Long bed utes?

[Metastable]

Just curious - are there any double cab long bed utes offered in NZ or AUS? It seems all the double cabs are mated to short beds.

For example here we have a long bed version of almost anything, such as our "Hilux" aka Tacoma. Notice how there is an extra foot between the rear wheel and the rear of the cabin.
http://cms.ipressroom.com.s3.amazonaws.com/152/files/20153/552566ce5e8eef15309fd02e_2016_Toyota_Tacoma-1/2016_Toyota_Tacoma-1_42ad60b6-057d-4470-9d1d-032bb22280a6-prv.jpg

vs the short bed:
http://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/55d2245ee4b0ffa7afe3eaeb/0x600.jpg?fit=scale&background=000000

I just find it more handy to load bikes when it has a longer bed... plus more of the weight is over the rear axle as opposed to behind it.

[sidecar bob]

We can get this fuckin abomination. It's probably not what you would call a long bed though.
http://www.drivesouth.co.nz/news/roadtests/4404/smooth-ride-by-charismatic-crewman-ute

[jasonu]

We can get this fuckin abomination. It's probably not what you would call a long bed though.
http://www.drivesouth.co.nz/news/roadtests/4404/smooth-ride-by-charismatic-crewman-ute

That's no more than a car with a small tray tacked on.


http://www.fordrelease.com/2015/09/2016-ford-f350-king-ranch-release-date.html

[sidecar bob]

That's no more than a car with a small tray tacked on.


http://www.fordrelease.com/2015/09/2016-ford-f350-king-ranch-release-date.html

But yet it is somehow longer & more awkward to hoist Than a BMW 750il.
The engine is a piece of shit that fills up with carbon if the factory service interval is observed & they have a thin spray of undercoat underneath ensuring that they will rust if used.
They also turn in about the same space as a FH Volvo towing a B train.

[Metastable]

Ya the commodore 4 door ute looks a bit odd. The newer 2 door Commodore Sandman looks pretty decent though. :D

http://gmauthority.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/2016-Holden-Sandman-Ute-Rear-Quarter-1024x634.jpg

I'd hit it - especially if it had the manual transmission!

[Gremlin]

Short answer is no. If you think local stuff only, all the double cab (Hilux, Ranger etc) all have short trays. Long trays available on single cab, including the Holden Commodore (had two) and Ford Falcon sport utes. They're about 1.8m long. Short trays (I think the Amarok is the biggest around 1.5m) vary around 1.4-1.5m. The odd one to all these is the Crewman (as above) that was double cab, but still had a short tray, but all up it's around 5.5m (the sport utes are a smidge over 5m). The Hilux et al aren't small, usually between 5 and 5.5m.

Only way you get double cab and long tray is the American stuff (plus http://www.longbedmytruck.com/).

This was one of my issues. Couldn't get more than two seats if I wanted a long tray for motorbikes (putting the rear wheel on the tail wasn't desirable as bikes were heavy). Instead I settled for the biggest Hiace. I've got the front seats plus first rear row (a 2 seater but I could replace if I really wanted to) and with the last two rows removed (the max seaters have another row on top, with no boot space) I can still get full sized bikes in the rear. Remove all rear seats and you've got about 3.4m load space, otherwise with one row it's somewhere around 2.5m. Or I can put the seats back in and it's a 10 seater.

The other factor was that nothing was secure in the tray, so I couldn't drop into a supermarket etc. On the flip side, I have to permanently live with a 2.3m tall vehicle that hates hills. Most drivethroughs and parking garages aren't an option, but I ride daily anyway. When I do need to carry something... it's almost never a problem :D

[sidecar bob]

Ya the commodore 4 door ute looks a bit odd. The newer 2 door Commodore Sandman looks pretty decent though. :D


I'd hit it - especially if it had the manual transmission!

The back window is so high & the seats are so low that they are virtually impossible to reverse with any accuracy.
Don't listen to me though, I have long been disgusted by Australian vehicles but am probably not alone seeing both ford falcon & Holden commodore have definitive finish dates for production now.

[Motu]

You'd need rear wheel steer with those long utes on NZ roads. The Mitsubishi Triton has those cut back rear doors to get the back axle forward for a shorter wheelbase and tight turning circle. Those huge Yank Tanks are literally a waste of space.

[Gremlin]

The back window is so high & the seats are so low that they are virtually impossible to reverse with any accuracy.
They got worse and worse model on model. I had a VU and VY ute (3.8L) with OK rear vision, but not great. With a half ton of bikes, plus gear, plus mate and I (ie, over the 735kg load limit) it was still pulling just fine and able to maintain the speed limit comfortably. VE and VF had worse rear vision, plus plenty put the lids on that reduced vision further.

