Ultimate jargon: What do you need to know?

Utes are some of the most popular vehicles on the new car market. July figures from VFACTS confirm the Toyota HiLux remains the best-selling new car, while the overhauled Ford Ranger remains in high demand, with a waiting list for some variants extending through 2023.

Despite the shortages of certain models, there are about 15 options on offer for pickup and pickup truck buyers.

Selling a car can be seen as the bare minimum requirement for success as an emerging brand, with Chinese newcomers such as LDV and GWM both trying to make their mark by offering a car in the Australian market.

The fact is that utes today are often marketed as a unique combination of work vehicles and lifestyle toys that are equally at home on the job site as they are towing the family boat. beach, which means a variety of terms commonly used by dealers to describe the type of offer and its operational capabilities.

Let’s dissect some of the more common terms used today.

Cabin type: Single, sub, dual and cabin frame

The cockpit (or cabin) is the most common way to describe a particular body style of an automobile, and can be an indicator of how much space is inside the car’s cabin.

A single cab is the least practical option for carrying passengers, providing two doors and seating for the driver and front passenger (in rare cases, a jumper seat is also possible).

Single cab options typically form the entry-level and cheapest, body style in most automakers’ lineups, with the caveat that the trim levels above may not be available in style. single taxi.

As the least practical option for carrying people, single cabs are best suited for customers with larger fleets or private buyers who want to transport a large load in trays, but not much more. They tend to offer the largest payload of any product.

Many automakers also offer the option of a taxi or a super taxi. This stretches the single cabin slightly to include a pair of small rear hinged doors (commonly known as suicide doors) and rear seats. The super-cab option is ideal for buyers who need to carry four passengers in a single congestion, but mainly carry two and may not be able to afford a full dual-cab.

With two large rear doors, the dual convertible is the most practical style when carrying people.

These tracks are typically designed to function as a family or recreational vehicle, with many options providing adequate legroom for adults. Top variants of some utes, such as the Ford Ranger Raptor, may only be available as a dual-cab option.

Being able to carry cargo of all shapes and sizes is one of the most appealing aspects of a car, meaning the type of rear storage space is an important decision in the buying process.

If you order your uterus with a pickup body, the tray is designed to flow in from the design of the cabin. It usually comes in body color and some effort is made to ensure the sheet metal creates a cohesive silhouette.

In addition to creating a more cohesive look, tubs often offer deep side walls that can prevent loose materials or taller cargo from shifting around. Depending on the model, tubs may offer accessories such as built-in power outlets or other features that can enhance their usefulness.

Many utes are also available in a simpler cabin chassis alternative where, instead of an integrated tub, a simpler aluminum or steel drop tray is fitted. They can provide greater overall load carrying capacity, without any wheelhouse intrusion and, as they can be wider than the cabin, can also carry tougher sized cargo or pallets. Wider.

Depending on the buyer’s budget, the drop tray is also likely to be swapped out for more sophisticated alternatives (such as customization options with drawers or other features) in the aftermarket. .

Drive wheel: 4 × 2 vs 4 × 4

These acronyms refer to a vehicle’s steering wheel, and are an important indicator of off-road ability.

A car marketed as a 4×2 will only have two-wheel drive (usually rear-wheel drive) at any time and therefore may not be suitable for severe off-road or off-road work. through rougher terrain. A 4×2 will generally be cheaper than a 4×4 instead, it is best suited for use on closed roads and perhaps very light off-road tasks like riding on gravel.

In contrast, a car marketed as a 4×4 will be able to send power to all four wheels. In general, they also have a low gear range, to multiply the engine’s torque when off-road.

Unlike most SUVs and their demanding all-wheel drive (AWD) systems, the 4×4 system in most roads uses a locked center differential, which means they should be driven in 4×2 mode on closed surfaces to avoid stressing the drip game.

Exceptions to this rule include the Volkswagen Amarok, Mitsubishi Triton and the new Ford Ranger V6, versions available with the system full-time.

For more information on the 4×4 system in utes, including the difference between 4H high range, 4L low range and downhill control, please see our explainer.

Towing capacity: With and without brake

With towing capacity being one of the main reasons to buy a truck, braked and non-brake capacity is the key differentiator between models in the segment.

Braked towing capacity refers to the maximum aggregate mass of a trailer with separate brakes that a towing vehicle can tow.

The current standard for towing capacity with brakes is 3500kg, although larger and more specialized trucks than the Ranger and HiLux can haul more.

Correspondingly, the towing capacity of a trailer without brakes refers to the aggregate mass it can tow a trailer without brakes. This is typically considerably lower than towing with brakes and in most two-wheelers offered in Australia is 750kg.

For more information on towability and related terminology, please see our previous story on struts, tie bars and dumbbells here.

Suspension: Rear leaf and coil springs

How to balance when riding and handling on passenger cars is a difficult task. For utes, manufacturers must also weigh these considerations with load capacity and off-road capability.

Although every best-selling vehicle today has an independent, coil-over suspension, manufacturers are divided on whether to install coil springs or leaf springs in the rear of their vehicles. or not.

Leaf springs are an older, simpler design that has long since been abandoned for use in most passenger vehicles. Leaf springs consist of many metal strips (usually steel or aluminum) that are superimposed on each other, and are clamped together and bonded by metal clamps.

These bands flex to form a parabolic shape, which can bend up and down on impact or other folds in the road.

The self-design of the leaf springs means that they cannot provide a smooth ride like the coil. However, by stacking the metal sheets on top of each other, they provide a robust design that is able to withstand heavier loads and provides a reasonable sense of comfort in doing so.

In fact, many routes are equipped with leaf springs that provide a smoother ride under load, rather than no load.

In contrast, coil springs may not offer the same load-carrying capacity as a leaf spring setup, but have a more sophisticated design that allows for greater range of motion and provides manufacturers with greater range. to tailor the stroke for the specific requirements of the uterus.

The Nissan Navara and the Ford Ranger Raptor are two examples of cars that use a roll tail.