No. Get a van.

yes, but I'm in the minority on here
And get a Ford Ranger

Can't get 4 in a van without going double cab, at which point all benefits of being a van are negated

No.

The Flying Ox - Member

Is a pickup what I'm after?

If a pickup is what you want, then yes.

This was done last week. I love them, most on here don't

I’ve an L200 I bought when setting off on my own business.
Does me fine for what I wants/need.

I had one as a courtesy car for 4 weeks, I loved it, Ford ranger, nasty diesel and only 30 to the gallon, all things that get quite a few frothing on here. I can unlike many on here however advise from both sides of the fence, as I have a van also. If the right one comes along for the right money in 18 months time, our estate/family car will become a truck.

I can unlike many on here however advise from both sides of the fence, as I have had van also.

+1

Mondeo Estate or S-Max will do what you want, and you won't get turned away at the tip for having a commercial vehicle.

Can't get 4 in a van without going double cab, at which point all benefits of being a van are negated

But you'd still get more loadspace and better security in a SWB crew cab van than a truck wouldn't you?

I’m wanting one too. Ranger, Hilux or Navara are my choices.

Yes. Love mine, on my second Ranger in 17 years. Also have a Vito and a caddy, I could use any of them if I wanted but use the Ranger most.
Beware our council recycling centre (tip) has an issue with commercial vehicles be that van or pick up.
Also depending on where you go with it, tolls can be more in a van or pick up. Severn Bridges for example. Adds a chunk on a Welsh trail centre trip for me.

I regularly drive an Izuzu D Max twin turbo Blade ( top of the range ) twin cab ..full leather, black alloys all the bells & whistles ..and absolutely hate the way it rides ..which can best be described as lurching along .
Thankfully its on reasonably short journeys ..I think I would be physically sick if I had to drive around in one all day ..

Not personally, my only experience was a Navarro my mate owned.

It was slow, very noisy, not very comfortable (seats were okay, but flat and the ride terrible) thirsty and not very nice to drive.

I really don’t see the point of them unless you have to carry stuff, but not as much as a van, and not very securely off-road.

6 bikes in the back of a Vivaro crew cab with the wheels off, just saying. (I can also get 11 in a standard Vivaro panel van, Tetris with bikes). If the kids are small and in booster seats then the pickup will be fine. Larger people find the rear seats uncomfortable, crippling.

Mate runs them (large cab pickups) as his business vehicle (tax benefit as they count as a commercial vehicle I think)) and all round family car (he has two boys). He has a VW at the moment I think

How much do you like cleaning up kids sick?

Some of the newer ones are much nicer than they used to be. I get to drive quite a few hire ones and the Ford Ranger is much nicer to drive than the Hilux and the auto box is nice. Quite a few sideways options coming in now from Fiat, isuzu and even Mercedes if you fancy spending more.

Hilux and L200 have a very car like, low seating position, which is not what pick-up's are about IMO - older Hiluxes have a ridiculously long gear shift lever too.

Most top of the range pick-up's are a nicer place to sit than vans.

I'd rather pull a caravan/trailer with a pick-up.

Try hosing the back of a Mondeo/S-Max out after a dirty weekend ^^

Maybe not so much these days, but - in the 7 years of owning a 4x4 pick-up...
- I've got home late at night once in the snow, when cars and vans were stranded 6 miles from home
- I've made it to Middlesbrough to work (from Derbyshire) when others couldn't get to work.
- I've travelled home on a snow covered M5 feeling much safer than the struggling vehicles around me

I'm glad I wasn't in a van... (or a Peugeot 206)

[url= https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5158/14390453967_a348f7545c_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5158/14390453967_a348f7545c_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/nVCQBi ]Untitled[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/85252658@N05/ ]davetheblade[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5519/14596987723_fc70c438eb_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5519/14596987723_fc70c438eb_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/oeTnU8 ]Untitled[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/85252658@N05/ ]davetheblade[/url], on Flickr

You are looking at 2010 or earlier trucks... I had an L200 of slightly later vintage that was good for work (once I changed the tyres) but not an ideal family car (and it was called a Trojan - which was just unnecessary... at least it was black though 😉 )

Had an early last gen Navara that blew up quite a lot.

