PDA

View Full Version : Vehicle Choice Dilemma



VJinTownsville
15-11-2009, 11:48 PM
I currently drive a 1998 Toyota Rav4 and although it has toyota reliability, I don't think it is meant to pull an unbraked trailer.

So, I basically have to think hard and fast how to take care of not only business transport but also how it will suit my lifestyle with minimum compromise.

Here are my choices...but I think the more I explore all avenues the more I confused myself. I still do security work 2-4 nights a week so it is not always practical to drive around in a mowing ute with all the gear in it.

Here is a little bit of how I use a car.
*Offroading twice a month
*Have aircon cause the missus is from canada, and I'm in townsville!
*Seats for when the family visits. Enough room in the back seat when roadtripping with a carload of supplies
*Power windows etc modcons hehe

option a: keep the rav4, buy a cheap 2wd trayback to pull the trailer
option b: sell the rav4 buy a allround dual cab 4wd to pull the trailer
option c: sell the trailer, keep the rav4, buy a 6 wheeler converted hilux and modify it as a purpose built mowing ute.

It is a pain in the ass to tow with the rav4, as well as having so many cars in front of the car it is starting to look ghetto. I sortve need to have different cars for different purposes and seemed to be getting more confused and dont know what to get.
Has anyone been in the sort of situation?

VJinTownsville
16-11-2009, 12:00 AM
6 Wheeler Option

http://www.specialisedvehicles.com.au/gallery.php

63impala
16-11-2009, 07:20 AM
Are you going to have that much weight in the back to require the 2 extra wheels..

VJinTownsville
16-11-2009, 01:23 PM
If I do decide to have a one vehicle/no trailer set up then I guess a 6 wheeler could be an option. If you have seen the streets around this way it would be a nightmare with a small car let alone a mowing trailer.

If I have a 6 wheeler I could perhaps have a ride-on on top as well as my s/p mower, fabricate a small waste and tool section and ditch the trailer.

Has anyone here ditched their trailer to make a purpose built trayback ute?

johnnie5
16-11-2009, 02:09 PM
If I do decide to have a one vehicle/no trailer set up then I guess a 6 wheeler could be an option. If you have seen the streets around this way it would be a nightmare with a small car let alone a mowing trailer.

If I have a 6 wheeler I could perhaps have a ride-on on top as well as my s/p mower, fabricate a small waste and tool section and ditch the trailer.

Has anyone here ditched their trailer to make a purpose built trayback ute?


go the duel cab , no fbt

buying new ? tax rebate ends soon

VJinTownsville
16-11-2009, 05:19 PM
Budgetwise I would be keen on spending 10k if I have to sell the rav4 as well. But around 5k if I am only getting a trayback ute.

63impala
16-11-2009, 05:28 PM
Ebay is the way there son I got my self a 2000 hilux 2.0 $4800 with a huge bigger than normal tray.

Redeye
16-11-2009, 08:09 PM
How about a 2 tonne truck with a low tray back, something like this..
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Ford-Econovan-1985-Maxi-1500kg_W0QQitemZ280422570573QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_ Trucks_Commercial_Vehicles?hash=item414a7cda4d#ht_ 735wt_1165

danz
18-11-2009, 06:46 PM
go the hilux dual cab i reckon they seem to be the go... im gonna look into a new rig soon too im not sure how the 50% tax thing works but the other fellas will

MowerRob
18-11-2009, 07:12 PM
go the hilux dual cab i reckon they seem to be the go... im gonna look into a new rig soon too im not sure how the 50% tax thing works but the other fellas will

Has to be brand new
has to be 100% used for business
If u bought a ute for $33000
and ya GST registered u obviously claim back around 3k(new cars arent always exactly 10% after stamp duty etc)
So u have 30K left when u do ya tax at the end of the financial year u get 15k (50% of 30k) come off ya total turnover.
So if u turned over 100k u would take 15k off 100k leaving 85k

And u can can do it as many times as u want I bought a ute last financial year and got the 50% (I sold this ute and made a profit due to getting 50% off) I bought another ute this financial year and will get 50% next tax time . Yipee.

Final note go the Navara D40 STX diesel dual cab cant go wrong had for 4 years never had any dramas.

VJinTownsville
21-11-2009, 11:53 PM
Might check out the auction when I get the time.

Willgo for a hilux ute and keep the rav.

The ute I will modify as a purpose built ute with mower, toolboxes, racks and greenwaste bin to replace the trailer.

I will only use the trailer for larger clean up jobs andhopefully transport a ride on when I eventually grow big

VJinTownsville
29-11-2009, 04:38 AM
I still havent found a work car, still flogging the guts out of the rav4.

I was looking around for a truck tipper, I seem to have been going to the dump twice a day lately.

casadel
29-11-2009, 09:05 AM
Go on to google maps type in 178 Ridgecrop Drive Castle Hill Sydney NSW and you will see my set up Ba Falcon with 6 cubic mtr tipper body on it makes life much easier and good resale value, my next vehicle would be a Hino Dutro Tipper if you buy one you wont look back i think they are around $44000 but must admit the ba has been great and never let me down

Regards Rob, Maxwells Mowing

VJinTownsville
30-11-2009, 11:28 AM
THats awesome!!

Yea I just unloaded a ton of greenwaste on my last big day. It was a pain in the ass unloading it by hand and my rav4 is bustin its guts hauling over 2.5t on the weigh bridge!! If I door for half a day would fill up a small tip truck.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/MITSUBISHI-CANTER-TIPPER-TRUCK-IN-TOP-CONDITION_W0QQitemZ180436311754QQcmdZViewItemQQptZ AU_Cars?hash=item2a02d79eca

Andy B
30-11-2009, 08:06 PM
THats awesome!!

Yea I just unloaded a ton of greenwaste on my last big day. It was a pain in the ass unloading it by hand and my rav4 is bustin its guts hauling over 2.5t on the weigh bridge!! If I door for half a day would fill up a small tip truck.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/MITSUBISHI-CANTER-TIPPER-TRUCK-IN-TOP-CONDITION_W0QQitemZ180436311754QQcmdZViewItemQQptZ AU_Cars?hash=item2a02d79eca

Crikey VJ, 2.5T with a rav4 hope you don't pull the back end out of it! I've seen a pathfinder buckle with less and it was rated for 5T.

Or are you pulling my leg? Don't you have a 6x4 trailer?

63impala
30-11-2009, 09:32 PM
Yah dont you have A tiney little tralier.....

VJinTownsville
30-11-2009, 10:07 PM
7x4 trailer with 4ft sides. Also had the mowing tray hold 2 grass bags full of the greenwaste.

So what I mean is all up...the rav 4 with me and the sidekick, the trailer plus mid-400kgs of greenwaste all up weigh 2.5t

VJinTownsville
01-12-2009, 12:16 AM
Anybody used a tipper truck for mowing/cleanups?

Andy B
01-12-2009, 08:35 AM
7x4 trailer with 4ft sides. Also had the mowing tray hold 2 grass bags full of the greenwaste.

So what I mean is all up...the rav 4 with me and the sidekick, the trailer plus mid-400kgs of greenwaste all up weigh 2.5t

Gotcha, thought 2.5t in the trailer was a bit much.

VJinTownsville
01-12-2009, 08:52 AM
Sorry chief lol....The sun, lack of sleep and amber fluid didnt help explain it in the first place.

VJinTownsville
01-12-2009, 09:20 AM
Does anyone know where to get a tipper in townsville?

chatza
01-12-2009, 08:10 PM
Jump on truckhub (www.truckhub.com.au) its like car sales but for trucks. Loads of good setups on there i would love one with a big enough toolbox between the cab and tray so you can store your mower whipy and blower.

VJinTownsville
06-12-2009, 11:04 PM
Today I did an equivalent of 3 chocked (7x4x4) trailerload of greenwaste. Probably wasted about 4 hours just packing it tightly, driving out of town, unloading and driving. Not to mention over $50 in dump fees. Couldve been easy just to have $30 for one single of a highsided tipper truck.


I am serious about getting a tipper truck.

My dream truck would be:
1) Have the space between the cab and the tipper tray to have a mower box and power tools.
2) Driven on car license
3) 3-Way tipper. Not only it tips behind but both right and left hand side if I have a trailer in tow

I would pimp out the sides to have a big signage in bright colours.

63impala
07-12-2009, 07:25 AM
My trailer is bright yellow you get funny looks but it stiks out like dog nuts....

DavidS
07-12-2009, 05:38 PM
Here you go,

This would be my ideal truck, make the top removable and I would have it all.
http://www.truckhub.com.au/DesktopDefault.aspx?ItemID=3135625&TabID=3443

chatza
07-12-2009, 06:30 PM
Check this truck out (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170407169475&_trkparms=tab%3DWatching#ht_500wt_1182) this is what id be looking for at minimum but im thinking of giving up the game but cant help keep looking at trucks.

VJinTownsville
12-12-2009, 06:18 PM
Apart from lugging the tipper, what other business avenues should I utilise a tipper for?

I just did a remove job on friday. 3 trailer loads...enough to make me go crazy. I had to pay $15 each time I go.

I am thinking about working for other lawnies to deliver mulch for them or get jobs that is unsuitable for them but perfect for me

redbackmowing
12-12-2009, 07:24 PM
Apart from lugging the tipper, what other business avenues should I utilise a tipper for?

I just did a remove job on friday. 3 trailer loads...enough to make me go crazy. I had to pay $15 each time I go.

I am thinking about working for other lawnies to deliver mulch for them or get jobs that is unsuitable for them but perfect for me

know a guy does heaps of builders clean-ups. he started going around to building sites commercial & domestic housing looking for work. even in the city for rubbish removal. tipper comes in real handy for that tyoe of work.

VJinTownsville
19-12-2009, 11:22 AM
Did a rubbish remove job the other day. under 1/2t with bricks, old sh*t and rotten greenwaste. Then a Mit canter tipper pulled up and went in 2 mins. I had no shame asking him if he was prepared to sell it hahaha.

