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JUST TRUCKS
www.thesouthern.com
THE SOUTHERN ILLINOISAN FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2010
Everybody’s truckin’ Rigs gaining, retaining their popularity BY LES O’DELL FOR THE SOUTHERN
D
espite a sluggish economy and a national decline in automobile sales, pickup trucks remain hugely popular with buyers across the country. Nationally, three truck models were in the top 10 most-purchased vehicles in 2009, with the Ford FSeries the top-selling vehicle for the 28th straight year. Trucks were even popular choices for purchase as part of the federal government’s “cash for clunkers” program. The most popular swap in the program was trading an older Ford pickup for a new version of the same model. Southern Illinois buyers are no exception. Trucks of all brands and sizes are popular with drivers, according to area dealers, thanks in part to the amenities available on trucks. “Trucks are very popular and the brands continue to expand,” said Jamey Turner, general manager of Auffenberg of Carbondale. “The manufacturers are making them now with four doors and all of the conveniences you’d expect in a car. The ride and handling is more car-like and you can get everything in them from DVD players to back-up cameras.”
‘Once you drive one, it changes your whole persona. You go from simply wanting a truck to needing a truck. I’ve seen it happen again and again.’ JOHN REED SALESMAN, WEEKS IN BENTON
they’re popular with everyone.” Buyers also include families who use them for regular driving, teenagers who choose trucks as their first car and retirees who like the functionality of a truck. Kern Weshinskey, used car manager at Vogler Ford in Carbondale, says pickups are also popular with women. He says his wife is a perfect example. “I think it’s the fact that she is able to sit up higher and have more metal around her,” he explains. “It’s a visibility and safety thing.” He says while men purchase a majority of the trucks his dealership sells, women often are involved in the purchase of a truck. Once people purchase their first pickup truck, they are likely to continue to buy trucks, according to John Reed, a sales professional at Weeks in Benton. “Trucks right now have a high trade-in value, so, we’re seeing a lot of folks trading in their older trucks and upgrading to a new one,” he said. He says that when they do upgrade, they find their new vehicle has many Popularity boom more amenities than their Turner says truck buyers previous truck. are as varied and diverse as “Customers with trucks the trucks themselves. that are just a few years “Of course, the people old are upgrading because who use them for work of the vast improvement in still need trucks, plus trucks over the last few people who are hauling years,” he says. “Today the things and need to tow trucks are more capable, trailers” he says, “but quieter, more reliable,
have better warranties and much better technology all around.”
Bigger cabs Reed said many new pickup have specialized jacks for mp3 players and iPods and others feature USB ports for portable music. He says a new Chevrolet crew cab truck boasts 11 cup holders. “The truck only seats six,” he said. The larger cabs are popular now, according to dealers. Turner says many of the trucks Weeks has sold in the last year had extended cabs or crew cabs. Most of the trucks featured four doors. All of them have more interior space than their predecessors. “There’s so much difference between trucks today and how they used to be,” he says. “The new Dodge Ram comes in three cab sizes; even the smallest one has room behind the seat. It wasn’t that way at all with grandpa’s truck. All of the trucks are roomier and much easier to get into. For instance, the doors on the Chevy extended cab open up 180 degrees, allowing for better access to the back seat.”
Technological advances Technological advancements also can be found under the hood. Reed says a new full-size,
PROVIDED
Aaron Williamson of Carterville stands with his 1969 Chevrolet C10.
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Richard Runge of Carterville stands with his 1997 Ford F-250 Diesel.
four-wheel-drive extended cab truck can as get as much as 21 mpg, and many new engines feature flex fuel technology, meaning they can run on regular gasoline or E85 ethanol-gasoline fuel. Turner says the engines can even become more efficient on their own. “These trucks are designed today so that when they don’t need all
eight cylinders, for example, they’ll automatically shut down to four. That will greatly improve your mileage,” he said. Reed says some new trucks come with an oillife monitoring system, which lets drivers know exactly when an oil change is necessary. “In some cases, you can go up to 8,000 miles
before the oil needs to be changed,” he said. Regardless of the brand, the cab size or whether the truck was new or used, Reed says buying a truck changes people. “Once you drive one, it changes your whole persona,” he explains. “You go from simply wanting a truck to needing a truck. I’ve seen it happen again and again.”
