Utes are fast becoming the new Aussie family car: Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger set new record

[Express]

Originally Posted by prydey

At least 300kg of camping gear
image

ave under 10L/100km.

falcon, the forgotten tow vehicle. survived for decades towing stuff around the country long before 4wd's and utes were popular.

Next time I go home for a visit I'll have to remember to check and see if the old man's box trailer hasn't been knocked off, yours look exactly like his and he went on holidays for 30 odd years carting one behind a sedan with a canvas water bag hanging off the front bumper bar.

[prydey]

Sounds like it's similar vintage. My old man bought this trailer in Brisbane in 1978. It's a bit like grandpa's axe now. Sides and tailgate and draw bar are still original, rest is all new.

[aussie muscle]

shhh, it’s a Nissan Navara underneath

I guess the mercedes badge will make it the most expensive Navara ever.

[.:4:.]

Originally Posted by prydey

At least 300kg of camping gear
image

ave under 10L/100km.

falcon, the forgotten tow vehicle. survived for decades towing stuff around the country long before 4wd's and utes were popular.

You crossed the line mate. You're talking about towing not just throwing stuff in the back. In hindsight I won't tow my boat behind the ranger because slippery ramps are no good for light truck tyres.

[mcflux]

Originally Posted by prydey

At least 300kg of camping gear
image

ave under 10L/100km.

falcon, the forgotten tow vehicle. survived for decades towing stuff around the country long before 4wd's and utes were popular.

I used to do the same. I like the ease of simply chucking stuff in the tub of my Hilux, and as I still have that trailer I can haul even more stuff than before if need be.

One factor the Falcon sedan simply can't get around is clearance.

[ronwest]

Originally Posted by Express

a canvas water bag hanging off the front bumper bar.

Now we're talking...

Used to be my job the wet the water bag prior to departure.

As I'm a bit dumber than the average bear my old man must have explained the reasons for wetting it down a dozen times or more.

[Ben73]

This thread has convinced me, I'm trading in my Ranger for a sedan tomorrow.

I always thought my vehicle suited my personal use, but I have just found out other people drive sedans on a daily basis. I can't believe this. How was I so blind.

Sedans look great in general, but are pretty low on the practicality scale for myself. I think I would prefer a hatchback over a sedan for practicality, but that's just me.

[Express]

Originally Posted by ronwest

Now we're talking...

Used to be my job the wet the water bag prior to departure.

As I'm a bit dumber than the average bear my old man must have explained the reasons for wetting it down a dozen times or more.

I don’t claim to know the physics of it but I do know what I was told when I was young and that was wetting down or soaking the bag first helps kick start the cooling process when the car starts to move much the same as sweat on your skin.

[Express]

Originally Posted by Ghia5L

image

I used to do the same. I like the ease of simply chucking stuff in the tub of my Hilux, and as I still have that trailer I can haul even more stuff than before if need be.

One factor the Falcon sedan simply can't get around is clearance.

I admit a trailer is more work as you have to hitch and unhitch but I can dent a trailer and live with it, I hate to mark the tray on my Ute.

[turbodewd]

and yet newer carparking spaces are becoming thinner FFS!

ive started measuring them. the new ones are 2.41 or 2.45 or 2.55. 2.6 is comfortable for my Falcon. Older parts of Canberra go 2.75m wide or 2.8!

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

Missus is pushing for a new Ranger, will probably end up with one eventually, I would prefer an F truck to be honest, but unfortunately funds are not unlimited....these vehicle suit our life perfectly, dogs, camping, fishing, hunting, beach, towing horse floats, car trailers, camping trailers, bike trailers etc etc

[Rallye Sport]

Originally Posted by Ben73

This thread has convinced me, I'm trading in my Ranger for a sedan tomorrow.

I always thought my vehicle suited my personal use, but I have just found out other people drive sedans on a daily basis. I can't believe this. How was I so blind.

Sedans look great in general, but are pretty low on the practicality scale for myself. I think I would prefer a hatchback over a sedan for practicality, but that's just me.

Sounds like you need a daihatsu applause, they're a hatchback sedan, great looks and practicality to boot.

[Ben73]

Originally Posted by XB GS 351 Coupe

I would prefer an F truck to be honest, but unfortunately funds are not unlimited...

I don't get why companies are not bringing these vehicles to Australia for a reasonably price considering how popular Ute/pickups/trucks/backies are in Australia.

Yes they will eat into sales of the Ranger or similar, but all the R&D has been done for the F150. Surely making it in RHD would be cheaper than making a Ranger from scratch and putting all the time and effort into R&D.

Originally Posted by Rallye Sport

Sounds like you need a daihatsu applause, they're a hatchback sedan, great looks and practicality to boot.

I think hatchbacks are more practical because the boot goes all the way to roof height, while sedans boots go as high as the bottom of the rear window.
Newer 'large' hatchbacks seam to have a decent passenger area. Might not be as big as a large sedan, but still adequate for my own needs.

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by Ben73

Yes they will eat into sales of the Ranger or similar, but all the R&D has been done for the F150. Surely making it in RHD would be cheaper than making a Ranger from scratch and putting all the time and effort into R&D.

How would all the r&d be done? They need to be rhd, pass regional safety, design rules, suspension changes for the area and a multitude of things if they are not ready for the change.

Ranger is designed to be in every market and minor changes applied.

