Talk to me about epic pick-ups
Discussion
The F150 thread yesterday showed there's quite a bit of collective pickup knowledge on PH so I thought I'd ask a few questions.
Early next year I might be in a position to acquire a pick-up for business use. As I motocross, and need something to tow a box trailer it seems to make sense to get on the hunt.
So far I've looked at all the obvious choices, with the short list being, shock horror:
Navara
Warrior Animal Edition
Hilux
Any thoughts on the above?
My next question is about epic pickup trucks, much like this one:
Now I realise there's a lot of work and money gone into that, but as I won't be doing many miles in the thing I figure something big-wheeled would be really fun for a while. What are the implications of jacking any of the above up and sticking pointlessly large wheels on, apart from looking like a tit?
Early next year I might be in a position to acquire a pick-up for business use. As I motocross, and need something to tow a box trailer it seems to make sense to get on the hunt.
So far I've looked at all the obvious choices, with the short list being, shock horror:
Navara
Warrior Animal Edition
Hilux
Any thoughts on the above?
My next question is about epic pickup trucks, much like this one:
Now I realise there's a lot of work and money gone into that, but as I won't be doing many miles in the thing I figure something big-wheeled would be really fun for a while. What are the implications of jacking any of the above up and sticking pointlessly large wheels on, apart from looking like a tit?
Biggest downside would be going from standard spec so cheap insurance to modified meaning more expensive insurance. I used to run a standard Hilux as my only vehicle and would never do it again. Road manners are somewhat uncouth compared with a normal car, performance is also below par.
I'd imagine that handling will be pretty dire on something like that, not that a pickup is exactly going to handle like sports car in the first place. Big tyres wont do wonders for your fuel economy or road noise either.
I'm not sure that would fit in a parking standard space, it looks rather wide.
I'm not sure that would fit in a parking standard space, it looks rather wide.
Edited by kambites on Tuesday 7th September 09:54
Kevin VRs said:
Biggest downside would be going from standard spec so cheap insurance to modified meaning more expensive insurance. I used to run a standard Hilux as my only vehicle and would never do it again. Road manners are somewhat uncouth compared with a normal car, performance is also below par.
Then go with an insurer who deals with modded cars....LuS1fer said:
Buy a Dodge Ram and you won't need to mod it.
A friend of mine has the SRT10 - just lubriciously epic.If i'm honest, I don't think raising it and sticking big wheels on would ever happen, I just wanted to know more about the process. Ideal truck would be the F150 raptor.
honestly I would look into buying one already done up. the costs of lifting them, changing suspension and putting wheels, winches on etc is alot more than you'd expect.
of those three the hilux looks the best bet, but know this... if you spend any more than £2k on an offroader, you will never ever use it for offroading, and if you do, you will never enjoy it by pushing the limits.
Much better to get a prelifted and winched 2000ish Jeep cherokee 4.0L for £1500, to which you won't mind if it breaks or rolls nearly so much :P It will perform far better offroad, probably better onroad, and other than fuel costs will be an awesome vehicle.
(had one before, but aformentioned fuel costs prooved to be too horrendous!!! do still regret selling it now though.)
of those three the hilux looks the best bet, but know this... if you spend any more than £2k on an offroader, you will never ever use it for offroading, and if you do, you will never enjoy it by pushing the limits.
Much better to get a prelifted and winched 2000ish Jeep cherokee 4.0L for £1500, to which you won't mind if it breaks or rolls nearly so much :P It will perform far better offroad, probably better onroad, and other than fuel costs will be an awesome vehicle.
(had one before, but aformentioned fuel costs prooved to be too horrendous!!! do still regret selling it now though.)
jon- said:
LuS1fer said:
Buy a Dodge Ram and you won't need to mod it.
A friend of mine has the SRT10 - just lubriciously epic.If i'm honest, I don't think raising it and sticking big wheels on would ever happen, I just wanted to know more about the process. Ideal truck would be the F150 raptor.
GestapoWatch said:
Hmmmm seriously thinking about adding an Escalade pickup to my collection as I have recently acquired a weird fascination for huge pickups, with the biggest earth destroying engines possible!!
+1 Theres just something about a massive car with a massive engine... forget dynamics, angry muscle is where its at!I like pickup trucks and quite fancied one, but I had a go in a friends top of the range Navara and was quite disappointed at the ride, leaf spring suspension is fine for driving across a building site with a ton of gravel in the bed but not for comfort on the road. Very hard and bouncy.
Another friend has a Toyota Hilux 'monster truck' that has been properly built by L.A Supertrux at massive cost with a 6" body lift, huge suspension lift and massive 39" super swamper tyres and a 4.5 range rover V8 that runs completely unsilenced through twin truck stacks up the back of the cab...
It's so redneck/hillbilly but it is one of the greatest vehicles I've ever been in... Drive it anywhere and it literally stops traffic with people taking photos and waving! Everyone from kids to old people grin like idiots when they see it.
Be warned though, once you start with big tyres, suspension lifts and suchlike you will soon find that practicality and handling goes down the pan.... Sitting at 70mph the motorway becomes an entertaining experience!
Despite all above I would still have a pickup and yes, I would secretly want a big lift kit and tyres on it...
Another friend has a Toyota Hilux 'monster truck' that has been properly built by L.A Supertrux at massive cost with a 6" body lift, huge suspension lift and massive 39" super swamper tyres and a 4.5 range rover V8 that runs completely unsilenced through twin truck stacks up the back of the cab...
It's so redneck/hillbilly but it is one of the greatest vehicles I've ever been in... Drive it anywhere and it literally stops traffic with people taking photos and waving! Everyone from kids to old people grin like idiots when they see it.
Be warned though, once you start with big tyres, suspension lifts and suchlike you will soon find that practicality and handling goes down the pan.... Sitting at 70mph the motorway becomes an entertaining experience!
Despite all above I would still have a pickup and yes, I would secretly want a big lift kit and tyres on it...
Edited by NinjaPower on Tuesday 7th September 10:24
kambites said:
I'd imagine that handling will be pretty dire on something like that, not that a pickup is exactly going to handle like sports car in the first place.
I think it depends, sure it won't handle like an Elise, or even a Boxster. But that doesn't mean it isn't perfectly capable of being driven hard on public roads and still being huge fun.Edited by kambites on Tuesday 7th September 09:54
While not quite as extreme, I simply loved B road bashing in my modded Disco, and to be fair it was capable of surprising quite a few vehicles.
Yes it leaned, yes it had bump steer - but it really didn't matter it was a hoot to drive and offered HUGE sense of occasion and was able to produce just as a big a grin
as any performance car I've driven to date.I do admit, an arctic truck on flotation tyres might be less affective on the road, but swapping to muds or similar would be an option.
OP:
All trucks will vary in terms of ability and modding. Although money can do almost anything.
Landy's are great because there is a such a huge community in the UK and support. Yank stuff is well worth considering though as you get so much for your money, in terms of spec and gear. Most have V8's and all are capable.
This is my Disco, not hugely modded. But a tweaked 200Tdi which was rather peppy and addictive to drive. Suspension mods, and 33.11.50R15 Simex tyres (measure about 34" tall) and few other mods.
I've done 1000's of miles in it on the road (N Wales to Midlands to Cornwall and back in 5 days, plus touring miles too). It's been used as a daily driver.
Truly huge fun and very capable.
Depending on what size truck you want, and how much money you want to spend, then there are things like these:
Ford Bronco.
Very similar to an F150 but a bit shorter (good for the UK). The "full size Bronco" FSB has been in production from 78 with a major update in 1980 and ended production in 1996. Most have 5.0 or 5.8 V8's and are quicker and more economical than a 3.9 V8 Range Rover.
They also have removable roofs. Ebay usually has 1 or 2 month for sale. Very good truck in stock form and loads of potential if yo want to spruce it up a bit.
More info on Bronco's: http://www.broncodriver.com/
Less capable than the Bronco, but the Chevy Blazer is a similar type of truck.
Then there's the pickups, from Chevy Silverardo's to Ford F150's and Dodge Ram 1500's. All of the truck makers offer a heavier duty truck (2500/F250) which usually has a diesel engine as an option too. If you want to get yourself addicted to diesel trucks take a look here (but you have been warned!!!
) : http://www.dieselpowermag.com/index.htmlSmaller trucks would be things like Landy Defenders and Jeep Wranglers.
If you want to stick with the Jap trucks, they are all good. But smaller engines and less options mean they will never perform as well as the Yank alternatives, but they are probably cheaper to buy. I would expect running costs to potentially be similar though.
Have a look here for some custom work or off the shelf mods for these: http://www.supertrux.com/
I'm in the process of hunting for an F150 Lightning. It's going to ultimately replace my RR Classic 3.9 as my daily driver so I think i'll actually see an improvement in MPG!
<although I may well keep the RR aswell as I am struggling to think about selling it>
The idea is that the lightning will be fun to punt around in the week whilst also being practical on the weekend when I will be able to lob my dirtbike into the back and go trail riding. It will also be used for the usual DIY type stuff that the Rangie gets used for.
It's only got 3 seats in the front but that should be enough for me, the wife and the dog if we need to go somewhere in it, plus we've a Spec B legacy estate cars for longer journeys etc.
Yes, it's not 4x4 and will be dreadful in the snow but that's not a problem. It's not my only car so snow won't be a problem, plus when I take the dirtbike out everyone parks their trucks/vans in a car park and rides from there.
I just need to have a drive in one and check it's not a massive disappointment!
<although I may well keep the RR aswell as I am struggling to think about selling it>
The idea is that the lightning will be fun to punt around in the week whilst also being practical on the weekend when I will be able to lob my dirtbike into the back and go trail riding. It will also be used for the usual DIY type stuff that the Rangie gets used for.
It's only got 3 seats in the front but that should be enough for me, the wife and the dog if we need to go somewhere in it, plus we've a Spec B legacy estate cars for longer journeys etc.
Yes, it's not 4x4 and will be dreadful in the snow but that's not a problem. It's not my only car so snow won't be a problem, plus when I take the dirtbike out everyone parks their trucks/vans in a car park and rides from there.
I just need to have a drive in one and check it's not a massive disappointment!
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