PROVIDED PROVIDED
Dillon Lee of Murphysboro stands with his 1993 Dodge Ram.
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Stan Brandt of Golconda poses with this 1951 Chevrolet 3100.
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Jessi Emery of Pittsburg owns this 1976 Chevrolet Cheyenne.
Wally Zukas of Marion owns this 1971 Chevrolet C-10.
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Steven and Quinton King of Marion own this 2000 Ford F-150.
Roger Bennett of Olive Branch owns this 1993 GMC Sport Slide.
Don’t ignore financing, insurance costs with any new purchase such as 2.9 percent for shorter 24-month loans. Callahan says that qualifying borrowers may So you’ve found the perfect new truck at a local even be able to borrow showroom. But before you enough to cover the down can sign the dotted line and payment and other costs related to their new vehicle drive it off of the lot, two purchase. other things must be “Depending on the credit handled: financing your risk, you can get 100 new truck and insuring it. percent financing and, in Getting a loan for your some cases, even go up over new purchase can be relatively easy and rates are 100 percent for things like taxes, licensing, warranties attractive right now, and more,” she said. according to Stacy She says lenders can help Callahan, vice president of you make certain you’re lending for SIU Credit getting a good deal on a Union. “You’re probably going to truck and they will work with you to find a monthly see rates in the 4 to 5 percent range, with lenders payment amount that will in this area doing loans for meet your budget. According to Callahan, a up to 72 months. Some have even gone out as far as $20,000 loan over 60 months with a 3.9 percent 84 months,” she said. interest rate will result in She adds that often monthly payments of lenders offer promotional rates which are even lower, about $368.
BY LES O’DELL
FOR THE SOUTHERN
Callahan adds that with many manufacturers offering rebate programs and other incentives, now is a good time to make a new vehicle purchase. “Deals and interest rates are excellent right now.”
Insurance coverage Of course, almost without exception, your new purchase will need insurance coverage. “If you have a loan or a lease, you have to insure it, and if you want to put license plates on it, you have to insure it” said Matt Bishop, co-owner of Bishop & Elwell Insurance in Murphysboro. “I guess if you’re going to pay cash for a truck, not license it and only drive it on your farm, you don’t have to have insurance, but otherwise you need coverage.”
He says in a loan or lease situation, buyers are required by the lender or lessor to carry both comprehensive and collision insurance that covers the vehicle in case of an accident or other damage. Additionally, Illinois state law requires at least liability insurance in order to license the vehicle. “The state minimum is called 20/40/15 which means $20,000 bodily injury liability coverage per person if there’s an accident, with $40,000 coverage for the entire accident and $15,000 of property damage liability. That’s not much but it does make you legal,” Bishop explained.
100/300/100 He recommends drivers have nothing less than
what is called 100/300/100 coverage, meaning $100,000 per person bodily injury with $300,000 per accident and $100,000 property liability. “Coverage of just $15,000 in property liability wouldn’t pay for the replacement of a new car, and you could be stuck for the difference,” he said. Additionally, drivers should consider comprehensive insurance which covers damages to your own vehicle including things such as storm or hail damage. An additional concern with trucks, Bishop says, is accessories and cargo. He cautions truck owners to not assume that their vehicle insurance covers everything on or in the truck. “If you have a camper
shell or cover on the bed, that may or may not be automatically covered. Make sure your agent knows you have it, because each policy is different,” he explained. “Also, cargo tools and anything else carried in your truck most of the time will not be covered, but there are a few companies that do include coverage for items in your vehicle.” Bishop says if something is stolen for your truck, coverage for that loss typically is provided in your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy. “So make sure you have that coverage, as well,” he said. He says that in all cases, make sure when you drive your truck to keep your current insurance card and your agent’s telephone number with you.
