The NEWS - February 18, 2008 - (Page 48)

FOCUS By Cherie Preville Of The NEWS Staff AHR EXPO POST-SHOW ISSUE Trucks Come Wheeling Onto the Show Floor EW YORK — Some of the big car companies were out in force at the International AirConditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition (AHR Expo), showing off their latest models of trucks. Show goers climbed in the cabs and looked at the storage space of the different vehicles offered for commercial use. Available on the Chevy (www. chevrolet.com) Colorado and the GMC (www.gmfleet.com) Canyon, is the Astro Body by Supreme Corp. (www.supremecorp.com), which was highlighted at the Chevy/GMC booth. The skylight allows ambient light inside, otherwise there are no windows in the truck body. The Velvac mirrors are designed to increase side vision while reducing blind spots. The mirrors can be adjusted up and down and N Toyota debuted the Tundra, which has a payload of up to approximately 2,000 pounds. have arms that pivot forwards and backwards. Other standard features include door handles with ignition key-coded lock cylinders, commercial-grade door hinges, and commercial-grade door seals and latches, which help create a water-resistant interior. Various options on the body include three bin packages; a floor mat, for increased skid resistance, custom ladder racks; backup camera system, which enhances view behind vehicle; 3- by 4-inch color interior camera monitor with dimmer switch that operates in reverse gear for rearward visibility. The overall height of the truck body is 78 inches, the overall length is 210.7 inches, the interior floor space is 43.1 square feet, and the interior cubic feet is 173.7 cubic feet. New from Dodge (www. dodge.com) is the Ram 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs. According to Jack Warren, at the Dodge booth, these medium-duty trucks sell exclusively to commercial customers. They are powered by a Cummins® 6.7-liter turbo diesel engine. Six forward speeds are offered, in both manual and automatic transmissions. The AISIN automatic transmission includes two overdrive gears. These trucks have a four-wheel ABS hydraulic brake system with front and rear discs. “It has built-in exhaust brakes in this truck and the highest frame strength — 50,000-psi frames,” stated Warren. Toyota (www.toyota.com) came to this year’s expo for the first time, with the Tundra in tow. Three cab configurations are offered on it: Regular Cab, Double Cab, and the CrewMax. The truck has three bed lengths: approximately 5 ½, 6 ½, and 8 feet. It measures 50 inches inside the truck bed between the wheel wells. The company’s truck consultant, Tom Cavanuagh, said “The truck has three engines: a V6 and two V8s — a small V8, and a very powerful large V8. Fuel economy will range from about 20 miles on the V6, 18 miles on the small V8, and about 16-17 on the larger V8. The larger V8 has extremely high horsepower of 380 horsepower, 400 foot-pounds of torque.” Cavanaugh summed up the truck when he said, “It’s got heavy-duty features, so people can drive it off road and use it to tow heavy loads.” ■ Tool Market Touts Improved Efficiency Features Improve Offerings By Angela D. Harris Of The NEWS Staff EW YORK — Tools are a necessity in the HVAC industry, and the tool manufacturers at the 2008 International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition (AHR Expo) showcased new tools that were “better, smaller, brighter, lighter, safer, and easier.” Considering the tight spots, dark places, unpredictable jobsites, and tangled messes technicians often find themselves in; this year’s tool offerings endeavored to not only make the tech’s job easier, but to also make the technician more efficient, saving contractors and customers time and money. N TOOL TIME Coleman Cable Inc. (www. colemancable.com) presented multiple tools in its booth, including the Cord Runner™. It is an inline extension cord that has three evenly-spaced outlets along 48 the cord, instead of just one at the end. Each outlet has a power indicator light and a cover that helps keep out water and dust. Available in six-, 25-, and 50-foot lengths, the green or bright yellow cords come in 12- and 14gauge and are outdoor rated for extreme conditions. The company also added to its LED work light line. The TwistBrite™ is an LED work light with a flexible neck that allows the light to be positioned in multiple ways. The bulb has a life expectancy of 50,000 hours and it operates on three AA batteries. The light also has a PVC-coated magnet on the base for quick attachment to many metal surfaces. Jerry Rig LLC (www.jerry rigllc.com) displayed its effort to improve safety with the Jerry Rig. This product consists of two black handles and two long straps used to secure and carry diverse HVAC units. The hauling system allows technicians to carry square or round objects up and down stairs without having to bend over. New tools weren’t the only attraction at Lenox’s booth. NASCAR driver Jeff Burton announced the company’s Extra Mile Heroes Program and answered attendees’ racing questions. AIR CONDITIONING, HEATING & REFRIGERATION NEWS ■ February 18, 2008

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The NEWS - February 18, 2008 Turnout Contents Newsline FYI Unitary Oil-Fired Products Furnaces Hydronics Ductless Rooftops Drives & Motors Controls Transmitters, Sensors Zoning Valves Refrigerants Condensers & Coils Heat Exchangers Cooling Towers Chillers Duct Products Humidification IAQ Monitors, Instruments Trucks Tools Software Installation, Maintenance of HVAC Coils Munters MCS Dries Up Water Concerns at Hospital Michigan Home Show Brings out Contractors Investigating Furnace Failures Mold/Bacteria Protection of A/C Coil Learning Center Classifieds Advertisers Opinions

The NEWS - February 18, 2008

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