Global Parts Inc: Truck Parts + Cargo Control

Top 10 Uses For Chrome On Your Rig

2009-07-20T16:30:00.001-04:00

Chrome is used in countless ways, whether it is a sink in a kitchen, the pipes in a bathroom, or even chrome plated lights in a showroom. However, as we have said time and time again, the best use for chrome is when it involves our trucks. So we decided to sit down and debate over what the best uses for chrome were when it came to making our trucks stick out from the standard fleets. After a few hours we decided that it didn’t really matter where or what you had on your truck, as long as it was chrome, we loved it. Here are some of the ideas we came up with.

10. Nut and Bolt Covers

9. Dash Toggles and Switches

8. License Plate and Tag Frames

7. Interior Visors

6. Hood Ornaments

5. Light Panels

4. Air Horns

3. Fenders

2. Wheels

1. Grilles

New Cleaner Trucks for 2010 Being Produced Now!

2009-07-09T12:24:00.004-04:00

Things aren’t looking too terrible for this year’s truck sales, especially after hearing that Volvo Trucks North America released statements regarding the production plans of their new 2010 Trucks. Release dates will be the fall of this year, but Volvo is already taking orders for these trucks, with Navistar and Mack ready for production as well. “These trucks will be initial production trucks, not prototypes or test models”, says a representative from VTNA. These trucks will be different from this year’s model in a very important way.

The major improvement will be the introduction of “selective catalytic reduction” technology which will be installed to meet the EPA’s 2010 regulations. These regulations call for a great reduction of nitrogen oxide emissions. This technology (at least for Volvo) will carry a $9,600 surcharge per truck, but the benefits will far outweigh the cost. Engine warranties will be extended from 2 years or 250,000 miles to 3 years or 300,000 miles.

After looking through the sales numbers from the past few years, this all seems like pretty good news. 2006 had the most sales in history of Class 8 trucks, but within two years those numbers were more than cut in half. All in all these new trucks will be much safer for the environment, and as we can see, companies are already preordering them willing to pay the surcharge so that they can boast about working with the technology first.

Checkout Our Exhaust Section! Get Great Deals!

Longer and Heavier Trucks Can Benefit Our Businesses and our Country

2009-07-06T15:35:00.001-04:00

The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) conducted a study in May that showed the very clear benefits of upgrading trucks to have longer trailers to allow them to carry heavier loads. Currently, the regulation for loads being hauled is at 80,000 pounds. By increasing this limit to 97,000 pounds, the study showed that there are many benefits that will not only help companies out, but also the environment, and our roads. Obviously the benefit for the companies is that they get to use a smaller amount of trucks each year. The UMTRI discovered that increasing the weight limit will decrease the amount of trucks on the road by 750,000 trucks per year.

The benefits of fewer trucks on the road are pretty obvious. Fewer trucks means less traffic, less fuel consumed, fewer greenhouse gas emissions, and this will cost the taxpayers less in road repair. The estimated amount of fuel that will be saved comes close to 3 billion gallons per year. This will lead to a decrease of close to 32.6 million tons of greenhouse emissions. With these obvious benefits, you would think it is a no brainer. There are however a few problems with these plans.

With bigger and longer trailers, you have to take into account the safety issues that come along with these as well. With larger loads being hauled, there would be less traffic on the highways, but the heavier loads could wear out the roads just as quick. One way to avoid this would be to switch to tri-axle trailers to aid this problem.

http://www.umtri.umich.edu/news.php

http://fleetowner.com/trucking_regulations/bigger_better_0609/index.html

The Revival of “Chrome” in the Automotive World

2009-07-02T09:00:00.001-04:00

Chrome has been used for years to create eye pleasing, extra tough products that we use in our everyday life. From bathrooms to kitchens, you can find chrome plated faucets, dish racks, even entire sinks. But the best use of chrome as we all know is to add some much needed shine to our vehicles. Whether you are adding a chrome-backed mirror, a door handle, or a chrome exhaust pipe, you know your truck will get some attention when that chrome is polished. Everything from Mini Coopers to Freightliners can benefit from a little bit of shine that can be provided in a number of different areas by applying a chrome part here or there.

There has been some negative news somewhat recently about chrome due to the chemicals that are added to chrome to electroplate it. These chemicals can cause problems when they are improperly disposed of, but that is a thing of the past now that there is a new “chrome” making it’s way into the market. Known as nanocrystalline nickel-tungsten alloy, this compound will be just as strong and keep the shine that we all want on our trucks. Best of all, it has no byproducts that will harm the environment in the long run. This compound is currently being sold as chrome and being sold quite a bit in the automotive accessory industry.

It’s even becoming clear that drivers want more than just a chrome bumper or a chrome fender to accessorize their rides, Mercedes in Dubai has created a beast in the world of attention grabbing cars. The new Chrome Mercedes SLR McLaren (that’s not a typo) is becoming quite a hit with athletes in the UK. It’s no longer enough to stand out in your $500,000 Mercedes SLR McLaren, instead stars are forking over an extra $100,000 to get the chrome version of the car. If that’s any indication of where we are headed, I’m stocking up now.

Introducing the New Harley Davidson... Semi?

