The Utes are coming The Utes are coming !!!

[Grim Reaper]

This is very weird.
When I joined an American frontier forum a year ago and posted my Navara (same as the frontier) everyone thought it was hideous and pitied me for having an alloy tray.
To think I payed extra to take the tub off and put an alloy tray on.

I need the extra space you have in the tray for work and it is great when going on holidays.

Its actually going the opposite way here in Oz more people are buying pick ups these days.

Trays/flat beds don't go over well with the average American that drives a pickup as a fashion statement and their big load is their overweight dog and picking up the lawn mower from repair. Those of us that actually use them for utility have a different opinion. My only complaint with a tray is a little higher load floor to clear the wheels when hand loading heavy items but I would put up with that for all the rest of the advantages.

 

[Nullifier]

Now if we could get it witht he diesel they offer in south america. It called the D-Max in Ecuador! I guess a through back to the big U.S. brother.

 

[mightymike]

Does anyone know what they cost for a Tacoma?

 

[Nullifier]

Does anyone know what they cost for a Tacoma?

I looked at the ute ltd units I think the small unit was 1100 and an extra 500 for the drawer. Of course shipping would be on top of that. I think the whole thing shipped to me would be about 2k.

Now if ya had a brand new truck you might be able to sell the factory bed for that or close to it. Then it would make $ sense. But for my '96 no way is it financially sound. I figure about 1k to make my own after the cab swap is done.

 

[jingram]

Very funny thread to me.... growing up in Ranch Country in Eastern Oregon, lots of people had a flat/ute bed on their trucks. Perfect to haul hay, firewood, etc. They were on everything from Fullsize Chevy/Ford to Toyota and Nissan PUs. I didn't realize that it was that uncommon elsewhere in the US.

 

[Youngunner]

I am an avid UTE fan. When I buy a new truck down the road, my 03 Tacoma will get a tray and finish it's life as a rancher.

OR....if I take a job in Oz, a UTE style LandCruiser will be my first purchase.

I've also been anticipating a removable camper unit for a tray, and remember having a talk with a certain forum sponsor about their future plans to develop such a product............

 

[Youngunner]

I agree with jingram above, the "flatbed" pickups are everywhere in the western ranch states. Mostly full size, deisels tho. There are a couple old flatbed 4x4 Toyotas around here too.

 

[ExpoMike]

As an FYI, here is the company making the ones that are being offered for the Colorado line. They offer the specific Colorado model and the more universal ones (think like 5 different sizes)

http://www.uteltd.com/

 

[adi]

So, since this thread was started 5 years ago, how popular are the UTE style in the US for expedition use today?

 

[Kilroy]

I love mine. Wouldn't get another pick up with getting a tray.

 

[Flagster]

These have the load capacity for a FWC?...says 5000lbs...too bad we can't get the flat tray style FWCs here...I wonder if they will fit a double cab short bed tacoma?

 

[Northern Explorer]

too bad we can't get the flat tray style FWCs here...?

I don't see why they wouldn't sell them in the States. If there's a market for them why not.

 

[Flagster]

Actually Stan from FWC emailed me yesterday with some pics...seems like they are available... man are the wheels turning...since I only have the shortbed tacoma a flatbed would give me the extra few inches to fit a Finch FWC...or maybe even a Hawk/Eagle...