THE SOUTHERN ILLINOISAN FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2010
www.thesouthern.com
JUST TRUCKS
3E
Trucks aren’t just for men anymore From riding high to ‘sexy’ factor, local women have many reasons to love their vehicles BY LES O’DELL FOR THE SOUTHERN
Pickup trucks used to be for men. They were designed for and marketed to men, and trucks were purchased by men for use on the farm or construction site. Things have changed. A growing number of women are purchasing and driving trucks for a variety of reasons. “Women seem to love trucks,” said John Reed, salesman at Weeks in Benton. “I see a lot of women buying trucks. One of the reasons is that they feel safer. It’s a bigger vehicle where they can sit up higher and see better.”
Percentage growing He says that nearly 20 percent of truck sales are to women, and the percentage is growing. The trend of women driving trucks does not surprise Beth Spezia. She’s been driving a 1992 Nissan King Cab SE since 2001. “Little Red,” as she calls her truck, not only is her daily transportation, it also is featured in many family stories. “My father, Cecil Isaacs, purchased the truck new, and at that time it was very modern because it has electric door locks and it had a sunroof,” she recalled. “He had running boards put on it and a cover for the bed. He was very proud of that truck, and it was his primary means of transportation.” She says the truck pulled a trailer of her brother’s belongings to his new home in Arizona and her father made a few trips
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Beth Spezia of Herrin stands beside her 1992 Nissan King Truck SE, which she calls ‘Little Red.’
back and forth to Iowa in it, sharing space in the cab with a basset hound. After Isaac’s death in 2001, the family loaned the truck to the Rev. Evarist Kavagambe, who was serving a Herrin parish. “He had just come from Uganda and needed transportation, so he used the truck for a long time,” Spezia explained. “He went on several trips with the truck, including one to New Jersey, so it’s been from one end of the country to
the other.” Spezia, who was living in Arizona at the time her father died, sold her car and moved back to Southern Illinois to be closer to her mother. That’s when the truck became hers. Today, it has more than 150,000 miles on it. “It still gets about 20 miles to the gallon on a good day,” she said. Spezia simply loves her truck and she plans on keeping it for as long as she can.
‘My truck’s sexy’
simple, get-me-there, get-the-job-done “I think my truck’s vehicle.” sexy,” she said. “I’m not She also likes the size of ready to give it up at all.” her truck. For her, there is “It’s big enough to get simplicity, function and the job done, but small memories in “Little Red.” “My favorite part of the enough not to be a bully truck is that it belonged to on the road,” she added. my father, and next is that “When you think about some trucks, they’re so it is an older model so it large that they’re all over doesn’t have a lot of the road. This truck is, I electronics,” she said. think, safe, but not such a “That makes it so much easier to maintain and fix; large presence that it rides over everybody else. it’s mechanical, not Thanks to “Little Red,” electrical. It is your basic,
Spezia now considers herself a truck woman. “I think there have always been women driving trucks and other non-traditional vehicles in rural areas like Southern Illinois,” she said. “Women have always driven trucks and out west, it’s nothing for women to drive trucks. The utilitarian aspect of a truck is appealing. I’m into my truck all the way, every day.”
