wagon or ute

Submitted: Sunday, Oct 02, 2011 at 14:28

ThreadID: 89342 Views:3052 Replies:9 FollowUps:10

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Member - Desert Storm (QLD)

I am in the market to change vehicles and was wondering if anyone has made the change from having a wagon and converting to a ute. I have had Nissan wagons for the past15 years, and with one kid going his own way soon, and the other one still clinging on. Eventually its going to be me, the missus, and the dog and ultimately i would like to carry a quad on the tray, and maybe a boat on top and towing a camper trailer.
If anyone has made the change over to a ute, did you wish you hadn't or glad you did?
thanks,
John

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Reply By: feathery - Sunday, Oct 02, 2011 at 14:59

Sunday, Oct 02, 2011 at 14:59

yep sure did pathfinder to navara best move I ever made put canopy on back a with lean-to can sleep in ute life is now great
greg

AnswerID: 466577

Reply By: Notso - Sunday, Oct 02, 2011 at 16:22

Sunday, Oct 02, 2011 at 16:22

Patrol to Triton Twin Cab.

It works for me. I do miss the extra bit of comfort on rough roads the Patrol provided

AnswerID: 466585

Reply By: drjfly - Sunday, Oct 02, 2011 at 18:22

Sunday, Oct 02, 2011 at 18:22

Changed to a ute about 8 years ago and will never go back. Carry a slide on now on the tray and tow the boat. You could do the same and tow the quad with boat on top.

AnswerID: 466593

Reply By: Fatso - Sunday, Oct 02, 2011 at 22:15

Sunday, Oct 02, 2011 at 22:15

to Hilux 2 seater.
The kids have their own cars & now it is just the wife & I.
Sometimes miss the 7 seats for group push-bike riding, but we have a far greater demand for the tray. Whether it be going to the dump or getting garden materials or taking the dogs somewhere, it is used a hell of a lot more than a second row of seats.
The ute is easier to drive around town than the wagon as well. The visibility out the back when reversing is great. You can see exactly where the rear of your car is.
I have built a lockable box type canopy that has its own floor & I lift it off with a chain block & drop on castors when not using it . That's how I unpack & store my camping gear. At 2.6m long 1.8m wide & 1.1m high it is big enough to carry 2 bikes, all our camping gear & with a bit of rearranging we can even sleep inside with all our stuff.
I have always thought that nearly every couple caravanning or just travelling around should have a ute, except for the overloaded ones that should have a medium rigid.
Utes a far more versatile than wagons.
We are not going back.

AnswerID: 466616

Follow Up By: Fatso - Sunday, Oct 02, 2011 at 22:18

Sunday, Oct 02, 2011 at 22:18

Sorry, that was supposed to read Patrol Wagon to Hilux 2 reater.

FollowupID: 740723

Follow Up By: Member - Desert Storm (QLD) - Sunday, Oct 02, 2011 at 22:22

Sunday, Oct 02, 2011 at 22:22

gday fatso,
would you happen to have any photos of your box canopy?
John

FollowupID: 740725

Follow Up By: stoney123 - Monday, Oct 03, 2011 at 06:01

Monday, Oct 03, 2011 at 06:01

hi Fatso,

yeah i would like to see it too, i am thinking of going ute/tray style, but initial research shows about $4,500 for a tradies style lockup on the back (for camping gear) , am thinking of just buying a couple of those lockable tool boxes to store stuff, or perhaps a wire cage with canvas top/sides?

FollowupID: 740744

Follow Up By: Fatso - Wednesday, Oct 05, 2011 at 18:53

Wednesday, Oct 05, 2011 at 18:53

I should the box on the Hilux this weekend.
I will take some photos & try & post them.

FollowupID: 740983

Follow Up By: Fatso - Sunday, Oct 09, 2011 at 17:38

Sunday, Oct 09, 2011 at 17:38

I got a few photos fellas, but I can't post them. I am not a member.
I tried to send you them in a message Desert Storm, but that won't work either.
I'll give you a bit of an idea of what I built.
The frame is of 40 x 40 x2 SHS with 25 x 25 x 1.5 SHS ribs.
The2 doors are 2100 x 1100 & are framed with 25 x 25 x 1.5 SHS
The floor ribs are 25 x 25 x 1.5 as well & the floor its self is 10mm ply.
Walls & doors are sheeted in 2.0 mm alluminium
Roof is 3.0 mm alluminium.
Not vsure how much it cost but it must be close to $3000 & I payed no labour.
The waterproof hinge, seals, locks & struts were about $900.
The aluminium, which was 4 sheets of 2 mm 2400 x 1200 & 2 sheets of 3 mm 1500 x 3600 cost somewhere around $950 I think.
It has taken about 6 tubes of Sikaflex (probably a bit watefull) & a few hundred rivets.
I calculated a weight of 225kg before I started but tend to think it might be up a bit more. I didn't allow for the handles, hinges, struts, sikaflex & carpet & that stuff.
The marine carpet cost $125 as well.
Hope that give you an idea.
Oh as well. I should have paid the $6000 I was quoted over 12 months ago for a top quality one from Blairs Mufflers in Tully. I would have had it 12 months ago instead of taking 12 months to build this one.

