The Ute / Pick Up - Necessity or Fashio Item
May 14th 2009, 7:10 am
#16
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May 14th 2009, 7:14 am
#17
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May 14th 2009, 7:17 am
#18
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Re: The Ute / Pick Up - Necessity or Fashio Item
Depending on your trade a van has to be a better bet. Have seen kitchens on the backs of tradies utes getting soaked in the rain.
A few utes are well kitted and suited to the trades man using it but most utes are useless especially for the vehicles behind as things bounce off the tray and either hit the following vehicle or leave unpleasant obstructions on the road. We have had this happen to us, not very pleasant but badly driven utes often have phone numbers on them so at least you can follow it up. The lady on the end of the phone will be very pleasant and promise to have a stern word with the lads involved!
Ute drivers have to be the most anti social drivers on QLD roads and speed limits and keeping a safe distance do not apply to them.
Would love a SS Commodore ute though just for the hell of it.
A few utes are well kitted and suited to the trades man using it but most utes are useless especially for the vehicles behind as things bounce off the tray and either hit the following vehicle or leave unpleasant obstructions on the road. We have had this happen to us, not very pleasant but badly driven utes often have phone numbers on them so at least you can follow it up. The lady on the end of the phone will be very pleasant and promise to have a stern word with the lads involved!
Ute drivers have to be the most anti social drivers on QLD roads and speed limits and keeping a safe distance do not apply to them.
Would love a SS Commodore ute though just for the hell of it.
May 14th 2009, 7:23 am
#19
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Re: The Ute / Pick Up - Necessity or Fashio Item
Agree but there is an element of 'Boy / Girl Racer' attached to them that perhaps you don't get with say a Ford Transit, although I have seen a few 'souped up customised' vans going around! By fashion item I mean the type of affection reserved for 'The Volkswagen Camper' etc and how its 'Hip' to have one!
May 14th 2009, 7:25 am
#20
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Re: The Ute / Pick Up - Necessity or Fashio Item
Hubby got his Mazda Dual Cab for $5,000 when we arrived. It's been brilliant, couldn't live without it. Only thing he's had to work on so far is the brakes. We don't have a dog though so we have to tie our youngest up in the back and let her fly about when we go round corners.
May 14th 2009, 7:29 am
#21
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Re: The Ute / Pick Up - Necessity or Fashio Item
There's definitely two types of ute driver.
There are the tradies whose utes are bashed to buggery, covered in muck and look like they do what they're meant to.
Then you have the poser types in their SS with alloys, chrome everywhere and blacked out windows with a tacky 'SKIN' sticker on the back window.
Drive around Wanneroo and you'll see plenty of examples of both.
There are the tradies whose utes are bashed to buggery, covered in muck and look like they do what they're meant to.
Then you have the poser types in their SS with alloys, chrome everywhere and blacked out windows with a tacky 'SKIN' sticker on the back window.
Drive around Wanneroo and you'll see plenty of examples of both.
May 14th 2009, 7:32 am
#22
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Re: The Ute / Pick Up - Necessity or Fashio Item
Hubby got his Mazda Dual Cab for $5,000 when we arrived. It's been brilliant, couldn't live without it. Only thing he's had to work on so far is the brakes. We don't have a dog though so we have to tie our youngest up in the back and let her fly about when we go round corners.
May 14th 2009, 7:47 am
#23
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Re: The Ute / Pick Up - Necessity or Fashio Item
There's definitely two types of ute driver.
There are the tradies whose utes are bashed to buggery, covered in muck and look like they do what they're meant to.
Then you have the poser types in their SS with alloys, chrome everywhere and blacked out windows with a tacky 'SKIN' sticker on the back window.
Drive around Wanneroo and you'll see plenty of examples of both.
There are the tradies whose utes are bashed to buggery, covered in muck and look like they do what they're meant to.
Then you have the poser types in their SS with alloys, chrome everywhere and blacked out windows with a tacky 'SKIN' sticker on the back window.
Drive around Wanneroo and you'll see plenty of examples of both.
