Should you buy a base-model 'poverty' ute? | Auto Expert John Cadogan
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When I first retired and started doing lawns and light maintenance for extra dollars I bought a 3-year-old Hyundai i-Load petrol van as it fitted all my gear inside including the mower which was accessed through the side door with a pair of light ramps and I made simple fixings to hold other stuff secure. At first, I put refuse to take away from jobs in a cut-open bulker bag in the rear of the van but later on bought a 6x4 trailer with a frame that the bulker bag went in and I stored fuel in jerry cans on the side in lockable cradles. The van cost $19500 drive away with a 3-year Hyundai dealer used car warranty. I paid $1500 for the trailer with the cradles fitted and I used that setup for 4 years without a problem. The van gave no problems and I had it serviced at the dealer as per the book which was more expensive than me doing it but it kept the warranty sweet and that last year I did the service work myself. I found working out of the van very good compared to my ute as the floor height is lower and the higher seating position was actually better for me getting in and out. I liked it so much that I sold my ute and kept the van when I finished the mowing gig and now use it and the trailer for my fishing and camping trips and it is still going strong with 235000k on it and it had 65000k on it when I bought it. Initially, the trailer was hard to back because I could not see it in the mirrors so I put some fold-down legs on each side that poked out so I could see them as they had fluro flags on them I also had the drawbar lengthened by 500mm which also improved its reversing characteristics. What John says is the cheapest way to go and if it proves successful then an upgrade to something like I have described might be possible. If you read this I hope it helps.
Maybe a second hand van would be a better purchase. Like a transit or some such. Much better security and no trailer would make tight streets easier.
Exactly,,,,
True, but if he’s on all combustion equipment then it’s not as it’s dangerous having fuel in your cabin, also its not healthy breathing in fumes … all battery equipment go for a Van that has the extra bench seat in the back.
@@garageblitztv3215 so van with a firewall if you've got petrol equipment?
@@garageblitztv3215 could add one of the roof vents that spin with the wind to van roof and then you reduce any vapour buildup risk, he's currently breathing it all in with a small hatchback so a small van with a firewall would be a huge improvement from his current situation.
A transit 😂😅
The BEST car I have EVER owned was a 92 Hilux 4cyl 5 speed diesel 2x4 ....and it was white. That ute just kept going...and going....and going....and going. It was extremely cheap to run....I never had any mechanical issues over the 200 000kms I drove it (I sold it to a freind at 400000kms....hes still driving it. Its the only car I genuinely regret selling). It didnt even need a battery....I could push start it myself and I ran it without a battery for almost 3 months. It was amazing....I had total confidence in it....I would have been happy to take it absolutely anywhere....and I did.
Van or forrester would have been my suggestion. Secure cargo space is pretty important so a van, potentially used with a tailgate lift would be a good value way into the commercial vehicle market
Yeah, that was my first thought too.
Yep...
Still, a van - not really suitable for other aspects of a young blokes life. Imagine taking your girlfriend everywhere in a van. What if you want to take more than one passenger on a roadtrip? I'd go with the Forrester anyway in this scenario. It's not just a tradesman's vehicle, it's a multipurpose vehicle. Vans and utes really are nightmares to take a road trip in. Loud and rough - you arrive exhausted.
@@andoletube main vehicle is a camper van. Trailer for motorbikes ect. Girlfriend don't mind it. But I do get it 100% foz would be the car for the job
@@danielmoore2555 True, there are girls around that dig the van life. Depends on what sort of girl you've got/looking for, I suppose.
I used to do mowing and lanscaping for my neighbour. We used to use an FG falcon 1 tonner on gas with a trailer to tow around a large zero turn ride on mower. That ute was great for the job. The tray had all the room we needed for all the different types of jobs we did, the car was perfectly good for towing the trailer, it was auto which made driving after a long day easy and being a falcon ute on dedicated LPG from the factory it was comfortable and doubled as a private use car perfectly. Would highly recommend one.
Good advice if he is starting out. The trailer is a good idea. I had an old Toyota van and a trailer when I started out. It served me well. The height of the trailer bed was lower than the van bed so less chance of injuring your back. You can carry a lot of grass clippings and pruning in a caged trailer and you have the option of putting the mechanical gear in the van if need be when it rains or your clippings / prunings mount up.
I live in a small town in Canada. In my neighbourhood are a couple of young guys that do yard work all summer. They both have small tow vehicles, and an open box trailer for their mowers, gas, trimmers, etc. To me, the trailer option makes the most sense, and is much lower for loading and unloading than a ute would be.
My base model poverty ute is 40 years old next month.
Exactly and another 10 also in it.
Landscaper with 20 years in the trade checking in. Gotta completely disagree with you John. There's a reason landscapers prefer single cab one-tonners with 2.4x1.8m trays (twice the size of 6x4 foot). I can easily load a cement mixer, wheelbarrow and all my tools in the back. I can get 3-4 bobcat scoops of mulch in the tray. I can carry a tonne of fencing pickets no problems. I can fit a compactor, brick cutter and all the tools I need. The versatility of a one-tonner with a large tray is unmatched and that's why we use them. It's fit for purpose. Of course, you don't need to spend 25 large on a new one. That's what the second hand market is for.
Well said!
I think John's advice is based on his current situation and doing a few small steps upgrading as the young fella is doing fairly small gardening jobs.
I'm sure if his little business flourishes given enough demand the upgrade to the 1 tonner would be done.
Spot on I own a single cab Hilux . Bullet proof.
In fairness, your business sounds like it is in a vastly bigger and more developed state! If the young fella is currently carrying all his gear in a Corolla, I'd suggest he's not carrying half the gear you are.
@@jeremybean-hodges6397 My business is just a couple of mates working together doing what we enjoy. Very boutique home gardens. I'm describing how most landscapers are set up regardless of size. There's always going to be the case where you want a ute load of mulch. We like big trays because it makes life easy. My recommendation to the young fella would be to get a 10 year old Hilux single cab 4x2 (not too hard to lift stuff onto) with tray in good condition. Keep the Corolla for going out with girlfriend and mates.
Hey John , l have a base model mitsubishi 2 door Ute 2021 , I love it stability control, hill take off assistance, abs , 6 air bags ,12 volt outlets in the dash and center console, reverse camera bucket seats ,great fuel economy for a diesel, electric mirrors ,and windows it's sits high for what it is so going on rough trackx it's great , traction control , heaps of power ( manual transmission) and reasonable servicing costs, cheap to buy brand new , it's a ripper , I drive about 40000 km a year for work and can't fault it , ,yes I added a steel tray and 2 large lockable aluminium trays at extra cost, l wouldn't call it shit , I run a pest control business and the price off second hand Ute's are insane. Could not afford a duel cab with all the bells and whistles, just saying man , enjoy your videos mate
I hear you I have a single cab Hilux it’s bullet proof.
