Photo by Jeff Yip

“Big Red” Heading Back To Texas

Gary Koenig, a businessman in Katy, Texas, draws the lucky number; gets keys to ProPickup’s $50,000 sweepstakes truck

by Bruce W. Smith

When the computer program at Dallas-based Promotion Partners flashed a random number on the screen from a database containing thousands of sweepstake’s entrants it was as impersonal as it gets: Line 1762.

Some 650 miles and a good nine hour-drive away from ProPickup magazine’s offices in Tuscaloosa, Al, the winner of the magazine’s sweepstakes truck, was busy juggling his two businesses in Katy, Texas.

Gary Koenig, owner of Gary’s Tire & Automotive Service and Gary’s Rhino Linings, didn’t have a clue it was his name on Line 1762.

Nor did he have a clue that in the blink of some random computation he’d just become the owner of the Mobil Delvac-sponsored Big Red sweepstake’s dually – a 2008 GMC Sierra 3500 Crew Cab 4×4 work truck with more than $25,000 in parts and accessories.

Katy, located 30 miles dues west of Houston on I-10, is known for rice and gas fields.

Ironically, it’s also located less than 30 miles from where the magazine purchased the truck to begin the sweepstakes build.

Koenig does a lot of business in the greater Houston area providing tire repair services for construction contractors and oil companies, field repairs, and spraying on the Rhino Lining protective coatings.

“I’m in a bit of shock realizing that I really won this truck,” says the 60-year-old entrepreneur.

“The more I read on the ProPickup website (www.propickupmag.com) about how it’s equipped, the more I realize it’s got everything I need for my tire business.

“The Fleetwest service body, Vanair  Air-N-Arc 150 (an air compressor/generator/welder combination), and how the truck is setup will make a fine service rig for this area,” says Koenig.

He first saw the truck on display at last August’s ProPickup Truck Expo in Dallas and again at the 2012 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

Photo by Tom Jackson/Equipment World

“I drive an ’08 GMC Sierra 1500, so ‘Big Red’ really caught my eye,” says Koenig. “I registered for the sweepstakes at the Dallas trade show. But I never really thought I’d be the winner. I’m flabbergasted.

Keonig, who is still trying to absorb is good fortune, will be presented the keys to ProPickup’s Mobil Delvac-sponsored Big Red dually in early June at the magazine’s offices in Tuscaloosa.

Big Red is the third annual sweepstake’s pickup to be given away by the national magazine, which is focused on work trucks and accessories.

“Giving away a truck each year is a highlight of our staff. But we couldn’t build the trucks without the support of our great sponsors and advertisers that make it all possible,” says Bruce Smith, ProPickup’s founding editor.

“The automotive aftermarket is a godsend to the work truck owners worldwide.”

SuperSprings Video Shows Use/Benefits On Work Trucks

Vocational truck users looking for an easy, cost-effective way to upgrade their vehicles’ suspensions should check out the newest video from SuperSprings International.

The video outlines the many commercial uses and installations for SuperSprings^®, unique, self-adjusting leaf spring stabilizers with free-rolling shackles that fit over factory spring packs.

“SuperSprings offer all the advantages of a fully upgraded suspension, but, as we demonstrate in the video, they can be installed in-house in an hour or less,” said Mike Visser, president of SuperSprings International.

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“Now you don’t have to send a brand new truck out to the spring shop, which saves money, preserves original equipment and eliminates wasteful employee transport time.”

On commercial trucks, they help balance eccentric equipment loads, prevent rear-end sag and reduce sway by up to 30 percent. The installation processes on both a utility truck and a rolling chassis are shown, along with footage of aerial trucks, emergency vehicles, dump trucks and flatbed trucks in action.

Our Mobil Delvac Surveyor1 Ram 2500HD gets a handy step up on both sides of the front corners of the bed  

It’s never easy reaching over the edge of a pickup bed to retrieve something.

If the truck is a 2013 Ram 2500HD 4×4, that can be almost impossible without a step–even for those north of six-foot.