Last edited by neil248; May 14th 2009 at 7:49 am.
May 14th 2009, 7:57 am
#24
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Re: The Ute / Pick Up - Necessity or Fashio Item
Was driving up the Mitchell freeway behind a lunatic a couple of weeks ago when a bloody sink fell off the back of his UTE. Caused absolute chaos with people swerving all over the place.
May 14th 2009, 8:51 am
#26
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Re: The Ute / Pick Up - Necessity or Fashio Item
This has probably been done to death so tin hat on here!
As a lifetime 'White Van Man' mainly the Ford Transit which I can't see past and have had all the shapes and sizes over the years and can hear the old Transit engine from miles away I am intrigued to know whether or not the Ute or similar types of pick up trucks used throughout the construction game by tradies is more of a necessary piece of equipment rather than a fashion item?
There was a spell here in Scotland, particularly around the millenium and early 2000s when a lot of folk I know in the building industry were cutting about in pick up / 4 x 4 Mitsubishi Warriors and the likes, however, most of them have went back to the 'White Van' so that has got me thinking that in Oz the Ute maybe just a 'fashionable vehicle' although I can understand the pro's and con's such a vehicle might provide.
Personally my preferred choice has and always will be 'The White Van' as I like to have all my tools and kit with me (van all racked out inside) at all times so as not to get caught short on the job! I have a feeling that my mind / opinion may change once I eventually get to Australia and indeed start working and reckon a lot of it will be down to the terrain as to how practical something like the Transit would be.
I would be interested in your thoughts, opinions and any advice and as they say 'a change is as good as a rest' so it could be that I might have to take the blinkers off!
Lone Ranger
As a lifetime 'White Van Man' mainly the Ford Transit which I can't see past and have had all the shapes and sizes over the years and can hear the old Transit engine from miles away I am intrigued to know whether or not the Ute or similar types of pick up trucks used throughout the construction game by tradies is more of a necessary piece of equipment rather than a fashion item?
There was a spell here in Scotland, particularly around the millenium and early 2000s when a lot of folk I know in the building industry were cutting about in pick up / 4 x 4 Mitsubishi Warriors and the likes, however, most of them have went back to the 'White Van' so that has got me thinking that in Oz the Ute maybe just a 'fashionable vehicle' although I can understand the pro's and con's such a vehicle might provide.
Personally my preferred choice has and always will be 'The White Van' as I like to have all my tools and kit with me (van all racked out inside) at all times so as not to get caught short on the job! I have a feeling that my mind / opinion may change once I eventually get to Australia and indeed start working and reckon a lot of it will be down to the terrain as to how practical something like the Transit would be.
I would be interested in your thoughts, opinions and any advice and as they say 'a change is as good as a rest' so it could be that I might have to take the blinkers off!
Lone Ranger
Now tow trailer with dual cab, can chuck materails etc in back, clean up after, then when finshed work un hitch trailer and go and have some fun in the 4wd and take the whole family.
May 14th 2009, 11:55 am
#27
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Re: The Ute / Pick Up - Necessity or Fashio Item
I personally can't stand 'white vans', think they look awful and are a real blight on UK roads. They are usually filthy, and often have pikey padlocks on the doors.
Utes are hardly a fashionable thing, they have been around for decades in Australia, but have become a bit metrosexual in the last few years.
Utes are hardly a fashionable thing, they have been around for decades in Australia, but have become a bit metrosexual in the last few years.
White vans look gay. They look like they might topple over going around a corner, or seem seriously underpowered.
Utes look cool. Especially the 4wd ones - (you don't need outsize tyres).
Apart from someone nicking something from the tray.....not secured properly.
Also good for heavy loads. Mine gets used for firewood and as a rubbish skip.
May 14th 2009, 12:02 pm
#28
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Re: The Ute / Pick Up - Necessity or Fashio Item
I hate driving but am going to have refresher lessons - why? because I have a thing for Utes.
Seriously, I spent ages in the John Huges car yard gazing at them all and my husband does not get it at all.
I don't know why I love them but I do - it doesnt have to be one of the new ones, a tatty one would do.
