Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/748269
Tired of waiting on Toyota to produce a hybrid pickup, a retired engineer has made one of his own. Ruud Hartog, 75, created what he calls his Pruck from a wrecked 2005 Prius. After spend- ing roughly $5,300 and plenty of time in his garage, Hartog re- cently emerged with a head-turning truck that averages 43 mpg. "I like the Toyota Prius – the electronics and the tech setup," Hartog told the Tampa Bay Times. Transforming the Prius into a truck was no easy task, especially since the unibody hybrid was not designed for heavy hauling. Steps for reinforcement included welding the rear doors shut and welding cross members into place. The bed of the truck is made of two layers of high-strength plywood and steel. Keeping careful track of the vehicle's weight, Hartog says his Pruck weighs an additional 46 pounds over the vehicle's original weight. That puts total passenger and cargo capacity at around 800 pounds or so. A lift kit is available, but he hasn't taken on that project yet. pro pickup | staff report JUST BECAUSE IT'S COOL… W e do massive amounts of pickup truck coverage on our website, equipmentworld.com, most of which doesn't make the pages of the magazine. This month, we thought we'd take a break from our more serious pickup coverage and give you a taste of how much fun we have on our site. Enjoy! EquipmentWorld.com | November 2016 93 Meet the Pruck – a Prius truck GM, U.S. Army team up on hydrogen fuel-cell-powered Chevy Calling it the "most extreme off-road-capable fuel-cell-powered electric vehicle it's produced", GM has unveiled the Colo- rado ZH2. The truck was developed from contract to concept in less than a year through a collaboration between GM engineers and the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center. GM says the hydrogen fuel cell inside the Colorado ZH2 has accumulated 3.1 million miles in both civilian and military test environments. Featuring a striking paint scheme that fades from camoufl age on the front end into a sharp sand-like shade on the rear, the ZH2 is built atop a stretched Colorado chassis. It sits on 37-inch tires and a specially modifi ed suspension that enables it to traverse "all manner of terrain," GM says.