Any Canadians here

[smidsy]

I'm watching season 5 of Highway Through Hell - beautiful country you guys have.

They keep referring to the "hammer lane" - am I right in assuming that that is what you guys call the fast lane?
Cheers
Smidsy

[rrich]

A yank here.

Actually the 'Hammer Lane' is a trucker term that is used mostly over the CB (Citizen Band) radio. It refers to the lane closest to the center of the multi lane highway, i.e. Interstate Highway in the US. In the US, that would be the left most lane. I assume that in Australia that would be the right most lane.

In the US, if there are more than two lanes, trucks are restricted to the two right most lanes. A truck is defined as a vehicle with a GVWR of 11,001 pounds or three or more axles. I'm not totally sure about the exact GVWR number but it is close. The authorities generally ignore the lane violation if the truck is travelling at the speed limit or above.

[smidsy]

Thanks Rich, I was just curious.
I actually have my truck licence but I don't drive them anymore.
Here driving around trucks gets fun in the outback because we have what we call road trains - see the pic.

[Cliff Rogers]

This is a serious road train.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKPVDokLs1U

[Bushmiller]

Cliff

That is a road train!! Four prime movers each hauling three trailers ( I think. Lost count a bit). I suspect on a farm (cattle trucks) with the agricultural tractor lending assistance anticipating trouble.

I think it is the caterpillar effect relying on a few wheels being on sound ground.

Regards
Paul

[Uncle Al]

Best part of 3000 horsepower there, and just about every one of them needed!
Makes you appreciate the hard work the truckies do to keep everything running in the big cities.
Pretty easy for us to nick down to the butchers and get a few steaks, but what happens in the background is quite amazing.

Thanks for the video link Cliff.

Alan...

[smidsy]

Makes you appreciate the hard work the truckies do to keep everything running in the big cities.
Pretty easy for us to nick down to the butchers and get a few steaks, but what happens in the background is quite amazing.

Thanks for the video link Cliff.

Alan...

Yep exactly, I've got my semi license.
Driving a car I find relaxing, even when pushing it.
Driving a semi is bloody hard work - truckies really earn their pay.

[rrich]

Three trailers would never fly here. You can't believe the grief the truckers get just doing the tandem bit. In California many of the Interstate exits are rated singles or tandem.

When looking at the 'Roo' bars on your trucks it seems like they would stop a moose.

[BobL]

When looking at the 'Roo' bars on your trucks it seems like they would stop a moose.

I think you'll find they are called "Bull Bars" and yes they are designed for that sort of thing.

[Handyjack]

The trouble with kangaroos is they are likely to land on the roof of your car (or truck bonnet/hood).

[KBs PensNmore]

Roo bars are what are fitted to cars. Cattle can do some serious damage to a rig, even with the bull bar. I've seen a Mack, where the horn penetrated the radiator and smashed the fan.
Kryn

[smidsy]

402831

For the non Australian readers this is a kangaroo, this guy was actually seen a fair way in to town and apparently likes to be scratched.
They are quite dumb and usually placid but can be dangerous when they feel threatened - the top claws can rip a man open, the bottom legs give them enough power to leap fences and cars and can kick over a horse or cow, and the tail has enough power to break a mans leg.

[ian]

and despite all that strength, they form part of the preferred prey for drop bears

[Bushmiller]

Indeed. The drop bears are probably only rivaled in ferocity by the fearsome jabberwock.

Regards
Paul

[rrich]

Some years ago at the open wheel race in Long Beach (Formula one or CART, I'm not sure.) there was a bloke walking a Kangaroo on a leash. The Kangaroo was young and perhaps only a meter or so tall.

[rwbuild]

which should not be confused with the triantiwontigonggalope, whilst similar in size and appearance, they are considered to be under threat of extinction as a result of public apathy to their habitat.

