleasantly surprised when nothing brakes.

The rest of the suspension, shocks, shock plates and turnbuckles follow suit in quality. The shocks are adjustable and the connecting plate is simple to remove and adjust.

Power Plant

Now let’s turn our attention on what gets the Avalanche moving! A big block.28 engin from SH Engines is installed and ready to make smiles happen! When it is go time and you command full power from the engine, that power is delivered to the wheels by way of a quality 3 shoe clutch system. This type of clutch is my favorite design. The clutch hooks up hard and fast when you nail the throttle yet it engages smoothly and confidently if you ease into the power slowly.

The muffler on the Avalanche is a tuned pipe that does its job, but there are better pipes out there. Keep in mind this is a stock truck and you can’t have all the upgrades out of the box at this price, or even at a price 5 times this price!.

TEST DRIVE

When you get your new Avalanche you will have to break in the engine. As this is not an article or teaching about proper engine break in and maintenance I will forgo the “how to” but let me just say this. Nitro engines turn at high RPM and have extremely tight tolerances that have to be “worn in”. Follow the instruction that come with your Avalanche to the letter – if you do nothing else do this! You will be rewarded with a longer lasting, more reliable and higher power producing engine. Nuf said.

I conduct most of my test drives at one of two places — The local track or a large open dirt and grass field. This truck, being so aggressive looking was begging for the sand! So I packed up my new truck and headed out to the beach where I found a variety of surfaces to drive on. I drove the paved parking lot, loose sand of the beach, hard packed sand near the water and the dunes just off the beach that provided me the opportunity to get some sick air!

With the single speed transmission of the Avalanche and it’s light weight, climbing the hills, banks and dunes was no challenge. Acceleration and handling was awesome with the 4 wheel drive and oversized tires and the Avalanche was even more fun in the air.

The suspension kept the Avalanche in contact with the ground even after high jumps the truck did not have a tendency to bounce. The truck flies well too. When this truck is in the air it is quite stable and the ability to set the angle with the brake is impressive. I was able to get mine to do a front flip and land on its wheels on command.

The dual brakes are great. They really work well and compliment the truck. No matter how hard I run, the brakes remain strong. They are also extremely helpful in balancing the truck in the air. In the times it’s needed, push the throttle back to hit the brake and the truck will help you balance for a smooth 4 tire landing. Well, most of the time anyway. I occasionally miss the mark, but that has to do more with the driver than the truck. The Avalanche makes jumping pretty easy.

I ran the tar out of this truck for about a week and I intentionally played rough with it. I was trying to break it so I could report just how hard you can expect to run the Avalanche. What I found was a surprisingly tuff truck. The body was banged up and I did manage to break one of the body mount posts (a quick fix). All in all this is a very good value and a well-built truck.

WRAP-UP

As much as I like this truck, and I will continue to buy and test other Redcat vehicles, it is not without its flaws.

The Avalanche could use a few small things to make a it a 10! A larger fuel tank would be my first upgrade. A better tuned pipe would be number 2, I prefer the adjustable type offering settings for more torque or more top end. Lastly I would replace the steering servo with a higher torque metal gear type.

Offsetting my list of upgrades are a few of the points that make Redcat trucks my favorite all around – back yard bashing trucks. The Avalanche is competitively priced with other trucks in its category. The Avalanche XTR as tested is strong and fast. It is predictable and can be driven on just about any surface. Not to mention Redcat has a great warrantee program on its engines and vehicles along with awesome customer support. I have put the customer support to the test with questions and product help. I called contacted Redcat about a warrantee concern about an unrelated product and was promptly shipped a replacement part. I have been quite happy with Redcat’s customer support.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Overall the quality of the Redcat products and the excellent customer support keep me coming back. You can be sure of one thing; you will see more Redcat product review from me as I intend to put many of the Redcat Racing vehicles and planes to the test.

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Source by Tom D Rassier