You've nailed it with the trailer, as long as he has the place to keep it. They, however, can be a right pain in the arse in the city, no parking, unless you can simply drive into your client's yard. What disability does the young bloke have? Can he handle a trailer? Poverty Pack. In 2015, I bought a Triton petrol, single cab alloy tray ute as my 2nd vehicle, I'm a plumber. It was $20.000.00, complete with bull bar,( I live in Western NSW, and already killed about 20 roo's I couldn't avoid) and a tow bar. Gutless, yes, unless you rev it hard, then it goes quite well, so cam design I would think? I've now done 107,000ks in it and apart from the obvious, it's a bloody ripper. The brakes are more than adequate and the handling is amazing, a very good ute to drive. It's still like new, though a bit dirty, and every bit as good as a deluxe model in quality. She's a bloody good little vehicle for the price. So the shit box image is very wrong. It lacks the modern safety features of course, though you didn't mention that, and the base price is now $30,000.00, but my old mate does me fine. On the other hand, a club cab auto diesel glamour pack, which would be nice, is $50,000.00, or close to it, with a rich man's needs. Yet I can still go to the same places he can, though with much less safety. My thoughts are, " The trailer is a good suggestion, depending on circumstance, the poverty pack is far better than you describe, judging on my experience. But remember too, I'm 69 years old, my first car was a Morris Minor"....Oh, and I forgot to ask, do you make as much money from selling a poverty pack as a flash one? I'm John Cadogan, and I get new cars cheap, unless of course, it's a rock bottom Poverty Pack, where there's simply no fat left"? Hmmm?
I agree I’m 62 with a poverty Hilux 4x2 single cab petrol auto. Bullet proof.
@@stendecstretcher5678 Wow auto, Luxury... LOL. Yea, old Johhny's got an agenda, I don't think he's telling the whole story. The engineering is the same, but there's no 4x4, flash interior or colour scheme. Who needs big showy wheels and, if your kids are gone, a duel cab that robs your expensive space, you can't throw a 1200 x 2400 sheet of anything in a duel cab ute. My Triton is one of the best, or if not the best vehicle I've owned, so when he says " Why would you inflict one of these shit boxes on anyone you love", I became suspicious of his intention. The other issue he didn't address is placing land care tools in the car with the bloke. Unless they're contained in a secure box, that's not legal, especially a shovel, a steel bar and a pick. I think a Triton or a Toyota, 2nd hand, would be great for him, I saw one the same as mine for $15,000.00 with 90,000ks, excellent value in today's climate. It even had a tool box.
Hey John, You said several times the poverty ute is not a good choice compared to an upscale model but you didn't mention one comparable reason why it's a such a poor choice. There are several advantages with a base model vehicle. They are less complicated and therefore more reliable. They are cheaper to run (fuel consumption) and cheaper to buy and insure. They are pretty much equally comfortable in ride, drive & handling. Virtually all of them have Power Steer, Air Con and Automatic is an option. I SUGGEST any buyer go see & test drive a base model and make up their own mind!
is cruise control asking too.much?
Timestamp 5:22... And ride and handling is not a selling feature for a Ute.... He is providing advice on the most cost effective and appropriate solution for what a young bloke should get for the money for landscaping during the day and comfort and flexibility and social life outside of work. And let's be honest Utes can be a jack of all trades but still a master of none. A passenger car for daily driving and comfort and ride and handling with a trailer that can carry far more stuff for work, especially if he gets a ride on mower as well later is much cheaper than spending nearly $30,000 on a Ute that looks shite, handles shite, feels shite, can't carry more than two adults, and has the bare minimum of safety features. Something you look for in a car for the age group of most likely to have an accident...saying a hilux is the solution is sheep mentality with very little critical thinking for the son's needs. Thank you John for some common sense.
@@jamesfrench7299 I'm pretty sure most base models have cruse control, I looked at both the Triton and workmate in the last few days, both had cruse control. With the workmate with adaptive cruse control.
@@Nedman59 I was surprised see the adaptive cruise .
@@jamesfrench7299 I was surprised in what they left off with the workmate. It is really well appointed for a next to base model [I'm buying the auto], android auto, 7 airbags, some system that ring's the police if you have a crash or stolen [I'm not sure how this works yet LOL], stereo isn't horrible, plus a few more. The stupid things they did leave off are no intermittent windshield wipers and no reverse camera. When you look at what is included, it is puzzling why they left out these two.
We recently had a gardening service make contact, they pulled in the drive with an iveco van towing a small trailer with a ride on. The van was decked out in lights and caution signs, with the trailer having similar signs. Asked to show me the equipment, as it’s a good sign if they care. Internally was setup with shelving and drawers. Equipment was older, but looked well cared for, and looked as if everything had its own place.
Set them to work in our small yard. Done in no time, and cleaned up better than our regular (not so reliable) funded service.
I used to buy "New" utes for my workers but after putting up with the abuse went down the path of buying Ex mining stuff and was cost effective . Unless you employ ladies then a Newish ute may have merit ...But I then went to buying a van and let the worker take it home and I could not believe how well the van was looked after ...
Hi Bevan,
Good on you for being so supportive of your son and I really wish more fathers were like you.
I have various disabilities myself being ASD/ADHD although I’m very high functioning.
I’m a mature aged Engineering student and budding Inventor and I just wanted to share an idea I had while watching the episode.
I know what it’s like to put heavy objects in a hatchback with the back seats folded so I wanted to suggest that you make a well secured plywood platform for the back of the Corolla.
You could make it in such a way that it will fold up so the back seats can be used maybe even without pulling the platform out in order to use the back seats.
I would also suggest and I’m sure John will agree, that it could and should be built in such a way that it will not protrude into the back of the front seats in the event that your son finds himself being rear ended (heaven forbid) i.e. the platform is comprised of at least two pieces so one tucks under the other.
It could also be fitted with some timber blocks that form a slot for the mower to sit in so when it’s additionally tied down with a ratchet strap or two for example, it will remain secure under any circumstances.
I hope this is of some help,
Regards
Shanon.
Phffff …I rather drive a pov Ute with air con , power windows , power steering , air bag as standard than the selection of cars I had to choose from ….. XB falcon ute , HG Ute , EH ute , valiant , HQ panel van . Anyway the trailer idea is perfect , it allows for him to get a nicer car in the future with money from the business .
I have a 2009 turbo diesel cab chassis Triton poverty pack from new. It has the original starter motor and water pump and I have just replaced the clutch and it has 354,000 km on the clock and no oil leaks and has never missed a beat.
Mine is the same except auto….never missed a beat and it does its purpose…a work horse
Landscaping needs to tow heavy soil. Need a 2.8 Toyota ute! Poverty pack is longest lasting. All hard plastics. Nothing breaks. Perfect.
I'd take a poverty pack ute over any 4X4 Crew cab. I don't want or need 4X4, i don't want or need a dual cab and I definitely don't want or need a Tray that is so high it's basically useless for a short arse like myself
Single Cab Ute's have one handy trick up their sleeve: bucket loads of tray to load up a Pallet with space left over for tools.... and things of that nature.
I don’t want to go to dingo piss creek so the poverty pack ute is just fine
I'm the only driver good for rubbish run or a large canopy on the back ..shit hot
Well it's better than walking through dingo piss creek
I dabbled in this type of work a few years back so a few pointers from my experience:
You want a trailer and as John suggested, a 6x4 is a good starting point. Way lower to the ground than any ute tray so no busting your back trying to get a 60kg mower on board.
You do not want your mowing/cutting gear in a cab with you so no more suggesting a van. The fumes from the fuel is not a good thing and before anyone suggests it, no you can't go battery powered, that stuff wont cut it doing commercial level work.
Then inevitably you will mow landmines laid by someones old labradore with digestive issues and that's a stink you will never get out of the vehicle.
I do however think a ute + trailer is the ultimate combo when Bevo's young bloke progresses his business and the base model 4x2s are not that bad.
+1 for mentioning the fuel vapour issues.
I picked myself up a brand new 2022 base model 4x2 workmate in April last year. It is my only car (I have a motorcycle as well) saying that my whole life I’ve had diesel 4x4’s and my opinion on all new diesel’s is they are garbage if you want long term reliability, I want a vehicle to be still going at 300,000kms. Saying that yes the Toyota has a harsh ride and no intermittent wipers but I love it. It’s got two seats enough for me and my one remaining son living with me. People have said what if I need more seats and my answer is buy your own car. Long live the mighty 4x2 petrol workmate. Ps keep up the good informative videos.
Funnily enough, I bought the base model Triton 4x4 dual cab manual. It was chosen because we really did not want or have a need for all the "extra" stuff.
Same here, comfortable and capable.
Time is money and the #1 priority for a work vehicle for someone self employed is reliability. Downtime means a loss of clients and money, doesn't matter how good the warranty is. That's why so many choose a Hilux. But whatever car is chosen, I'd say the less features the better. Often the best thing about the base model is that it doesn't have any unnecessary features when all you need to do is get from A to B. There's less opportunity for things to go wrong when the exterior and interior of the ute, van, or whatever is being smashed by dirt and dust all the time. Good luck with touch screen air con and Bluetooth controls when it's covered in a few weeks, or a few months worth of dust
I did this same exact exercise as a part time handyman back in my day. I considered a van, considered a ute but in the end went with a 2nd hand SUV and got a fully boxed in steel trailer which had 4 points where i could lock up the back ramp to it. This trailer also had 3 access flaps on the front and side which opened up onto shelves, all which were also lockable. This turned out to be the best fit for me, and i used this set up for about 5 years when I changed jobs. If i ever went back to doing handyman work, id do the same 100%
Great suggestion. 2 more benefits of a sedan are coil springs in the back so stuff doesn't get slammed and the completely waterproof environment. My vehicle of choice is a Kluger with all the seats down.
I purchased a 6 x 4 trailer with a metal canopy for $150 from a deceased estate. I replaced the lights, tires and jockey wheel. Fabricated a full height tailgate and added a shelf for tools and a mower and everything else can fit under the shelf, The trailer is lockable and secure. The tailgate acts as a ramp. Why on earth would you want a ute where you have to lift anything out of the tray and risk serious back injury? Spend the money on a reliable car with a tow bar, children are precious.
They have povo packs here in Thailand. Basically the cheapest possible UTE with a 5 spd manual. Carpets, seats, wheels and steering wheel are all optional extras. All the local farmers have them. They have never been serviced, all the rear lights are smashed, front lights don't work, tailgate long since disappeared, the rust moth has eaten all the sills, brakes work sometimes and the tyres are slicker than a set of Grand Prix Dry Ultra softs. Never been taxed, Inspected or insured in it's 30 year life. Its called an Isuzu. Price: $14:99 + GST. Guaranteed for as long as its the our forecourt.
However, if he's really cash strapped, the trailer is a good option. Could get a covered lockable one.
Great video.
Plenty of common sense and helpful ideas.
I hope the young fellow in this story does very very well and dad is a legend.
I remember riding miles on my bike to push a mower that was nearly as heavy as I was up and down hills to make a few bucks when I was a kid.
Probably have a stroke if I attempted either of these activities now tbh.
Thanks for the video.
Good analysis and recommendations John. I have a garden maintenance business. I use my 2014 Kia Grand Carnival CRDI set up as a van with 2 front seats, middle and rear seats removed. It's a van with twin sliding rear doors, twin Kings 900mm ute draws and a 75 litre Engel fridge freezer that runs on a 120af Arkpac portable 2nd battery system. I also have a Bluetti AC200P mounted behind the driver's seat and charged from the cars dash mounted 12V/120W outlet. I use a dual axle 2 tonne twin compartment gardening retailer with tall sides. I can carry the Honda 21" self propelled mower, whipper snipper, hedge trimmer and blower in the front compartment. In the longer reat compartment I carry 2 fill size wheelie bins and 2 big wheel barrows side by side. That set up allows me to handle 90% of garden maintenance jobs without needing a ute. A ute is too small. If I could improve the setup I would choose a tipping trailer for quicker waste disposal and a commercial type van with twin sliding doors, rear barn doors, and a cargo barrier between load area and driver/passenger cabin. In my opinion a pvo pa k single or dual cab ute is an impractical choice.
tipping trailer is a big target for thieves my end of the world
I fear to ask what a "whipper-snipper" is. It sounds like something a rabbi carries about on the off chance...
Aussie vernacular for a hand held line trimmer.
I second the trailer idea. Safer option financially for a starting business (especially with the possibility of a recession) . Once he's well established, then work towards saving for a good used 4x4 dual cab or SUV. Something that doesn't compromise as much as a personal vehicle and a work truck.
Plus a trailer can be used to future proof the business should he grow enough to need a small ride on mower,or any other machines/supplies that he wont really be able to load in a vehicle hatch/tray.
Interesting John and here’s my reasons for buying a new workmate 2 months ago. First, the vehicles I considered, Triton - had to contact the dealership for a price so that ruled that out. Ranger - could not get a price for a single cab off the Ford website. They only showed dual cabs and I’m not keen on Fords anyway. Nissan Navara single cab tdi, no petrol option Auto $42,400 on the road + I think the tray was an extra $4K. I don’t know where you got your price of around $25k. Mazda BT50 single cab tdi, no petrol option Auto $43,540 + I I think the tray was an extra $4K. Toyota work mate - single cab, petrol, auto with alloy tray $32,600 drive away. When I talked to the dealer he gave me a price of $31,000 drive away. They even had one for immediate delivery but I had to wait a couple of weeks for the tray to arrive. This is for private use as my second car. I’m 2 meters, 120 kg so an auto was a must as I’m to big to use the clutch. The good: price, resale value, reliability, safety inc radar cruise control, seven airbags, speed sign monitoring ect, Apple car play. The bad: ride quality is awful even with 150kg permanently in the tray. No intermittent wipers, lack of cabin space, no rear camera or sensors although I purchased a rear camera for $200 that was very easy to fit and was the easiest plug and play ever as it just plugged into the original harness. Toyota’s penny pinching as I’m sure there are things already in the car that Toyota turn off. For what I paid I’m pretty happy but I don’t have to drive it all day every day. Our main drive is a 2020 Sahara but the ute is so useful for what I do. Yes it’s basic but it’s got everything I need. Cheers Stuart.
Hi Stuart, I agree, I live on acreage and am retired. Our main car is a Santa Fe. I have just bought a new Hilux like yours for doing jobs around the place. I also have a box trailer 6x4 so win win. Mine cost $33400 with the tradie pack. I looked at all other makes but they were just as expensive and triton had no safety pack or apple car play. The Isuzu was way too expensive. Reading your comments was helpful to me. Thankyou.
@@stendecstretcher5678 Hi Stendec and thanks for your reply. I didn’t know there was a tradie pack, what does it have? I’m glad that you found all the others to expensive as well, after John said the Navara? was $25k I thought I had messed up. Cheers, Stuart.
My son bought a base Hilux cab chassis last year for his business. Custom body installed and engineered. 5 star safety so all the safety electronics. It has worked out well.
Vans are the weapon of choice for most of the lawn mowing guys in my area.
If you need more than the two front seats, get the minibus version and remove enough seats to get your required space.
You could even fit a cargo wall to separate seating areas from the rear if required.
Hey Bevan, good work and hopefully you read the comments.
I think a trailer is a solid option, but I feel that to get the best functionality from a trailer it should be a bit larger and enclosed so it's secure. Doesn't have to be huge but it will likely push the weight up, but it doesn't have to be by much.
In a perfect world though, I would say get a van. A van probably doesn't have great resale so it's a good option if you'd consider looking at second hand, and you can kit out the inside to store everything securely, including a 12v fridge and a pie oven, with maybe an awning and solar panels on a roofrack to charge a separate 12v system... There'd be more than enough room, could tow a trailer for greenwaste if needed, the tow capacity will be better, and they make a great camping rig if your boy is into that. Not an exciting drive but they are pleasant enough. Another benefit is a generally low floor height with the back door open, making it much easier to push a mower in and load up everything else.
Best of luck anyway
Van, or wagon, plus cargo barrier. (Or ute with lockable canopy, but this a lot more $) Tools done.
Trailer. Prunings etc done.
That's my take. And presumably the best option since that's what you see the franchise lawn / garden contractors using.
And talk to an accountant as there will be tax write offs here. I was talking to a tradie who was driving a base model ute, and his comment was that the petrol WAS gutless compared to his previous turbo diesel ute, but he got it at an end of year deal and with tax deduction he got a brand new vehicle for 12,000 dollars. He wasn't complaining about the poverty pack spec.
And 2023 poverty pack isn't bad if you compare to what new top of the range looked like 20 or 30 years ago. You have a/c, power everything, EFI, ABS, VSC, security immobiliser, airbags,....
Not exactly a Kingswood.
On taking the trailer off:
Knowledge is knowing how to reverse a trailer. Wisdom is knowing when to take it off.
I have worked as a gardener for 7 years.
If you do just garden maintenance you’ll be able to get buy with the car and the 6x4 trailer although in weight you are a bit tight.
One you can upgrade a forester with a 6x4 trailer will do the same work as a ute. On big jobs you can always get a skip for the waste and get material (soil/mulch) delivered on site.
If you really want to upgrade to a commercial vehicle I personally prefer a ute,with a tool box keeps the waste and stench outside the cab (i have used both vehicles)
I reckon painters gardeners roofers carpenters bricked concreters plumbers and men who really use a ladder, really need a basic ute with a big aluminium tray really need a basic ute and cost is a factor . And it needs to run for twenty years.
Wrong.
Isuzu trade pack truck.
Agree John Perry! 90% of tradies I know including myself are driving Toyota or Triton ute poverty packs as they don't need all the bells and whistles, just a reliable work horse.
All those trades in the UK largely use vans, I can see the appeal of a ute being an L200/triton owner, but I've also been a van owner and the van IMO beats the ute all day long for practicality for a tradesman, but I'd say that's largely down to "climate" too my l200 has a canopy on the back so it limits the amount or size of objects I can get in the bed, and we need a canopy cos of the weather here, a van you only have to pick stuff up to knee height to load it, where as a pickup you need to go to waist height or higher, can get plenty of 8x4 sheets in alongside your tools etc, roof rack for the ladders etc
Spot on.
Geez, you gave a lot of thought into that dudes question. Why anyone dislikes you has got me tossed. Keep 'em coming. Thank you to you, for being you... I guess.
Personally I'd look more at a something like a transit connect van or whatever the commonly used tradie equivalent is in Oz, but we also don't really have high temps here in Scotland where I'd need to worry too much about a lot of petrol vapour in the back with the heat depending on how many pieces of equipment he has, you can get those spinning vents for on top of the roof to keep the back well ventilated, or as John says go with the trailer, if you think maneuvering with the trailer on the corolla will be too difficult for him then that solidifies the smaller van idea as he will be used to something that size already.
The problem with that is that it doesn't do much for him in every other aspect of his life. I assume that he takes his mowing equipment out of the Corolla for general/personal use. I don't think a van is really suitable for that. I can hardly see him taking his girlfriend on a date in a Ford Transit - unless his girlfriend is called Rosie Palms.
@@sheriff0017 Better much more comfortable seating position in a transit, and a comfortable amount of space in the back, if he does take it out with his girlfriend.
@@sheriff0017 Seeing as camper vans are built on van bodies I'd suggest that an enterprising young lad would find plenty of options to entertain himself and a friend in comfort in the back of a vehicle that has a long load bed, no windows and doors that can be locked from the inside.
Back in the day the BL Mini based van was a good compromise for the budget operator, but the builders with a transit were more favoured
If go for a transit van.
Low load floor, available in many sizes depending on what your requirements are, can carry a decent amount in terms of weight and volume, cabin is reasonably comfy as well (for a van, we aren't talking rolls Royce phantom here). Plus transit vans are exceedingly common (all over the place in the UK where I am), so cheap parts and they're reliable.
Not sure if it’s been brought up already but you really need to have fuel (flammable liquid) in a separate space to the cabin you or a passenger are travelling in. Not just for your own safety but to meet WHS standards.