4E
JUST TRUCKS
www.thesouthern.com
THE SOUTHERN ILLINOISAN FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2010
Gene Bost just keeps on haulin’ Since he was a kid, local man figures he’s driven 130 trucks BY LES O’DELL FOR THE SOUTHERN
Gene Bost knows a thing or two about trucks. He should. As the patriarch of Murphysboro’s Bost Truck Service, he has spent most of his 80 years around the trucking business started by his father in 1935. By his count, he’s driven more than 130 different trucks of all vintages, shapes and sizes, from small pickup trucks to dump trucks and massive, over-theroad tractors. And even though he’s passed the daily operation of the truck business to the next generation, he still has a passion for the open road and for rigs of every size. “I’ve worked in the trucking business my whole life, except for the time I was in the military,” he says. “I got into it before I was old enough. I started driving a truck when I was 14, and I took over the daily operation to St. Louis in 1947 or ’48 when I was 17.” Within months, Bost was making at least one — and sometimes two — round trips to St. Louis five days a week. “There were no eighthour days; they were all very long days. I had it in my heart to build the business up and I worked very hard at it. Of course, time you drive to St. Louis and back and spend your day there picking up freight, you’ve put in a pretty long day, plus there’s the office work,” he said. Bost Truck Service was the primary means used by the Murphysboro business community for receiving inventory and other materials. “We were hauling general freight,” he explained. “Back then we had a lot more businesses in Murphysboro than we do now. We had five grocery warehouses and we had agricultural machinery businesses for almost every brand made and we had automobile dealers here. We hauled parts out of St. Louis for all of them. Almost all of the merchandise sold in Murphysboro came through St. Louis, and we brought at least part of it to town.” At one time, the company had as many as 32 trucks on the road. Bost remembers most of them and for each one, he
has photographs and stories. The photo album is like an atlas of American trucking history: a 1932 GMC, a ’34 Ford, a new 1947 Ford, a 1940s International K7 that the company still owns. “It still runs and has 600,000 to 700,000 total miles on it,” he recalled. He remembers fondly an early White 3000 model. “It was called a lowcab-forward when it first came out,” Bost said. “It was a truck where the cab was over the engine, yet the cab was far enough forward to make it easy to get around.” There were pickup trucks, panel trucks, lime spreaders, dump trucks and over-the-road tractors complete with sleepers, including a Peterbilt that Bost purchased in Arizona in 1980. “We had the engine rebuilt when we bought it and used it up until about a year ago,” he said. “It had about 2 million miles on it when we stopped using it,” he says. But his favorite truck of all is a 1966 Hendrickson. “I was hauling blacktop when I first saw it, and I always admired it. I bought it and we fixed it up. The front axle sits way back on it and when you come around the corner, people are scared of it because people think you’re going to run over them. I just like the looks of it. It’s enjoyable to drive and it doesn’t ride bad at all,” he said. “That was the last truck I drove on a daily basis.” Even though he stopped driving regularly about five years ago, Bost still climbs behind the wheel. “I still go over and drive a dump truck once in a while,” he said with a grin. For daily use, a newer Chevrolet Silverado pickup sits in his garage. Bost has no idea how many miles he’s driven, but it’s a safe bet the odometer’s turned over a number of times. He says every mile has been a pleasure. “I just like to drive a truck. I really do,” he said. “I’ve had so many enjoyable minutes driving down the road late at night. I’d have the windows rolled down and smell the new-mown hay. I just really enjoyed it. It has all been really special.”
LES O’DELL / FOR THE SOUTHERN
Gene Bost of Murphysboro (above) looks through a photo album of Bost Truck Service vehicles at his home. A 1966 Hendrickson truck (right) is owned by Bost Truck Service.
‘I just like to drive a truck. I really do. I’ve had so many enjoyable minutes driving down the road late at night. I’d have the windows rolled down and smell the new-mown hay. I just really enjoyed it. It has all been really special.’ GENE BOST BOST TRUCK SERVICE, MURPHYSBORO PROVIDED
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Joe Siefert and his son, Chuck, of Big S Trucking in Du Quoin also have quite a truck collection. Pictured are several trucks the Sieferts own, including two freightliner semi-trucks (top row), a Mack wrecker (bottom, left) and a Ford F-350 (bottom, right).
El Caminos, Rancheros: Odd birds or the first crossovers? BY LES O’DELL FOR THE SOUTHERN
El Caminos and Rancheros. They might be described as the very first crossover vehicles. Or maybe even hybrids. Practically everyone has seen them, some Southern Illinoisans drive them, but exactly what are they? “I guess it’s a car that wants to be a truck, or vice versa, for that matter,” explains Kent Rawls of Carbondale. “I’m not sure, exactly.” They are officially called coupe utility vehicles, but they are best known by their name plates: the Chevrolet El Camino, the Ranchero from Ford and the Sprint and Caballero from General Motors. While some people call them ugly and others like the look, there is no disputing they are unique. First marketed in the late 1950s, the vehicles were based upon popular car models and built on car frames. The front of the vehicles looked like cars, but the back half featured a
bed like a pickup truck. Rawls owns a 1984 Chevrolet El Camino SS Choo-Choo Custom. “It has a kind-of Monte Carlo SS front end with power seats, power door locks and more. It’s loaded,” he says. “It can’t haul much; it’s pretty much a car frame.” The first El Caminos were produced in 1959, two years after Ford introduced the Ranchero, according to Richard Simmons of Marion. He says the early Rancheros were built first upon Ford Falcon platforms. Later, the vehicle was based on the Fairlane and his, a 1979 model, was built upon a Ford LTD frame. “It drives a lot like a big old Lincoln. It has a soft suspension, automatic transmission, cruise control, and soft seats— everything you could get on an LTD,” he said.
brother got one, and I liked it, too. I had a 1979 El Camino and drove it for three or four years, then one night coming home from work I saw this silver one on the dealer’s lot. I went back the next day and bought it,” he said.
said. “My dad’s first car was also an El Camino. I guess it runs in the family. I don’t know what the appeal is with them. It’s hard to say, they can’t haul RICHARD SIMMONS much. I guess it’s just a MARION NATIVE, OWNER OF A FORD RANCHERO different look.” Simmons says not only additional decade of El “It was more of a luxury do observers not know how Caminos is one reason truck,” he explains. “With to classify Rancheros and Runs in the family the big, soft suspension, it many more of them can be El Caminos, neither do Stearns’ El Camino now found. He says there are wasn’t made to carry a professionals. very few Rancheros still on has more than 100,000 heavy load.” “You can’t find parts for miles on it, but he still While Ford was first with the streets. them in the truck drives it in the summer, “As far as I know, there their version of the vehicle, department and you can’t and when he does, it aren’t more than three or the Chevrolet was always find parts in the car four Rancheros in Southern gathers attention and more popular, Simmons department either,” he questions. Illinois. I know. I look for says. explained. “You have to “A lot of younger people buy parts made for the car them,” he says. “The El Camino was a ask me what it is,” he said. His is a regular at car hot seller, I’m not sure that the vehicle was “They’ve never seen one shows throughout the why,” he recalled. “Maybe modeled after. I consider it and don’t know what it is. I a truck, but you can’t buy region. Jerry Stearns of the styling was better on the Chevy or maybe it was Marion also has shown his tell them it is kind of a truck parts for it.” catch-all, part truck, part part-car, part-truck El that a lot of hotrodders No matter what it is — car. I don’t really know how car or truck — it’s an object went for Chevys and the El Camino at car shows. to explain it.” “It’s only won one firstCamino was made from of affection for Rawls, Like Stearns, Rawls says place trophy, but it usually some of the faster cars in Simmons and Stearns, as did win a trophy anywhere driving an El Camino is the Chevrolet lineup. The well as many other part of his heritage. His I went,” he said. Ranchero was more like a Southern Illinoisans with Stearns, like many of El luxury car.” originally belonged to his utility coupes in their Ford stopped making the Camino and Ranchero fans, grandmother, and was one driveways or garages. says he has always been a Ranchero in 1979, while “We’ve had people offer of two she owned. ‘A luxury truck’ fan of the vehicles. Chevrolet continued to buy our El Camino over “She bought one from “I remember a cousin of production of the El her brother, and when I was the years,” Stearns recalls. Simmons compares his Camino through the 1980s. mine having one and I 16, she gave me a choice of “The answer is always no. Ranchero to some of always liked it. Then my which one I wanted,” Rawls We’re not selling it.” today’s upper-end pickups. Simmons says the
‘As far as I know, there aren’t more than three or four (Ford) Rancheros in Southern Illinois. I know. I look for them.’
