Why do people buy custom traytop utes?

[starkersEB]

As the title says.

Why do people buy these utes? As seen in the pics.

It would have to cost a heap to convert them so why not buy the equivilant in another brand or are people that brand loyal??? or am I comletley wrong and these are factory built utes? ps the VL isnt really what im on about but found it looking for images, what a waste of time!

[Scooter]

Perhaps with the case of the Patrol the car was purchased as a cab/chassis only, then add your aftermarket custom tray to suit your requirements.
I would expect an aftermarket tray to be cheaper than a factory tray?
Not sure about the VX commo, but whoever did the VL?
Maybe he had the car with the rear end a write off, and a spare tray lying around and put 2 and 2 together? No idea on that one!

[Ford_The_Win]

The patrol wouldn't have been that hard to convert, I'd say. As for the VU/VZ utes, I'm sure they came in styleside only (one of their criticisms of the Falcon ute is the gap between the body and the rear end/tray) so that would have been fairly pricey.

But to answer the question, yes, people are that brand loyal.

[GS608]

That VZ is most likely the one tonner..which was a factory model.

[Peuty]

Why do people buy any car and spend money on it?

Because they can.

[Mechan1k]

The Patrol is a cab/chassis model ... so an aftermarket tray is easy for these.
Same with the VY/VZ ... they came in a 1-tonner configuration with factory tray ... so an aftermarket tray is easy as well.

As for factory alloy trays ... they are cheap ... and nasty all at the same time.
If you do constant heavy work ... a factory tray will not last the distance ... I have seen many a factory tray that is warped/bent ... with buckled sides on them as well.

The only way to handle decent work is with an aftermarket tray ... they cost more than standard ... but they are stronger and much better looking.

[AUIIPURSUIT]

that vl looks insane.... if the B pillar was done slightly differently to flow onto the tray, it would be a pretty neat conversion.

as others have said, why do people buy rims when their car comes with perfectly functioning wheels...

performance and individuality are the big reasons.

[kinksta]

Agreed that that VL looks very well done. Something unique. I guess it is all about customising, if it's your car, you can do what you like. People spend money one the oddest things sometimes.

[uranium_death]

Originally Posted by Peuty

Because they can.

We can close this thread. Peuty said all that needs to be said...

[93EB_SXR6]

That VL looks really good. I don't like VLs, my uncle wanted to give me one (it was shagged btw) and I knocked it back... but this is making me think I should have got it and made a ute out of it...

[MAV50L]

They probably did it for the same reason I did this to mine.


Because they could.
The GQ patrol is a factory offering , as is the VY commonwhore.
The only one that is custom is the VL.

[naddis01]

Originally Posted by starkersEB

or am I comletley wrong and these are factory built utes?

Yes you are wrong on the first 2 - they are factory built utes with steel trays. Nothing abnormal here.

As for the VL, I actually think that looks kinda cool. The back of the cab could be finished a little better but other than that it looks good.

[AUIIPURSUIT]

im pretty sure that VL would have been a s/wagon originally prof evans..

turning a sedan into a ute looks really bad...

[MAV50L]

Originally Posted by AUIIPURSUIT

im pretty sure that VL would have been a s/wagon originally prof evans..

turning a sedan into a ute looks really bad...

Its a tray back. Wouldnt have mattered whether they started with a sedan or a wagon. None of the rear would get used........................................

[Giant Cranium]

Originally Posted by MAV50L

They probably did it for the same reason I did this to mine.


Because they could.
The GQ patrol is a factory offering , as is the VY commonwhore.
The only one that is custom is the VL.

i always wanted to do that to my old mans 60 series cruiser but he sold it on me.

the patrol looks sweet and is one of the better ones ive seen

[AUIIPURSUIT]

Originally Posted by MAV50L

Its a tray back. Wouldnt have mattered whether they started with a sedan or a wagon. None of the rear would get used........................................

wheelbase...

though on further inspection, its a universal wheelbase in VLs.

[barra265t]

That VL is insane, much better effort than ford's boxcar ute of the era.

[starkersEB]

Oh ok I didn't realise there were cab chassis commodores and for that matter patrol utes, so there ya go I don't know everything ;)

[starkersEB]

And yeah having a better look, barring the b pillar that vl does actually look pretty good

[vanman_75]

I'm not trying to be rude , but you don't get out much if you didn't know of those two cars ....or your a bit young maybe

[starkersEB]

I knew they existed!!!!!!!!!! but didint realise they were factory. especially seeing the como ute is not a cab chassis (usually) and the patrol is majorly seen as a wagon. But I maybe should have thought about it a little harder especially seeing the landcruiser comes/came in so many guises.

[TheZHLANE]

didnt the gq mavericks, patrols come with the tray

[starkersEB]

oh and just to be clear I am not talking about the tray its self. I was assuming these were utes/sedans/wagons made into tray tops for people who want holden/nissan etc.. or nothing.

[vanman_75]

Mate I was probably a bit harsh on you ...but every second car in the country is a ute ...be it a falcon , cruiser, patrol, whatever. Style side for pretty boys,and trays for the hard stuff , you will find most are aftermarket as most factory ones are light duty , and aftermarket allows all sorts of options under trays , watertanks, toolboxs rollover protection etc . All of which have been around for a hundred years , with the patrols beingaround for forty or more so I guess you learn something new every day

[MO]

These days you can even get tipper tray utes with lifting arms etc.

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

Love the VL, looks cool and well done, and I usually hate VL Commonwhores

[XBROO]

The patrols come out stantard like that but sometimes people turn their wagons into utes so they have a coils all round.

[302 XC]

The later GQ Patrol utes were factory coils
Its only the early GQ Patrol utes that were spring suspension
The MQ/MK Patrol utes were spring as well
There was a company a few years ago now called
"The 1 tonner company"
They were into doin holden custom tray back utes,when holden stopped
So your VL,VN,VP,VR,models turned into tray backs
Maybe that VL ute was one of their creations
I wouldnt think that VL tray back would still be on the factory floorpan
There would be some serious chassis work under there to hold the wieght of the rear when loaded