So a trailer or ute is the easiest and most practical way of doing this. The trailer is a good idea as it reduces cost and gives flexibility to just have a normal car outside of work, probably best to have a appropriate and correctly signed fuel storage in the trailer (or ute) though.
I don’t think the base utes are as bad as you say, sure they’re basic but they have better safety features than the pre 2000 Corolla, air bags and abs brakes ect. Better ground clearance and really wouldn’t drive any worse, hopefully a little better than a 20+ year old Corolla.
Although upgrading to a car like a 8-10 year old Forester with a trailer covers all issues, safety, cost and practicality. A similar aged basic ute would be around the same value as a Forester and you’ll have way more “car” than the ute.
A trailer is a great idea, being relatively cheap, easier to obtain & more easily upgraded as the business grows. It may not be the best decision, however, depending on the child's ability to cope with towing.
A van or people mover might be a better option. Both have plenty of cargo space & the security needed, and the people mover has the added benefit of being able to carry more passengers.
I picked up a base model 2 door ute (er, pickup truck) eight years ago and everyone everywhere tried to talk me out of it.
Still waiting for the first regret to arrive. People assured me I would have all sorts of regrets so I'm certain one will show up any day now.
Not sure at what point it became unacceptable to have more tray than cab; I don't need to haul a back seat full of air and the hundreds of pounds of steel and glass which accompany it everywhere I go.
I hear you.
I bought a base model Mazda BT50 for $19000 in 2009 and Paid an extra $500 for bucket seats, Still goes good. Still has its original brakes & rotors,
Beven, I’ve run a landscaping business for nearly thirty years with a 2x4 Hilux towing a single axil trailer. Lockup canopy on the ute to hold mower, brushcutter, shovels, fuel etc. The extra cab for hand tools, the trailer for prunings, clippings and small loads of soil.
A van will trap fuel vapours in with the driver, and a 4x4 is extra maintenance cost he just doesn’t need. Also, my cab is often covered with dust, dirt, mud, fertiliser etc, so the base model will have less breakable parts that are easy to wipe down.
Well said John. I have a 2012 workmate doesn't even have intermittent wipers, remote locking,power windows, can't keep anything in the tray unless it is in a locked box or cable locked ,people try my locks often. Safety and ride quality is horrendous. It is a tough little truck it gets the job done and you don't get tail gated very often. Also driving in the wet is a nightmare on anything other than new tyres and if you put the rears in anything more than a cup full sand or some moist grass you'll probably be stuck there for a while. I'll be selling mine this year and getting a 4x4 hilux sr5 with a tray but I will also have a soft spot for my tough little truck.
I 1000% agree with your solution. When this video started I was super convinced you will not be able to follow the logic of a small trailer behind a Corolla being able to do exactly the same job as a base ute. But happy that you advised the same as my Dad always did. Utes in general are overpriced uncomfortably driving vehicles (unless you go 4x4). These 2x4 base models are not much cheaper compared to a 1996 Corolla. Love this video man!
My biased opinion, a $5000~ for a last of the made in Japan 3rz petrol Hilux's. Mine is just about to tick over 500,000kms on original motor and driveline still drives as good as the day i bought it.
Is that the last one with the evolved styling traced back to early 80s?
Auto or manual? I've driven both auto and manual Hiluxes from 2000s and enjoyed both equally.
@@jamesfrench7299 I think it could be, it's a 1998 manual, first of the IFS HiLux's i believe.
@@MrDingaling007 either last or second last.
I used to drive an auto one at work about that time.
Another great video John. I’m a state politician and I represent a seat in rural Queensland so I do about 50,000km a year. I bought a 2021 Hilux Workmate low-rider 4x2 petrol manual new two years ago. No intermittent wipers and no carpet for sure. Honestly though, it’s not that bad, except for the petrol consumption, and it came with the full safety package and Apple CarPlay which is really all I need. And after about 10,000k the suspension in the back seems to soften a bit. I have an aluminium tool chest fixed to the tray which holds my things when I am travelling away from home or heading to Brisbane for parliament. I also have a TJM Tradesman bull bar and spot ties/light bar on it. I’d been driving my old Rodeo farm ute before and when it died I needed something fast. The Workmate was the only ute I could source anywhere and I was surprised how well it has worked out. I just did a Christmas trip to Bathurst and back with my 11 year old son and that was about 1,800km all up and we survived okay. I recon it’ll do a million kilometres with the kind of long distance driving I do so it’ll last me well after it has been relegated to farm ute duties. And when I pull up to a pub to stay the night in the middle of nowhere, nobody says to me that I bought the wrong ute🤣. Love your videos John. Keep ‘em up!
Van would be my recommendation. Fit a tow bar and get a ride on for those larger jobs. Ladders on the roof, shelving/racking in the back for storage, and away you go.
Great suggestions JC and very kind and encouraging words mate. Well done.
Hi John. My young bloke has his own concreting business, and runs 2 Ford Ranger 2.2L poverty pack Ute's which are now close on 5 yrs old Both have been totally reliable, and not too bad to drive unladen. They have good safety, phone pairing, and economical so I would not hesitate buying such vehicle. They're not really poverty packs. Just my opinion.
Great job John, again you spit truth bombs and unpack the quite complex and simple challenges of a fit for purpose vehicle choice. Brilliant, excellent content. Thanks
Little utility trailers are always underrated. A cage is even better, especially disposing green waste. Get the best caravan jockey wheel you can buy, it makes it much easier to push around, especially on the lawn. Normal jockey wheels get hung up on sticks and stones.
I bought my 2005 rodeo 2.4l single cab, bench seat, no power windows, no cruise control, no abs, no air bags with 129000km in 2018 for $2700. The price of a tandem trailer. I added a rack and front rack. Can carry 6m lengths on top and fill 2400x1200mm sheets in the back. Way more useful than most $90K show ponies. It’s not my daily drive, if it was I’d buy something a little flasher, but it’s so simple there is almost nothing that can break that I can’t fix myself.
Kind of depends on your circumstances. I quite like the workmate 2.7 petrol as a retiree renovating a cottage. The low profile means the tray is easy to get onto and the reliable old petrol engine just goes forever. It's suited to the short-stop-start stuff without DPF, clogged injector, and complex turbo-related issues. I've got a couple of those plastic cargo boxes from Anaconda bolted on the back for storage and can roll out the swag on the tray when I go fishing. I'm guessing Albo will ban this last remaining petrol ute before too long so I'm hanging on to it. That said the box trailer for the young fella is excellent advice.
My suggestion would to rent over a weekend to assess the suitability for the young bloke
That’s a very good point you can hire a workmate at most Bunnings
I went thru that. Being Handi Franki got a used a Pathfinder 4WD decked out main tools in it and still 3 seats were left. Got 2nd hand Bush Fire trailer for $1.5k with shelves and lockable door. Total cost $10k and best of all you can use the 4WD on job sites many a times. Also have a caged & Float for other jobs. Set up a camera over tow ball so can change between them in a minute.
