Ute Advice Please
Submitted: Saturday, Dec 27, 2008 at 21:08
ThreadID:
64597
Views:
4948
Replies:
1
FollowUps:
5
This Thread has been Archived
gh1967
Sorry for the length of this post. My requirements are multi-faceted so I thought I'd put down everything I'm looking for in one post.
I'm after something around $15-20,000. Fuel economy is important. Diesel or petrol (as long as diesel isn't too noisey) doesn't really matter.
Comfort is important as utes without a load tend to give a hard stiff ride (I drove a single cab Mazda Bravo flat tray for years and hated it). I'm not looking to add a canopy and would prefer a flat tray though this is not essential.
My only other requirement is fitting my four-legged friend in (I'm not a believer in putting dogs in the ute tray). Is this possible in a single-cab ute? He's a samoyed so he's medium to large. This might mean I have to get a dual or 'xtra' cab?
Lastly, does anyone here have a 'set-up' for sleeping on their ute tray instead of a tent on the ground? As
well as the convenience of storage and access I see this as a plus for a ute.
Thanks for any advice.
Reply By: Member - Tony B (QLD) - Saturday, Dec 27, 2008 at 22:05
Saturday, Dec 27, 2008 at 22:05
gh1967! Looks like all you have to do now is look in your local paper for a car in your price range that matches your requirements and go have a look at it. Other than that???? This has me thinking though, you have said " I'm not looking to add a canopy " and then add "does anyone here have a 'set-up' for sleeping on their ute tray instead of a tent on the ground? As
well as the convenience of storage and access I see this as a plus for a ute". if you want to put somthing on the back of your ute or sleep in it then you will have to consider a canopy for security of your goods. Best of luck there is a lot of good model utes. Cheers Tony
AnswerID:
341542
Follow Up By: gh1967 - Saturday, Dec 27, 2008 at 22:24
Saturday, Dec 27, 2008 at 22:24
I guess what I'm asking is whats a good comfortable ute without a stiff ride and decent fuel economy?
There's so many types on the market and whats more there's endless variants within each brand and model.
FollowupID:
609196
Follow Up By: ross - Saturday, Dec 27, 2008 at 23:10
Saturday, Dec 27, 2008 at 23:10
Take them for a test drive. If its too hard you can have
the springs changed or modified.
If you make it too soft it may lose its load carrying capacity.
For sleeping you can add some kind of roof tent to the tray for under a $1000.
There is also a growing range of small compact tray campers emerging in the marrket.
Exoect to pay about $13K upwards new
FollowupID:
609206
Follow Up By: gh1967 - Sunday, Dec 28, 2008 at 00:58
Sunday, Dec 28, 2008 at 00:58
Yup.
But from what I can gether reading here there's basically no such thing as a fuel-economical ute? All of them are pretty much over 10ltr per 100kms and all-in-all there's not too much difference between them all.
Did I get that right? lol
FollowupID:
609216
Follow Up By: Member - AJB (VIC) - Sunday, Dec 28, 2008 at 08:05
Sunday, Dec 28, 2008 at 08:05
Dont get too carried away about fuel economy with these 4cyl utes especially the diesel variants. They do get all roughly the same give or take 1km/l depending on speed, load etc. Fuel cost is not the most expensive part of car ownership and the cost varies with usage. Perhaps rego and insurance should also vary with usage! As mentioned above, take a few for a spin and but the one you want. If it doesn't work out get rid of it and get another. You're not marrying the thing are you!
FollowupID:
609228
Follow Up By: Member - Tony B (QLD) - Sunday, Dec 28, 2008 at 08:10
Sunday, Dec 28, 2008 at 08:10
gh1967. No trayback ute will give you a good ride. They are made to carry a load, thus rear end is sprung to match. If you load the ute then the ride will be acceptable. I have HD Springs on the back of
mine with a couple of extra leaves with Air bags to carry my camper. If I leave more than 5psi in the airbags with the canopy off - it is nearly undriveable on our northern roads. With the canopy on and 80psi in the airbags you can not feel any bumps.
So you either spring the rear end never to carry a load, keep it standard and put up with the ride or spring it heavy and carry a load most of the time to even the ride. The last option is where your fuel consumption will suffer. I just put up with the bumpier ride.
10ltrs per 100k is good consumption for a ute. With a load in sand I will use 15s and highway no load 10-11s. You could get better but I have never driven conservitive.
As stated above take some for a drive. I like my Rodeo, I drive the earlier model Rodeo at work but they do not have as much go as my 2007 model. Still the Rodeo will be worth a look at and you will get a good one at the top of your price range. Cheers Tony
FollowupID:
609229