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

Originally Posted by Ben73

I don't get why companies are not bringing these vehicles to Australia for a reasonably price considering how popular Ute/pickups/trucks/backies are in Australia.

Yes they will eat into sales of the Ranger or similar, but all the R&D has been done for the F150. Surely making it in RHD would be cheaper than making a Ranger from scratch and putting all the time and effort into R&D.

They do sell them here, but prices are outrageous. As in 200K outrageous. I think they are imported by the dealer not Ford though but do come with a full warranty.

http://www.harrisonftrucks.com.au

Amazing towing capacity on these things as well.

[Itsme]

Originally Posted by XB GS 351 Coupe

They do sell them here, but prices are outrageous. As in 200K outrageous. I think they are imported by the dealer not Ford though but do come with a full warranty.

http://www.harrisonftrucks.com.au

Amazing towing capacity on these things as well.

I'm not quite sure but I think the imported F trucks are Canadian manufactured.

[Windsor220]

I couldn't see the F series selling that much. Not to be worthwhile anyway. They are too big.

[mcflux]

Originally Posted by Express

I admit a trailer is more work as you have to hitch and unhitch but I can dent a trailer and live with it, I hate to mark the tray on my Ute.

The tub liner in my Hilux works wonders, it has scuffs & scrapes & gouges in it from all the stuff I've chucked in it. If I had a (painted) tray I'd probably also line it.

[chevypower]

Originally Posted by trublu

I'm not quite sure but I think the imported F trucks are Canadian manufactured.

I don't think any F-Series trucks are made in Canada. Ford makes the 5.0 V8 engine there. If you heard Canada, the importers might source them from Canadian dealers because of the metric dash? Just a guess though.

[Giant Cranium]

Originally Posted by Windsor220

I couldn't see the F series selling that much. Not to be worthwhile anyway. They are too big.

too big, they are perfect. i can fit in a f250/350 single cab ute and still have 150mm knee room till i hit the dash. i can also fit three of me wide comfortably (195cm and 120kg)

all the asian utes are way to small.

[Vesper Martini]

Originally Posted by Express

I admit a trailer is more work as you have to hitch and unhitch but I can dent a trailer and live with it, I hate to mark the tray on my Ute.

My 6x4 trailer is used and abused, there's nearly no paint left on it..
it gets loaded with sand and stone from a tipper, and often gets firewood thrown in.

If I had a tray back tub I wouldn't be able to use it like my trailer either.

the only negative is its sits on my front lawn when not used, but at the $550 it cost me its paid for itself over and over.

[SumoDog68]

Originally Posted by Giant Cranium

too big, they are perfect. i can fit in a f250/350 single cab ute and still have 150mm knee room till i hit the dash. i can also fit three of me wide comfortably (195cm and 120kg)

all the asian utes are way to small.

What about external size of the F250 ? Those are about 6.5m long and over 2.5 m wide ...

[Big_Daz]

Originally Posted by chevypower

I don't think any F-Series trucks are made in Canada. Ford makes the 5.0 V8 engine there. If you heard Canada, the importers might source them from Canadian dealers because of the metric dash? Just a guess though.

Yeah F-Trucks are US made... I know some models of Ram are made in Mexico (Cant exactly remember which ones though...lol)

The Ford F-Trucks (And Rams, Silverado's AFAIK) aren't made RHD from the Factory like the Ranger/etc are because Ford for whatever reason doesn't want to sell them in those markets...

The reason why you are paying big dollars for them over here is that the RAW that brings them in has done all the work to not only get the RAWS compliance but to engineer and make the components needed to make them RHD... That **** aint cheap..

Mustang was the same, before Ford started making them RHD and selling them in RHD markets the cost to get one over here was a heap higher than Ford sell's them for in Aus..

If Ford (or Chev/Dodge) made these trucks RHD im sure the price would be much more reasonable but I just don't see them doing it, our market is so small and the potential sales wouldn't be big enough to justify the extra work...

[chevypower]

Originally Posted by Big_Daz

Yeah F-Trucks are US made... I know some models of Ram are made in Mexico (Cant exactly remember which ones though...lol

I believe all Ram pickups are made in Saltillo, Mexico. They don't make any in the US. Of course that could change now Trump is in.

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

Originally Posted by Windsor220

I couldn't see the F series selling that much. Not to be worthwhile anyway. They are too big.

Too big for what??

For me they would be perfect. If you live in suburbia with your closest neighbour living less than a metre away and listening to you flush the toilet then yes it may be too big.

[Mercury Bullet]

Originally Posted by SumoDog68

What about external size of the F250 ? Those are about 6.5m long and over 2.5 m wide ...

I doubt they would be wider than 2.5m. That's the legal limit in Aus...or used to be.

[Windsor220]

Originally Posted by XB GS 351 Coupe

Too big for what??

For me they would be perfect. If you live in suburbia with your closest neighbour living less than a metre away and listening to you flush the toilet then yes it may be too big.

Well the majority of Australia do live in suburbia. As a business case its probably not worth it for Ford

[Adamz Ghia]

Originally Posted by Mercury Bullet

I doubt they would be wider than 2.5m. That's the legal limit in Aus...or used to be.

105.9 inches wide including mirrors.

[superyob]

I would so have a Wildtrack Ranger now if my wife wasn't so practical or I was a single dude...

[chevypower]

Originally Posted by Adamz Ghia

105.9 inches wide including mirrors.

It's usually the mirrors that make the biggest difference on them since they are huge towing mirrors.