My father in law has a 2017 workmate. Never been washed and is mainly used as a farm vehicle or for carrying stuff to the tip. Unloaded it is a nightmare to drive and your kidneys get bruised after 10 minutes especially on Sydney's crappy roads. Once it has a bit of weight in it, no complaints and it gets the job done with ease. We don't need to worry about security though as it either has rubbish, soil or rocks in in the back that no one would steal.
I bought a Hilux 2x4 Workmate with a 2.6 mtr tray, that is fit for purpose to carry stuff to the dump, can happily take 2 x motorcycles with the tailgate up and still get me to Dingo Piss Creek just like any ute could before they invented 4 x 4 Dual Cab units with all the "stuff" (that still require a trailer to carry anything of any length). Never considered it a 'Poverty Pack', just a practical vehicle.
one argument for the single cab utes is, they are 100% claimable on tax, every drop of fuel, every maint, no logbooks required, go shopping on sunday use the ute, you can claim 100% of the fuel. This is a clear determination by the ATO, any other vehicle type - including dual cab utes, you have to separate personal usage and can not claim on that, but a S/C's, he can take a holiday and drive to cape york and back and claim every single cent of fuel on his businesses, the ATO wont ask questions- your accountants can verify this.
and frankly for what he needs it for a pov ute would be fine, its a work vehicle FFS, not his chick magnet mobile where he sits in maccas car park at 11pm with doof doof bellowing out all over....
You do make a point of security, depending where you are I spose, lots of tradies in this area with SC workmates, tritons and dmax's, they seem to do ok security wise, I'm in telecoms, so the 250KG fiberglass canopy along with all the kit makes it a pleasant enough drive, sure not as good as a sedan, but you dont feel too much of the corrugations unlike driving the bitch before all thats added, I was vibrating for hours after my first drive on bare tray :)
I'd go with a van, towing a trailer adds to fuel expense, granted you don't get as good a ride and all but a van would be secure, spacious, and economical to run. Edit: Oh and a trailer could be used if needed later on down the track as his business grows.
I'd rather the new povo ute, no annoying trailer, put a cage around the tray for security. You still have a passenger seat. It's small compact and versatile. Oh and they drive great, and most come with decent features, just not all the latest and greatest. Yes air-conditioning.
My 2008 2.4 litre - 4 cylinder petrol Triton ML traytop was a brilliant work machine. It never let me down. It cost my $18,500 new.
It was still running perfectly when I sold it recently.
I'd be one more for the Transit van. Even the smaller T330 short roof and wheelbase can fit a workshop inside them and legally transport it all around. Ladders go on the roof, 3 seater for the wife and child, can easily tow the 2 or more tonnes. I've had two, first made it to 890 thousand kms, second is now just under 310.
I can understand the thinking behind the base model new is new and hopefully trouble free motoring for many years. Being a business he can claim back the gst and right off the rest on taxable income as an expense.No brainer for me.
Good on you Bevan for posting to help out your son in his business. I hope he does well out of it and enjoys the work.
I would agree with John on the trailer.
Looking at the people who come and go in our area doing mowing and gardening, almost all use a trailer behind a car or van/wagon.
We had one of those single cab utes at work in the 90's. It was horrible. Without a load it would bounce and "float" around everywhere when driving. As you can imagine, it would spin the wheels even on wet grass if there was no weight in the back. No room in the cab.
The other pain with a ute is that the tray will be a lot higher than a trailer floor, and it won't be fun to lift a mower up and down from that height several times a day.
A trailer height floor is dead easy to load and unload from. Wooden ramps can be made to make it easier still to push the mower up.
A cage trailer also has the bonus of being able to attach signs to the sides and back to
advertise your busines. Also most weld hooks and racks on the inside of the cage, and the whipper snipper and hand tools get hung up on them, helping keeping clutter off the floor.
Also have seen one where the mower is stored on a ramp across the draw bars on the front of the trailer. one part of this ramp folds down making a ramp, that you wheel the mower straight down it and onto the footpath.
Finally, an 06 Corolla will be a very reliable car for a long time yet if you keep up the servicing, yet you will get nothing for it if you sell it or trade it in.
I agree with the trailer, they are so damn cheap. A small 6x4 trailer is so cheap and light, a corolla would tow that easily, and allows you to leave the trailer behind. Now, the only concern I have about the trailer, is Bevan says he is doing Landscaping. Does this involve hauling large quantities of dirt around? If so, that would completely change my recommendation. Dirt gets heavy fast.
Those style single cabs are way to small for us. My dad needed a ute early this century to replace an aging F100 to carry 1 Tonne daily, and he went with an AU Ford Falcon. They might not be as reliable as a hilux from the same time, but the cabin size and comfortable ride (a bit bumpy when fully laden due to the progressive springs, but they have sagged quite a bit over the years) is close to a sedan. They tow 2.3T, and carry 1 Tonne PLUS a full sized adult and a full tank of fuel. An FG Falcon ute with a 6 speed would probably be recommended to cut down on the fuel cost. The AUs drink so much fuel, so I would avoid an AU ute and get at least a B series. The FGs come with decent stereo system, electric windows, ABS, airbags, an aircon designed for twice the cabin volume, 200kW and 400Nm of torque. Can even get limited slip diff if you look around. In fact, the RTVs have a locking diff and are lifted from the factory, but are only in the B series.
4X2 Povo-pack 2-hand Hilux or Triton (or even an old Falcon or Holden) will do me for a Daily and weekend workhorse. I do go camping; but not rock climbing or deep mud diving; so all good here.
Forester recommended eh?
Foresters Rock 😎👍👍👍
You've got me thinking Johnno. What are you up to? Your clickbait is " Poverty pack". Not, " Maybe your disabled son should buy a trailer". Is this the car salesman in your lead-in? I'm old school, my Dad asked everyone he met about their car, so I kinda do too. Only last week, there was a bloke in a " Poverty Pack" Toyota Work Mate, a cheap petrol, tabletop, parked beside me in the IGA at Coonabarabran. He had done over 300,000ks and said it was a "Bloody ripper". I know of two other of these poverty-pack ute's in town both Tritons, one a kitchen bloke and the other a mechanic, and upon asking, just out of interest what their cheap ride is like, they all reply in the positive. The quality is identical, my Triton is fantastic. So, Cado, Johnny, or The Gan, what margin do you get on a $60,000.00 car, compared to a $30,000.00 ute of the same brand, remembering the Povo as you imply, rock bottom. Things are tight in the motor sales dept, so, are you trying to discourage people from buying a cheaper vehicle by calling them a "Shit Box", when they are basically the same vehicle with less bling? Oh, and if you do read out my letter, I'll bet you try to make me look like an idiot by using your well-rehearsed " Gay" voice, just to add to your degradation to improve your own standing? If someone agrees with you, you use your standard voice, but if they don't, you turn Gay, why is that? I think I know, it's because you are a salesman, I know because I've made inquiries on "Auto Expert " and was treated to the same bullshit I'd get in a dealer's showroom. You're a very smart man JC, I've subscribed for years, but now, I smell a rat. You'll notice that my Grammar and Spelling are not bad either as I was educated in the 50s and 60s. So come on Doagy", hit me with some real figures, I, like you, hope you can prove me wrong.