Convinced me there was no practical reason to have the 5-6L, plus the load limit was a laugh (500kg including fuel and passengers). Although, it was a utility and set the fastest lap around Nurburgring :lol:

[husaberg]

Why just split the difference with a cab and a half Hilux.
317387
The ride is rough as guts compared to a Ranger cab and a half work ute I had at the same time though.
the Ranger cab and a half like the courier before it had the added advantage of the rear suicide doors.
317388317389
From memory the longest bed ute in a double cab was a pre Triton Mitzi they had a lot of rear overhang.
317386

[bogan]

Was looking into similar a while back.

We get this sort of thing instead. But, when you start going twin cab and long deck, arguably the 'ute' version is a truck anyway.

http://www.fifthwheelersforsale.com.au/upimages/3276_Toyota_3_.jpg

[Grumph]

In the 90's there were a couple of long bed options available locally. Mate had a Toyota which fitted a tool box plus race bike in the length of the tray. Don't know where you'd find one of them now in usable condition.
The aussies had a crew cab LWB long tray option available for the Holden. Only seen pics but one guy carried a small hydroplane interstate plus his family and crew...probably longer than a van which could carry it all anyway.

[awa355]

Aussie designs haven't changed much at all.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/Untitled%20picture_19.jpg

[sidecar bob]

Best bike transport is a LWB van with a rear seat.
Everything inside out of sight & the weather.

[BMWST?]

cab and chassis build your own bed https://www.ford.co.nz/servlet/Satellite?blobtable=DFYImage&blobcol=urlthumbnail&blobheadervalue1=max-age%253D1000&ssbinary=true&blobheadername1=Cache-Control&blobwhere=1249160788530&blobkey=id

[Gremlin]

Holden VU with 2 bikes
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb236/_Gremlin/th_20130221_114820_zps2f8d3511.jpg (http://s210.photobucket.com/user/_Gremlin/media/20130221_114820_zps2f8d3511.jpg.html)


Best bike transport is a LWB van with a rear seat.
Everything inside out of sight & the weather.
Depends on what they call it. SLWB is more handy... Bit tricky parking it in regular places tho.
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb236/_Gremlin/th_20150404_125407_zpstq1uzv8x.jpg (http://s210.photobucket.com/user/_Gremlin/media/20150404_125407_zpstq1uzv8x.jpg.html)

[Laava]

cab and chassis build your own bed ]

Yep, it is entirely doable to have a double cab ute and build a good sized deck capable of carrying two bikes easily. Makes it a bitch to get at the towbar too. The downside is that the urban streets and carparks are ridiculously small for an oversize vehicle of any sort. Only really a problem if you go into or park in town. I have an extra cab ute with a 2.4m long deck and the whole plot is 5.9m long.

[sidecar bob]

Depends on what they call it. SLWB is more handy... Bit tricky parking it in regular places tho.


I was meaning something more like this. Proper long.:msn-wink:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/mercedesbenz/auction-976893345.htm

[Gremlin]

I was meaning something more like this. Proper long.:msn-wink:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/mercedesbenz/auction-976893345.htm
Yes indeed, would be lovely... Sprinters in 4WD however are a rare find, not to mention expensive... There is the 519XL... for like... 6 figures. :eek:

The Hiace is pretty much at the limit of my parking and maneuvering space however...

[5ive]

I've been loooking at this issue for the last 5 months or so, trying to figure a way of getting my bike and my 3 year old son to (future) daycare, and then hopping on my bike to go to work. It would cut my (future) commute down by 30 minutes at least. Double cab for the next kid maybe...

Double cab, long bed, and low enough to ride the bike quickly on to. Hard to find a vehicle to suit. Even looked at vans, but not really good enough.

Also looking at the safety rating and fuel effeciency as well.

I have not found anything 'stock' that is modern or practical. Closest I've found is mid-2000 Ford Couriers, which have massive k's on their engines, and have been thrashed/modded past usefulness. Good for the odd track day though I suppose. Back tray down, and a few tie-downs involved.

I don't think New Zealand has the market for these vehicles.

[Tazz]

The back window is so high & the seats are so low that they are virtually impossible to reverse with any accuracy.
Don't listen to me though, I have long been disgusted by Australian vehicles but am probably not alone seeing both ford falcon & Holden commodore have definitive finish dates for production now.

Next time take a look at your side mirrors... Reversing looking out the back from habit is useless in a ute as you cant see through what's loaded on the back anyway.

[Gremlin]

I've been loooking at this issue for the last 5 months or so, trying to figure a way of getting my bike and my 3 year old son to (future) daycare, and then hopping on my bike to go to work. It would cut my (future) commute down by 30 minutes at least. Double cab for the next kid maybe...
You'd need to factor in the loading / unloading of the bike though. Not too long, but when you're talking about every day, making sure the ramp is secure, putting on your gear, I'm not sure you're really going to save much.

