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FCA today announced that the 2018 Ram 3500 pickup with the 6.7-liter Cummins diesel will produce 930 lb-ft of torque, the highest output of any pickup, beating the Ford F-350 and F-450.
Working with a new fifth-wheel hitch (a $1,395 option), the Ram 3500 will be able to tow up to 30,000 pounds. FCA says the new hitch allows the 2018 Ram to tow the largest travel trailers on the U.S. market.
New Mopar hitch offers the highest available 5th wheel towing
The maximum gooseneck trailer rating is 31,210 pounds; a conventional hitch maxes out at 20,000 pounds.
Earlier this year, Allpar predicted a power boost for the 2018 Rams with the Cummins diesel.
Read more at: https://www.allpar.com/news/2017/08/ram-ups-the-ante-for-towing-torque-38283
Parents play a huge role in helping their teens gain as much driving experience as possible. Before you begin, ask yourself a few questions.
- Can you dedicate several hours a week to practice driving with your teen? AAA recommends your teen complete at least 100 hours of supervised practice driving with a parent before being allowed to drive solo.
- Are you committed to coaching in different driving conditions and at different times of the day? It’s best to start practice driving in basic low-risk situations and gradually move to more complex situations, such as highways and driving in the rain.
- Are you patient enough to provide constructive feedback? There may be times when you want to yell, but remind yourself to remain calm, patient and positive and talk through the driving choices your teen makes. When necessary, agree to take a breather and work it out.
- Are you a good role model? Your teen has been watching you drive for years, but you might want to step up your driving game now. Always wear your seat belt, obey traffic laws, never talk or text on the phone while driving, don’t speed—the list goes on and on, but remember, lead by example.
As the parent, your job is to manage and coach your teen into becoming a safe, experienced driver through practice driving and mentoring. You’re in charge and can control how quickly your teen gets to drive under new conditions. Keep in mind, if your teen is breaking family rules or not being a responsible partner in the process, you can delay licensure.
Read more at: http://teendriving.aaa.com/MI/supervised-driving/key-points-for-parents/
The period between Memorial Day and Labor Day is often referred to as “The 100 Deadliest Days” because of the high number of traffic deaths among teenage drivers. On average, the number of fatal teen driver crashes climbs 15 percent compared to the rest of the year. Over the past five years, more than 1,600 people were killed during this deadly period in crashes involving teen drivers ages 16-17, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
What’s more, a recent study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety revealed that drivers younger than 18 are almost four times as likely as other drivers to be in a crash, and nearly three times as likely to be involved in a fatal crash. That’s because teen crashes spike during the summer months because teens are out of school and on the road, according to Dr. David Yang, AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety executive director. He added that the Foundation’s research indicates that inexperience paired with more exposure on the road could create a deadly combination for young drivers.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. Here are a few tips to remember when you get behind the wheel, followed by footage of teen drivers moments before crashing, illustrating the dangers of distracted driving.
- Use safe-driving skills, especially when your teen is with you. Lead by example.
- Before hitting the road, make sure everyone is buckled up.
- Always obey the speed limit and all traffic laws.
- Never drive impaired. If you’re going to drink alcohol, have a plan. Either appoint a designated driver or hire a taxi to get you home safely.
- Stay focused on driving. Avoid distractions, such as cell phones and daydreaming, and never text while driving.
A study and video analysis by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found distraction was a factor in nearly 6 out of 10 moderate-to-severe teen crashes. Researchers analyzed the six seconds leading up to a crash in nearly 1,700 videos of teen drivers from in-vehicle event recorders. Here, footage from some of those videos.
Read more at: https://autoadvice.michigan.aaa.com/drive/how-to-be-safe-during-the-100-most-dangerous-days-of-driving/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=MMDD
Community car care events conducted across the country reveal that the majority of vehicles need service on one or more inspected areas of the vehicle.
“At the Car Care Council, we stress the importance of preventative vehicle maintenance and provide free tools, tips and information to help motorists become more car care aware so they can avoid the hassle and expense associated with unexpected car trouble,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “By implementing a proactive auto care plan, car owners can identify and fix small issues now before they become more costly repairs later.”
The community car care event inspections checked a variety of vehicle components including wipers, belts, hoses, air filters, lighting, tires and lubricant/fluids. The Car Care Council gathered and tabulated the results and found that eight out of 10 vehicles need some type of service. The top areas showing the highest failure rates include:
- Engine Oil – 22 percent of vehicles tested had low, overfull or dirty oil.
- Belts/Hoses – inspections revealed 18 percent of belts were unsatisfactory and at least 12 percent of vehicles needed a new hose.
- Air Filters – nearly one out of every five vehicles inspected needed a new air filter.
- Check Engine Light – 14 percent of vehicles had an illuminated check engine light, slightly higher than the previous year’s results.
- Batteries – battery cables, clamps and terminals were found to be in need of repair on 18 percent of vehicles inspected.
The Car Care Council has a free Car Care Guide available at www.carcare.org/car-care-guide, providing motorists with a useful resource that can be kept in the glove box or accessed online. The guide features service interval information, questions to ask a technician and other helpful auto care information that can help drivers better maintain and protect their vehicle.
The Car Care Council is the source of information for the “Be Car Care Aware” consumer education campaign promoting the benefits of regular vehicle care, maintenance and repair to consumers. For the latest car care news, visit the council’s online media room at http://media.carcare.org. To order a free copy of the popular Car Care Guide, visit the council’s consumer education website at www.carcare.org.
Read more at: http://www.carcare.org/community-car-care-events-show-vehicles-need-service/
REV Group’s Collins Bus subsidiary is using the Ram ProMaster van as the basis for its first-in-class low-floor special needs school bus.
The new bus debuted at the recent School Transportation News Conference & Trade Show in Reno, Nevada. It takes advantage of the ProMaster’s ground-hugging design to eliminates the need for a lift, which is needed by other special-needs buses.
Collins is the first school bus with a truly low entry height.
Instead of a lift, the Ram-based bus has a driver-deployable ramp so the many children who use wheelchairs can enter and exit the bus without assistance. The Collins system also eliminates the downtime and maintenance costs of a wheelchair lift.
The ProMaster’s front-wheel drive setup allowed Collins engineers to design a true low-floor vehicle with a single entry with a nine-inch-high entry step when the ramp is retracted.
Collins also pointed out that the ProMaster has a smaller turning radius than competitors, making the bus more maneuverable in neighborhoods. The front wheel drive also helps traction on snow and ice.
Read more at: https://www.allpar.com/news/2017/08/back-to-school-with-ram-promaster-38233
