[Closed] Hilux, L200 or similar - would you?

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.
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[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

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.

The new Navara has coils, which should be a plus - however, every one I've seen with anything like half a load in, sags and wallows on the rear end. That's why leafs have hung around for so long, I suppose.

Just for balance of anecdotes..
[img] [/img]
[img] [/img]
[img] [/img]
I do like the idea of dissapating the crash energy though the smaller car being a good thing idea though...
For facts though..
A standard HiLux
https://www.euroncap.com/en/results/toyota/hilux/25045 3* EURO NCAP
Nvara
https://www.euroncap.com/en/results/nissan/navara/22037 4*
L200 https://www.euroncap.com/en/results/mitsubishi/l200/20950 4*
[url= https://www.euroncap.com/en/ratings-rewards/latest-safety-ratings/?selectedClasses=1204&allProtocols=true&selectedMake=0&selectedMakeName=Select%20a%20make&selectedModel=0&includeFullSafetyPackage=true&includeStandardSafetyPackage=true&selectedModelName=All&selectedProtocols=26061,24370,1472,5910,5931,-1,14999&allClasses=false#&allDriverAssistanceTechnologies=false&selectedDriverAssistanceTechnologies= ]Selection of Modern Vans[/url]
Vans coming in between 3 & 5* With the moder modern ones hitting 5* ratings

It's not all black and white....
If you have the specific needs for a pick up most of the time then it could be good for you, if you don't all of the downsides are there every single day, same as a van, same as a car. The difference is the plus points for a pick up for the vast majority of people are the exceptions not the norm.

The vast majority of people commenting have actually been in them, driven them, loaded them etc. and most say they wouldn't touch one, kind of telling isn't it.

I can find a picture of pretty much any vehicle I wasn't driving smashed up if that's your bag.

My Ford Ranger has a 5* ncap rating btw

I'm not here for a massive argument over it, just offering my (differing) opinion as to what I like about them. I've been driving almost 30 years, in cars, vans and for the last 8 years, almost exclusively pick-ups (had a Passat alongside my pick-up for a while).

They won't be practical at all for some - sometimes, it's not the most practical for me. I know plenty of people that love them in real life and on forums etc though. Each to their own

I'm not an expert, but, in my experience: if the ride's bad off road, go faster.

This was with a '95 L200.

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

I know its a while back in the thread, but this comment doesn't make sense? What disadvantages does a doublecab van have over a double cab pickup?

The snowy argument and a 4x4 pickup...its a tailhappy vehicle in the first place. With all-season tyres a 2wd car can be just as good. I had to stop on an icy climb because one 4x4 and one 4x4 pickup were sliding down the hill towards me, using the hedge to keep them on the track. My wife has also driven 40 snowy miles via the backroads and the whole way there were 4x4's dumped on the verges of every hill.

Unless you are a driving god and know how to use 4x4 to descend hills, it shouldn't make much difference to whether you venture out in the snow or not. Anyone with a light foot and a bit of momentum is likely to be able to coax even a 2wd vehicle up a hill that they wouldn't be able to descend on the brakes safely.

A van that tows 3.5t? Tows an all up weight of 7t off wet grassy fields most weekends? (and you can also get it in a swb low roof with the same 7000kg train weight)

Tick
[img] https://www.diymotorhome.co.uk/community/media/2u4jzsy.899/full?d=1508390646 [/img]

I know its a while back in the thread, but this comment doesn't make sense? What disadvantages does a doublecab van have over a double cab pickup?

Can't get it in most car parks

Most "SWB" double cab vans don't actually have that much space in the back

Dependent on the particular van/pick-up in question, they might not be as nice to drive, or be as nice a place to sit, or have as many creature comforts

Folk say a pick-up takes up space?

The snowy argument and a 4x4 pickup...its a tailhappy vehicle in the first place. With all-season tyres a 2wd car can be just as good. I had to stop on an icy climb because one 4x4 and one 4x4 pickup were sliding down the hill towards me, using the hedge to keep them on the track. My wife has also driven 40 snowy miles via the backroads and the whole way there were 4x4's dumped on the verges of every hill.

Aren't all RWD vehicles tail happy, including vans?

With all season tyres, a 4wd will be better than a 2wd - otherwise, you might as well be comparing a gravel bike with knobblies against an MTB with slicks

Unless you are a driving god and know how to use 4x4 to descend hills, it shouldn't make much difference to whether you venture out in the snow or not. Anyone with a light foot and a bit of momentum is likely to be able to coax even a 2wd vehicle up a hill that they wouldn't be able to descend on the brakes safely.

I've got hill descent control, so I can save my god like driving for other matters

Nowt wrong with your van, it looks fab btw!

Discovery 3.
Tons of space
Practical (7 seats)
Best towing vehicle - if you've got better I'd like to try...
Comfy for wifey
Off road credentials

Bad points - MPG, expensive to run.
Unfortunately, once you've got one, they suck you in and you won't want a pick up...

