More Than a Car...More Than a Truck

bcp · Apr 17, 2014

I wonder why the concept of a car-based pickup was and is more popular in Australia than the US.

PickupTruck.Com - More Than a Car...More Than a Truck

Ute (vehicle) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bruce

therealmjfox · Apr 17, 2014

Offhand I'd guess because they are more car than truck, they really can't tow anything of any weight.

We do have those vehicles here. The Honda Ridgeline and the Chevy Avalance, for example. They just don't sell well.

1GB · Apr 17, 2014

We do have those vehicles here. The Honda Ridgeline and the Chevy Avalance, for example.

I don't think that those compare well. They are goofy-looking, oversize vehicles. Look at the nice Holden Ute at the top of the linked Wikipedia article. It's a nice looking coupe with a place to put stuff that's a PITA to fit into a traditional coupe such as rolled fencing, seed bags, hunting stuff, etc. Closest thing I can think of in the US recently was a Subaru Baja

therealmjfox · Apr 17, 2014

They are trucks based on car chassis, and light on towing and weight carrying capability. We'll just have to agree to disagree on their similarity to each other. My mom has a Ridgeline, which is basically a Honda Accord ute IMO.

Scooby074 · Apr 17, 2014

The Baja was a cool little car. They are quickly becoming collectors cars due to limited production. For the average homeowner/small landowner they made more sense than a pickup for carrying dirty loads. Actually, with a tonneau or cap they are just as good as a station wagon with more versatility.

George2615 · Apr 17, 2014

I owned 3 Chevy El Camino's over the years. A 64, 67, and a 72. Payload in the bed was around 1100 Lbs. and I think it was only rated to tow around 2200-2500Lbs. They did have a full frame based on the Chevelle chassis. Later models were registered as trucks. I heard there was talk of Chevy bringing back the El Camino but nothing solid yet. I never towed with mine but did haul a lot in the bed.

Baby Grand · Apr 17, 2014

Part of the problem is that American truck buyers want to drive a truck pulling a trailer like it's a car.
I never drove a 10 or 18 wheel truck that way. They don't accelerate, brake or corner even remotely the same.
As a result, I have a hard time calling a full size pickup a "truck". To me, it's just a pickup.

Gary Fowler · Apr 17, 2014

The Ford Ranchero and Chevy El Camino while stylish for the time, they just didn't have the hauling capacity of a regular pickup and not as much room in them as a full sized truck. I don't recall the max load for the Ranchero but I am thinking that it was about 800# maybe less. The El camino was a bit better but still nothing compared to a pickup and the cost was about the same so there really was no demand for them after the fad wore off. A good station wagon was better as they had rear seats for passengers that could be laid down to haul as much or more than the CAR-TRUCKs. The weren't as stylish but then not many farmers back then bought trucks to be in style.

toppop52 · Apr 17, 2014

I've owned 2 El Camino's, a '69 and a '78, both came with 350's the '69 was rated to tow the same as the station wagon with similar equipment, about 5500 lbs depending on drivetrain options and both came with air shocks.