Pickup trucks for work

[Tom Christopher]

Do any of you electricians out there have/use a pickup for work?

Currently looking at the new Nissan Narvara.

Only thoughts are that it may be unpractical??

 

[Strima]

Depends on the nature of your work. Telecoms in the Pennines or socket replacements in surbiton?

 

[ashrow]

I had the Mitsubishi L200 for work, lasted a year before enough was enough, climbing into the back to reach stuff was not the best and ended up using the rear seats as a tool storage area.
If you don't need many tools, drills etc it may be ok....Also hated the fact long steps or ladder on the roof made it look rubbish

 

[Dave OCD]

I'd say a pickup is far from ideal for my work, possible less secure than a traditional van too. Around here it seems a lot of them are driven by big obese blokes with tattoo overload, more of a status symbol than anything else - but that's not in any way aimed at you Tom !

 

[westward10]

Gypo jeeps.

 

[buzzlightyear]

Depends on the nature of your work. Telecoms in the Pennines or socket replacements in surbiton?

or delivering bricks to tropical island .

 

[Adam W]

In a previous job we had a Mazda BT-50 single cab, mainly for getting around the site.
It was quite nice to drive, partly because you've got windows all around you so visibility is good, like driving a car, and it was handy for getting a scaffold tower on the back. I thought it looked really good with a ladder on the back, like a fire engine.

Carrying anything else around could be a bit of a pain especially if it was raining - then you're largely restricted to whatever you can get in the passenger footwell. If we didn't mainly use it for driving around private grounds I wouldn't risk putting anything easily nickable on the back unless you've got a hard cover.

I wouldn't choose one as a work vehicle unless you're doing something or working somewhere specialist.

 

[Marvo]

In my opinion they're the worst of all worlds.

If you have a canopy on the back you can't carry any substantial load because it restricts the height. You can get a decent load on if you take the canopy off but you need somewhere to store it plus then there's no security and it's open to the elements. They also handle like crap if there's no load on them because the back is so light.

 

[Wilko]

I've had one to tow 3.5t but I think it's more suited to general building perhaps than our work.

 

[MJPD29]

Seems a lot less practical than a van, I had the same thought and went to see an l200 and suddenly realised there is no where near as much room for your stuff and even steps are an issue. Van is a lot more practical so I got a new ford and it has all the same if not more features, absolutely love it use it as my car now and the missus has the existing car!

 

[Strima]

Quite often I've needed a 4x4 and have normally been given an L200, they're OK but the Truckman fibreglass cabs are about as secure as a blancmange...

 

[elsparko]

unless you work mainly on agricultural/hard to reach areas i wouldnt bother with a jeep for work (im a hypocrite) the cost of dotting around town adds up, parking in town centres becomes frustrating , getting nails in your tires from building sites will cost a small fortune

 

[MFS Electrical]

Do any of you electricians out there have/use a pickup for work?

Currently looking at the new Nissan Narvara.

Only thoughts are that it may be unpractical??

Had an old Navara was a ball ache get a van! I had to get a lid cover for the back you can get a rollnlock but they leak like a sieve or a snug top but then it looks like a jeep not a pickup don’t park facing down hill the water will get in the back and pool don’t drive down any dusty roads if you want the stuff in the back to stay clean and don’t put anything of value in the back because all 3 of the covers/etc have locks made in the poundland padlock section of China ie any key or a nice screwdriver to open it but I did love the road presence the driving position the toys and the 4x4 mode so swings and roundabouts ended up being just too impractical and had to get rid of it.

And the new Navaras have already exhibited the worrying trend of rusting from the inside out ... google snapped navara or have a look on Facebook for Nissan navara snapped chassis group

 

[MFS Electrical]

In my opinion they're the worst of all worlds.

If you have a canopy on the back you can't carry any substantial load because it restricts the height. You can get a decent load on if you take the canopy off but you need somewhere to store it plus then there's no security and it's open to the elements. They also handle like crap if there's no load on them because the back is so light.

I disagree they handle brilliantly elegantly power sliding round wet roundabouts at just 15mph the people in the other lanes probably would agree with you @Marvo though

 

[GBDamo]

The ONLY reason to have a pick up is as a “Technical” and then one must only have a Toyota Hilux and then only if fitted with a Browning M2 .50 machine gun.

There are no other reasons, certainly not for working off the back of.

 

[davesparks]

I’ve got an l200 animal, previously had a freelander commercial and also have a defender 90.
The l200 suits me fine as my tools sit on the back seat and materials in the load space. Then I can clear the load space for use when I’m working on firework displays and other events. Plus it’s good for towing generators and stuff.

One thing you may not realise is that even with a hard top over the loadspace your insurance will still see it as a pickup and not cover anything stored in there.

 

[Percyprod]

I had a Hilux with a back conversion, with roller shutter doors on each side and back. Great for smaller gear, could just get a 5 step ladder in. Also carried 2 Honda 2kva gennies with leads, jerry cans etc. Plus various fuses for cut outs, lv boards etc, cable, test gear plus tools. Great to drive, quite fast too until they fitted rev limiters! Big to park in town though, but rear view camera helped.