Pick up trucks!

[hoo_hoo_boo]

I drive a ute- short for utility. I am told that in America they are called "pick up trucks".

I have tried to pick mine up and I'm not strong enough. I can only admire those men and women in America who do. I guess we are lazy here.

When we want to change lanes it really is no problem. I'd hate to have to pick up the ute to do so like in America.

Apparently it's one of the reasons America has speed limits. I'm told that picking up trucks is difficult beyond certain speeds. I've tried to run that fast. I can't. That Americans can and do while picking up their trucks is overwhelmingly amazing.

People of America, you have my enduring admiration.

 

[StrangeLife]

I have tried to pick mine up and I'm not strong enough. I can only admire those men and women in America who do. I guess we are lazy here.

You've got to grab it by the designated handles. It's all about distributing the weight properly...

 

[TxRad]

Ute- short for utility.

Pickup is short for pickup and delivery.

And we do have fast pickups. The NASCAR truck series has been known to reach speeds over 190 mph.

 

[hoo_hoo_boo]

You've got to grab it by the designated handles. It's all about distributing the weight properly...

I've just had a look. I can't find any designated handles. Guess I've been ripped off again.

 

[hoo_hoo_boo]

Ute- short for utility.

Pickup is short for pickup and delivery.

And we do have fast pickups. The NASCAR truck series has been known to reach speeds over 190 mph.

Wow! 190 mph That is quick. I'd self immolate having to run that fast. No wonder Americans are so cool.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

As for the ute of America, although they are being brainwashed by the Dept. of Education, they sometimes rally and surprise you with a pickup game or two.

SUV or ute - here in America

Pickup truck in America

 

[49greg]

Well that explains things for me. I have a friend in Australia who exchanges emails with me on occasion, she once told me she has a 'ute'. I thought she meant an SUV, now I know it's a pickup.

 

[R. Richard]

I drive a ute- short for utility. I am told that in America they are called "pick up trucks".

I have tried to pick mine up and I'm not strong enough. I can only admire those men and women in America who do. I guess we are lazy here.

When we want to change lanes it really is no problem. I'd hate to have to pick up the ute to do so like in America.

Apparently it's one of the reasons America has speed limits. I'm told that picking up trucks is difficult beyond certain speeds. I've tried to run that fast. I can't. That Americans can and do while picking up their trucks is overwhelmingly amazing.

People of America, you have my enduring admiration.

hoo_hoo_boo:
The problem here is that you're trying to jump into the deep end. You need to work into things more gradually. Try to start by playing the card game called '52 pickup.'

 

[glynndah]

 

[Zeb_Carter]

No, ute. Ute. Now can we all move on?

 

[glynndah]

No, ute. Ute. Now can we all move on?

Sure, but I don't think we're all gonna fit in that truck.

 

[hoo_hoo_boo]

hoo_hoo_boo:
The problem here is that you're trying to jump into the deep end. You need to work into things more gradually. Try to start by playing the card game called '52 pickup.'

I'm still looking for the designated handles.

 

[hoo_hoo_boo]

hoo_hoo_boo:
The problem here is that you're trying to jump into the deep end. You need to work into things more gradually. Try to start by playing the card game called '52 pickup.'

Do you think it would help?

 

[johneb87]

I'm still looking for the designated handles.

Lets raise the truck up a bit. Can you see them now?

 

[hoo_hoo_boo]

I always thought it was about ABC.
Accelerator,brake clutch.
My dog is learning to drive. She operates the hazard lights, the radio and the wipers. She knows what the white lines on roads are about- she shakes when the ute is on the wrong side of them.

When she started the "lessons"she was standing at the dash looking out at an oncoming road train. The closer it got the more she shook. As it drew level she threw herself back on the seat. She yelped as it went past. When all was quiet she looked up at me as though to say it was a very near thing. She's a very funny dog.

I keep telling her she can't drive the ute. She doesn't pass with her ABC. Her legs aren't long enough to reach. She's not bad for a mongrel who was slated to be put down before I became hers.

 

[hoo_hoo_boo]

Lets raise the truck up a bit. Can you see them now?

My goodness- I wouldn't like to be trying to grip the handles while it's going at 110 k. Those tyres are so big they could swallow a guy. I guess there must be extensions to the handles. I can think of no other explanation.

