Dream 200

Warby

Warby

Well-Known Member
Albynsw said:
It goes to show there is a big hole in the market between the Hilux etc etc and the big Yank trucks. There is little on offer really
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Absolutely.. My "ideal" next vehicle would be a dual cab ute only slightly larger than my current triton, but with a bench or dickie seat in the front so that I can fit 2 adults and 4 kids.. Such a vehicle doesn't seem to exist though.
 
Chatty

Chatty

Well-Known Member
Bomber2012 said:
Dodgy electrics , dodgy air con/heating , dodgy transfer case , theres 3 reasons .
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I don't know what vehicle you're thinking of, but it's certainly not my GMC. The aircon is quite happily maintaining 20 degrees inside, with 42+ every day up here in the Pilbara at the moment. Electrics - 40,000km and not a single electrical issue, same with the transfer case.
And I know quite a few other owners who would also vouch for them.

So maybe you might need to get your facts right...

It's all to do with which conversion company you use - HSV/ASV are crap and just in it for the money. AVS and a couple of others do quality conversions.
 
Warby

Warby

Well-Known Member
(I love how off topic threads get here at Earth.... but anyway... continuing!)

Happened to have a little look-see at a Ram 1500 on the street outside my office just before. They're not THAT big in the flesh, and a quick google tells me that there is a 6th seat conversion available.. Could be a contender for next car after all.. At least 12 months away though regardless.
 
phs

phs

Well-Known Member
discomatt said:
They tow big vans safely not like some of the jokes that you see while traveling?
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Horses for courses they tow big vans well
but big vans don’t belong in the bush either.

From my perspective we can take our 200 anywhere, in the HC or any desert, I wouldn’t be able to park a Sierra in my garage let alone at the shops or at my work so it’s simply not practical

If I wanted a huge tow tug there are heaps of options I’d buy a mog....... haha

Nothing against the GMC just not well suited in Australia, in my opinion
 
Chatty

Chatty

Well-Known Member
phs said:
How do you think it will go traversing switchbacks ? Some are hard in a normal size 4wd
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Actually the switchbacks is the track I am least concerned about. Forward, reverse, forward, reverse. that track is designed to take a fire truck, so the Sierra won't be an issue. Flats Track, should be ok, maybe. White Star should be fine. Will we have to pick and choose our tracks? YEP!
 
phs

phs

Well-Known Member
Ha why not Start with deep creek 1,2,3,4

then maybe as a circuit do
dingo hill to caladonia river to howitt rd to butcher country to macaillister river track

bonus points if you take the van
 
Chatty

Chatty

Well-Known Member
phs said:
Horses for courses they tow big vans well
but big vans don’t belong in the bush either.

From my perspective we can take our 200 anywhere, in the HC or any desert, I wouldn’t be able to park a Sierra in my garage let alone at the shops or at my work so it’s simply not practical

If I wanted a huge tow tug there are heaps of options I’d buy a mog....... haha

Nothing against the GMC just not well suited in Australia, in my opinion
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Wow, the misconceptions about these vehicles...

We never, never, have trouble parking the Sierra anywhere, except in some multi storey/undercroft car parks where height is an issue for most 4WDs. Width wise, they fit quite comfortably in a standard Australian car park space. Length wise, they can poke out a little. But, trust me, you can park them in any suburban shopping centre car park. And also at any work car park - well at least, anywhere I've worked. And any motel, caravan park, pub, tourist attraction... car park.

I have to say, they are ideally suited to Australia - they eat up long distances better than anything else, incredibly comfortable inside, big fuel tank, huge cargo capacity, etc. We will never be at risk of our truck and van being overweight. And that 6.6 litre engine - simply glorious.
And before you say something like "Oh yeah, they need a big fuel tank because they use so much fuel" - our Sierra actually uses less fuel than the NS Pajero did. Yes, you heard me - less fuel than the Pajero.

And they are awesome tow vehicles - not just because of the allowable van weight, but also things like exhaust brakes, inbuilt extendable tow mirrors and a transmission with a dedicated tow mode program.
 
Chatty

Chatty

Well-Known Member
phs said:
Ha why not Start with deep creek 1,2,3,4

then maybe as a circuit do
dingo hill to caladonia river to howitt rd to butcher country to macaillister river track

bonus points if you take the van
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Are these tracks that you would take any bog standard 4WD on? It's really easy to poke fun at us maybe (I'm not sure - I've never driven those tracks) not being able to do tracks that require heavily modified vehicles - but then, why aren't you poking fun at the 99.8% of 4WD owners who also fall into that category?
 
phs

phs

Well-Known Member
Chatty said:
Are these tracks that you would take any bog standard 4WD on? It's really easy to poke fun at us maybe (I'm not sure - I've never driven those tracks) not being able to do tracks that require heavily modified vehicles - but then, why aren't you poking fun at the 99.8% of 4WD owners who also fall into that category?
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Yes We have taken std 4wds on the majority of these tracks over the years, When the tracks are in bad condition I wouldn’t recommend it but I am sure people have.

Just can’t see a Sierra negotiating those tracks, but maybe I am wrong.

as for the Parking it’s 100mm wider and 1m longer than a 200 series, can’t see that getting a park at our local shops unless it’s on the side of the road
 
Warby

Warby

Well-Known Member
phs said:
Yes We have taken std 4wds on the majority of these tracks over the years, When the tracks are in bad condition I wouldn’t recommend it but I am sure people have.

Just can’t see a Sierra negotiating those tracks, but maybe I am wrong.

as for the Parking it’s 100mm wider and 1m longer than a 200 series, can’t see that getting a park at our local shops unless it’s on the side of the road
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I don't think there is any one "perfect" 4wd that can handle any and all situations with an equal amount of ease... There's always going to be some kind of tradeoff to be made, regardless of what you buy. It's about determining which tradeoffs matter to you and purchasing accordingly.

In my case.. The ability to fit all of my family in the one vehicle and still have the convenience of a ute is something I'd definitely be willing to trade off against the ability to access some tight tracks. TBH I don't think I'd be willing to take a 200 series anywhere that I'd expect there to be tight tracks either, they're not a small car....

If absolute offroad performance was the sole deciding factor in vehicle purchasing we'd all have wrangler rubicons on big lifts and 40" tires wouldnt we?
 
phs

phs

Well-Known Member
Coming from a 79 series and a Prado to a 200 we noticed the vehicle width increase but still goes everywhere the other 2 did.

If it didnt we wouldn’t of got one, if you think a yank tank suits your needs knock your self out but it is certainly not practical for us currently
 
Albynsw

Albynsw

Well-Known Member
Warby said:
(I love how off topic threads get here at Earth.... but anyway... continuing!)

Happened to have a little look-see at a Ram 1500 on the street outside my office just before. They're not THAT big in the flesh, and a quick google tells me that there is a 6th seat conversion available.. Could be a contender for next car after all.. At least 12 months away though regardless.
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I could probably deal with the size but there payload is shite 750kg from memory
 
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