[Mr Brush]

Re big roos, as your mother used to say..."It's all fun and games until they try to kick you in the balls" :rolleyes:

[Mr Brush]

Indeed. The drop bears are probably only rivaled in ferocity by the fearsome jabberwock.

Regards
Paul

It's been a bad year for hoop snakes around our way too.....

[Bushmiller]

which should not be confused with the triantiwontigonggalope, whilst similar in size and appearance, they are considered to be under threat of extinction as a result of public apathy to their habitat.

Or run over by road trains :( .

Regards
Paul

[Grumpy John]

...........................................
A truck is defined as a vehicle with a GVWR of 11,001 pounds or three or more axles.

.....................................................


If this is the case, why do the yanks insist on calling these trucks.

402893
402894

In Australia, we call them utes.

[ian]

If this is the case, why do the yanks insist on calling these trucks.

402893
402894

In Australia, we call them utes.
not any more, from the iconic Australian car company https://www (https://www/).holden.com.au/cars/colorado


"It's time to re-think everything you already know about trucks. Step inside the new Colorado, and you'll find all the power and performance of a rugged truck"

.

[Grumpy John]

not any more, from the iconic Australian car company https://www (https://www/).holden.com.au/cars/colorado
"It's time to re-think everything you already know about trucks. Step inside the new Colorado, and you'll find all the power and performance of a rugged truck"

.

Yes, I heard that in a TV commercial a few weeks back, couldn't believe it :((. That is coming from an American company though.
It seems we can't help ourselves, first we start celebrating Halloween, then the Black Friday Sales, now it looks we might start calling our utes Trucks. Sad.

[Bob38S]

?.........
It seems we can't help ourselves, first we start celebrating Halloween, then the Black Friday Sales, now it looks we might start calling our utes Trucks. Sad.

Totally agree.

Just add it to fries with your fish and fill your car with gas at the gas station ~ also make sure that you are sun smart and wear a cap - on backwards of course. :doh::no:

[rwbuild]

Not to forget the media phrase, 'top of the hour' and 'bottom of the hour' and now we have some people, even on this forum, refer to timber as 'lumber' and sizes quoted as 50 x 100, etc.

[doug3030]

In Australia, we call them utes.

Yep, we do.

Until you drive onto a toll road. Then they become light commercial vehicles and get charged half as much again in toll fees as a car, even if they are registered as a private, non commercial vehicle.

If its a 4wd station wagon like the nissan patrol or toyota land cruiser they get called cars, but if it has a ute body its a truck and you get charged the same as a large single axle truck, even if they are smaller and lighter than a patrol or land cruiser.

It is a rort.


Not to forget the media phrase, 'top of the hour' and 'bottom of the hour'

This phrasing is very useful for broadcasting over a range of different time zones. For example when a number of radio stations broadcast the same program indifferent states, or even from one station which covers say the Queensland/New South Wales border when daylight saving is active. It is less cumbersome than saying it is five past 11 in Queensland and five past 12 in New South Wales. There is at least a logical use for this.

Cheers

Doug

[rwbuild]

The only logic is laziness.

[ian]

Yep, we do.

Until you drive onto a toll road. Then they become light commercial vehicles and get charged half as much again in toll fees as a car, even if they are registered as a private, non commercial vehicle.

If its a 4wd station wagon like the nissan patrol or toyota land cruiser they get called cars, but if it has a ute body its a truck and you get charged the same as a large single axle truck, even if they are smaller and lighter than a patrol or land cruiser.

It is a rort.

DougAre you sure about that?

From Toll charges - Sydney Motorways - Roads and Maritime Services (http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/sydney-motorways/toll-charges/index.html#Tollcharges)
Vehicle class definitions -- Car or similarSydney's M5 and Eastern Distributor -- Three axle vehicles under 2.0 metres in height or two axle vehicles under 2.8 metres in height

Sydney's M2, Lane Cove Tunnel, Cross City Tunnel, and M7 -- A vehicle that is: 12.5 metres or less in length; and 2.8 metres or less in height

[doug3030]

Are you sure about that?