Here we have centre pivot irrigation. As it pumps the water out the wheels turn. In time they cause ruts to form. Sheep find the ruts comfortable to sleep in.

Unfortunately they don't seem to wake up as the centre pivot approaches. They get run over by them. The centre pivot continues on, leaving the wheel rut tidily lined with wool. The poor sheep are squashed flat.

I suspect if I were to try to pick up the big wheeled ute I might well be like a centre pivoted sheep.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

My goodness- I wouldn't like to be trying to grip the handles while it's going at 110 k. Those tyres are so big they could swallow a guy. I guess there must be extensions to the handles. I can think of no other explanation.

Here we have centre pivot irrigation. As it pumps the water out the wheels turn. In time they cause ruts to form. Sheep find the ruts comfortable to sleep in.

Unfortunately they don't seem to wake up as the centre pivot approaches. They get run over by them. The centre pivot continues on, leaving the wheel rut tidily lined with wool. The poor sheep are squashed flat.

I suspect if I were to try to pick up the big wheeled ute I might well be like a centre pivoted sheep.

Yeah, those truck...the vernacular is Monster Truck...don't go that fast. They are quick, but have no top end speed. I think the top speed that was ever achieved was around 80 MPH, but they had to fiddle with the gear ratio's to get there. Normal top speed is around 40 MPH, but they can get there in about 1/2 second.

 

[johneb87]

Yeah, those truck...the vernacular is Monster Truck...don't go that fast. They are quick, but have no top end speed. I think the top speed that was ever achieved was around 80 MPH, but they had to fiddle with the gear ratio's to get there. Normal top speed is around 40 MPH, but they can get there in about 1/2 second.

They also work great for getting around traffic....well, more like rolling over cars in traffic. Wouldn't mind this as a city car though.

 

[hoo_hoo_boo]

Yeah, those truck...the vernacular is Monster Truck...don't go that fast. They are quick, but have no top end speed. I think the top speed that was ever achieved was around 80 MPH, but they had to fiddle with the gear ratio's to get there. Normal top speed is around 40 MPH, but they can get there in about 1/2 second.

I think that could well wrench my arms off- that is quick.

 

[hoo_hoo_boo]

They also work great for getting around traffic....well, more like rolling over cars in traffic. Wouldn't mind this as a city car though.

Loved the video- it was especially good to see it approached with humour.

 

[_Lynn_]

Ute- short for utility.

Pickup is short for pickup and delivery.

And we do have fast pickups. The NASCAR truck series has been known to reach speeds over 190 mph.

The 1989 Shelby Dakota went from 0-60 MPH in around 8.5 seconds with a top speed of 180 mph, I believe it was. I didn't get mine quite that fast.

 

[hoo_hoo_boo]

The 1989 Shelby Dakota went from 0-60 MPH in around 8.5 seconds with a top speed of 180 mph, I believe it was. I didn't get mine quite that fast.

It's a lot of grunt. 180 is more than enough.
Utes were invented in Australia. A farmer wrote to Henry Ford asking for a vehicle he could take pigs to the market with on one day and his wife to church on the next. He outlined the idea in the letter.

I still can't find the designated handles on mine though.

 

[colddiesel]

This pretty much summarises utes in OZ

http://wn.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ute_(vehicle)

You can buy a Holden(GM) ute straight from the showroom with a 5.9 litre V8 which, unmodified, will reach just short of 170mph.

Ferals (Rednecks) like to buy them and customise them - big bullbars, bigger sound systems etc.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

This pretty much summarises utes in OZ

http://wn.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ute_(vehicle)

You can buy a Holden(GM) ute straight from the showroom with a 5.9 litre V8 which, unmodified, will reach just short of 170mph.

Ferals (Rednecks) like to buy them and customise them - big bullbars, bigger sound systems etc.

Ah yes. We had those here for awhile. They were just called Chevy El Camino's and Ford Rancheros. They were cars that where built to be a crossover to pickup trucks.

Chevy El Camino...

I actually owned one of these after I got out of the service. It ran good and was a nice hauler for lawn and garden stuff. Not so good when you have children.

It was built on the chassis of a Chevelle...

Ford Ranchero...

 

[colddiesel]

GM planned to rebadge the Holden Commodore as a Pontiac and sell it in the USA - but then the GFC and a 40% fall in the value of the US dollar against the A dollar scuppered that, almost certainly for good.

With US labour costs now way less than OZ, trade potential has reversed.