Page 4 of 9 FirstFirst 123456789 LastLast
Results 46 to 60 of 126
  1. #46
    FenceFurniture's Avatar
    FenceFurniture is offline The prize lies beneath - hidden in full view
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    1017m up in Katoomba, NSW
    Posts
    10,649

    Default

    A little more info on tolls:
    https://www.roam.com.au/help/using-t...-vehicle-class

    You'd think they might standardise it within Sydney wouldn't you...... WHAT am I thinking?

    So a "car" on the M7 is:
    <2.8m in height and <12.5m in length (inc trailer) - apparently regardless of the number of axles.

    Eastern Distributor and M5:
    <2.8m height and 2 axles
    or
    <2.0m height with 3 axles

    M4 tolls are coming back, and then there are all the others, which I won't be using.

    So any vehicle I'm looking at will qualify as a car, except maybe when I have a trailer on (maybe >2.0m)
    Regards, FenceFurniture

    COLT DRILLS GROUP BUY
    Jan-Feb 2019 Click to send me an email

  2. # ADS
    Google Adsense Advertisement
    Join Date
    Always
    Location
    Advertising world
    Posts
    Many





     
  3. #47
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Perth WA Australia
    Posts
    828

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by derekcohen View Post
    Brett, I'll just pop this one in here ..

    The best vehicle for woodworking (and everything else) I have owned or persuaded my wife to own ) was a Toyota Tarago. We have been through two, each lasting several years, abused to hell and back, and still came up smiling. Unfortunately, after the last one was totalled with my son at the wheel three years ago (not his fault - a f*ckwit jumped a red light and ended up being T-boned by the Tarago), I could not convince her to get another, and she bought a Golf instead.

    Amazing comfort along with satisfactory power and a large capacity storage when the seats are folded down. Loads of headroom. I carted everything in there. The best thing was that, when inside, all was dry when it was raining. Cannot say the same for a ute.

    Regards from Perth

    Derek
    Hi Derek,

    When you say everything woodworking, could you please elaborate on your experience with it? Whats the cargo space like with all the seats down? Can you get a full sheet of ply in the back?

  4. #48
    Join Date
    Apr 2001
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    10,810

    Default

    As I recall - keeping in mind that I rarely purchased or working with full sheets of ply or MDF - that a full sheet could be carried: front seats forward, rear seats down, and a "table" across the flat seats to lift the sheets above the lower end of the rear door (which tapered in).

    I was a fanatical windsurfer until 10 years ago. For 25 years I carried 3 windsurfers, 7 or 8 sails, 4 booms, and bags of gear (wet suits and fins). All piled in the back. And then there was more on the roof racks.

    In woodworking mode, there was plenty of space inside for solid wood boards, and again space on the roof racks. It was easy to transport medium sized pieces of furniture.

    The ultimate was a Ford Transit van - these were specifically designed for full sheets of ply. If I was thinking commercial, that is what I would look for, either than or a Hi-Ace equivalent. The fact is, I doubt that Brett is going to do ply sheets much, and therefore one should orientate towards what w=one does most of the time.

    Regards from Perth

    Derek
    Visit www.inthewoodshop.com for tutorials on constructing handtools, handtool reviews, and my trials and tribulations with furniture builds.

  5. #49
    FenceFurniture's Avatar
    FenceFurniture is offline The prize lies beneath - hidden in full view
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    1017m up in Katoomba, NSW
    Posts
    10,649

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by derekcohen View Post
    I doubt that Brett is going to do ply sheets much
    Not for woodworking as such Derek, but there will be many other projects where 2400x1200 sheet capacity will be mandatory.

    Here's a good example: if the van I purchase doesn't have a timber floor then I will need to purchase a sheet of ply to make the floor......
    Regards, FenceFurniture

    COLT DRILLS GROUP BUY
    Jan-Feb 2019 Click to send me an email

  6. #50
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    27,757

    Default

    I agree about purchasing a vehicle you know you will use for but I found a commercial type van opens up so many possibilities and uses apart from more safely carrying wood and tools.

    These examples may not apply to everyone but I list them to show the flexibility that a commercial type van provides.

    Every now and then while walking the dogs in a local park they find a puddle of duck poo (once they found some human poo ) and being Border Collies they love to roll in it.
    Normally the dogs ride on the front seat of the van with me but those times they ride in the back of the rubber floored van. At home and the dogs get hosed down outside before they have a bath.
    The van gets parked facing uphill on the verge and gets hosed out - all good.
    IMG_1146p.jpg

    Carrying my chainsaw gear and a chainsaw with a near full oil tank and a loose cap falls over and it dumps litre of oil onto the floor of the van. At home throw in a bucket of sawdust and leave it a while to sack up the oil then park the car uphill again - sweep up sawdust and hose out residue.
    van2.jpg

    Son and DIL borrow van to shift a bunch of pot plants and bags of fertiliser, some of which fall over and spill contents on the van floor - same thing, sweep and hose out. Unlike a trailer, tallish plants can be moved over significant distance and at higher speeds without stripping the leaves off. Have moved lots of tall plants laying down this way, some as tall as 3m.

