The Ute / Pick Up - Necessity or Fashio Item
May 14th 2009, 7:39 pm
#31
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2006
Location: Chermside West, Brisbane
Posts: 584
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.
My 3 boys absolutely love being flung in the back of the van and make all sorts of screeching noises when going round corners / bends etc!Not so sure the police would think this would be okay as you are not allowed to carry passengers in the back of your van for obvious reasons so I've had to draw a halt to it.
May 14th 2009, 7:47 pm
#32
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2006
Location: Chermside West, Brisbane
Posts: 584
Re: The Ute / Pick Up - Necessity or Fashio Item
May 14th 2009, 7:51 pm
#33
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2006
Location: Chermside West, Brisbane
Posts: 584
Re: The Ute / Pick Up - Necessity or Fashio Item
Diversing slightly but what is the craziest thing that you've seen on the back of a Ute apart from Moneypenny's daughter tied up?
May 16th 2009, 11:01 pm
#34
Going for a ride
Joined: Sep 2005
Location: Monbulk, Victoria.
Posts: 2,838
Re: The Ute / Pick Up - Necessity or Fashio Item
Mine's an old looking 1992 Mitsubishi with 330k on it!!
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.
Who remembers the top gear episode when they tried to kill a hilux & failed
May 16th 2009, 11:39 pm
#35
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 23,400
Re: The Ute / Pick Up - Necessity or Fashio Item
Toyota Hilux 2.8D dual cab. 1994 with 298k. The best car I have ever owned !! Cheap as chips to run & maintain & starts every time.If I need a metre of sand or screenings etc, just drive down to the local Bunnings/Mitre 10 and drop it in the back. Throw the boys dirt bikes in the back in the weekend and take them for a ride or just load it up and go camping for a week. Couldnt be easier.
Who remembers the top gear episode when they tried to kill a hilux & failed
Who remembers the top gear episode when they tried to kill a hilux & failed
I cannot believe I get excited at the thought of a Hilux.
May 17th 2009, 12:37 am
#36
Just Joined
Joined: Apr 2007
Location: warner QLD
Posts: 17
Re: The Ute / Pick Up - Necessity or Fashio Item
I asked myself the same question when I first arrived as I had always used vans for work,when I saw the amount of tradesman using ute's I thought I would give it a go!.Big mistake,I struggled for severn months with my tools getting wet/rusty even with a cover for the back, materials ruined and security was always a concern although I didn't actually lose anything.I now have a "white van" and could not be more happy even though it's not cool and drive's like a steam-roller it just feel's right.I do think some trades are better off with a ute it just didn't work for me.[/I][/I]
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
May 17th 2009, 5:04 am
#38
Kingscliff NSW/QLD border
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 431
Re: The Ute / Pick Up - Necessity or Fashio Item
Definitely depends on what job you do........i used to drive a transit in the uk,but since living here i've only had utes.
The latest being a mitsubishi duelcab 2.8td.....had it 3yrs from new. My job is leak detection/plumbing so its ideal also great car after work hours ie....off roading,fishing,camping, carries 4 people comfortably....can't complain.
Believe me you'd soon get fedup of jumping in and out of a transit looking for gear.....i agree not so practial in the uk with all that rain........
The latest being a mitsubishi duelcab 2.8td.....had it 3yrs from new. My job is leak detection/plumbing so its ideal also great car after work hours ie....off roading,fishing,camping, carries 4 people comfortably....can't complain.
Believe me you'd soon get fedup of jumping in and out of a transit looking for gear.....i agree not so practial in the uk with all that rain........
Last edited by the plumber; May 17th 2009 at 5:08 am.
May 17th 2009, 6:33 am
#39
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Hill overlooking the SE Melbourne suburbs
Posts: 16,622
Re: The Ute / Pick Up - Necessity or Fashio Item
I'm the first to admit that my taste in ute is actually a Japanese built lightweight pickup truck.
I do quite like the old Holden 70s utes....I'll get my coat.
The plumber - I use my ute tarp as a raingauge..
May 17th 2009, 10:42 am
#40
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2006
Location: Chermside West, Brisbane
Posts: 584
Re: The Ute / Pick Up - Necessity or Fashio Item
I asked myself the same question when I first arrived as I had always used vans for work,when I saw the amount of tradesman using ute's I thought I would give it a go!.Big mistake,I struggled for severn months with my tools getting wet/rusty even with a cover for the back, materials ruined and security was always a concern although I didn't actually lose anything.I now have a "white van" and could not be more happy even though it's not cool and drive's like a steam-roller it just feel's right.I do think some trades are better off with a ute it just didn't work for me.[/I][/I]
May 17th 2009, 11:44 am
#41
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Perth NOR
Posts: 242
Re: The Ute / Pick Up - Necessity or Fashio Item
Bogan transport = Ute.
That's all I have to say.
That's all I have to say.
May 17th 2009, 5:11 pm
#43
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 405
Re: The Ute / Pick Up - Necessity or Fashio Item
Not long ago i parted company with my dodge ram quadcab SRT-10 pickup.Biggest mistake i ever made,selling it, car wise anyway, 8.3 litres of viper engine, damn thing made me laff my ass off everytime i drove it, way too much fun, if i wasnt saving to go id have another in the blink of an eye.Seriously interested in a Maloo R8 when i arrive in oz 
May 17th 2009, 7:39 pm
#44
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2007
Location: Michelago
Posts: 545
Re: The Ute / Pick Up - Necessity or Fashio Item
I was once told by a mate "once you have a ute, all the time that you are a two car family, you will always have a ute" He was so right.
I have the Landcruiser 4.2 ltr ute. Bomb Proof. Serviced every 5000 Kms. Last ute was the 3.0 ltr Hilux single cab ute. Had that for 8 years. It went very well in all the time I had it except when it met its demise when my wife blew the engine going up on a trip to Queensland. My excuse to upgrade and get the Cruiser.
Barney
I have the Landcruiser 4.2 ltr ute. Bomb Proof. Serviced every 5000 Kms. Last ute was the 3.0 ltr Hilux single cab ute. Had that for 8 years. It went very well in all the time I had it except when it met its demise when my wife blew the engine going up on a trip to Queensland. My excuse to upgrade and get the Cruiser.
Barney
May 17th 2009, 7:54 pm
#45
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2007
Location: Halls Head WA
Posts: 289
Re: The Ute / Pick Up - Necessity or Fashio Item
I was once told by a mate "once you have a ute, all the time that you are a two car family, you will always have a ute" He was so right.
I have the Landcruiser 4.2 ltr ute. Bomb Proof. Serviced every 5000 Kms. Last ute was the 3.0 ltr Hilux single cab ute. Had that for 8 years. It went very well in all the time I had it except when it met its demise when my wife blew the engine going up on a trip to Queensland. My excuse to upgrade and get the Cruiser.
Barney
I have the Landcruiser 4.2 ltr ute. Bomb Proof. Serviced every 5000 Kms. Last ute was the 3.0 ltr Hilux single cab ute. Had that for 8 years. It went very well in all the time I had it except when it met its demise when my wife blew the engine going up on a trip to Queensland. My excuse to upgrade and get the Cruiser.
Barney
(Land cruiser)