Bloody hell, someone else that loves them, I feel better about my fettish for these vehicles now.
Seriously, I spent ages in the John Huges car yard gazing at them all and my husband does not get it at all.
I don't know why I love them but I do - it doesnt have to be one of the new ones, a tatty one would do.
Bloody hell, someone else that loves them, I feel better about my fettish for these vehicles now.
Hubby got his Mazda Dual Cab for $5,000 when we arrived. It's been brilliant, couldn't live without it. Only thing he's had to work on so far is the brakes. We don't have a dog though so we have to tie our youngest up in the back and let her fly about when we go round corners.
You don't see many around in Melbourne now: I am a povo - there's no doubt. Mine has been great I spend about 300 bucks a year on it.
Having said that, I've had to spend a bit recently - a few leaks here and there, I'm getting to the point where all the problems are seals and gaskets..in easy to get to (or not) places, and at Christmas, new shocks all-round.
May 14th 2009, 12:19 pm
#29
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Re: The Ute / Pick Up - Necessity or Fashio Item
This has probably been done to death so tin hat on here!
As a lifetime 'White Van Man' mainly the Ford Transit which I can't see past and have had all the shapes and sizes over the years and can hear the old Transit engine from miles away I am intrigued to know whether or not the Ute or similar types of pick up trucks used throughout the construction game by tradies is more of a necessary piece of equipment rather than a fashion item?
There was a spell here in Scotland, particularly around the millenium and early 2000s when a lot of folk I know in the building industry were cutting about in pick up / 4 x 4 Mitsubishi Warriors and the likes, however, most of them have went back to the 'White Van' so that has got me thinking that in Oz the Ute maybe just a 'fashionable vehicle' although I can understand the pro's and con's such a vehicle might provide.
Personally my preferred choice has and always will be 'The White Van' as I like to have all my tools and kit with me (van all racked out inside) at all times so as not to get caught short on the job! I have a feeling that my mind / opinion may change once I eventually get to Australia and indeed start working and reckon a lot of it will be down to the terrain as to how practical something like the Transit would be.
I would be interested in your thoughts, opinions and any advice and as they say 'a change is as good as a rest' so it could be that I might have to take the blinkers off!
Lone Ranger
As a lifetime 'White Van Man' mainly the Ford Transit which I can't see past and have had all the shapes and sizes over the years and can hear the old Transit engine from miles away I am intrigued to know whether or not the Ute or similar types of pick up trucks used throughout the construction game by tradies is more of a necessary piece of equipment rather than a fashion item?
There was a spell here in Scotland, particularly around the millenium and early 2000s when a lot of folk I know in the building industry were cutting about in pick up / 4 x 4 Mitsubishi Warriors and the likes, however, most of them have went back to the 'White Van' so that has got me thinking that in Oz the Ute maybe just a 'fashionable vehicle' although I can understand the pro's and con's such a vehicle might provide.
Personally my preferred choice has and always will be 'The White Van' as I like to have all my tools and kit with me (van all racked out inside) at all times so as not to get caught short on the job! I have a feeling that my mind / opinion may change once I eventually get to Australia and indeed start working and reckon a lot of it will be down to the terrain as to how practical something like the Transit would be.
I would be interested in your thoughts, opinions and any advice and as they say 'a change is as good as a rest' so it could be that I might have to take the blinkers off!
Lone Ranger
I have used 2 pick ups in the U.K for work that belonged to someone else and you could not pay me to use one for work. I find the whole thing about getting your tools off and on a real drag due to the height and you always seem to be leaning over getting things out. The whole trailer thing also hacks most tradies off I know that use one, popping down Bunnings e.t.c is not so easy.You can rack a van out if you want and it is usually more secure.
I do however thing utes / pick ups are good for the family / beach thing and it may well be our next car is a Navara / Hilux e.t.c.
Hope this helps from gay white van man (pmsl
)
May 14th 2009, 3:53 pm
#30
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Re: The Ute / Pick Up - Necessity or Fashio Item
Do you get a free dog for in the back when you buy a ute in OZ?