    To move machinery, large appliances, some furniture etc. If possible, add suitable padding and firmly ratchet strap the object to a sack trolley. Then use ramps to roll the whole shebang straight into the back of the van. I leave the appliance on the trolley and and anchor the trolley and appliance to the floor anchor points and side rails.

    Driving around the suburbs during hard rubbish collection is real fun with a van. Typically I spy something large that I only want a small item on. Instead of sitting by the side of the road and removing said item - throw the large item in the back of the van take it home remove said item and put the residual out with my hard rubbish. I do this with certain clothes dryers that I remove the SS drums from.

    A family moving day. And there's still room on the roof rack!
    Theres a full size 6 seater Al/glass outdoor setting inside the van.
    IMG_2066p.jpg

  7. #51
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    6,974

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by FenceFurniture View Post
    Not for woodworking as such Derek, but there will be many other projects where 2400x1200 sheet capacity will be mandatory.

    Here's a good example: if the van I purchase doesn't have a timber floor then I will need to purchase a sheet of ply to make the floor......
    Not boasting Brett,
    Not sure if you remember the Renault traffic van we drive.
    When we come to your GTG.
    But a false floor is what we(I put in it)
    I have about 350 mm under my wooden floor for full sheets(1200/2400)
    It only took an afternoon to construct not my best wood work but it does the job perfectly.
    It's one of the best things of done with the van.
    I still carry all my other crap on top and in there shelfs.
    But it's soooiooo nice being able to just pull up and load 6 or so sheets straight in under the other crap.
    No tieing sheet material stuff down on the racks
    Tho I can still carry 6 metres lengths on top.

    Cheers Matt

  8. #52
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    back in Alberta for a while
    Age
    68
    Posts
    12,006

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by FenceFurniture View Post
    Obviously with a van:
    the bigger they are they more useful they are,
    but the more expensive they are to run in a number of ways (fuel, tyres, tolls)
    not really with your proposed usage -- which is parked for 5 or 6 days each week while you use Lola's small car for running around.
    if your typical driving is to and from Sutherland -- which translates to straight line travel -- tyres and brakes should last a while. My "Australian" car went around 160,000 km on the original rear brakes, and the 1st replacement front pads have about 30,000 km left in them. (for the past few years, I've been driving around 40,000 km per year.)

    Under cover parking is usually for vehicles less than 2.1 or 2.0 m high. Sometimes it's as low as 1.8 m. From memory, a HiAce is just under 1.8 m high.

    as to vans themselves.
    Have driven Mercedes diesel Vitos quite a bit in Europe. Euro spec models (manual) are relatively easy to drive and compare favorably with VW caravels.
    Renault Traffic are also highly regarded, both as a van and to drive. If anything the Renault is considered better than a Vito.

    a Mercedes Sprinter is pretty hard to beat for headroom, but they are hard to find a park in Sydney and perhaps high enough to qualify as commercial on a Tollway. (I think the car rules are more stringent in Melbourne -- it would pay to check.)
    regards from Alberta, Canada

    ian

  9. #53
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    27,757

    Default

    Standard HiAce is 1980 mm high
    Undercover parking problem exacerbated by roof racks.
    The roof racks on my HiAce are only 100 mm high, but can only get into larger undercover carparks like shopping centres etc.

    One small benefit is you can occasionally, very short term, park in a loading bay and get away with it

  10. #54
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    back in Alberta for a while
    Age
    68
    Posts
    12,006

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by BobL View Post
    Standard HiAce is 1980 mm high
    Undercover parking problem exacerbated by roof racks.
    The roof racks on my HiAce are only 100 mm high, but can only get into larger undercover carparks like shopping centres etc.
    the car parks I tend to frequent when in Sydney are limited to 2.0 m, making 1.98 m a bit of a challenge.
    regards from Alberta, Canada

    ian

  11. #55
    FenceFurniture's Avatar
    FenceFurniture is offline The prize lies beneath - hidden in full view
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    1017m up in Katoomba, NSW
    Posts
    10,649

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by ian View Post
    the car parks I tend to frequent when in Sydney are limited to 2.0 m, making 1.98 m a bit of a challenge.
    Pfffft, that leaves 20mm to play with - plenty of room. What happened to your tight tolerances Ian? (just let the tyres down a bit )
    Regards, FenceFurniture

    COLT DRILLS GROUP BUY
    Jan-Feb 2019 Click to send me an email

  12. #56
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    back in Alberta for a while
    Age
    68
    Posts
    12,006

    Default

    or put a few league players into the back
    regards from Alberta, Canada

    ian

  13. #57
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    se Melbourne
    Age
    62
    Posts
    2,567

    Default

    When looking at a vehicle with high kilometers, also consider the condition of things like the plastics, seat belts and the driver's seat. All get a lot of abuse.