VJinTownsville
28-12-2009, 01:32 AM
Does anyone out there know a good tipper ie brand, type etc

Im looking for something with a bin body, forward tool box (so I can stash the mower without bringing the trailer).

Also being a truck this is a totally new ball game for me and I need something with availability of parts, easier to drive and work with, less hassles with repairs etc.

I have been told to stay away from volvo tippers and so on.

Shepparton Lawn Care
28-12-2009, 12:24 PM
hard to go past a mitsubishi canter for reliability, cost of parts, maintenance etc. keep your eye out for an ex council truck, usually comes with all the tool boxes etc, well maintained etc.

DavidS
28-12-2009, 04:24 PM
If you want a truck with tipper you can't go past a Mitsubishi or Toyota Dyna, Daihatsu all very good small trucks, no truck licence needed. any bigger go for a Mitsubishi or Hino, parts and service all good.

VJinTownsville
13-03-2010, 09:41 PM
Situation has now changed.

No longer have the money, so I can possibly only spend around or less than $5000.

So apart from hiluxes, is there any other great alternatives for a reliable ute?

I looked at a 92 rodeo with 2.6L petrol motor. done 320k with a rooted tray. Also dual fuel but the lpg tank is expired so will have to spend more just to either take the tank off ($200-300) or replace it(up to $700). I was thinking of modifying the tray to how I want it. But the tray has a massive hole in the middle and got replaced by 2 wood boards. He wants around $3000 all up but I am not too sure.

There's not a lot of options here at the moment so Im stuck in a dilemma as I have to keep my rav4 for family but at the moment it smells of grass, fuel and countless tools.

Rodeo, courier, bravo, ford etc?????

DavidS
14-03-2010, 05:32 AM
Nissan Navara, Mitsubishi Triton, Ford courier and Mazda bravo same utes different badges. Try this site http://www.drive.com.au/buy-used-cars

johnnie5
14-03-2010, 12:22 PM
when you are looing at the sub $5K range you wil get better condition/lower kays utes than toyota for the same money

buy only on condition , take into account the speedo but look over the ute and buy the best you can for the money you have and forget about the badge

Andy B
14-03-2010, 07:26 PM
An old kingswood 2 tonner? :wave-hi:

Wattle GC
15-03-2010, 08:10 AM
Situation has now changed.

No longer have the money, so I can possibly only spend around or less than $5000.

So apart from hiluxes, is there any other great alternatives for a reliable ute?

I looked at a 92 rodeo with 2.6L petrol motor. done 320k with a rooted tray. Also dual fuel but the lpg tank is expired so will have to spend more just to either take the tank off ($200-300) or replace it(up to $700). I was thinking of modifying the tray to how I want it. But the tray has a massive hole in the middle and got replaced by 2 wood boards. He wants around $3000 all up but I am not too sure.

There's not a lot of options here at the moment so Im stuck in a dilemma as I have to keep my rav4 for family but at the moment it smells of grass, fuel and countless tools.

Rodeo, courier, bravo, ford etc?????

VJ..This 92 Rodeo ute is worth nothing..Check out www.redbook.com.au This gives you market values on vehicles although it is not entirley accurate its what insurance company's use to workout car values..This will give you an ides what you should be paying..
I know we all have budgets however you may be able to get something a hell of a lot better if you look at some finance options.Talk to your bank or car yard Finance people as they can set up a 'Commercial Hire Purchase"loan for you and this will cost a fraction of outlaying the full amout on a vehicle..You basically lease the vehicle for up to 5 years and the tax benefits you get will offset the cost of the vehicle..For instance 15k over 4 yrs is about $380 per month and you claim all your running costs,service petrol accessories etc on tax..This gives you cash back from KRudd to use for other equipment and business expenses..Talk to your accountant ..I finance anything i can as it helps with cash flow and I know what i need to earn to cover expenses as I have set costs..

VJinTownsville
18-03-2010, 09:23 PM
I finally bought a hilux 2001 2.7 petrol done less than 200clicks

nice trayback ute, even came with a tradesman rack and a supabob slasher for free!!

Now I am just planning on modfying the rig to be purpose built as possible

VJinTownsville
03-05-2010, 08:55 PM
I know Ive got the hilux already but kingswood utes with a 6 wheeler conversion is my dream work ute!

It would be one bad a*ss ute going around and a conversation starter for customers. Not good for the greenies though.

Do ya reckon its not worth getting one if I get the chance in the next couple of years?

courty
03-05-2010, 09:24 PM
Stick with the Hi-lux VJ unless you want a sunburnt arse from working under the bonnet all the time,they're to long in the tooth now unless they're in pristine nick.

Andy B
04-05-2010, 11:27 AM
Stick with the Hi-lux VJ unless you want a sunburnt arse from working under the bonnet all the time,they're to long in the tooth now unless they're in pristine nick.
:laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

And if you do remember to put suncream on your shins on the days you spend lying underneath it on your back. :)