Yes, I just logged into Citylink and checked it again.

Holden Rodeo, even a 2wd is a light commercial

So is Ford Courier, VW Amarok. Great Wall, Isusu etc.

Toyota Land Cruiser and Nissan Patrol interestingly let you decide whether it is light commercial or a car.

Classes are:
Car,
motor cycle,
light commercial, or
heavy commercial/

Everything is selected from a dropdown menu.

Cheers

Doug

[Kuffy]

I got a letter recently in the last few months from Citylink saying there is a mistake on my account and that I should be paying light commercial rates for my Falcon Ute. My account was originally setup for my VB SLE commodore sedan. I did update the info with new rego plates and make/model etc. It is/was a flaw in their programming. There are no retrospective charges, but now I have to pay extra for international driving trips to the south-east side :D

[Big Shed]

............but now I have to pay extra for international driving trips to the south-east side :D

Do you have to bring your passport too?:q

[Kuffy]

No, but I make sure my shots are up to date :)

[ian]

Yes, I just logged into Citylink and checked it again.

Holden Rodeo, even a 2wd is a light commercial

So is Ford Courier, VW Amarok. Great Wall, Isusu etc.

Toyota Land Cruiser and Nissan Patrol interestingly let you decide whether it is light commercial or a car.
so you don't drive a Holden ute.

From Access Denied (http://www.motoring.com.au/ford-falcon-ute-toll-road-cash-grab-103455/)

Vehicles including the post-1998 Falcon Ute, the Holden One Tonner and the Holden Crewman are listed in the vehicle identification data supplied to CityLink and EastLink as ‘hybrid’ construction vehicles, with a GVM (gross vehicle mass) between 1.5 and 4.5 tonnes.
CityLink (and, it’s believed, EastLink) have changed the operating parameters for toll classification within recent weeks, prompting the outrage from owners of the above mentioned vehicles formerly classified as passenger vehicles and now classified as LCVs.
Previously, any vehicle in the GVM range with a ‘chassis’ construction was treated as an LCV. But now the parameters have turned around: any vehicle in the GVM range with a monocoque construction (including, ironically, large vans, by the way) is a passenger vehicle. Everything else in the same GVM range is now considered an LCV.
Since AU Falcon Utes and later, plus the One Tonner and Crewman are listed in the vehicle identification data as having a ‘hybrid’ construction (part monocoque, part chassis), they were excluded from being classified as LCVs in the past. That’s no longer the case.
Vehicles now being charged at the higher (LCV) rate could number in the tens of thousands. Earlier Falcon Utes and most Commodore-derived utes are unaffected, however, says Transurban’s Communications Advisor, Bridget Brady.
Back in 1999, not long after the AU Falcon Ute was released, Transurban requested a recommendation about the vehicle from the data supplier, RL Polk. The advice in response was to treat the Ford as a passenger vehicle, not an LCV.
At that time, the Falcon Ute was not considered a full chassis cab vehicle, as defined by the federal Department of Infrastructure and Transport (https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2012C00326), which describes a chassis as follows: “The basic operating motor vehicle including engine frame & other essential structural and mechanical parts but exclusive of body and all appurtenances for the accommodation of driver, property and passengers appliances, or equipment related to other than control”.

Remove the Falcon’s monocoque body from the Ute, and you no longer have a ‘basic operating motor vehicle’. This was the original logic underpinning the decision to rate the Falcon Ute as a passenger vehicle. It’s not mounted on a full-length chassis, unlike vehicles such as the Toyota HiLux, Mitsubishi Triton and Ford’s own Ranger.




As the legal classification of a Ford (and similar) ute is a matter for the Victorian state government, perhaps you need to lobby your local member to have the definition modified. Just remember that at the end of the day, tolls are based on the principle that any commercial user of a toll road can pass any toll paid onto the end customer.

[Spiritwolfe]

Yes! .....:brava: :canada3: