The Thailand Special Thread - New Developments/News

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Ben73

Pulling into a busy roundabout is fun. Zero payload and a beige Camry with a dented bumper is pulling away from you.

Maybe it’s just me but I get a sore back driving these small trucks a lot quicker than I do driving anything else.

It’s still a novelty for me to drive one so I do enjoy it. However I wouldn’t want to drive one all day every day.

Depends on the seats I reckon, I got L4/L5/S1 bulged discs because I'm old and clapped out.

I don't like Falcon seats, not enough support, after 20 mins lower back dramas start and I get stiff (not where it counts)

Commodore seats are a bit better - more shapely

Ford Euro seats - mint no dramas, got Recaros in my daily.

Kenworth T610SAR - has a crap seat that's like a park bench on an air cushion, it's way too flat and it causes me drama

IVECO Powerstar - has a seat that's like a fat person Recaro, no back dramas.

It's not so much the vehicle but how much thought and effort in the ergonomics of the seat is the big one for me, tight seat like Recaros are mint

Wide open seat like the Falcons - trash.

[prydey]

When seated directly above the wheels there's only so much the seat and suspension can compensate for.

I grew up in a large family so the family car was Nissan urvan, Nissan nomad etc. Regardless of brand, all vans were the same back then.

Then Toyota came out with their space age Tarago and changed the driving experience completely. Now most people movers are the same, with the driving position behind the front wheel, similar to a car.

Even hiace eventually changed.

Cabover trucks are a bit harder to design for comfort but the larger ones have the cab suspended also and not bolted directly to the chassis.

N series, and the like might be a more capable tow vehicle but nowhere near as comfortable if you're lugging a family around as well. Not that I'm suggesting utes are comfortable. It's why I bought an Everest.

[prydey]

If you're setting up for a one off big trip (lap of Australia etc) then I think the small trucks should definitely be considered and for that purpose would be the smarter choice. Possibly better resale at the end as well, although utes are pretty good in that regard too.

For those who only tow a few times a year I don't think a truck is worth it.

[Citroënbender]

Having done Sydney to Cradle Mountain in an Urvan, definitely a Thai Special would be preferable for the same journey.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by prydey

If you're setting up for a one off big trip (lap of Australia etc) then I think the small trucks should definitely be considered and for that purpose would be the smarter choice. Possibly better resale at the end as well, although utes are pretty good in that regard too.

For those who only tow a few times a year I don't think a truck is worth it.

90% agree (hell just froze over),

If you're planning on the big lap with a big van where you've got the kitchen sink along, Jappo tray back truck is the tits for sure.

Anything where you tow heavy, the truck is the safe bet, notice how the ride massively changed when it was being used for work in the review.

But have another car you use as your daily, keep the Jap truck for towing heavy and running errands like tip/Bunnings runs, helping people move.

Probably wouldn't have my ACCO as what I get the family around in even though it fits all of us in it, but I'll take them on a Bunnings run in it

For the price of a 300 series you can get a new Isuzu N series and another new car as the daily no dramas.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Depends on the seats I reckon, I got L4/L5/S1 bulged discs because I'm old and clapped out.

I don't like Falcon seats, not enough support, after 20 mins lower back dramas start and I get stiff (not where it counts)

Commodore seats are a bit better - more shapely

Ford Euro seats - mint no dramas, got Recaros in my daily.

Kenworth T610SAR - has a crap seat that's like a park bench on an air cushion, it's way too flat and it causes me drama

IVECO Powerstar - has a seat that's like a fat person Recaro, no back dramas.

It's not so much the vehicle but how much thought and effort in the ergonomics of the seat is the big one for me, tight seat like Recaros are mint

Wide open seat like the Falcons - trash.

Here you go Franco, suspension Stratos comfy as.

[Itsme]

Originally Posted by prydey

If you're setting up for a one off big trip (lap of Australia etc) then I think the small trucks should definitely be considered and for that purpose would be the smarter choice. Possibly better resale at the end as well, although utes are pretty good in that regard too.

For those who only tow a few times a year I don't think a truck is worth it.

In the last 20 years of doing so many big laps, the only small tray trucks I've ever seen towing vans belongs to workers who travel with the road gangs or maybe the odd circus, never really seen anyone else using them, it's either the usual dual cab utes, suv's crowd or the big Rams and Silverado's, oops nearly forgot the odd Unimog and the ever-increasing motorhomes.

[whynot]

Originally Posted by Itsme

In the last 20 years of doing so many big laps, the only small tray trucks I've ever seen towing vans belongs to workers who travel with the road gangs or maybe the odd circus,

While I haven't done the big lap (it is on my bucket list), I have been seeing a few tray trucks + caravan rigs the last few years transiting through Brisbane. Some serious money in some of those rigs.

An example of a fully kitted rig is the YouTube channel done by The Cartwrights. Dad, Mum and three (a recently a fourth) kids. They have an Isuzu NPS 4x4 towing a monster caravan.

https://www.youtube.com/@thecartwrights

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by Itsme

In the last 20 years of doing so many big laps, the only small tray trucks I've ever seen towing vans belongs to workers who travel with the road gangs or maybe the odd circus, never really seen anyone else using them, it's either the usual dual cab utes, suv's crowd or the big Rams and Silverado's, oops nearly forgot the odd Unimog and the ever-increasing motorhomes.