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6E
JUST TRUCKS
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THE SOUTHERN ILLINOISAN FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2010
Don’t forget to look down Tires can affect appearance, performance BY LES O’DELL FOR THE SOUTHERN
Truck owners looking to boost the performance and appearance of their trucks should start from the ground up, according to one local expert. Tommy Perkins, manager of Plaza Tire in Marion, says drivers should not overlook the importance and features of tires and wheels. “With tires, you can dramatically change the look of a truck. We’re also selling a lot of custom wheels right now that can really dress up a vehicle,” he said. Perkins says the popular trend in truck tires right now is what he calls aggressive tires. “They’re considered a lug-style tire, much like a mud cleat that will give you maximum traction,” he said. He says the large-lug tires are great for driving in snow and mud, but they may not be the best choice for regular travel. “The main thing to keep in mind is that the aggressive tire will look great on your truck and will give traction for offroad uses, such as going hunting or fishing, but if you’re on the road 95 percent of the time, I think you’d be better off with an all-terrain tire,” he says. The main difference between an aggressive tire and an all-terrain tire, Perkins says, is the size and spacing between the lugs of the tread. An aggressive tire, designed for off-road use, will have larger lugs with more space between them. “The all-terrain tires will still give the traction you need, but will provide a better ride on the road and longer tread life. They’re going to last longer and you can still get them in a style that will look really good on a truck,” he explained.
PROVIDED
Bill Hall of Zeigler poses with his 2006 Ford-F150 Lariat.
ALAN ROGERS / THE SOUTHERN
Tommy Perkins, manager of Plaza Tire in Marion, is pictured with a truck tire at the shop.
Inflate and rotate Industry authorities stress the actual area of contact between a tire and the pavement — about the size of your hand — is the only place for drivers where the rubber actually meets the road and where vehicle control actually happens, so tires and the proper maintenance of tires is important. “The main thing is keeping the tires rotated and keeping them balanced, especially on the aggressive tires that are so popular right now,” Perkins said. “They do require a little more maintenance in order to keep them wearing properly. I recommend a rotation and balance every 5,000 miles to ensure an even tread on the tire and to maximize durability.” He says lighter-duty tires for trucks and passenger tires should be
rotated about every 7,000 miles. Additionally, he says drivers should regularly check the air pressure in their tires and keep their vehicles in proper alignment. “Tire pressure can make a huge difference in fuel mileage, and today, that’s very important,” he said. “Another thing on trucks is alignment. Alignment is a key factor on tire wear. If one of the wheels is incorrectly positioned, it could make the vehicle unstable, make it not handle properly and cut down on fuel mileage and the life of the tire.” Perkins says with proper care, today’s truck tires should last 40,000 miles or more. “The technology in today’s products is lightyears ahead of what was available just a few years ago,” he said. “Tires today are designed and built better. They’ve come a long way.”
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Christian Rath of Murphysboro owns this 2001 GMC Sonoma.
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Tom Roy of Carbondale owns this 1969 Chevrolet Short Bed C-10.
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Carl Spezia of Herrin owns this 1993 Chevrolet Cheyenne.
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Allen Wisniewski of Scheller poses with his 1981 Toyota 4X4 Pickup SR5.
JUST TRUCKS
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THE SOUTHERN ILLINOISAN FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2010
PROVIDED
Adam Connell’s 1948 Ford F-1 is shown then (right) and now (above).