Thankfully the engineers at AMP Research have an easy solution that makes perfect sense for contractors: The BedStep2.

The BedStep2 is a sturdy, convenient flip-down step that  mounts to bed support frame just behind the cab providing a faster, easier and safer route to access toolboxes, equipment and cargo in the bed.

Easily installed, this retractable truck step can be mounted on either side of the truck box, and it flips down or retracts with just the nudge of your foot.

It’s made in the USA and backed by a 3-year/36,000-mile warranty.

We mounted a pair of BedStep2s on our 2013 Ram 2500HD, Surveyor 1. This will make our Mobil Delvac-sponosred truck even more user-friendly in the field.

The gallery of images below show how easy this upgrade is to do. — Bruce W. Smith 

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AMP Research BedXtender HD MAX Install

Upfitting a 2013 Ram 2500HD Crew Cab’s short bed with a two-foot extension to carry that longer cargo

Sometimes we run into a situation at work or on the weekends when the 6’3″ bed of the 2013 Ram pickup just isn’t long enough to accommodate longer cargo, tools, equipment or recreational toys such as ATVs and PWCs

When that happens the tailgate has to be dropped and the longer items secured lest they slide out the back.

Then extra tie-downs, rope, twine or some other type of securement item comes into play.

It’s much more convenient to just drop the tailgate and flip over the AMP Research BedXtender HD MAX.

Doing so gains two additional feet of bed length and keeps the cargo secure just like the tailgate.

Installation on the 2013 Ram 2500HD is one of the easiest upgrades there is, too: It takes all of 20 minutes-and the most basic of hand tools.

When you don’t want it in the bed, the BedXtender snaps easily out of its side mounts.

Here’s how we installed the AMP BedXtender in our Mobil Delvac Surveyor 1 project truck. – Bruce W. Smith 

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Reese Towpower’s Carbon FORGED Ball Mounts, recently featured on the “Truck U” TV Show, offer one-piece no weld construction for a greater towing capacity vs traditional ball mount bars. The Carbon Forged patented interlock system with one wrench tightening is the easy and hassle-free way for securing a hitch ball. It provides greater towing capacity compared to existing ball mount bars.

For information: www.cequentconsumerproducts.com

GearWrench^® hand tools from Apex Tool Group, today announced its High-Strength Wheel Protector Impact Socket Set (sku # 84946). The new impact sockets last three times longer than other wheel-protecting thin-wall sockets due to the high-strength reinforcing ring that increases durability and provides added strength.

The unique socket design helps to provide access in confined spaces and the color-coded outer jacket helps to easily identify the socket size.  The sockets also feature a manganese phosphate coating, which offers two times the life of black oxide coatings, further enhancing the socket’s durability. The three-piece set comes in a durable  storage case.

For information: www.gearwrench.com; (800) 688-8949

Buyers Products Emergency Strobes

Warning lights are a necessity on any vehicle that is working around jobsites or where there’s traffic. Buyer’s Products understands those needs and offers a wide-array of emergency beacons and LED strobes.

So we went to Buyers Products to equip our Mobil Delvac Surveyor 1 Ram 2500HD with warning lights that would let drivers and equipment operators know the truck is in the area.

The primary lights are Buyers’ new 5″ 12 LED high-enegry strobes in both amber and clear strobe heads that have the following features:

• 12 High power LEDs
• 5″ Black die cast aluminum base
• 23 Selectable flash patterns
• Can be wired for synchronized or alternating flash with these additional LED strobes: 8891215-8891501
• Reverse polarity protection
• Meets SAE J845 Class 1 & California Title 13
• 12-24VDC, 2.2 Amps
• 5.25″L x 2.00″W x .70″H
• Convert to recessed light with optional 8891705
• Fasteners and gasket included

We are also using a roof-mounted 24″ LED Light Bar  with amber strobe heads. The lightweight, low-profile, waterproof unit that can be removed/used as needed.

It features:

• Modular design for simple strobe upgrades.
• Standard with amber strobes.  Can be customized by adding blue, clear or red strobe heads.
• SAE J595 & J845 Class 1 rated.
• Forward facing strobes have 3-LED reflector heads.
• 5-Year warranty.

AMP Research Bed Xtender MAX HD

Carrying longer cargo in the bed is a situation many contractors face in the construction trades.

When that happens, you need a reliable way to keep the cargo from sliding out the back when the tailgate is down.

AMP Research’s Bed Xtender MAX HD is the ideal upgrade for just such situations. It not only adds an extra two feet of secure bed length, it’s designed to last for years while being easy to install.

When it’s not needed, the Bed Xtender MAX HD flips forward to make a handy aft bed storage area with the tailgate up.

We’ve  installed this on  our Mobil Delvac Surveyor 1 2013 Ram 2500HD’s bed until we get the bed cap and surveyor package installed.

Key features:

• LIGHTWEIGHT, SUPER STRONG 6063 T6 ALUMINUM ALLOY TUBES
• RUGGED GLASS-REINFORCED NYLON COMPOSITE UPRIGHTS
• INSTANTLY ADDS UP TO 2-FEET OF LENGTH TO YOUR TRUCK BED
• DURABLE BLACK OR SILVER POWDER COAT FINISH
• EASY TO INSTALL AND EASY TO REMOVE
• 3-YEAR WARRANTY
• DESIGNED AND BUILT IN AMERICA

WARN M12000

Every work truck needs a reliable workhorse to meet heavy winching needs that arise out in the field.

That’s why the editors of ProPickup choose a Warn M12000 to have in the Fab Fours heavy-duty winch bumper that graces the front of the Mobil Delvac Surveyor 1 Ram 2500 4×4.

The M12000 is a champion workhorse for heavy-duty winching.

Its 3-stage planetary gear train, combined with a 4.6hp series-wound motor, produces 12,000 lbs. of pulling power.

That’s more than enough to handle the typical work needs of a rugged terrain surveyor’s truck.

Warn’s heavy duty winch design is low profile so it fits where you want it.

• 12,000 lb. (5,440 kg) pulling capacity (single line)
• Large frame winch design is designed to handle heavier winch loads
• Series-wound, high-speed motor provides fast line speed and strong pulls
• Brake provides superior control while winching
• Remote-mount control box allows for various mounting options
• Durable 3-stage planetary geartrain for smooth, reliable, operation
• Remote control with 12′ (3.7m) lead
• Chip-resistant powder-coated finish
• 125′ of 3/8″ (38m of 9.5mm) diameter wire rope

AMP Research’s Booster Step

AMP Research BedStep gives a nice boost to Ram HD bed access via the tailgate; a back-saver for heavy-duty pickup owners

by Bruce W. Smith

Legs and back not as agile as they used to be?

Or are you just tired of constantly launching yourself up onto the tailgate to get at things in the bed of your heavy-duty pickup?

What about the worry of using the bumper and your foot slipping?

You need a bed step. More specifically, an  AMP Research BedStep.

Our Mobil Delvac Surveyor 1 sweepstake’s 2013 Ram 2500HD has a fair bit of step-in height stock. It’ll be a t least 6″ taller when we’re done with it.

So, we’re being proactive.

AMP Research figured this out several years ago when they introduced the BedStep, which mounts to the rear driver’s-side corner of the bed and flips up out of the way until you need it.

AMP rates the BedStep to support 300 pounds, so even the biggest member of your work crew doesn’t have to worry about making that step up into the bed.

The AMP parts of the highest quality and the installation is very simple bolt-on that takes less than 20 minutes.

Warren Spears at Spears Auto Repair  near our editorial offices here in Long Beach, MS, handled our Surveyor 1 upfit.

As you can see in the how-to gallery below, it’s a simple job that can be done in your own shop or garage.

Oh, the BedStep is the perfect companion  for the AMP PowerStep running boards on Surveyor 1 and the Fab Fours’ heavy-duty Elite-series rear bumper.–Pro 

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