True, most people who own table top trucks for recreation use them for, large slide ons, horse gooseneck, fifth wheelers or 4x4 earthship's and home conversions.

Motorhome wise the biggest appeal of the cab chassis is when it's worn out, you can build or slide on another body to suit your application.
This sort of took over from the small and large bus conversion which got to complicated once NHVS got involved plus the fact buses bodies tended to rust out with little options left to repair.

For average Joe, towing upto 2.5T the little utes are probably best but you'd have to be a bit of a dill to buy one to regularly tow something in the 3.5T range. Hence why as you say, see mainly carny's and trade towing with them more often.

Just because it can doesn't mean you should, and certainly not all the time.

[au2000]

Could be an interesting start to 2025,s Ute sales figures..

Labor is being urged to heed the warnings of a major car importer to Australia and slow down its new emissions standards, as the Coalition warns the imminent “ute tax” will hurt households.
As Anthony Albanese arrived in Laos for the ASEAN summit of Asian leaders on Thursday, opposition trade spokesman Kevin Hogan urged the Prime Minister to listen to pleas from Thailand to delay or phase in the implementation of his government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standards (NVES) slated to start in January.

The new standards, which apply to the entire fleet of vehicles sold by manufacturers in Australia, will ramp up over time and have been estimated to drive up the cost of some larger cars by as much as $20,000.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Picture: NewsWire/Martin Ollman
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Picture: NewsWire/Martin Ollman
At the last ASEAN meeting in March, then-Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin urged the federal government to phase in the standards, which will hit car manufacturers with penalties if they exceed their emissions caps for vehicle sales in Australia.

Thailand exports more than 200,000 cars to Australia annually, including the Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux, Isuzu D-Max, Mitsubishi Triton and Nissan Navara, but manufacturers fear Labor’s plan does not provide enough time to adjust to the new scheme.



I’ve noticed at work the changing 4x4 landscape of late, there are now only 2 new rangers compared to the rabbit breeding numbers of the px range, but the GWM onslaught has begun with at least 5 now GWM appearing over the last 8 weeks… a sign perhaps that the price point is beginning to bite hard?

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by au2000

Could be an interesting start to 2025,s Ute sales figures..

Labor is being urged to heed the warnings of a major car importer to Australia and slow down its new emissions standards, as the Coalition warns the imminent “ute tax” will hurt households.
As Anthony Albanese arrived in Laos for the ASEAN summit of Asian leaders on Thursday, opposition trade spokesman Kevin Hogan urged the Prime Minister to listen to pleas from Thailand to delay or phase in the implementation of his government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standards (NVES) slated to start in January.

The new standards, which apply to the entire fleet of vehicles sold by manufacturers in Australia, will ramp up over time and have been estimated to drive up the cost of some larger cars by as much as $20,000.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Picture: NewsWire/Martin Ollman
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Picture: NewsWire/Martin Ollman
At the last ASEAN meeting in March, then-Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin urged the federal government to phase in the standards, which will hit car manufacturers with penalties if they exceed their emissions caps for vehicle sales in Australia.

Thailand exports more than 200,000 cars to Australia annually, including the Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux, Isuzu D-Max, Mitsubishi Triton and Nissan Navara, but manufacturers fear Labor’s plan does not provide enough time to adjust to the new scheme.



I’ve noticed at work the changing 4x4 landscape of late, there are now only 2 new rangers compared to the rabbit breeding numbers of the px range, but the GWM onslaught has begun with at least 5 now GWM appearing over the last 8 weeks… a sign perhaps that the price point is beginning to bite hard?

Almost like someone here has been talking about this constantly,

Hilarious the begging from Thailand after they ****ed us over on Territory exports into Thailand by introducing a special tax.

I have a long memory, it's payback time

[Itsme]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Almost like someone here has been talking about this constantly,

Hilarious the begging from Thailand after they ****ed us over on Territory exports into Thailand by introducing a special tax.

I have a long memory, it's payback time

Payback for what, we are still the losers if prices go up.

[Sprintey]

If prices go up?! They have already moonshot despite all the FTAs.

[Sprintey]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Almost like someone here has been talking about this constantly,

Hilarious the begging from Thailand after they ****ed us over on Territory exports into Thailand by introducing a special tax.

I have a long memory, it's payback time

Chancellor Palpatine voice: "Do it."

The funny (or sad?) thing is they will do it based on their ideology, rather than the national interest.

[Sprintey]

& Carsguide reporting the end of dual cab dominance:

https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-new...nger-australia

too early?

[roKWiz]

Gotta love these free trader agreements.

(pollies) just want to please everyone else, except Aussies.

[Citroënbender]

Originally Posted by Sprintey

& Carsguide reporting the end of dual cab dominance:

https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-new...nger-australia

too early?