Avoid the steel type trays. While bigger and flat they're much higher, above the wheels. 4WD can be handy (I mountain bike as well, so getting up/down gravel trail heads is part of getting there) but can also raise the loading height. Utes are easier for accessing tie down points, even from outside the tray. Obviously impossible inside a van so a bit of a squeeze. Vans also have to be tall enough to take your bike.

Otherwise, depending on purpose, consider a trailer. Lower loading height, get the tow vehicle of your choice. Have to store the trailer though, maintain, etc.

[5ive]

You'd need to factor in the loading / unloading of the bike though. Not too long, but when you're talking about every day, making sure the ramp is secure, putting on your gear, I'm not sure you're really going to save much.

Avoid the steel type trays. While bigger and flat they're much higher, above the wheels. 4WD can be handy (I mountain bike as well, so getting up/down gravel trail heads is part of getting there) but can also raise the loading height. Utes are easier for accessing tie down points, even from outside the tray. Obviously impossible inside a van so a bit of a squeeze. Vans also have to be tall enough to take your bike.

Otherwise, depending on purpose, consider a trailer. Lower loading height, get the tow vehicle of your choice. Have to store the trailer though, maintain, etc.

Yep, the 30 minutes is taking all of that into consideration, including unloading the bike. It's a geographical conundrum because of where we live because of hills, road layout, and waterways. I'd take one route to get to daycare in a car/ute, but then have to use another route from home on the bike to get to work. I'd wear my gear apart from helmet in the ute as well. My daily commute is about 196km at the moment, daycare would be on the way to work, but on a very slight tangent. I'd only be doing the drop-offs in the morning, so could take my time loading the bike back on in the afternoons. The 30 minutes in the morning saved would be great, makes life easier.

I did look at trailers as well, but it wouldn't work security or space wise, especially if I needed to take the bike on the back of the ute all of the way to work, as parking is an issue. Plus rego/maintenence etc.

[nzspokes]

Dont over think it.

[nzspokes]

Next time take a look at your side mirrors... Reversing looking out the back from habit is useless in a ute as you cant see through what's loaded on the back anyway.

Yerp, thats how I was taught. Our old work utes were so full of crap no way the rear view mirror was of any use.

[Laava]

There are a couple of things to be wary of as well. One of them being mates with cameras!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRvuuCzckJU&sns=em

[98tls]

Aussie designs haven't changed much at all.

http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w420/awa355/Untitled%20picture_19.jpg

Much prettier than there recent offerings....bloke down here has (only one ive ever seen) a Holden ute possibly late 90s with the longest deck ive ever seen and apparently a factory built ute,must take a pic of the thing...somewhat ugly but bloody practical i would say.

[Gremlin]

Much prettier than there recent offerings....bloke down here has (only one ive ever seen) a Holden ute possibly late 90s with the longest deck ive ever seen and apparently a factory built ute,must take a pic of the thing...somewhat ugly but bloody practical i would say.
Yep, that was the VR-VS era, not many around.

[husaberg]

Yep, that was the VR-VS era, not many around.

10mm longer than even a Crewman is, I have never seen one.
317404317405

[jasonu]

10mm longer than even a Crewman is, I have never seen one.
317404317405

Fuck that is one ugly vehicle!

Are you sure it wasn't made on TopGear???
317407

[Erelyes]

Not sure if this belongs here or in the 'optimistic sellers' thread.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/nissan/auction-982563082.htm

[husaberg]

Fuck that is one ugly vehicle!

Are you sure it wasn't made on TopGear???


Funny enough it is body styled by Americans its a Chev Caprice/Holdern Comadore they even have a 3.8 Buick or a 350 Chev.:bleh:

[buggerit]

There was an NZ outfit extending the chassis of your standard double cab , adding between the rear wheels and the cab,then
putting the single cab tray on them. Saw it a few years back at the feilddays.
What about a removeable sidecar?:innocent:

[JimO]

i know a guy that bought a brand new 200series v8 landcruiser and had it chopped up and made into a double cab with a flatdeck probably cost well over 150k all up

[jasonu]

Funny enough it is body styled by Americans its a Chev Caprice/Holdern Comadore they even have a 3.8 Buick or a 350 Chev.:bleh:

Bullshit. Nothing like that here.

[husaberg]

Bullshit. Nothing like that here.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Caprice
Gm supplies the bodies design Holden alters them to suit. The US might not have the Ute version but the sedans you certainly did.
317410
Holden Comadore
317411
Chev Caprice
The same body was used in the UK as a Vauxhall Cavalier
317413

Same thing happened with the Vauhall Chevette/Holdern Isuzu Gemini/Opal Kaddet plus the Viva/HB Torana

[jasonu]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Caprice
Gm supplies the bodies design Holden alters them to suit. The US might not have the Ute version but the sedans you certainly did.
317410
Holden Comadore
317411
Chev Caprice
The same body was used in the UK as a Vauxhall Cavalier
317413

Same thing happened with the Vauhall Chevette/Holdern Isuzu Gemini/Opal Kaddet plus the Viva/HB Torana

So I was right. That god awful ute wasn't designed here.
A few years ago there was a a Holden commode rebadged, given a few extra hood scoops etc and sold here as a Pontiac GTO.

