Service Vehicle

[Miss]

Passed the page on to a friend who's into slow moving dirt machines. Dunno about these wierdo's who like to drive SLOW on dirt. Something wrong with their brain wiring me thinks. Here's what he said:

Sounds like he wants something like a dual cab ute, something like a Toyota hi-lux, probably with a winch on the front of it (make for easy recovery). I'd go with the ute option as much better for service junk.
I wouldn't worry about them rolling over, they are tall but that gives better clearance for your diffs over bigger objects. If you can get a turbo diesel that would be the best option.

The thing is trying to find something sub 5K, see what is about and just drive some. 4wd usually get a hard life so an older one is always a bit suspect. Check the underbody (diffs) for rock damage or even worse corrosion (sand and salt). That will give a bit of an indication to the life of the truck.

If you are going for a winch see if you can find one with dual battery, vey handy.

[beanpole]

Oooooo, Daniel and Spac, let's have at it........and I can referee, 'cos I agree with you both.

If money and ongoing costs were no deal, I'd already have a big truck in the garage. I have 4 sqiddies and a 7 seater would be wonderful. Likewise if I was towing frequently. Absolutely no question.

However I always agree with Spac, I seriously considered buying his car. Why is it that hire trailers try to kill you? Every one that I have seen (except 1, from HH at Chisolm- in the early '90's, I was the first one to hire it!) has more problems than a pork pie at a jewish wedding- partic in the braking dept.

And to take my argument about balance to the Nth degree, I use scales to do drawbar weights- it's an important part of my towing kit.

The point is, my Falcon is a family car. Comfortable. Roomy. Economical. I have a box trailer for small loads and scout stuff etc. It just happens to tow cars around occasionally.



Big Kev

[Matt]

Having been around rallying for all of my 31 years, I can safely say I have seen just about every service vehicle known to man. I have been part of the service crew for most of those years as well. I have learned a few things along the way, so here are some pointers.

1. Look at what you will take before you buy it - I put this at number 1 because it is sooooo important. If you are going to carry 15 spare wheels, an air compressor, a generator, 3 gearboxes, 400 litres of fuel, three kids, plus tow a car trailer, then buy accordingly. Plan for your expected load.

2. Don't bother with trailers. They are more hassle than they are worth - Sure they carry gear, but your average 6x4 isn't designed to carry what you will invariably carry over the crappy dirt roads you will invariably take it. We used one on the '95 Round Australia. Wheel bearing failures, spring hangers tearing off, axles moving - the thing was welded back together 4 times over 3 weeks. It needed more work than the rally car!

3. If it is 2 wheel drive, then make sure it has an LSD - even then, it may not help. Oberon (Take 1) and Bega last year saw me bogged. It did have alot to do with the presence of number 2, but remember where this vehicle could be going. There are always people around to help you, but it is better to not be in the situation in the first place.

4. Remember who will be driving it - chances are you will be in the rally car. Case in point - my better half is driving my service vehicle with the two kiddies in it, and I don't want her to end up in the position that I was in at number 3. That is the quickest way to end anybody's rally career! If it is several of your mates, then they may be more self-sufficient.

5. It should have enough seats for the service crew PLUS TWO - No good the service crew rolling up to your first DNF only to find that they can't get either you or the car out...

6. It should have commonly available parts, or (better yet) share parts with your rally car - Face it, service vehicles sometimes need servicing themselves. No point in looking for a fuel pump for a VW Caravelle in places where people can't even spell VW... How about the bolts? Metric? Imperial? Do you need to carry two sets of tools? How about the wheels? Do you need to carry a spare for it too?

7. Whatever it is, put some time and planning into the cargo area - By building a few boxes, racks and cages you will maximise the use of space and allow quick access to most items. And you can't overlook security. You will not believe how important these are...

If you have read this far, then you may ask what service vehicle I have. When I went shopping, I was looking for a V6 Dualcab Navara 4x4 or V6 Dualcab Triton 4x4. With a canopy and some energy spent on security, it seemed like a practical all-rounder.

I ended up with a RAV4.

You wouldn't believe how influential number 4 can be...

The service vehicle topic seems to be a hotly debated issue, and all concerned have made valid points. The upshot seems to be this - buy what you can afford, and what you will be happiest with. If a Suzuki Mightboy is your idea of the best service vehicle, then go get it tiger! You will quickly discover for yourself what is right and what is wrong for you. Also, with a bit of lateral thinking, you can make most things adequate - even a RAV 4!

Happy hunting!

[Daniel]

Spac - Yeh Hire trailers are really heavy - they have to be most people that hire anything treat it like ****. Most of them cop a huge flogging and yes they carry everything from escort shells to small bulldozers. L300 duno - I know they had a sirius motor but don't know the capacity

Beanpole - It's too early to argue with Spac By the way the advantage with a heavy tow car is that I don't have to stuff around with scales, I just drive the car onto the trailer untill the back of the Patrol squats a little and thats close enough.

Missss -I think for most people a winch is a wast of time unless you go offroad - I do heaps of recovery and I use mine about 3 in 10 times and 2 of those I could get away without it. They weigh down the front of the car - (really need to uprate springs), as you said they draw heaps of power (ie duel batteries), and they cost upwards of $1800. Get some good drag chain and a snach strap and it'll be more usefull A good handwinch is far more usefull, (just more work)- Your right about looking for damage, check the gearbox and sump for damage, often people bash the dents out of the bash plates but you can't hide the damage undernith, if your buying a used 4WD there is a heap of stuff to look for especialy diesels!!
Oh and Lizzy - sliding backwards down a 45 degree wet clay hill will give you as much of a rush as doing 130 on a dirt road TRUST ME


Matt - yeh I agree trailers in service parks suck



PS - all those people who drive to events are generaly the same people who come looking for a trailer on the way home.........case in point the Austin clan at Narooma.

[Tweety]

It was Russ and Kylie who were looking for a trailer, Bede and Sam both drove their cars home after being trailered/trucked down to Narooma. The only Austin needing a lift home was me and I managed to convince my brothers that since my car was no longer drivable and I wasn't going to make it to work on Monday if I had to push it home, they should let me take one of their spots.

[Daniel]

Alas - poor tweety, I was refering to your unfortunate demise. I still can't belive Sam drove it home, that bodge was only to get him out of the stage!!

[TKM]

Cross 8!!!!

[Daniel]

Just for some closure The best set up service vehicle I've ever seen was an ex NSW 4WD Ambulance - F150 grunt, heaps of weight, lockable, really good access, heaps of space and it had a roll out anex on the side for the car to go under, really, really well set up, but how many people can afford a dedicated service vehicle? Bloody rego

[smee]

I not long ago bought a service vehicle. It is an ex nissan works Urvan.
The bronze brick.
The car is fitted with and L28, holley 350, 5 speed close ratio box, works 4 spot front calipers, volvo 4 spot rears (talk about stopping power), huge diff, nice marsh seats, and a rear bench seat.
These used to tow stanzas around, and were known to beat cars even whilst towing trailers.
I have had to do a bit of work for rego and to satisfy myself seeing as it is over 20 years old.
Should be on the road soon.

[Daniel]

Yeh I have to say, that van of yours sounds sweet!