I figured out what the QM for....

[Zimm]

I took a ride in a tester QM at RDS yesterday, while dropping off my rig. I think figured out what it is for.

I've long said the QM doesn't compete with American pickups. It fails in payload. It fails in volume. It fails in comfort. And it fails on price. If you want a pickup, you're an Idiot for buying a QM. At least in pickup heaven, the USA.

But, one of my gripes about the wagon since I got it, has been the focus on departure angle like the gwagon, vs having more space to store stuff. Departure angle can be "bad" compared to approach and breakover, because dragging is easier then plowing. Anyone that uses a hand truck will know this.

Now, the rear seats suck in the QM. They really should have designed a different back to reflect the upright nature, but... I don't use them for anything other than 1/2 breed moron dachshunds anyway, and they ain't complainin' as long as they get to go along.

So while I think the QM makes a bad pickup, with the proper canopy, camper, etc in the back, it does make a compelling alternative to the storage starved wagon itself. It's competition isn't other pickups in the US. It looses all those battles. It's competition is its brother, the wagon.

With the right setup in the back, It would be more useful to someone like me than the wagon...

 

[bigleonski]

I took a ride in a tester QM at RDS yesterday, while dropping off my rig. I think figured out what it is for.

I've long said the QM doesn't compete with American pickups. It fails in payload. It fails in volume. It fails in comfort. And it fails on price. If you want a pickup, you're an Idiot for buying a QM. At least in pickup heaven, the USA.

But, one of my gripes about the wagon since I got it, has been the focus on departure angle like the gwagon, vs having more space to store stuff. Departure angle can be "bad" compared to approach and breakover, because dragging is easier then plowing. Anyone that uses a hand truck will know this.

Now, the rear seats suck in the QM. They really should have designed a different back to reflect the upright nature, but... I don't use them for anything other than 1/2 breed moron dachshunds anyway, and they ain't complainin' as long as they get to go along.

So while I think the QM makes a bad pickup, with the proper canopy, camper, etc in the back, it does make a compelling alternative to the storage starved wagon itself. It's competition isn't other pickups in the US. It looses all those battles. It's competition is its brother, the wagon.

With the right setup in the back, It would be more useful to someone like me than the wagon...

And that’s exactly the use case for all dualcab utes (mid size pickups to you in the US) in Australia.

They don’t want a mammoth US pick up - bloody impractical day to day unless you life out bush. They want a 4wd wagon with a pick up load space, either to use Monday to Friday as a work ute, or just as a more versatile lifestyle vehicle (for some people’s uses).

 

[MattA]

And that’s exactly the use case for all dualcab utes (mid size pickups to you in the US) in Australia.

They don’t want a mammoth US pick up - bloody impractical day to day unless you life out bush. They want a 4wd wagon with a pick up load space, either to use Monday to Friday as a work ute, or just as a more versatile lifestyle vehicle (for some people’s uses).

Useless out bush as well, to big and heavy to suit most Australian conditions

 

[Tazzieman]

And you will be judged by the entire population of Australians. Nobody likes being pointed out and laughed at for their life decisions!

 

[Zimm]

Useless out bush as well, to big and heavy to suit most Australian conditions

Like what?

 

[DaveB]

Like what?

Tracks in Australia are often narrow and lots of bush or high banks alongside them.
These tracks have been made by our standard size 4 wds.
They just aren't wide enough for American size pickups, or the wheel ruts are too narrow.

 

[Tazzieman]

Australia has every terrain imaginable. And car parks that aren't supersized.
I guess you have to visit to understand.

 

[Zimm]

Tracks in Australia are often narrow and lots of bush or high banks alongside them.
These tracks have been made by our standard size 4 wds.
They just aren't wide enough for American size pickups, or the wheel ruts are too narrow.
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Yea, ok, that’s off-roading. 99.999% of pickups used trucks used, and their uses aren’t off-road. They are beasts of burden. Thats the same issue here really. You don’t see f250s blazing overgrown trails in the northwest Maine Forrest’s either. He said most. If you’re going to get a load of gravel, tow an 18k pound back hoe, move your friend across town, have a lawn care business, or whatnot in Australia, why aren’t they suited as well as an lc79 with a car like load capacity, puny bed, and laughable towing? I don’t get what goes on in Australia that the truck would be unsuitable in most applications.

 

[Tazzieman]

Yea, ok, that’s off-roading. 99.999% of pickups used trucks used, and their uses aren’t off-road. They are beasts of burden. Thats the same issue here really. You don’t see f250s blazing overgrown trails in the northwest Maine Forrest’s either. He said most. If you’re going to get a load of gravel, tow an 18k pound back hoe, move your friend across town, have a lawn care business, or whatnot in Australia, why aren’t they suited as well as an lc79 with a car like load capacity, puny bed, and laughable towing? I don’t get what goes on in Australia that the truck would be unsuitable in most applications.

You hire a truck or trailer for occasional jobs.
Tradesmen either use dual cab utes with or without canopies, or tow a dedicated trailer.
The system works fine and nobody whinges.

 

[MattA]

Plus we don’t just assume bigger is better, it’s a cultural thing and American big utes are part of the culture, just like guns, Americans think they all need them and all should have them, Aussies think the opposite ( yes that’s a generalisation so don’t pick it apart )
Some need and want big , most don’t need it so don’t want it

 

[NQ94]

Yea, ok, that’s off-roading. 99.999% of pickups used trucks used, and their uses aren’t off-road. They are beasts of burden. Thats the same issue here really. You don’t see f250s blazing overgrown trails in the northwest Maine Forrest’s either. He said most. If you’re going to get a load of gravel, tow an 18k pound back hoe, move your friend across town, have a lawn care business, or whatnot in Australia, why aren’t they suited as well as an lc79 with a car like load capacity, puny bed, and laughable towing? I don’t get what goes on in Australia that the truck would be unsuitable in most applications.

$$$$$, For what they are and after a rhd conversion the big US utes (light trucks) are rediculously expensive in Australia. One just has to watch YT to see your mob in the US also complaining about how expensive these big pick ups are now and no one is buying them causing a massive sales slump and excess stock in the home of large pick up trucks. On top of that some of us outside of the US are questioning if the US can make a reliable medium truck any more. There are plenty of reports with GM and Ford 10 speed transmissions and their questionable repair TSB and major faults with some engines, US built Tundra engine problems, Stallantis' own issues all filtering down, not only from questionable media sources but in automotive repair journals.
We have so many other mid sized trucks (not utes) including 4x4 models that are more cost effective, reliable and better suited to move garden waste, gravel and backhoes in the Aussie market.