Work Ute

[rjo89]

Hey guys,
First time poster here. Hoping to be a long time member, depending on how my next decision swings.

I'm in the market for a new work ute. I work for a pool servicing company, and at the moment carry around 300-400kgs of load in my ute at any one time. Currently I drive a BA Falcon XL on dedicated gas, but due to a change in circumstances, and persistent problems with that ute, I'm looking to upgrade.

Having seen the VE Ute in person, I'm swinging that way instead of staying with the blue oval (which I've always had in the past!), so the change isn't as easy as one might think!

I'm not sure which one to get, however. The depth of the tray is a lot deeper than the XR6/XR8, which is something that I need. I will be needing rollbars front and back of the tray (aftermarket) and a matched hard tonneau cover. But I need your guys help in deciding between the SV6 and SS. Considering finance isn't an issue, would you guys recommend going to the V8, or the V6? It is driven short trips (~15mins) between each job, which tend to last around an hour, before another short trip to the next job. It will be a manual transmission, and will need to last around 5-6 years at least before trade-in. So, for the questions:
- What sort of fuel economy are these utes getting in day to day use? Both the SS and SV6.
- How reliable they are, and how they act as work utes, considering all the reports are saying that they were designed as a sedan with a bigger boot.
- Would you recommend one over the other? and why?


Many thanks in advance guys, even for reading this much so far!!

Regards,
RJ

[sixlta]

Welcome mate, I cant say much for the sv6 Ute, but the SS is a great rig, I have the ssv, am a builder and carry about the same weight, fuel is around 11lt per 100k inc city driving, my mate has the sv6 and reckons around 9lt per 100k, Both great utes, and i have never had a issue in the past 50k,

[cg1]

I was in your position having had a 2005 BA dedicated gas. Traded it on a 60th anniversary SV6. Have done 15000k and glad not to have the frustrating small problems i had with my XL or 03 XR6 previously. Fuel is around the 11lt/100k mark mostly Syd city driving. The extra depth in the tub is a major plus and general usage as a ute is fine. I could not bring myself to buy an FG and have no regrets with my choice. If you can afford an SS then go for it but the SV6 is still a great ute with enough power. If money is not an issue then an SSV is your best buy. The weight your carrying won't be a problem for the 6 or 8.
Look after it and it will give you many years of service.

[poolkeeper]

Hey guys,
First time poster here. Hoping to be a long time member, depending on how my next decision swings.

I'm in the market for a new work ute. I work for a pool servicing company, and at the moment carry around 300-400kgs of load in my ute at any one time. Currently I drive a BA Falcon XL on dedicated gas, but due to a change in circumstances, and persistent problems with that ute, I'm looking to upgrade.

Having seen the VE Ute in person, I'm swinging that way instead of staying with the blue oval (which I've always had in the past!), so the change isn't as easy as one might think!

I'm not sure which one to get, however. The depth of the tray is a lot deeper than the XR6/XR8, which is something that I need. I will be needing rollbars front and back of the tray (aftermarket) and a matched hard tonneau cover. But I need your guys help in deciding between the SV6 and SS. Considering finance isn't an issue, would you guys recommend going to the V8, or the V6? It is driven short trips (~15mins) between each job, which tend to last around an hour, before another short trip to the next job. It will be a manual transmission, and will need to last around 5-6 years at least before trade-in. So, for the questions:
- What sort of fuel economy are these utes getting in day to day use? Both the SS and SV6.
- How reliable they are, and how they act as work utes, considering all the reports are saying that they were designed as a sedan with a bigger boot.
- Would you recommend one over the other? and why?


Many thanks in advance guys, even for reading this much so far!!

Regards,
RJ


haha same job as me mate :)
Holden utes are more for show... and go
Ford utes are better suited to our industry..

Shoot me a PM if you like

EDIT. cant send PM's yet

Go the ford mate, XR6 Turbo... if your not going to be crazy about looking after your ute..

Actuators replaced x3
Hardcovers crappier than ford
Prone to rust, floor/tailgate area.
Extra tray length useless, except for the poles

There is more but I cant recall them at the moment haha

[rjo89]

Thanks for the thoughts guys. Especially good to hear someone's opinion from the same field. I had the feeling in the back of my mind that the Holden's might be more for show than a workhorse (bar the omega), but both myself and my manager prefer the look of the Holden. The XR6T is out of the question, either going to be N/A 6 or 8. Prefer the eight, and that's probably why I'm tending towards the Holden. The amount of options that are on the Ford that come standard on the Holden have made us swing that way.
Not worrying so much about the length of the tray, more the depth. The tonneau cover will be aftermarket, so if something goes wrong we can't blame Holden anyhoo!
Do you think that the susceptibility to rust in the Holden's would be intensified by carrying salt and day-to-day chemicals?
I'm thinking the best thing to do would be just to test-drive them all, Holden SV6 and SS, as well as Ford XR6 and XR8. But I'd just prefer to do a bit of research, especially for the type of cargo that it'll be carrying.