My immediate thought would be a used van. Especially one with a fixed bulk head. Or even something like a VW caddy or Peugeot Partner type thing, a bit smaller, but still stacks of room
I agree, the little van that drives like a car. Or a 1 tonner like Renault Traffic etc, plus caged trailer for the branches & other garden waste. Another advantage of the trailer is it can be left on the job site while running errands. Either style of van will be cheaper to operate than a ute in my experience.
I would recommend a poverty ute with a tub and a fiberglass canopy. That way he can camp in the back when he goes away with his dad.
John really appreciate your very practical advice.
Here is what I did
Vehicle a double cab Toyota Hilux D4D - with back seat up or removed a hell of a lot of valuable gear could be locked in side (was/am a electrical contractor).
These D4D Hilux should do around 500K with regular oils changes so even one with say 300K on the clock in reasonable nick should last until the business can support a new vehicle.
Did a lot of work in iron ore exploration in western Australia so had two Ali lockable tool boxes on the back and pulled a very substantial box type trailer full of gear.
I found the D4D a great Ute, however just remember over around say K150K you may/will get a few problems. New clutch required depending on what has been towed. Air con evaporator (the bit inside the cab) and say around 230K the injectors. Big bucks.
So if you pick one up at 300K or so all these problems should have been fixed leaving you with around 200K of good motoring.
If they have had work done as above view the receipts for the work and get a trust worthy mechanic to have a look at them.
It none of it has been done do not touch it as big problems are coming.
Note - Just about all mine sites and mine exploration sites in Western Australia use Toyota as their light vehicle preference.
What this means if you have a Toyota in WA basically anywhere parts are usually a day or so ago and the mechanic in the smallest town knows how to fix it. Out side WA don't
Regards Den
If parking is at a premium in your area then the Ute will be easier. Otherwise the trailer is good. I doubt you'll start at 150kg empty. It might say that on the papers, but it may have been on the weigh bridge with no spare and no tailgate...
I agree. My 6x4 trailer weighs 200g empty.
I bought a 2011, Workmate, dude it’s my favourite daily and I’m retired. And it’s worth more than I paid. The new hilux workmate has all the features of upper models have a look.
I Waa looking for a basic ute eg hilux etc single cab ute for taking rubbish to tip etc as we don't get kerbside rubbish collection to tip.
By chance I purchased a cheap au falcon ute because I couldn't see the sense in buying an overpriced Hills for 4 times the price.
I drive the AU daily as it is comfy doesn't shake my kidneys out and is well just a great old drive.
I'd easily drive it all over Australia!
And this ladies and gentleman is an excellent example of design thinking: don't start by defining the solution, start instead by defining the problem.
The other advantage of the trailer is that even if his car needs to go into the shop, he can still get around with his gear.
He could also get sign-writing on his trailer, which would have ruined the resale on his car.
Like the HQ Belmont, wheels and tyres were an optional extra on that fine piece of Aussie automotive engineering..
Yes a upgrade to a Kingswood got you arm rests and a heater 😊
As the driver of a 2022 dual cab hilux bargain basement ute I can confidently say you don't want to join our ranks.
The interior is entirely plastic. That makes the centre console lid a pretty uncomfortable arm rest and the whole thing is just ugly.
It was also clearly designed around the average Japanese child in terms of its space. If you're 6' or taller the steering wheel ends up a mile in front of you (it's adjustable, but nowhere near enough) and the handle on the roof is in prime position to clock your temple. There is angle adjustment on the seat back and you can slide it back and forth but that's it. There's no lumbar adjustment, no seat base height or angle adjustment. It's not great. In the 4 weeks and 4000km I've had this vehicle I've not gotten used to it either. It's just not designed for taller people, and in terms of fatigue management that's bad.
Next thing is just dumb shit. They give you radar cruise control that slows down on the highway because the person you thought you were going to overtake in the lane next to you was going slower. It also slams the brakes on when it senses the vehicle in front slowing down considerably because they're turning off. Never mind they're 50+m away and going to be halfway to Sydney before you make it to that intersection. So an hour in and I've pulled over and pulled out the manual to find out how to turn that crap off and it's pretty much stayed off ever since.
So they give you that but when you spray the windscreen with water you then have to manually turn the wipers on. No courtesy wipe.
There is only one power outlet. The USB port is 5V slow charge only.
The motor is absolutely gutless and has terrible fuel economy at 12.5L/100km. Towing with it would be a torturous experience.
Apparently the lane departure thing is a bit of an experience as well according to the other blokes at work. Haven't had that yet though. They have reported it doing it's thing due to oncoming traffic that's in its own lane.
The ride is extremely good for a lightly loaded ute and the Infotainment system is pretty good though.
I know why they chose this ute for us, and if I were in the same position I'd have done exactly the same.
No way known would I put my own hard earned into one though. They're just too shit to drive to want to do that to yourself, unless of course you're the albino monk bloke from The DaVinci Code.
Lot of the smaller Japanese utes (and vans) are kind of good in the sense you're not having to lift heavy stuff to chest-height to get it in the back because everyone seems to want 32's and a lift kit on their bigger utes. That may seem inconsequential until you do it enough times and begin to really hate life. The cheap Hiace and Hilux are pretty bare bones, but they do keep working forever and they do sell well in the 2nd hand market. But I would caution that they're not exactly the epitome of motoring safety when the road gets a bit slippery and have/had the crash protection about the same as a shopping trolley- ie: your face is the crumple zone.
Vans might be the better option or if you're not adverse to suffering a decent closed in box trailer and whatever hook up on a car you need to drag it around
As a thought he could buy a van, like a Hyundai iLoad that will give him space and security for tools that’s if he doesn’t or can’t tow a trailer. Vans can be more practical than utes and some of them came with second row seating.
That is good advice John, especially affordable option if he is just starting out. I've been using a trailer quite a bit recently and have gotten quite good at reversing it as a result which is helpful, however our infrastructure is not really designed for vehicles with trailers. You can't really duck into any Westfields car park to grab lunch or any fast food parking lots, some drive throughs could also pose a bit of an issue if they are not designed for trailers or if you have a larger trailer. Places like Bunnings however have dedicated parking spots for vehicles with trailers which is helpful. I would not recommend unhitching and leaving the trailer just anywhere without properly securing it with the amount of stolen trailers in Shitsville lately. There are also issues with parallel parking on our congested streets as its not usually that easy to find spots large enough for a car and trailer combo, also doing 3 point turns in tighter suburban streets could pose a problem. My point is there are also some limitations to trailers that also need to be considered where just a used van or a ute with a canopy might be more useful to replace the Corolla.
