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Stuff for the Long Haul
A Truck Bed for You
Combining the best features of a bed and a lounge chair, the Recline-A-Bed from Sleep Concepts (866-886-BEDS) uses a ratcheting frame and pull-straps to adjust to any of 30 positions (six head, five feet). The head can be raised to 30 inches, the feet to 20 inches. There are no gears or motors to break. Recline-A-Bed is available in 32-, 39-, 42- and 49-inch widths. Matching Travel King mattresses are available with individual coil springs, a foam top layer and a 1-inch thick quilted cover.
XM Radio Signs On
XM Satellite Radio formally launched its service Sept. 25, with plans to expand to the entire U.S. within 60 days. The service offers up to 100 channels of digitally clear music, talk, sports and news. Adapters for standard radios are available, as are specially equipped sets. Check it out at www.xmradio.com. XM's rival, Sirius, says it plans to start its service later this year, also offering 100 channels. Visit www.siriusradio.com for details.
More Headlight Life
The dark days of winter are no time to lose a headlight. Truck-Lite says its Headlamp Life Extender ends voltage spikes that prematurely kill headlights. It also reduces "noise" in your electrical system, thus improving the performance of vehicle electronics. For more info, check the reader service card in this issue or visit www.truck-lite.com.
Win Holiday Gifts at RoadKing.com!
Starting Nov. 2 and running through Dec. 14, RoadKing.com will help you do your holiday shopping with great gift giveaways. You've worked hard during a really tough year and been great supporters of the magazine and Web site, and we want to reward you for that. Prizes will include scale model trucks and logoed apparel.
We'll draw for one prize each week. The first drawing will be Nov. 9 and the last on Dec. 14, in order to give Santa -- the ultimate expedited freight hauler -- time to deliver that package to your door. It's Road King's way of wishing you a great holiday!
Improved Ford E-series Truck
Ford has an improved E-series truck for parcel delivery, P&D and expedited freight. When equipped with a sleeper and fifth wheel, the new E-550 Cutaway could function as a hotshot truck. Wheelbases vary from 150.5 inches up to 233.5 inches. Payloads up to 12,000 pounds are possible, with a GVWR of 19,000 pounds. Standard power is a 4.2 liter, 191-hp V-6, but options include Ford's SOHC 305-hp V-10 and the Ford International Powerstroke 7.3L turbocharged diesel V-8.
Eflare Emergency Light
 The Eflare Protector from Eflare Corp. (888-348-3800, www.eflarecorp.com) won't replace your warning triangles, at least not until the DOT changes its rules. But at night, the Eflare will out perform any triangle or flare. Each 8-inch high candle-shaped lamp has a Fresnel lens to concentrate the light vertically while giving full 360 degree visibility. Powered by two alkaline D-cells, the light can be seen a mile away. Battery life is 80 hours. You can select a steady light, or 120 flashes a minute.
Route Tools
Besides its road atlases, Rand-McNally (877-204-1020, www.randmcnally.com) is known for "Mile Maker" routing software for fleets. Route Tools Professional Driver Edition is a more affordable program designed for drivers. It offers either HHG miles or the quickest, most practical routes. All routing is truck-compliant, with restrictions included in the calculations. Route Tools can capture miles by state, and a custom fuel network plan can easily be configured. Free limited-use samples are available. After the trial period, they can be unlocked with the purchase of a password.
CAT Scale Debuts Electronic Weighing
CAT Scale explained the advantages of platform scales, while introducing an improved electronic model. Their platform scales are accurate to 80 pounds in 80,000, or 0.1%. That's good enough to be "legal for trade," so that scale tickets can be used for commerce, which is more demanding than law enforcement. That's why CAT Scale will support its customers when contesting over-weight citations. The scales are up 99.7% of the time. The newest scales have electronic diagnostics that communicate directly with CAT Scale headquarters in Walcott, Iowa. If something does go wrong, a repair truck will be dispatched, often before the truckstop is aware of any trouble. All locations will have been upgraded to the new models by the end of 2002.
