Best ute for slide on camper

Hi
A 6x4 got to cost a lot in fuel and maintenance compared to a 4x4 doesn't it? I plan to stick to bitumen roads as I dont want to be in isolated areas as a woman on her own.
Ta
Ang

6x4 will not add much cost,rear tyres will wear about 60% less than the others, brakes will last longer as it has 6 brakes pulling it up & not 4 working hard , rear bearings I only changed every 200,000klms) it will be more stable) fuel cost? I offen got better than others & sometimes a little more ltrs (not that noticeable)
But make sure you buy a good conversion as a lot are crap & the 60/40 load share is the best way to go

Thanks for that mick. Very helpful. A lot of people seem to like the izusu d max. I'm thinking of a sx series. Still doing my research on other vehicles though. I can only afford 25000 total for slide on and ute so limits my choices
Ta
Ang

Hi again mick
I've been reading some of your posts and you seem to know a lot about the structural engineer part of things with cars and slide ons (your profession?). I wanted to get your take on my summary of slide on considerations if that's ok.
I dont want to be in caravan parks and want to camp as much in national parks and anything else but a caravan park as possible. I also just want to be able to park anywhere and jump in the back. I dont want to be setting up a caravan. The slide on seemed a great idea as when I return home for any length of time I can use the ute. It's either this or a converted transit van and i think those would be more likely to bog and less access to places. I like the idea that I have a 4x4 that can access more places. I dont plan to drop off my camper in many situations. A motorhome is great but out of my price range and again access to Bush parks might be tricky. I want to street park sometimes too. Cant do that in a caravan. I plan to mostly live in what I'm buying. I am figuring if I buy a low weight, good weight distribution layout slide on and put it on a high gvm reputable vehicle and get a chassis strengthening kit then that might be the best I can do with a slide on. Do you agree?

Hi Ang,

I noted in your response above that you are looking at camping in National Parks. Most NP's require you to have a grey water tank fitted. Something you need to consider. Also, there is very little "set up" with a caravan. Just the stabilising legs really, and if you use a battery drill to wind them up & down, there is very little effort involved.

Macca.

The specs on these say gvm of 2950. Course it will be below this realistically but surely it wouldn't be as low as 1 tonne?

Hi Ang,
2950kg is the standard GVM & with my upgrade is now 3220kg.
Its classed as a 1 ton ute but that is misleading.
GVM is Gross Vehicle Mass. That means the TOTAL weight on the road including EVERYTHING, vehicle included.
So if I drive my vehicle into a weighbridge before a trip full of fuel, water, passengers & complete slideon it weighs 3180kg only 40kg under the legal GVM but OVER the standard GVM before upgrade.
Hardly anyone bothers to weigh their vehicle "trip ready" so I reckon many are driving around overweight which apart from overstressing the vehicle is illegal.
I was just trying to alert you that if you are unaware that every little item you add can put you over. I see you will travel alone so that gives you more you can carry but if you are close to the limit a passenger or extra can of fuel can put you over the GVM.
Cheers
Stu.

Just to explain further. A 1 ton ute capacity starts with 10 litres of fuel in the tank.
Fill the tank then take that off the 1 ton.
Put on a towbar. That gets deducted. Add Bullbar that comes off too. Put a tray on that is more subtraction. Add passengers is another deduction.
So a 1 ton ute really can have nowhere near 1 ton on the back!
GVM is probably the realistic number to look at.
Hope this helps.
Cheers
Stu

Thanks stu. That makes more sense to me with the gvm breakdown. Ta. Yeh I'll be considering all those things. Ta

Actually most commercials are kerb weighted with a full tank of fuel.Ranger definitely is. The ‘wagons v utes’ brigade hasn’t picked up on that bit yet.

Why is there negative feedback on them?

Because on here if it ain't a Toyota -Nissan or any of the other Japanese vehicles that dominate the market it all rubbish ....so they say...

Ain't that the truth!!.


Axle.