Tested a Hilux of that kind of age (when it was new) and that was okay. The one I drove over the Amazon was tough as old boots.

The only Ford was the older Mazda/Ford version and that was bloody terrible.

Note also - tips are not going to happen, reduced speed limits and the turning circle of a super tanker.

My friend had a hilux for years. It was an indestructible and brilliant vehicle. Sold it when he had a family though.

Cheers folks. Food for thought there. We have a Skoda Superb Estate thing for more refined family transport, but the missus doesn't like the idea of it been filled with greenery and garden waste and old plasterboard etc.

tips are not going to happen

Youll probably find that tips will be allowing only a handful of rubble sacks per month per household. So it won't matter if you went to the tip in a Smart car. A van and/or pick up is more likely to be refused at a household recycling centre and if you want, you can show them as much proof as you like.

Or slip them some dollar.

Or just get a Hippo type bag every so often and save yourself the bother.

In which case, best take the tip off your purchase justification list 😉

To be fair, the council tip isn't really an issue. I have an agreement with a local landowner for garden waste and a different agreement with a family friend for use of their permanent skip. It's more about having something I can transport crap to those places that won't matter if it gets mucky/stinky. That's why the pickup appeals - keeping waste/associated dirt & smells separate from people.

It would also be nice to have 4x4 capability for the odd times we fancy heading to Glenshee/Aviemore/Skye and the weather makes us think twice - been stuck at Glenshee in the past after a particularly heavy snowstorm.

Go test drive some. £8k will get you well into mk6 Hilux, maybe base spec ranger and maybe very early Amarok. I recently went round all the breakers farm/truck mechanics I could speak to on behalf of a friend who was buying and the general consensus was Hilux for reliability closely followed by Isuzu. Ranger for spec, toys and comfort..too new to be a really well known quantity in terms of long term durability.

L200 and Navara, steer clear for work but probably ok if you're not a farmer, builder etc.

caravan and trailer pulling,

bike lugging,

carting waste to tip/landfill.

Oh, and space for wife and two small kids.

tips are not going to happen

You just get a permit from the council

I love my l200 was brand new last year

However new civic type r is a dirty Lille thing and I’m tempted to chop her in

Oh, and as STR, I've only ever hired large vans and the pickup is much more like driving a car (big car). The clutch is quite heavy on my Navara, so a bit tiring in heavy traffic, thankfully not a regular issue for me.

I have been turned away from tips in Cumbria with very obviously household waste before so can only comment from my experience! They do a pass, but I think it is for a single visit and a bit of a ballache to get in a hurry.

capt kronos, loads of people who live in Cumbria will run pickup / van as private vehicles, so certainly there will be a free pass system for all local private pickup/van owners at their local tip.

In West/North Yorkshire, V5 Doc address matching council tax invoice address will give a free pass. As said above, some passes are only for 12 months, some permanent, but ALL councils will have a free pass system for private pickup/van owners who pay council tax in that area. Every area is slightly different, in Bradford council area I'm restricted to a single named site and it's renewed every 12 months. In Skipton, I can dump at any North Yorks tip and the permit lasts forever. No idea about Cumbria specifically, but privately owning a pickup/van will not bar a local resident from their local tip.

Go hire one or 2 for a weekend.

Some mates have them, not that nice IMHO. Every time I go to a mine site you can see why they have them to bounce around on mud/coal/dirt roads with tracks gouged by 100t dump trucks etc. in all weathers. Uncomfortable, bad seats, lack of space and that is before you get to the unsecured rear load area.

Having lived in the countryside, good tyres and driving skills will get you a long way, the best 4x4 going won't get you passed the idiot blocking the road in front of you or the idiot who thinks 4x4 means no skills needed.

Capt. Kronos - Member
I have been turned away from tips in Cumbria with very obviously household waste before so can only comment from my experience! They do a pass, but I think it is for a single visit and a bit of a ballache to get in a hurry.

Can't get 4 in a van without going double cab, at which point all benefits of being a van are negated

It depends how important the 4x4 element is to you: if not so crucial i’d Recommend a VW t32 kombo, as the back seats pop out giving you a van. However they are USELESS as soon as the going gets loose / sandy / snowy / icy / muddy / slick / greasy / damp.

Have you looked at the Mitsubishi 4x4 people carrier type trucks?

My local council, in London, you can use the council tip, in a van or a pick up, only Monday to Friday, once everyone six months and you still have to have proof of residence, no passes etc. Bit of a pita tbh, but I've still got a van, I just only do diy or gardening twice a year.

Don't buy a Navara. The older ones have a known issue with the chassis rusting from the inside out. Ours did.

£8k budget.

VW T32 Kombi

[quote=hodgynd ]I regularly drive an Izuzu D Max twin turbo Blade ( top of the range ) twin cab ..full leather, black alloys all the bells & whistles ..and absolutely hate the way it rides ..which can best be described as lurching along .
Thankfully its on reasonably short journeys ..I think I would be physically sick if I had to drive around in one all day ..

I was driving my friend's band down to a festival in England. The van we were meant to borrow broke down so someone managed to conjure up one of these. In bright orange.

Awful thing.

It was cramped inside. The middle seat in the back had some kind of sticky out plastic bits which put you in agony after 20 mins. It had a fair bit of grunt but handled like crap and was bad on fuel.

But the worst part was... it was a pickup.

So we have to load all the guitars and amps in the back. Fine, it took them OK. But then you have to tie down tarps with ratchet straps over them in case it rains.
At every services someone has to wait with the truck in case someone comes and pinches all the gear.
When we get to the festival, we have to unload all the gear from the back and put it in the cab as they weren't playing til the next day.
Then load it all back in the bed to drive into the festival.
Then put it all in the cab while we partied.

Worst of all worlds.
Far better off with a transit van.

Anyone know what age Navaras are best avoided? Ta

WRT to snow traction, an unloaded pickup can be sporty with plenty oversteer in the rain, let alone proper snow!

Most of my Canadian chums add weight in the back for winter months to aid traction, but they have cheaper fuel than we do...

I still almost bought a Navara though!

Ended up with a "sensible" car instead: WRX estate 😆

A Bishi Warrior. Makes you bowl around like you've got a role of carpet under each arm. You will feel your legs bowing out after a single test drive. Before you know it you will have joined a firm and kicking nonces skulls in will be your second favourite hobby.

You have to own a Warrior to become a Warrior.

We borrowed a friends pick to get some diy stuff (plasterboard, trim etc) it was a double cab and we could fit more in the passat estate than the flat bed. Cab was cramped as well.

You can take a van to the tip if it has permanent camping fixtures inside, doesn't need to be re registered as a camper though. At least that is the case in cumbria.

we could fit more in the passat estate than the flat bed. Cab was cramped as well.

With the rear seats up?

With the interior stripped out and the roof cut off.

Aren’t these two mutually exclusive, unless you’re willing to accept galactic star destroyer mileage?

Not necessarily; saw a 2007 one locally that looked decent, on at £9k. Admittedly I didn't check the mileage as I wasn't buying.

When I commuted to work in deepest Cheshir and saw a number of school run mums bricking it as they tried to make three point turns in the narrow back lanes, I realised the why the L200 "Worrier" got it's name.

With the interior stripped out and the roof cut off.

No uk pick up beds really are limiting and tiny.

Drive a hilux crew for work.

Would rather crawl across broken glass.

Yeah, it's a cinch getting a full 1 tonne dumpy bag in the back of a Passat or any van with a single rear door.
or a 6m length of anything.
Each to their own.

Op said he wants to tow a trailer.

That's how I would move the things you need moved.....and not be stuck with my Hilux the other ,364 days of the year.

Trailers are attractive to tea leaves and are easily nicked. They also take up a lot of space when not being used, which is usually most of the time.

[i]would you?[/i]

I am! Just put down a deposit on a new Hilux (Icon with rear canoopy).

Test drove a Ranger and a Hilux. Ranger felt gigantic, high seating position, and the model I was in had all the bells and whistles including lane assist. Didn't feel like I was really in control of the thing, the 3l V6 auto wasn't that impressive and felt heavy and cumbersome.

The Hilux didn't feel as refined, but a nicer driving position for me, more car like. Long throw on the gear shift, but since I won't be racing it, akes no difference to me. Didn't feel as heavy as the Ranger,and with careful driving, even got close to 40mpg out of it 😉

Anyway, I'll be using it for work duties and neither a van or 4x4 car were going to cut it.

which is usually most of the time.

conversely going for a pickup means most of the time you have a crap car to drive around in for the odd time you need to move a big load...

Trailers are nice and easy to hire these days. takes away the theft and storage problems for something that you dont use all that often.

Our hilux is a pain in the arse - cant go shopping as shit gets stolen out the bed when in traffic (im in angola). It makes the people i nthe back sea sick.

How ever im not cruising the back lanes of surrey so the 4wd and ground clearance does get used so its a necessary evil.

Sell children, buy this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GMC_Syclone
8)

Test drove a Ranger and a Hilux. Ranger felt gigantic, high seating position, and the model I was in had all the bells and whistles including lane assist. Didn't feel like I was really in control of the thing, the 3l V6 auto wasn't that impressive and felt heavy and cumbersome.

The Hilux didn't feel as refined, but a nicer driving position for me, more car like. Long throw on the gear shift, but since I won't be racing it, akes no difference to me. Didn't feel as heavy as the Ranger,and with careful driving, even got close to 40mpg out of it

The Ranger is a 3.2l 5cyl - the engine isn't a patch on the 3l V6 I had in my previous Navara - it has got a lot sweeter after around 25k though. I just got 40mpg on the flat 4 mile drive home after filling up 😉 Reality is low 30's @ 70mph on motorways and low-mid 20's driving round Derbyshire - I average around 28

Surely the high seating position is a plus - I can't stand the car-like seating in L200's and Hilux's (not sat in the new Hilux though)?

The 3.2l 5cyl also feels a bit flat due to software torque limiting in 1st and 2nd to stop it lunching it's own gearbox.

Colleague had his remapped to remove it because it was dangerous pulling out of lay-bys when he had his land rover winch truck on the trailer.

By God it can shift now.

It's very nice in the front seats. Still wouldn't have one.

I've got a 'Pickup of the year' Navara. Purely for tax reasons, although the 4wd comes in handy for towing on grass. It's supposedly got the best ride of any pickup because it has coil multi-link suspension at the back, not the usual cart springs. I would never buy any of them with my own money - for all of the reasons others have mentioned, plus the 4wd isn't permanent and shouldn't be used over 60mph. Mind you all the electronic safety aids appear to do their job, it can be thrown into bends much faster than you'd think (The older ones I've driven are like driving a bar of soap in the wet).

lisascottuk07 - Member

During my recent travelling from Liverpool Street to Waterloo I easily got access of waterloo taxi with very reasonable fare, which was very reliable and punctual service for this short trip.

I found your post to be disappointingly lacking in hyperbole, falsehoods and a latent contempt for people who make choices different to yours based on their own requirements. For Future reference here's an example of how to post about pickups on STW.

[i]"Unlike everyone in Britain, as a professional horse surgeon in Nepal I can actually justify owning a pickup truck. That being said I'd rather kill myself than buy one. The ride is so appallingly bad that it will give children cancer and they are so slow that a one legged man on a recumbent is certainly faster away from the lights.