No-mess Oil Drain
Changing oil can be quick and clean with this drain plug from Femco No-Spill Systems (888-667-7455, www.drainplug.com). An adaptor replaces a standard drain plug. A threaded cap protects the drain from dirt and grime. A pop-up valve prevents oil flow until a quick-release fitting is secured over the plug. If the connection is loose, oil will not flow. A hose is attached to the fitting to direct the flow, so there's no oil spilled. Fittings are machined brass. Springs are stainless steel, and the O-ring is solid copper to take repeated torquing.
Less Splish-splash
Vortex Splash Guards (888-848-7141, www.vortexsplashguards.com) promise to improve visibility for the trucker and following motorists, by applying aerodynamics to reduce splash and spray. These louvered mud flaps claim to give water a direct path down to the pavement, while significantly reducing the turbulence that contributes to visibility problems.
Wonder Winch
If tightening straps on flatbeds is a pain, literally as well as figuratively, Wonder Winch Bars from JAB Enterprises (800-807-0087, www.wonderwinchbar.com) will make the job far easier. The 2-pound, 18-inch bar has a ratcheting head that fits over the pawls of a standard strap winch. The bars, capable of handling 300 foot-pounds, are available in six colors.
Easy Cargo Loading
Wayne Engineering Corp. says its CargoMaster can load or unload freight right down to the ground with no need for forklifts or even space at a dock. It's designed to handle palletized and bundled cargo, skid boxes, long crates, machinery and other loads. The system includes a trailer-length interior overhead trolley system powered by the rig's 12-volt system. A hand-held control allows one person to operate the unit. It comes in four lifting capacities, from 2,000 to 8,000 pounds. Call (319) 266-1721 or visit www.WayneUSA.com.
All Petes Can Have FreedomLine Now
The fully automated-mechanical ZF Meritor FreedomLine transmission is now available for all Peterbilt heavy-duty conventional models. The FreedomLine has a clutch pedal can be operated in either fully automatic or driver-controlled modes. It's optional with the Cummins ISX engine and a torque rating of up to 1,650, and will be available with the Caterpillar C-15 this fall.
Z-Bar for Z Loads
 Save-A-Load Inc.'s newest hydraulic cargo bracing bar, the Z-Bar, is built to operate under extreme conditions. Aircraft-grade hydraulic fluid keeps it going at temperatures of -35 F to 160 F. Weighing 8.8 pounds, it is made of aircraft aluminum and fits 83- to 114-inch trailers. See www.saveaload.com or call (800) 728-5623.
Sleeper Shower
If you're on a tight schedule and don't want to wait in line for a shower at the truckstop, check out the Hartline Portable Shower (877-464-3424, www.hartlineportableshower.com). It stores in a 30-inch diameter cylinder that houses all components. The case top has the shower head, the bottom has a sump pump, and the 6-gallon fresh water tank has a heater and a pump. Another tank holds "gray water." A 6-foot shower curtain, all hoses and 12-V power plugs are provided. The shower was developed by 38-year veteran driver, George Hartline.
How's Your Battery?
Transportation Safety Systems' new Battery Monitoring System has a vacuum fluorescent display, voltmeter, ammeter and status indicator. Call (800) 428-4449 or e-mail www.tenspeed.com.
Jacknife With Joy
You can brag about pullin' out of a jacknife every day if you grab the wheel of Tyco's radio-controlled Jacknife rig. It does wheelies, nosegrinds, and a moonwalk. The cab detaches from the trailer for front and back somersaults. Sold at major toy stores, MSRP is $59.99.
Glare Fighter
The PolaVisor from Winford Industries is a handy polarized lens that straps to your sunvisor. It can be flipped down to reduce daytime glare without reduced visibility. We tried one at Road King, and it works. Call (516) 364-6855 or see www.glaresolutions.com.
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