I've owned a poverty pack dual cab 2009 Triton 2.4 petrol. Yes it was functional, but the ultra stiff leaf springs were painful until there was at least 200kg in the back. I added some sound deading material to the cabin to get some sort of comfort. Plus the engine would sit on at 3000rpm on the hwy which wasn't a pleasure on my 3hour drive to see my parents. Though bonuses were the vinyl flooring which you can get sparking clean with hot soapy water. It was cheap as chips and care factor of loading it up without denting the tray was not there. Plus was reliable with no major repairs after 250k on the clock, and was still going strong after I got rid of it. Definitely a different animal to my 2019 Triton GLS premium.
I just got two prices in the last few days for a 4x2 Triton and 4x2 workmate, I went with the workmate because of the price. Admittedly, they weren't exact the same specs, the Triton was a 2.4 diesel and the workmate 2.7 petrol. Both were autos, the Triton had an alloy tray and the workmate colour coded heavy-duty steel tray. Also, the Triton had a 10-year warranty, workmate 5-years. The Triton was quoted at $41,362 drive away and the workmate $35,416.92. I did want a Triton because I also have Pajero Sport, which I am quite happy with.
I've had two utes, and I can't tell you how many times I came back to find the tonneau cover had been opened. The dual cab Hilux was less of a problem, because the back seat became the boot for anything I didn't want easily stolen. The single cab Holden WB was even worse as every single time I stopped I had to load all of my shit into the passenger side, and then swap it back so the missus could sit somewhere.
Worse still is that even inside the cab, nothing was really safe because it is visible, and covering it with a rug is even more of an invitation for some dero to smash your window.
a used van (Hyundai iLoad, Toyota HiAce, etc) may be the way to go. Can be fitted out & has easy side/rear access. Add a towbar for a 4x4 or 6x4 trailer.
I've been doing mowing and gardening since 2015 with an 8x5 single-axle trailer towed behind a diesel VW Golf from 2008. Got a box with my hand tools (secateurs, loppers, trowel etc. etc.) in the boot, and the mower, line trimmer, shovels, rakes, brooms, and everything else goes in the tray in the front of the ex-Jim's Mowing trailer (bought second-hand from a franchise owner that was replacing it with a double-axle tipper).
Makes me wonder if spending money on a full restore of an old car/pickup with a few modern touches is a better investment than a new car/pickup?
Great advice. I have both the fully loaded dingo piss creek edition 4x4 2017 Hilux and a 2022 workmate HiRider single cab hilux manual 2.4L diesel. For the record I paid $32k with alloy tray brand new in April 2022 Bathurst Toyota. I can confirm that the base model Hiluxs now have more features than their predecessors. All safety pack, radar cruise, lane assist, speed sign reading, will even call 000 if senses a collision and airbags are deployed (though Bluetooth connected phone) Apple CarPlay ect. Mind you none of these features were offered in my 2017 top spec (at the time) SR5 Hilux. Can’t fault the 2022 workmate, sure it’s our farm ute, but being lighter without the 4x4 running gear really aids in the 2.4L turbo diesel get up and go. Really tows as well as our dingo piss variant! New workmates are a far superior package than any before, I’ve had a few 2.7l petrol workmates in the past, and I probably wouldn’t go there again, even with all the new safety gear, cruise control ect. They just don’t have enough grunt. Good luck with the search.
I got a 2006 non turbo auto forrester with a electric brake controller for $4500 with 160,000km and have been using it to cart around my detailing gear for 2 years no worries. I have had about 14 cars and it has been the most reliable car I have ever owned. It has 250,00km now with no issues except i had to fix the air con compressor clutch (30 min job at home). I do service it myself and do oil changes every 5000km. In 90,000km I havent had to replace anything except normal oils and fluids. Bit heavy on the fuel though.
This is wholesome. Gathering the villiage to brainstorm to help a lad. Wonderful.
As a Holden fan and also a realist I would with question get the last FORD Falcon station wagon.
Brilliant bullet proof work horse.
LPG great but getting harder to find at servoes. Purchase a second hand ex eg Jim's mowing trailer.
Total cost under 20k.
So if he changes his mind re work you still have a great car just re sell the trailer at probably it cost you.
Also excellent start up tax rite off in first year.
Would a small van be an option?
Oh, and I am going to miss the Cicadas in the background when they go away, John. It is a very Summery sound.
I was thinking the same thing too. A Toyota Proace or a small Ford Transit. The base Proace is 8.000 euro cheaper than the equivalent Hilux.
@@HyBy unfortunately neither of those are available in australia
@@stewart9788 So that's why everyone uses a ute over there, there no small vans. Anyway, i just checked Renault Australia's site and they will be bringing the Kangoo in Australia. If it will be equipped with the 1.5dci engine i believe the gentleman should defently check it out for his son.
I used Toyota HiAce vans with Telstra for 20 odd years and was throwing cable drums and pit lids in the back . With Ladder rack and a safety back step . Plus a cable roll on wheels . It was good to get out of the rain and even in the right spot you could have a slash in the door into a large jug . They came with wash stands too .For lawn mower or wheelbarrow would need a set of ramps. Brilliant for peak hour traffic to see over the top of 2 cars in front. Just learn not to reverse in dumb spots as they are longer . Good turning too
landscaper & handy man for many years, My answer - Used van + 5x7 cage trailer, Happy days! Best practical combo I've found.
Sage advice. How about a van?
Excellent advice John.
Keep the Corolla and get a trailer for sure!
Then spend the money saved on business registration, advice, startup marketing and digital stationary.
Plus some reliable tools
Better spent than getting that Oh what a feeling from your local dealer.
Don’t lose track the lad is intellectually mild. It was not stated, but if he can drive and independent my experience is a van is best.
The big drawback of a van is of course use of petrol power tools. The fumes will spread through entire vehicle.
However, as much as the EV world is in flux, battery tools are years ahead in development.
For grunt, there are numerous brands available, but at entry level we are finding Ryobi very useful. The latest self propelled mulches mower does compete.
The additional benefit is battery machines are much lighter. So popping into a van is a piece of cake.
Conclusion. Van and battery is competitive to the Ute.
There also is more buck to the kilometre available as the van allows more options.
The van is seasonally versatile, unlike the open ute. In the winter the van can safely do parcel, small furniture, dog walks and alike jobs. In a wet summer keep tools dry on the job.
Bearing in mind what you say, why not a small van? With two rows of seats if neccessary. Much more utility value than a "ute". The good old "Tranny" van or perhaps a Vauxhall/Opel Vivaro/Renault/Nissan van. More payload as well, and it can tow a trailer if needed.