FollowupID: 741306

Follow Up By: Member - Desert Storm (QLD) - Sunday, Oct 09, 2011 at 21:08

Sunday, Oct 09, 2011 at 21:08

thanks fatso, much appreciated.
John

FollowupID: 741325

Reply By: workhorse - Sunday, Oct 02, 2011 at 22:40

Sunday, Oct 02, 2011 at 22:40

Utes are great, only draw back is not being able to flick the seat back for a quick 10minute snooze by the roadside.

AnswerID: 466620

Follow Up By: Nomadic Navara - Monday, Oct 03, 2011 at 00:24

Monday, Oct 03, 2011 at 00:24

Not if you get a twin cab or extra cab.

PeterD
Retired radio and electronics technician

Lifetime Member
My Profile Send Message

FollowupID: 740741

Reply By: Nomadic Navara - Monday, Oct 03, 2011 at 00:31

Monday, Oct 03, 2011 at 00:31

In the mid 90s I went from a Hilux to a Disco because the ratings for the Hilux were too low for the bigger van. I have now gone back to a twin cab as they can now tow bigger vans.

The thing about a ute is you can carry smelly things like extra fuel and fishing gear and not have it in the cab or the van. Utes carry more than the station wagon variant so you can keep the weight of the van down. I can also carry more comfortable outside furniture which is more bulky than the cheap stuff.

PeterD
Retired radio and electronics technician

Lifetime Member
My Profile Send Message

AnswerID: 466626

Reply By: didiaust - Monday, Oct 03, 2011 at 14:35

Monday, Oct 03, 2011 at 14:35

Have had utes- now have a (Mazda BT50 suicidecab)with lift off canopy for 20 years now. Had the Landcruiser prior but would never go back. Love it for all sorts of jobs - great when fetching wood. Have a Forest permit so we gather our wood at home often too.

Di

AnswerID: 466664

Reply By: pop2jocem - Monday, Oct 03, 2011 at 15:08

Monday, Oct 03, 2011 at 15:08

Hi John,

Can I add my vote for a ute. Now that the kids are all off our hands, in fact now come away with us on trips when work commitments permit in there own 4WD's with a variety of grand kids our ute is ideal for our requirements. I had the cab extended just after we bought it to give us a bit more room and storage inside and built a camper body that bolts on in place of the tray.
Converting is a piece of cake, unplug the wiring, undo 6 bolts and jack the camper off with four screw jacks, drive the ute away and back under the ute tray, lower and fit the bolts, plug in wiring and bingo.
Oh...its a Landcruiser HDJ75 and does a great job of towing the caravan as well.

Cheers
Pop

AnswerID: 466667

Follow Up By: Member - Desert Storm (QLD) - Monday, Oct 03, 2011 at 16:59

Monday, Oct 03, 2011 at 16:59

gday pop,

sounds like a good rig you have. would you be able to post a couple of photos to look at?
John

FollowupID: 740774

Follow Up By: pop2jocem - Tuesday, Oct 04, 2011 at 23:21

Tuesday, Oct 04, 2011 at 23:21

Sorry about not replying sooner John, we got a bit busy with getting ready for an unplanned trip up the coast (WA). When we get back I will have another go at posting photos, I made a total stuff up of it last time. I have shots of the rig in both modes.

Cheers
Pop

FollowupID: 740918

Follow Up By: Member - Desert Storm (QLD) - Tuesday, Oct 04, 2011 at 23:31

Tuesday, Oct 04, 2011 at 23:31

no worries pop,
have a great trip.
Johh

FollowupID: 740920

Reply By: Member - Rocker (NSW) - Wednesday, Oct 05, 2011 at 19:41

Wednesday, Oct 05, 2011 at 19:41

Another vote for the "Ute"

Had a 7 seat GQ Wagon for 15 years (bought new) while the family were young. Like others, they've grown up and got their own vehicles now, so I now have the 4.2L Intercooled Turbo Diesel GU Ute and cant look past it. Canopy on the back that's removable, with a list of mods that continues to grow.

AnswerID: 466861