Classics bring people together BY LES O’DELL
replaced the bed, the fenders, the hood, the doors, the rocker panels, everything.” Webster’s Dictionary The truck originally had defines a classic as “being a six cylinder engine in it. an excellent model of its Provart upgraded to a 283 kind” and “a work of the highest excellence.” If you cubic-inch V8 in 2000. He also repainted the truck were to ask Steve Provart “piece by piece,” he of Du Quoin to define a classic, he might just point recalls. “I put it all back toward his driveway. together. It was a lot of Provart is the proud hours, and for a while I was owner of a completely working on it every day for rebuilt and restored 1965 four or five hours a day. I Chevrolet Fleetside can’t imagine how many longbed pickup. The hours total went in to it.” cardinal red vehicle has He learned the art of more than 170,000 miles restoring classic vehicles on it and a lot of history from his grandfather, Jim with Provart. “Today it’s a show truck, McCurdy of Pinckneyville. “We got into it together, restored from a $400 fixing cars and trucks. It’s basket case in 1994,” he our thing,” he said. “In said. “It was actually my first vehicle. I fixed it up a 1993, he bought a ’65 bit and drove it to school.” Chevy shortbed that was redone, and we totally While in college, he restored it a few years decided it was time to do ago.” some serious work on his Today, McCurdy’s truck truck. “I did a total, frame-off and Provart’s are almost a restoration. It was a mess,” matched set. “The only difference he said. “I replaced every between the two trucks is panel on it, totally
FOR THE SOUTHERN
the bed and the engine size,” McCurdy said. “They’re both three speeds on the column, both without power steering and power breaks. It’s just you and the highway.” Provart regularly takes his truck to car shows across the region and he is a regular participant in cruise nights during the summer throughout Southern Illinois. His is one of the a few classic trucks in the Southern Illinois Street Machines Car Club. Regardless of whether it’s in a cruise, a show or just out for a drive, Provart says people often want to talk about his truck. “I can’t pull into a gas station without meeting people because of the truck. I’m amazed with all of the people who tell me that they had one like it or knew someone who had one like it. I’ve met lots of great people and made friends because of it,” he said.
PROVIDED
Richard Taylor of Christopher poses with his 1960 Chevrolet K10 4X4 Apache.
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Shawn Martin of Sparta owns this 1956 Ford F-100.
AUTO PARTS
PROVIDED
Kurt Jensen of Murphysboro poses with his 1964 International C900.
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THE SOUTHERN ILLINOISAN FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2010
Customization comes in all different ways, styles BY LES O’DELL
“It’s just something people do to make their vehicles their own. Some According to the go with black, others with Few trucks on the road Specialty Equipment chrome. There are maybe today are exactly as they Market Association, just four-wheel options were on the dealer’s lot, these are the top 10 available from the thanks to thousands of most popular pickup manufacturers, but there accessories and add-ons truck accessories: are probably thousands of available to truck owners. 1. Heavy duty trailer after-market options,” he Throughout Southern hitches said. Illinois, customizing trucks 2. Satellite radio systems Stearns says often the is a popular hobby. 3. Running boards customization desired “Everybody wants to 4. Fog lamps depends on the age of the make their vehicle unique 5. Custom floor mats driver. to them, and how they 6. Spray-on bed liners “It’s not always this way, choose to do it is very 7. Custom wheels but usually the younger personal,” said Justin 8. Tailgate protectors guys are looking for Quartana, owner of Auto 9. iPod and mp3 device performance and looks. Trim Mart in Herrin. “One connectors They want the aggressive person may want fancy 10. Wheel splash guards look — what I call miniwheels, another may want monster trucks,” he said. a leather interior. “The older guys want Customizing trucks allows “You can start with owners to pick out how the inexpensive items that will accessories that protect their truck and make it vehicle looks instead of really personalize a truck more functional.” Ford, Chevy or Dodge or you can get really crazy A majority of drivers deciding.” and spend thousands of looking for custom Quartana says custom dollars,” Stearns said. accessories are men, but treatments range from Quartana says the both Stearns and Quartana simple hitches and fog hottest things right now lamps to complex paint are lift kits, custom wheels say the number of women tricking out trucks is schemes and new interiors. and tires. “Everybody’s got a truck “Most customers want a increasing. “There’s more women in this area, and most of small lift and a bigger tire,” them have some sort of he said. “Most of the time than you think,” Quartana said. “They’re probably 30 customization. I’d say there’s no real advantage, they’re the most it’s just a custom, cosmetic percent of our customers.” Regardless of gender or accessorized vehicles,” he look.” age, Stearns says the added. He says lift kits, which sentiment behind the Jeff Stearns, owner of raise the vehicle up for customization is always Stearns Sales in Energy, higher clearance, usually the same. says add-ons and boost a truck a couple of “Everybody wants to modifications include inches, but he has installed make their truck their custom wheels and tires, one 15-inch lift kit. With own, so it doesn’t look like special paint, bug shields, tires and wheels, he says running boards and covers customers have thousands everybody else’s trucks,” he said. for pickup beds. of choices.