Thanks heaps already guys.
Keep the responses coming!!!

Regards,
RJ

[poolkeeper]

The depth of the tray is excellent, rough estimate its about 20cm more than the ford. I have the hardcover with twin humps..

Yeah having salt, water, and all the rest of it certainly doesnt help. I have found the holden has more nooks and crannies to cause mischief/rust..

One other pool man I know had a Maloo he used for work. Hated it, first day he had it he wanted to get rid of it..

As to picking a ute either side.
Holden SS
Ford XR6

[lowriding]

Good deals on VE SV6 , they are an excellent allrounder .
prone to rust ?? I have never seen or heard of rust in a VU - VZ ute , or VE .The VU-VZ tray is heavy duty and fully galvanized .

[planetdavo]

I have the ssv, am a builder and carry about the same weight, fuel is around 11lt per 100k inc city driving, my mate has the sv6 and reckons around 9lt per 100k.
Do not expect to average anywhere near these figures, especially with an extra 400kg in the back, unless you do a hell a lot of country driving.

[White Rider]

Your load weight will be ok with the Holden but consider that the thing has a long wheelbase and even without the load it is LOW. I bottom out on some city loading docks, not a huge prob, but if u wanna get on rough building sites or mount kerbs forget it. Esp with low profile tyres.

However, the performance, looks and features (ESP etc) make up for it IMO

If u need to haul more gear u can always hook on a trailer, they are rater to 1600kg for the utes.

I have an SS-V which the feature packed version of the SS and it has has 19' instead of 18' dual climate control and a big fat screen in the center stack with optional sat nav amongst other things (plenty of threads around for the differences)

Fuel for stop start traffic will be mid 14's and when u get on motorways it quickly drops to around 11-13. Purely highway runs will be less again.

Consider also that the new ones just coming out now have cylinder deactivation, and as a recent wheels mag pointed out will get from syd to melb on one tank, thats below 9l/100. But the cylinder deactivation will only kick in if u dont poke it obviously.

Have a test drive I say. If you decide on a SV6 and you can wait then there is speculation that by next year Holden could get the new direct injection V6 which will be good for around 220kw N/A. But there is no confirmation as to when this will occur.

[CLUBRED]

My bro-in-law is a builder and had some spray on liner stuff put in the back of his crewman, very tough stuff and looks better than the moulded liner, the spray on liner looks like its only around 5mm or so thick but to the touch it feels like a hard rubber, he also reckon it can be removed....

[SJA]

I've had my ute (ssv m6) for 14 months and done around 50'000K's.(Stock as a rock) As a sparky I carry a fair bit of gear in the back including ladders on the racks. Fuel wise around town 15L/100 at best and on the highway around 11L/100, plenty of room in the cab, reasonably comfortable and plenty of power.
If you are carrying 300-400Kg's or tow a trailer and do allot of city driving I would consider an auto.

[poolkeeper]

Just curious, whats the 300 - 400kgs??
Im no where near that, unless Im on a salt run (which Im yet to do with this ute)

Fuel consumption I get, 13L per 100.
50/50. Motorway. In between jobs..

[rjo89]

Normally there's around 8-10 bags of salt, along with 25kg bags of buffer, stabiliser & calcium, 2x liquid chlorine containers, granular chlorine, tools, 4 containers of acid.
I think that's it for now haha. Then the trailer obviously fits filters, pumps, chlorinators, solar, etc etc.

[Bobo]

G,day mate

I work in the same industry and bought 2 SSV utes 3 months ago. 1 is AFM A6 L76 and the other a M6 L98. The auto gets around 14l per 100kms city and the manual about 15l per 100km city driving. I have had 2 x BF XR6 manual utes and would not have an other one. the tail gate on one rusted up, gear box issues, paint issues brake issues, ecu issues on 1, suspension issues etc. I traded my ute after having it from new for 6 months and bought a 4.2TD Patrol tray and loved it. turbo had been boosted with a few other mods and went well. I sold the patrol and now have the SSV utes and love them (starting on the mods on mine A6 now). Today I we had 12 bags of salt, 25kg buffer,10kg chlor ,other chemicals, tools etc in the M6 (business partners ute) & was surprised the suspension held up well (as well as fords Cob & Co leaf set up but nicer to drive). get the holdens mate.

Good luck

[poolkeeper]

Seems to be luck of the draw after hearing that, my AU ford was great :)