2009-06-30T16:07:00.004-04:00

Since 1903 Bill Harley and Arthur Walter Davidson have become two of the most noticeable names on the road. Harley Davison has stamped it’s name on everything. Beginning with a racing motorcycle in 1903 and hiring about 20 employees, they began their climb up the automotive ladder. Starting off with bikes that ran on simple one-cylinder engines, they worked hard to get their products to the easily recognizable icon that they are today. They have since stamped their logo and names on everything from lines of biker clothing, to pet clothing and continue to dominate the market in almost every way.

Within the past decade we saw the continuation of Harley Davidson’s selling power with the emergence of the Ford F150 Harley Davidson Model. These trucks sold well with the trademark Harley colors, and the powerful engines, which led to a line of trucks that Harley has helped produce. As with anything their name is stamped on, they work hard to push the look of power and to make sure that it stands out for everyone to see. The 2010 edition of this truck will be the 14th time that Ford and Harley have created something together for us to enjoy.

That brings us to the next big step for Harley Davidson. 2009 will see the introduction of what they hope to be a continuing line of new trucks. This truck will have a whole lot more power than its F150 brother, and be quite a bit larger. That’s because International is manufacturing it. That’s right, the new International LoneStar Harley Davidson Edition will soon be seen hauling down the road covered in chrome and with the noticeable logo for all to see. Make sure you take a picture if you see one, it might be the only one you see since only 250 will be made this year. If the sales are healthy, we can be sure to see these for years to come.

How Secure Are Your Loads?

2009-06-25T11:41:00.001-04:00

When you’re hauling an exposed load down busy highways, and hundreds of miles of winding roads, you want to know that what you are hauling won’t move an inch. Let’s say you loaded it yourself, or have complete confidence in the guys who loaded it onto your trailer. So you can rest assured that load won’t move an inch when you are taking that sharp turn, right? Anyone who straps their load down themselves knows that you have to take into account much more than who loaded it onto your trailer, and how it was loaded on. You also have to look at what is holding your load down, whether that is a winch strap, ratchet straps, webbing, or slings. How confident are you that every single piece of tie-down equipment back there is in the best shape it could be? How many times has that strap been tightly strung across a sharp corner and how many more times will it take to fray the strap enough to snap in the middle of the road?

By taking a few extra steps, and a few extra minutes to check over what is actually holding your load down you can be assured you will have no equipment problems. Take a look at those straps, from end to end, and make sure there are no tears, rips, and fraying that could lead to a huge problem. Maybe your straps are all brand new, and they are in perfect condition, but how old is that winch, and is it still fastened extra tight to your trailer? Without knowing these things, you could be in for a mid-drive surprise. One way to ensure your straps stay in good condition is making sure to use corner protectors when you tie your load down. You can buy any shape and size protector to ensure those straps last you a long time. It’s not worth replacing those straps every month when you can spend a few dollars on strap protectors and double or triple the life of them.

Another way to ensure the long life of your equipment is to store each piece properly. Whether that means boxing up your unused chains to keep them from rusting or freezing, or rolling up your straps to keep them from getting snagged, proper storage of your equipment is a huge piece of the puzzle. It is easy to make trip after trip without checking these important factors every time, but it only takes one mistake to lose a job, injure another driver, or injure yourself.

LED Lighting, The Future of the Automotive World

2009-06-22T16:44:00.002-04:00

The first car to use LED’s (Light Emitting Diodes) in the design was the 1992 Cadillac Seville, which used these LED’s in the stoplights. Since then, they have slowly made their way into taillights, marker lights, and interior dome lights as well. In the past few years Automotive companies such as Honda, Mazda, Ford, and Volvo have started to design the individuality of their newer models with a greater focus on LED technology. The beautiful thing about LED’s are that they can be manufactured in any size, shape, and color, making them perfect for the customization needed to stand out in the automotive industry. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, LED’s can run from 35,000 to 50,000 hours, which is a huge step up from the current Incandescent bulbs which only run from 750 to 2,000 hours. Another amazing piece of data is that 80% of the energy given off from incandescent bulbs is heat, not light. It only makes sense to switch to LED’s wherever you can.

Alongside the passenger car industry, LED’s have taken the truck industry by storm. Truckers and trucking companies have embraced this technology to save them the time, money, and frustration of having to constantly replace burned out incandescent lights, as well as brighten their rigs up to make the roads safer for themselves and the driver’s around them. More and more of these trucks are being decked out with LED’s, and it is becoming increasingly easier to find these types of lights to replace the older technology. The trucking industry has a very strict set of guidelines of what must be on a truck, and where it must be located, just like a passenger car. Manufacturers of LED lights have taken these into careful consideration to make sure that each light they produce satisfies these requirements so that they can easily be purchased and used to replace old bulbs without any hassle.

The red LED lights, and amber LED lights that are used on trucks all over the world have such a wide variety of designs. Due to the massive demand for this newer technology, companies such as Global Parts, Inc. are selling these lights at very competitive prices, and stock massive quantities to meet the growing demand. Each type of LED truck light can be classified by the shape, size, and the amount of diodes used. Round LED lights that are only 4 inches in diameter can have as many as 50 diodes! These LED lights will last longer than most parts on a truck will without ever needing to be replaced, they will save energy on your truck, and the best part, is that the high quality materials they are made with gives them a high class look that demands attention.