FOR THE SOUTHERN
DETAILS
PROVIDED
Lucas Bohnert of Chester poses with his 2000 GMC Sierra.
PROVIDED
Billy Morrison of Hurst stands beside his 2002 Ford F-250.
What to know before buying
Toyota, Honda, Lexus, Scion & Acura owners get add’l $1,000 rebate!
Stk#10324 MSRP $32,555 Pkg Disc. $500 Vogler Disc. $2,079 Ford Rebate $4,500 Ford Credit Rebate $1,000
TRUCK MONTH SALE PRICE
2010 Ford F150 Supercab XLT
$
24,476
*
www.VOGLERFORD.com • 866.793.3673 *Prices do not include tax, license, and title or doc fees. Must finance with Ford Credit for Ford Credit Rebate with approved credit. Not all buyers will qualify. Must take delivery from dealer stock. To qualify for conquest rebate customer must own or be leasing a 95 or newer competitive make and trade their vehicle.
Size/Market Segment: Most trucks fall into either the compact or full-size category, although there are a few models designated as midsize. Price: Base model compact trucks are some of the cheapest vehicles on the market, but loaded premium models can run into the low $30Ks. Fullsize trucks range from the low-$20Ks to the low $50Ks. Engine/Fuel Economy: Compact trucks offer four-, five- and sixcylinder engines that deliver respectable mileage. Full-size trucks offer six-cylinder engines on base models, but most trucks use V8 or even V10 engines that return marginal fuel economy numbers at best. Most full-size trucks also offer diesel engines that provide plenty of towing power and better mileage. Safety: Most trucks offer basic safety equipment like front airbags and seatbelts for all passengers. Some newer full-size trucks offer more advanced systems like side curtain airbags and stability control. Drivetrain: Almost all trucks offer both manual and automatic transmissions, as well as two- and four-wheel drive. Many vehicles also offer traction-aiding devices like limitedslip/locking differentials and electronic traction control. Passenger Capacity/Interior Space: There are three basic body styles for trucks: regular cab, extended cab and crew cab. Regular cabs have two doors and seat between two and three comfortably. Compact extended cabs add mostly extra storage space, while full-size versions can seat three additional passengers. Rear clamshell doors make it easier to get people and cargo in and out of the back of extended cabs. Crew cabs have four full-size doors and seat between five and six passengers comfortably. Versatility of Interior Seating: Most trucks with extended or crew cabs offer the ability to either fold the entire rear seat up or at least one half or the other. Some newer fullsize trucks also allow you to fold the front-passenger seat flat to provide a handy tablelike surface. — Edmunds.com
THE SOUTHERN ILLINOISAN FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2010
www.thesouthern.com
JUST TRUCKS
PROVIDED
Carrold Atterberry of Herrin poses with his 1980 Chevrolet Silverado.
PROVIDED
Logan Barringer of Murphysboro stands beside his 1971 Chevrolet C10.
PROVIDED
Dale Garver of Ava owns this 1964 Ford F-100.
PROVIDED
Ron Bertrand of Creal Springs owns this 1962 Jeep CJ5.
PROVIDED
David Boucher of Murphysboro poses with his 1967 Ford F-100 Custom Cab.
PROVIDED
Tim Damian of Murphysboro owns this 2004 Chevrolet Express.
PROVIDED
Ron Davis of Warrensburg, Mo., stands with his 2004 Ford F-350 Lariat.
PROVIDED
Pat Hollada of Benton owns this 2008 Dodge Dakota.
PROVIDED
Walter McGee owns this 1976 Chevrolet Scottsdale C-10 Limited 500 Edition.
9E
PROVIDED
John Poston of Pomona poses with his 1990 Ford F-150.
10E
THE SOUTHERN ILLINOISAN FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2010