%{[ data-embed-type="image" data-embed-id="60257e08da016482238e2d96" data-embed-element="span" data-embed-alt="Got a better idea? The hipsters over at Slate, noting the ubiquitous presence of trendy food trucks in the nation’s urban centers (and on tv food shows, in foodie mags, and on the best-selling cookbook lists), do a little exercise in What if? and ponder the possibilities: Maybe there are other ways trucks and vans can be used to bring goods and services to the people. Of course, the readers of HardWorkingTrucks.com already have a multitude of uses for their vehicles, mostly conventional. But there are alternatives, maybe some you haven’t considered. The Slate piece notes there’s a already a wondering women’s fashion truck in New York, and doctor in Las Vegas who takes his hangover cure to the Strip. But the staff got together and came up with some tongue-in-cheek, outside-the-box van notions (catering to their core, cool young audience, of course): a umbrella truck, catering to those caught out unprepared for the weather; a tights truck, to respond to life’s untimely little snags; and even a cellphone-charging truck. But, when it comes to putting a truck to good use, as the research staff here at Fun Trucks Friday have come to appreciate, there’s nothing new under the sun. (Conceptual design by Thom Schillinger.)" data-embed-src="https://img.hardworkingtrucks.com/files/base/randallreilly/all/image/2015/05/hwt.foodtruck.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=max&w=1280&q=70" data-embed-caption="Got a better idea? The hipsters over at Slate, noting the ubiquitous presence of trendy food trucks in the nation’s urban centers (and on tv food shows, in foodie mags, and on the best-selling cookbook lists), do a little exercise in What if? and ponder the possibilities: Maybe there are other ways trucks and vans can be used to bring goods and services to the people.<br> Of course, the readers of HardWorkingTrucks.com already have a multitude of uses for their vehicles, mostly conventional. But there are alternatives, maybe some you haven’t considered. The Slate piece notes there’s a already a wondering women’s fashion truck in New York, and doctor in Las Vegas who takes his hangover cure to the Strip. But the staff got together and came up with some tongue-in-cheek, outside-the-box van notions (catering to their core, cool young audience, of course): a umbrella truck, catering to those caught out unprepared for the weather; a tights truck, to respond to life’s untimely little snags; and even a cellphone-charging truck. But, when it comes to putting a truck to good use, as the research staff here at Fun Trucks Friday have come to appreciate, there’s nothing new under the sun. (Conceptual design by Thom Schillinger.)" data-embed-width="800" data-embed-height="463" ]}%
%{[ data-embed-type="image" data-embed-id="60257e08da016482238e2d97" data-embed-element="span" data-embed-alt="It’s a rite of spring in Detroit. A Chevrolet Silverado pickup and an Equinox SUV settled into their parking spaces atop the Chevrolet Fountain behind centerfield in Comerica Park last week, just in time for the start of the Tigers' 2014 season. Reaching their perches involved gingerly lifting each vehicle into place by crane – a three-hour process. “Chevrolet is the Official Vehicle of Major League Baseball and what better symbol can there be than having our vehicles in such a prominent place in our hometown stadium?” asks Paul Edwards, vice president, Chevrolet marketing. Chevrolet has sponsored the fountain, which features an array of water displays and the sound of a tiger growling with each Detroit home run, for the last five seasons. The brand chooses core vehicles from its lineup to display each year. While non-saleable pre-production vehicles took the spaces in previous years, this year’s Silverado and Equinox will be detailed and updated at the end of the season before going to dealer auction. “Last year, we were able to showcase our vehicles to more than 3 million Tigers’ fans at Comerica Park and even more watching from home,” Edwards says. “Maybe these great family vehicles can inspire a few more home runs to centerfield this year.” (Photo by John F. Martin for Chevrolet)" data-embed-src="https://img.hardworkingtrucks.com/files/base/randallreilly/all/image/2015/05/hwt.chevy-comerica-park_0.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=max&w=1280&q=70" data-embed-caption="It’s a rite of spring in Detroit. A Chevrolet Silverado pickup and an Equinox SUV settled into their parking spaces atop the Chevrolet Fountain behind centerfield in Comerica Park last week, just in time for the start of the Tigers' 2014 season.<br>Reaching their perches involved gingerly lifting each vehicle into place by crane – a three-hour process. “Chevrolet is the Official Vehicle of Major League Baseball and what better symbol can there be than having our vehicles in such a prominent place in our hometown stadium?” asks Paul Edwards, vice president, Chevrolet marketing. Chevrolet has sponsored the fountain, which features an array of water displays and the sound of a tiger growling with each Detroit home run, for the last five seasons. The brand chooses core vehicles from its lineup to display each year. While non-saleable pre-production vehicles took the spaces in previous years, this year’s Silverado and Equinox will be detailed and updated at the end of the season before going to dealer auction. “Last year, we were able to showcase our vehicles to more than 3 million Tigers’ fans at Comerica Park and even more watching from home,” Edwards says. “Maybe these great family vehicles can inspire a few more home runs to centerfield this year.” (Photo by John F. Martin for Chevrolet)" data-embed-width="387" data-embed-height="600" ]}%
%{[ data-embed-type="image" data-embed-id="60257e08da016482238e2d99" data-embed-element="span" data-embed-alt="The Hilux, a pickup truck Toyota has built since the late 1960s, isn't available in the US, but it's popular around the globe, including with insurgent groups such as the Taliban and al-Qaeda, begins a story this week on Public Radio International. Recently, when the U.S. State Department sent non-lethal aid to Syrian rebels, the delivery list included 43 Toyota trucks, according to the PRI report. “You can absolutely expect for many of those trucks to be mounted with crew-served machine guns or other type of equipment, military equipment, that the opposition forces have access to,” Oubai Shahbander, a Washington-based advisor to the Syrian National Coalition, says. “That's one of the reasons why the Toyota Hilux is such an important force multiplier, because it could be used both for humanitarian purposes and for operational purposes as well.' Indeed, the versatile, fast Hilux is credited with giving the Taliban a battlefield edge in the 1990s. And the trucks were so prevalent in the 1987 Chad - Libya conflict that it is known as the “Toyota War,” adds Ben, who submitted his photo collection from Qatar in response to the story." data-embed-src="https://img.hardworkingtrucks.com/files/base/randallreilly/all/image/2015/05/hwt.hilux1_0.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=max&w=1280&q=70" data-embed-caption="The Hilux, a pickup truck Toyota has built since the late 1960s, isn't available in the US, but it's popular around the globe, including with insurgent groups such as the Taliban and al-Qaeda, begins a story this week on Public Radio International.<br>Recently, when the U.S. State Department sent non-lethal aid to Syrian rebels, the delivery list included 43 Toyota trucks, according to the PRI report. “You can absolutely expect for many of those trucks to be mounted with crew-served machine guns or other type of equipment, military equipment, that the opposition forces have access to,” Oubai Shahbander, a Washington-based advisor to the Syrian National Coalition, says. “That's one of the reasons why the Toyota Hilux is such an important force multiplier, because it could be used both for humanitarian purposes and for operational purposes as well." Indeed, the versatile, fast Hilux is credited with giving the Taliban a battlefield edge in the 1990s. And the trucks were so prevalent in the 1987 Chad - Libya conflict that it is known as the “Toyota War,” adds Ben, who submitted his photo collection from Qatar in response to the story." data-embed-width="500" data-embed-height="333" ]}%
%{[ data-embed-type="image" data-embed-id="60257e08da016482238e2d9b" data-embed-element="span" data-embed-alt="Love shack: Maybe the only thing new about making out in a truck is that “The Hook-Up Truck” is purpose built. Of course, this is more “conceptual art” than a going concern, according to a recent write-up on The Huffington Post. And it’s based in San Francisco, of course. “Call the Hook-up Truck™ when using your favorite mobile dating app for immediate dispatch, or pre-book for festivals, weddings or holiday parties,” the homepage says. And there’s a “camera ready” option. I’m betting most truck telematics providers didn’t have this mind, though, when developing their in-cab event recorders. (Photo by Greg Earl)" data-embed-src="https://img.hardworkingtrucks.com/files/base/randallreilly/all/image/2015/05/hwt.hookuptruck_0.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=max&w=1280&q=70" data-embed-caption="Love shack: Maybe the only thing new about making out in a truck is that “The Hook-Up Truck” is purpose built.<br>Of course, this is more “conceptual art” than a going concern, according to a recent write-up on The Huffington Post. And it’s based in San Francisco, of course. “Call the Hook-up Truck™ when using your favorite mobile dating app for immediate dispatch, or pre-book for festivals, weddings or holiday parties,” the homepage says. And there’s a “camera ready” option. I’m betting most truck telematics providers didn’t have this mind, though, when developing their in-cab event recorders. (Photo by Greg Earl)" data-embed-width="400" data-embed-height="600" ]}%