Offroad they are utterly useless as they are only part time four wheel drive. My grandmother was in the SAS and she taught me their advanced off road driving techniques which means that even in a Reliant Robin I can easeily tackle terrain that would leave a fully equipped Hilux floundering so long as I have the correct tyres. The actual bed of the pickup truck (despite being rated to carry 1000kg) will only allow you to carry a small lego figure and perhaps a lunchbox. If you need to carry things a wheel barrow is infinielty more versatile and robust. You'll get far more into the boot of a Nissan Micra or Ford Fiesta or a suitcase.

Avoid them as you would a plague of zombies. "[/i]

Hope this helps. For visually reference imagine the above is being spoken by this guy

[img] [/img]

Got an L200 as a replacement vehicle whilst Caravelle being worked on, it is truly terrible as a replacement.

No space, uncomfortable.

If I was a farmer maybe the 4WD would be useful, but I'm not.

Get a van infinitely more practical (unless you are a farmer / builder in a muddy field).

4x4 or big estate and trailer job jobed..I love having a trailer so useful and just not there when you dont want it to be.

They also take up a lot of space when not being used, which is usually most of the time.

Thats the whole point why lumber yourself with a god awful tank off a vehicle which is neither one thing or the other just for the few times you need it, trailer if you have space is so practical.

Jim jam, that’s rather good.

and maybe very early Amarok.

I asked a similair question a few weeks ago. The responses on here really put me off the things. ...
.got me thinking

Why doesnt someone make a 4x4 thats as big as these?... is a disco the biggest boot you can get without buying a van?

Some of the camp sites Ive stayed on really do need a 4x4 but I want the load space and ease of a van... what to do?

Some of the camp sites Ive stayed on really do need a 4x4 but I want the load space and ease of a van... what to do?

After countless weekends at wet pearce race fields I don't remember many time the tractors were needed.

I was always impressed on the places around farms I got the Mk2 Fiesta or the crag access roads I got the hire car up in spain...

Some of the camp sites Ive stayed on really do need a 4x4 but I want the load space and ease of a van... what to do?

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/vans/99493/4x4-vans-and-commercial-vehicles-explained

Are we mixing campsites with fields ?

Nope, lots of sites I've stayed on recently have dirt access roads and the dirt track around the site is somewhat akin to the test track I took a tank on once on a stag do years ago.

I camp really regularly and go all over the place (mostly with the family not the mtb). So need loads of space and like 4x4 capability.

I'm prob going to go with an l322 range rover myself next... but the repair bills won't be fun 🙁

People pay to camp on fields. Wow I should open q campsite after all seems it's not as capital intensive as I thought

chilled76 - Member
Nope, lots of sites I've stayed on recently have dirt access roads and the dirt track around the site is somewhat akin to the test track I took a tank on once on a stag do years ago.

Yep, loved the ones we've had and easy reliable power to be freed from the L200s.

I'd have another but Mrs Deviant is enjoying swanning around in a Touareg at the moment...personally I'd like a mk2 or mk3 VW Caddy pickup as my own bike transport but most are rusty buckets now.

Looked at two this week, both had more rust than actual car, shame....still I have plans for a clean euro style Golf Estate as my biking wagon by the end of the week.

[i]They also take up a lot of space when not being used, which is usually most of the time.[/i]

Thats the whole point why lumber yourself with a god awful tank off a vehicle which is neither one thing or the other just for the few times you need it, trailer if you have space is so practical.

So taking up space with a trailer is more practical??? I have both BTW

I don't get this 'neither one thing or another' - it's a pick-up.

Ok, we don't get much snow these days, but mine has got me home on at least one occasion, when cars and vans were stranded at the side of the road in the dark, 6 miles from home. It's got me to work in Middlesbrough from Derbyshire when I'd have considered staying at home - the same day the local lads had to spend an hour at the end of the day trying to get their transit moving. It's pulled a sprinter and trailer/mini-digger off a wet grass verge when my workmates would have been stranded

Show me a panel van that will fit in a multi storey car park
Show me a panel van that can tow 3.5t

I'm not sure how a van would have fared in this, but I know where I'd rather be - do crew cab vans have airbags in the back for your kids btw? They might do, not sure?

[url= https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2904/14390451727_30001a5574_o.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2904/14390451727_30001a5574_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/nVCPWF ]Untitled[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/85252658@N05/ ]davetheblade[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5519/14596987723_c93aeae9e8_o.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5519/14596987723_c93aeae9e8_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/oeTnU8 ]Untitled[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/85252658@N05/ ]davetheblade[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5158/14390453967_a5734828bf_o.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5158/14390453967_a5734828bf_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/nVCQBi ]Untitled[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/85252658@N05/ ]davetheblade[/url], on Flickr

You keep posting that picture but it's a bit like saying helmet saved my life.

So taking up space with a trailer is more practical???

Yes.

You keep posting that picture but it's a bit like saying helmet saved my life.

Maybe so, we'll never know...

My other points?

So for the 1 day of snow every 3 years that will stop an average car or the 3 times a year a non building contractor or farmer needs to tow 3.5 ton you get stuck with one.

I have a Hilux at work and I also have a pick up at home. I wanted it. I make no bones I wanted the pick up, for all its impracticalities. But as my only car it can do one. Van all day long.

What you want is one of these ( not) ..apparently global warming is over and the next ice age is on its way ..thats the only reason I can think of for this conversion of an Isuzu D-Max ..
It's an arctic vehicle ..given as a courtesy car while the bro-in-law's Blade was in for some warranty work .
I returned it this afternoon ..30 miles down the road and felt a little seasick when I got there ..pretty cool looking though ..just a pity the ride is so crap.
[img] [/img]
[url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/156204930@N03/37775070111/ ]20171018_145853[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/156204930@N03/ ]Neil Hodgson[/url] - [url= https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dariogf.flickr2BBcode_lite ]Flickr2BBcode LITE[/url]
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[url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/156204930@N03/37105177583/ ]20171018_145910[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/156204930@N03/ ]Neil Hodgson[/url] - [url= https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dariogf.flickr2BBcode_lite ]Flickr2BBcode LITE[/url]
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[url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/156204930@N03/37726810636/ ]20171018_145925[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/156204930@N03/ ]Neil Hodgson[/url] - [url= https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dariogf.flickr2BBcode_lite ]Flickr2BBcode LITE[/url]
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[url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/156204930@N03/37517095830/ ]20171018_145936[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/156204930@N03/ ]Neil Hodgson[/url] - [url= https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dariogf.flickr2BBcode_lite ]Flickr2BBcode LITE[/url]
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[url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/156204930@N03/23922576688/ ]20171018_150052[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/156204930@N03/ ]Neil Hodgson[/url] - [url= https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dariogf.flickr2BBcode_lite ]Flickr2BBcode LITE[/url]
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[url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/156204930@N03/23922492928/ ]20171018_145823[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/156204930@N03/ ]Neil Hodgson[/url] - [url= https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dariogf.flickr2BBcode_lite ]Flickr2BBcode LITE[/url]

The l200 walkinshaw we had in ukraine was pretty good.

Still had all the load area short comings of a pick up. But it didn't ride like a sea sick dolphin thanks to its coil over suspension.

So for the 1 day of snow every 3 years that will stop an average car or the 3 times a year a non building contractor or farmer needs to tow 3.5 ton you get stuck with one.

I have a Hilux at work and I also have a pick up at home. I wanted it. I make no bones I wanted the pick up, for all its impracticalities. But as my only car it can do one. Van all day long.

Nope, it's certainly an advantage though. I'm not stuck with anything - I can buy whatever I want.

To be honest, if I had a choice of a Hilux, I'd probably decline - underpowered, horrible seating position, ridiculously long gear throw. The new models seem a bit nicer though

hodgynd - that's quite smart. I test drove a D-Max Blade a few years ago though and wasn't impressed by the interior, or lack of grunt