The RAV4 will become, like Mini or Mustang, a sub-brand in its own right; the product line to include a dual cab ute…

[roKWiz]

New ride on due out...

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Itsme

Payback for what, we are still the losers if prices go up.

We? I don't buy diesel utes from Thailand

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by roKWiz

New ride on due out...

image

Geepers, if people think a Ranger is overpriced for what they are, just wait to they discover the John Deere tax on parts and accessories.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Geepers, if people think a Ranger is overpriced for what they are, just wait to they discover the John Deere tax on parts and accessories.

If you think the Deere is expensive, a new CAT is in the 2025 offering as well.

Rumour has it, it will come with twin sticks and tracks.



Hideous.

Wonder if Massey will bring one out in Grey.

[smoo]

Here’s one for you to upgrade to rokwiz. When the Govt forces your pre emissions vehicles off the road.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by smoo

Here’s one for you to upgrade to rokwiz. When the Govt forces your pre emissions vehicles off the road.

image

Nah, the gov can buy me this.

[Dr Smith]

Several years ago while in the UAE for the Abu Dahbi GP, we were eating a burger very late at night and watched the locals cruising around the main strip and the funniest was a Ford F650 doing laps...I think they lapped us 4 times while we ate our NZ beef burgers and fries.

Another memorable sight, walking out of our apartment building in Jumeirah beach at dawn and seeing a Bugatti Veyron parked on the street with a Rolls Royce Ghost behind it....

[Franco Cozzo]

New Climate Change Additions to ISO Management System Standards: What It Means For Your Business

Recognising the urgency of the climate crisis, ISO has recently introduced an amendment to various Management System Standards, including ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, ISO 45001:2018, and ISO/IEC 27001:2022. This update requires organisations to consider Climate Change, and its effects and risks, related to the organisation and its management system. This move emphasises ISO’s commitment to combating climate change and alignment with global efforts to address environmental concerns.

That PHEV Ranger is going to help keep it at the top of the sales tree for ABN purchases and help insulate Ford against NVES. At the moment the only options in the segment are the LDV eT60 at its take-the-**** $100K price tag.

What months has the RAV4 Hybrid been climbing the sales charts, because the climate change amendments to ISO9001/14001 came into play in April and the new clauses applied immediately, if you're a monster corporation like Downer with 30,000+ employees across 700+ sites, you've got a pretty big impact on 'climate change' with your vehicle fleet.

Forces you to buy into the scam, to keep your certifications - good luck trying to convince an external audit that you and your 30,000 employees are a small player in Australia and shouldn't have to play the game

[Citroënbender]

Originally Posted by roKWiz

True, most people who own table top trucks for recreation use them for, large slide ons, horse gooseneck, fifth wheelers or 4x4 earthship's and home conversions.

Motorhome wise the biggest appeal of the cab chassis is when it's worn out, you can build or slide on another body to suit your application.
This sort of took over from the small and large bus conversion which got to complicated once NHVS got involved plus the fact buses bodies tended to rust out with little options left to repair.

A little off-topic, sorry. Are there any straightforward references you can suggest for better understanding of where the NHVR enters the equation? Not ones promoting a certain direction or service but just a “Plain English” wrap of the current situation.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

A little off-topic, sorry. Are there any straightforward references you can suggest for better understanding of where the NHVR enters the equation? Not ones promoting a certain direction or service but just a “Plain English” wrap of the current situation.

https://www.nhvr.gov.au/safety-accre...-modifications

Over 4.5T GVM includes, trucks and large coach conversions into motorhomes but are more lenient in the categories under 12T GVM both with inspection and fatigue laws.

Do work and rest limits apply to me if my vehicle is not a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle?

No. Drivers of vehicles between 4.5t and 12t are not subject to prescribed work and rest limits; however, they are legally required to ensure they are not impaired by fatigue when driving a fatigue-regulated vehicle.

Ideally if you are building anything big to go travelling in, keep it under 12T GVM so it doesn't fall under the fatigue laws.

However keeping a log maybe still apply.

[CyberWasp]

2 More Ranger Concepts to add to the List. Shame they have last gen front ends on them though.

There is plenty of scope to expand the platform.

Ranger Panel Van



and a Ranger Dually V8 for better towing.

[au2000]

Update in the paper today re BYD,,

In the animal kingdom of utes, the BYD Shark is emerging as a real contender alongside the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux.
After test driving the Shark, it’s clear that this vehicle is in the same league in terms of power and capability as Ford’s range-topping the Raptor, but what sets it apart is its price.

Expected to have a near-unbeatable price under $60,000 plus on-road costs, the Shark has already amassed more than 10,000 expressions of interest ahead of its Australian launch on October 29.

The Shark is powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with two electric motors producing a combined 320kW.

It has approximately 800km of range and tows 2500kg – a tonne less than dual-cab leaders, which might be a sticking point for some buyers.

Will be interesting to see how this sells

[kevino]

An early review on carexpert.com.au
Rated actual fuel use as 12 litres per 100kms
So what’s the point of hybrid in this
Power?
Maybe another flawed Chinese vehicle