[husaberg]

So I was right. That god awful ute wasn't designed here.
A few years ago there was a a Holden commode rebadged, given a few extra hood scoops etc and sold here as a Pontiac GTO.

It depends what you were trying to say to me it was that you never had anything like the Holden commodore or just the ute version of the Commodore , I assumed the former.
The body was regardless the Aussies just chopped of the rear.
Was the Poniac GTO a rebadged two door Monaro?

[jasonu]

.
Was the Poniac GTO a rebadged two door Monaro?

Yep that's the one.

[sidecar bob]

What about a removeable sidecar?:innocent:

I thought that was the obvious choice, or an expanding tank bag.;)

[BMWST?]

i know a guy that bought a brand new 200series v8 landcruiser and had it chopped up and made into a double cab with a flatdeck probably cost well over 150k all up
some aussie did that too for some 4wd/fishing show

[ellipsis]

...I put a 4.8meter deck on a Dyna...14 race bikes...10 race bikes and a piano...9 race bikes, a piano and the bbq...7 race bikes, the family in a tent, their stuff...4 race bikes, 25 bales of hay...the dog didn't mind all this crowding his space either...

[bogan]

...I put a 4.8meter deck on a Dyna...14 race bikes...10 race bikes and a piano...9 race bikes, a piano and the bbq...7 race bikes, the family in a tent, their stuff...4 race bikes, 25 bales of hay...the dog didn't mind all this crowding his space either...

Twin cab? Pics?

[ellipsis]

Twin cab? Pics?


...I'll pull out some pics when I can...twin cab, what the fuck do you think the tent was?...

[bogan]

...I'll pull out some pics when I can...twin cab, what the fuck do you think the tent was?...

I thought it would be the brakes...

[Grumph]

...I put a 4.8meter deck on a Dyna...14 race bikes...10 race bikes and a piano...9 race bikes, a piano and the bbq...7 race bikes, the family in a tent, their stuff...4 race bikes, 25 bales of hay...the dog didn't mind all this crowding his space either...

And a partridge in a pear tree...reminds me of pics of the SI motocross team heading off for the North Vs South meeting in years past. They always looked like one of the lost tribes of Israel migrating complete with bikes...The truck owner usually tried to squeeze some paying load on as well.


I thought it would be the brakes...

I see you've met him...

[ellipsis]

I remember coming back with about 10 bikes from Westport, not stacked as nicely as when we had gone over, no rego or RUC's. Just before Amberley the cops were pulling over everything commercial. I just pretended I was unaware of their intent, waved back and carried on. One was heading for his car to pursue but for some reason didn't follow. It was a bit like that often. I do have a pic of a tandem trailer loaded with so many bikes that It was pretty dubious we would arrive in Invercargill with all of them still there. Four hours down the road I looked in the mirror and one of the big Yamaha's back end lashings had come adrift and it was pivoting around the front end lashing like a farm gate. Different times

[jellywrestler]

. Four hours down the road I looked in the mirror and one of the big Yamaha's back end lashings had come adrift and it was pivoting around the front end lashing like a farm gate. Different times

yeah but a 'big yamaha' in those days wouldn't have been more than 160 cc's...

[rok-the-boat]

Old thread- but I am looking at utes now. Most after 2000 are short bed and high. My Ford Courier died but was excellent for bikes. Long bed and low - easy to load on your own. Looks like I shall have to find a good old one.

[Grumph]

Old thread- but I am looking at utes now. Most after 2000 are short bed and high. My Ford Courier died but was excellent for bikes. Long bed and low - easy to load on your own. Looks like I shall have to find a good old one.

There's a case to be made for repowering one. Mate had the Mazda equivalent which at the time was the longest deck available.
In the last few years they've all got shorter.

[husaberg]

There's a case to be made for repowering one. Mate had the Mazda equivalent which at the time was the longest deck available.
In the last few years they've all got shorter.
The cab and a half suicide door later courier is a good compromise. deck vs Cab space.
Nothing wrong with the engines, they only crackerd head when they were not warmed up and down correctly.
plenty of power from the 2.5TD
The Diffs and Gearboxs are fixable faults.

[BMWST?]

seeif you cn find a king can cb and chassis. Isuzu do them

[Black Knight]

Late 90's two wheel drive Toymota HiLux,pref diesel.