[Zooknoob]

Hey iv been thinking about turning my Swb softtop into a ute now and I just thought I'd thro this up here find a few things I need to consider b4 doing it from guys that have done it so any ideas on what to consider if I've got a build thread that would help alot

[ellis]

http://www.auszookers.com/index.php?nam ... pic&t=4640

[Gwagensteve]

You need to be aware that it will ruin an otherwise functional car unless you are adding at last 12" of wheelbase.

There are NO advantages, only disadvantages in a ute chop.

The big ones are the COG goes up, you loose useable room, and they look retarded. They don't fit a bigger tyre, improve weight distribution or anything remotely useful.

Trayback sierras suck enough as it is - and I own two of them, but at least they are LWB.

A SWB trayback at stock wheelbase is beyond dumb.

Just my opinion of course, but make sure you know what it is you were planning to gain from the chop, and ensure you understand what you'll loose.

Steve.

[atari4x4]

i hope you've considered how gay it's going to be?

EDIT: beaten by Gwagon.

[ellis]

imo i like the look of the well built 1's

[gypsy]

i loved mine and they look good, drove the same heaps more room on the back i took my thumpster everywhere on it. All i can say is fuck what everyone else has to say half of them have never had or driven a swb ute if u want to do it do it

[monley]

ellis wrote:

imo i like the look of the well built 1's

x2

[shakes]

monkey wrote:

ellis wrote:

imo i like the look of the well built 1's

x2

Thats my issue, I've seen very very few well built ones. Every single one without the wheel well filled in and a slight wheel base extension just looks out of proportion to me.

But if you like it, know the cons... go for it!

[Gwagensteve]

There's not more room, it's just a different shape and way higher.

Might be prefect for hauling a thumpster.... sucks for carrying a weekend's gear and/or actually going offroad.

Oh, and let's just clear something up:

THIS is a SWB ute.



What your talking about is a trayback. A trayback is not a ute.

The advantage of a trayback is that potentially it can incorporate a roll bar and the tray should keep the body off the banks/ground if the car falls over, but that's a double edged sword because it's also an anchor. If you make the tray the same width as the body then there's even less useable room.

However, if the owners of these horrible cobbled together messes spent 1/2 as much time running a cage, smooth corners, and a reinforced top rail on the stock tub they would have all the advantages of the tray cut without raising the COG or making the rest of us vomit a bit in our mouths.

Have a look at this:



This car runs a mesh tray only a few inches higher than most people run their traybacks, but this car can fit the biggest space case under that mesh tray and fuel/water/oil etc in front of the spacecase. The esky, clothes and tent goes on the mesh tray.

Put all that stuff on a trayback and it's higher than the roof, quite apart from how high the COG goes.

This car also has 50X25X3mm channel fitted over the tub edges and welded down - it makes the tub very strong.

Do whatever you like, just understand the pros and cons. I struggle to see the pros. In fact, I'm going to make a new "tray" for mine that mimics the lines of a styleside.

Steve.

[gypsy]

how is a tray back not a ute

[Gwagensteve]

Because it's a trayback - as in it has a "drop side tray"

A utility is a "styleside" or "wellback" indicating the rear panels are "styled" or the tub has wheel wells.

In any case, the important thing is that a trayback is for freight where loading from the sides is important.

Steve.

[boostedbrick]

[gypsy]

last time i checked the trayback at work has ute on the rego

[gypsy]

how dose it change the cog ? I could fit lots more in mine and yes i wheeled it fully loaded

[Gwagensteve]

Why is it impossible to build a tray that sits on the chassis with wheel boxes? Then you get the strength of a dropside tray but none of the disadvantages.

Even americans seem to be able to manage it... (yes I know it's a Jeep - not important)




I was following a GU patrol wagon chopped into a trayback a while ago. I should have taken a photo - it was hilarious. It was running 36's so the tray was set up all high and tuff looking like a comp car.

It was packed for a weekend away, so he had an esky and a swag on the back, but that was all that would fit - there was no room for anything else and no rear visibility.

Underneath the tray was 450mm of open space between the tray and the chassis with nothing in it.

Gold.

Sometimes you have to suffer for your art if you want to look like a pretend winch challenge car.

Steve.

[Gwagensteve]

gypsy wrote:

how dose it change the cog ? I could fit lots more in mine and yes i wheeled it fully loaded

The stock sierra tub sits on the chassis.

A trayback sits above the highest point the tyres can reach at full articulation.

generally, that means the payload is sitting at least 250mm higher in the car than with a stock tub - and that's raising the car's COG for no reason.

Additionally, its common to carry the weight over the top of the wheels, adding to the instability.

That's certainly the case with my tray.

Steve.

[gypsy]

yes there are some crap ute chops out there but my tray wasent that high and if i can get the photo up i will show u mine loaded up

[Gwagensteve]

gypsy wrote:

last time i checked the trayback at work has ute on the rego

And that SWB ute in the photos has "4 seater carry van" on the compliance plate - so what?

Steve.

[gypsy]

Gwagensteve wrote:

gypsy wrote:

how dose it change the cog ? I could fit lots more in mine and yes i wheeled it fully loaded

The stock sierra tub sits on the chassis.

A trayback sits above the highest point the tyres can reach at full articulation.

generally, that means the payload is sitting at least 250mm higher in the car than with a stock tub - and that's raising the car's COG for no reason.

Additionally, its common to carry the weight over the top of the wheels, adding to the instability.

That's certainly the case with my tray.

Steve.

mine sat just high enouf to fit my spare tire under it, it sat about half way up the tub i cant c how that would change the cog all that much but what evea u say

[atari4x4]

Gwagensteve wrote:

gypsy wrote:

last time i checked the trayback at work has ute on the rego

And that SWB ute in the photos has "4 seater carry van" on the compliance plate - so what?

Steve.

my Vitara says it's a 5 seater, when they only came out with 4 seat belts

[SierraDan]

Gwagensteve wrote:

gypsy wrote:

last time i checked the trayback at work has ute on the rego

And that SWB ute in the photos has "4 seater carry van" on the compliance plate - so what?

Steve.

My SWB soft top is registered as a ute too.
My old hardtop was regoed as a sedan
I wish i knew the sytem that comes up with the descriptions

[jonno_racing]

i call mine a tub tray ute!. but i like it way more like that!

[Fatzook]

gypsy wrote:

mine sat just high enouf to fit my spare tire under it, it sat about half way up the tub i cant c how that would change the cog all that much but what evea u say

But it does. I've been playing with a 4 link calculator lately for the purpose of setting up my ute ( LWB trayback) suspension. I have made every effort to keep the tray as low as possible so as not to effect the COG, but have had to lift my tray 50mm to clear my 33's. This HAS raised my COG, and I have as a result had to make changes to my rear link geometry to counteract the change in COG.

Even 50mm can make a noticable difference.

And on the subject of SWB ute chops, I agree with steve in that a wheelbase extension of 10" or more is a great addition!

I also think SWB ute chops look shit when the rear wheel arch is not filled in because the owner could not be assed doing a wheel base extension.

JMO
Peter