And unless you get a Disco commercial, you can't put it 100% through your business.

A mate of mine is into his LR's/Disco's and they are far from reliable - he says the only person that should own one, is a LR mechanic.

That said, I still get an itch for one - I'd question the 'tons of space' though

Perhaps thats the thing, a pickup is a lot more attractive if you can put it through the books.

The doublecab space thing, my thinking was total volume rather than length, especially considering most modern pickups are spec'd with a fibreglass box over the load bay.

Tail happy, yep I suppose, vans are light on the rear if they are not kitted out. A vivaro/custom would get into height restricted car parts, and normally a 'classic' transit would go in too.

Actually there is a scenario where I would definitely own a pickup.

If I had to commute in my own vehicle and large van wasn't practical, and I didn't want a caravan...

[img] [/img]

However it would need a demountable dropside style load bay for bikes and junk, I'd rather have the extra space of a demountable that doesn't slide into the existing load bay.

£25k AIA (annual investment allowance), plus interest on repayments against the books every 2 years (obviously minus what I sell the last one for) and all the VAT back. Would be the same for a van though.

Mine has a hardtop canopy - you'd be amazed what I actually fit in there tbh. Anything long goes on the roof bars. It certainly wouldn't suit a lot of trades though - I've considered a Transit Custom, or a VW Transporter (I might be making this up, but seem to think some VW crew cabs don't satisfy HMRC guidelines for full claim back), but decided I can live with a pick-up - which certainly suits me in lots of scenarios.

In the snow, pick ups are horrendous in RWD, but that's what 4wd is for. For the rest of the time - my last truck (V6 Navara, remapped to 270bhp) would break loose on wet roundabouts - the TC/ESP would kick in instantly though and correct itself. 200bhp Ranger (Going to Pendle soon for 250bhp remap) has never lost footing anywhere yet.

Most car parks are around 2mtrs, so I'm sceptical about vans - never seen any in car parks round here - unless the pikeys remove the height restriction

So the OP so far has had a requirement of being able to easily get rubbish to a tip.

Well what’s wrong with an ordinary car with a trailer on the back?

VW T5 is 1.9 m and fits in all multi storeys. When I had one we'd happily take it to town shopping and park it wherever.

what’s wrong with an ordinary car with a trailer on the back?

Maybe he 'wants' a pick-up and doesn't want a trailer???

I always fancied a one, thought it would be great for biking, life etc.

Then I was fortunate enough to get a job where I had the use of various pickups we had (almost one of everything on the market at the time).

Suffice to say, they were all crap. Even compared to mediocre cars, they drove terribly. In fact the only time they didn't was when they had 500kg of quad bike & associated crap in the back.

Uncomfortable, unpractical, thirsty, poor handling, unsecure & expensive. Unless I was a farmer, I can't see any point in owning one.

Suffice to say, if I ever get in one, or have to drive one again, it will be too soon

So the OP so far has had a requirement of being able to easily get rubbish to a tip

The Ranger is a 3.2l 5cyl

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 new Hilux is streets ahead of the last one I drove (in 2009). That was bloody awful, would never have considered one then!

For the £8k you are looking at spending Ox, I'd possibly looking at a Ranger - around 2007, with say 70,000 on the clock. I had one as my first truck, similar to this, but I had a canopy on the back

[img] [/img]

They are quite basic, but do have leather and a/c. The 2.5l engine is only 140bhp, but they are quite light for a pick-up. I had a DTUK tuning box (170bhp) on mine - a proper ecu box, not just a fuel pressure booster and it made a great difference. The built in stereo can easily be replaced with a fancy double din touch screen/sat nav jobbie if that's your thing. I've got a new, all singing 2016 Ranger, but if I needed another as a workhorse, I'd have an older one again. I've had Navara's which were great, but I'd avoid at that price point, as you'd be in the realms of the problematic ones.

If only there were a car that was like a Navara pickup but with more room in the cab and some kind of secure roof over the load area......

[img] [/img]

I miss my Pathfinder *sniff*

perchypanther - Member
If only there were a car that was like a Navara pickup but with more room in the cab and some kind of secure roof over the load area......

I miss my Pathfinder *sniff*

This is actually a really good shout... I didn't realise how big these were.

Anything to look out for when buying one?

The new Navara has coils, which should be a plus - however, every one I've seen with anything like half a load in, sags and wallows on the rear end.

chilled76 - Member

perchypanther - Member
If only there were a car that was like a Navara pickup but with more room in the cab and some kind of secure roof over the load area......

I miss my Pathfinder *sniff*

This is actually a really good shout... I didn't realise how big these were.

Anything to look out for when buying one?

Yeah there's a special edition version that retains the selectable 2wd/4wd option that I believe is missing from later pathfinders. It also has a little trailer attached to the back of the car for transporting smelly, large or awkward items up to 1000kg which is handy for anyone who got their license within the last 20 years or so.

Apart from that it's mechanically very similar to the Pathfinder. Can't remember the name though. Might be worth a google