    Another option that has been mentioned is a passenger vehicle that could be used as a van. Eg. Hyudai iMax instead of the iLoad. Yes you will pay more for it, but will give you the additional seating positions when required.
    Cabinet maker had a Mercedes van (do not know the model) about 20 years ago. Had it full with a cabinet that once delivered he popped a seat up in the back to take his two kids home.
    Some vans may still have a seat in the rear as an option.

  14. #58
    FenceFurniture's Avatar
    FenceFurniture is offline The prize lies beneath - hidden in full view
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    1017m up in Katoomba, NSW
    Posts
    10,649

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by ian View Post
    or put a few league players into the back
    Then I'd need hard floors like Bob - to hose it out afterwards.

    Nope! But thanks...
    Regards, FenceFurniture

    COLT DRILLS GROUP BUY
    Jan-Feb 2019 Click to send me an email

  15. #59
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Millmerran,QLD
    Age
    73
    Posts
    11,096

    Default

    Brett

    As with everything, it's horses for courses. For example, the ute's strength (actually lack of it at up to one tonne) is that it will carry loose material such as sand and gravel. Not an easy task in a van. So you have pretty much discounted a ute probably on the assumption you will not be needing that facility. In any event a box trailer will suffice for the same duties.

    On the subject of diesels, certainly up until recently a diesel's forte was the ability to work hard for long periods. In fact the diesel thrives on that, but conversely it is not kind to take a trip to the local shops in it. Actually petrol engines do well on continuous running too: Look at taxis and they have the less than ideal dual fuel, so are not set up optimally for either fuel. It is also not a fair comparison to pitch industrial diesel engines against high speed diesels (utes, small vans and passenger vehicles). They are not the same animal.

    One thing to bear in mind is that commercial vehicles such as vans are not always treated with the same degree of kindness that the cherished family car is. Also while a diesel with high kilometers may still be a good sound engine "hardly worn in," the engine is only one part of the vehicle and the running gear may well be stuffed, although arguably not as expensive to replace as the motor. We recently rejected a diesel VW car on this basis offered to us from a family member. We knew it did 150Km a day, but the rest of the car was potentially tired.

    Having played the devil's advocate, if you are only going to be doing 5000km a year, a vehicle with higher Kms might still be a reasonable bet, but not if you plan on 50,000kms/year.

    We recently bought a new (for us) car: 2005 model, but it had only 26,000kms on the clock. We had to pension off the twenty three year old car (400,000kms) because parts were no longer reasonably available and despite having another model the same, which I bought for spares.

    Back on diesel, there was a trend in Europe towards the CI engines because of their fuel economy and more recently that has become a trend in Australia. However I have heard that Europe is on an about turn as they have recognised that diesel fuel is "dirty." I think it is only a matter of time before Australia follows suit.

    Perhaps the question that really has not been broached is the budget. I think in the end that will play a big part of what you would like and what is available in your price range.

    Regards
    Paul
    Bushmiller;

    "Power tends to corrupt. Absolute power corrupts, absolutely!"

  16. #60
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    27,757

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Bushmiller View Post
    Back on diesel, there was a trend in Europe towards the CI engines because of their fuel economy and more recently that has become a trend in Australia. However I have heard that Europe is on an about turn as they have recognised that diesel fuel is "dirty." I think it is only a matter of time before Australia follows suit.
    A few years ago I sat next to a Swiss research engineer on a flight from Sing to London. It turned out he was researching diesel exhaust dusts and how to get rid of them so it was a most interesting flight as we talked almost the whole way about dust (dust geek heaven so to speak). It turns out they can capture and destroy most of these fine diesel exhaust dusts using a sort of an explosive chamber in line with the vehicle exhaust systems. The chamber is injected about once a second with a drop of petrol to burn the separated diesel dust but that would mean a bang/pop coming out of the exhaust about once a second. They have tested it on large trucks on freeways and most motorists have not noticed it because these trucks make so much other noise but if every diesel on the freeway was doing it that would be another matter. Also it would be too loud for a small diesel car and for any inner city/suburban setting.

    The theory about diesel dust has been that being very small (mostly <0.3 microns) it was assumed that like wood dust <0.3 microns they could be ignored because these super fine dusts are like air and we breathe out as much as we breathe in. It turns out that this is not quite correct. Some superfine fine dusts are stickier than others and now the superfine diesel dust in particular is known to be a problem and who knows maybe so are the superfine wood dusts. The difference being that not much superfine wood dusts are produced in wood working.

    Anyway this is why large cities will eventually ban all internal combustion engines

Similar Threads

  1. The best brand?
    By benupton in forum HAND TOOLS - POWERED
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 17th November 2009, 08:55 AM
  2. Which Brand
    By Wyld One in forum HAND TOOLS - POWERED
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 10th April 2009, 08:52 PM
  3. What brand to buy?
    By baseball in forum SCROLLERS FORUM
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 24th March 2005, 12:14 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •