Thread: Cutting Down Wagon To Flatdeck

I've seen Land Cruisers and Patrols cut down and a flat deck added. I reckon it would be the go in the future. The current Toyota factory option is still to dear at the moment, and the Prado/Safari is still just enough. Then I came across this the other day, and thought that it may be achievable. Just looking for ideas, and wondering whose done it, and approximate cost.

Yip, I could just get another ute, but was looking for something with some comfort, but then again not be worried when it gets some tough marks added

There's an old cruiser on TM , been there for years cut down like this as it probably has certification problems. Saying that the aussies do a few of them and they look good

I know a fella from Rangiora that did a number of Safaris for missionary work in Africa. They were done because in station wagon form they would have been hit with huge taxes, but not taxed as a ute or flat deck. He picked on the Safari because they were so tough. Cost $6-8k to do the chop and put on a hilux ute tray with canopy.

Originally Posted by gadgetman

I know a fella from Rangiora that did a number of Safaris for missionary work in Africa. They were done because in station wagon form they would have been hit with huge taxes, but not taxed as a ute or flat deck. He picked on the Safari because they were so tough. Cost $6-8k to do the chop and put on a hilux ute tray with canopy.

With canopy that's a gud price, got a quote of 4K for a new triton canopy

Originally Posted by 223nut

With canopy that's a gud price, got a quote of 4K for a new triton canopy

Yeah, he was picking up the trays as take offs when a flat deck was added. Could just about use the rear end of a Hiace van too since they shared the same chassis as a Hilux.

Panel Craft in Ashburton do these conversions to Cruza's etc. Ask for Duncan if you give them a call.

It will probably end up as an expensive waste of time, but my thinking was you could pick up a 5 door Suzi and whack a small deck on the back. There's some tidy ones around for under $5k. Being reg and wof, you drive it to the place, throw your stinking,bleeding stuff on the back and go.
I saw one up at Oxford a couple of yrs back, and then this one down here, just got the grey matter ticking again.
A new ute would be nice, but have lost faith in the reliability of modern utes. Can't afford a new one under warranty, and the price range I am looking at, they've got 100+kms on them.
What is the general ballpark bill for compliance for this sort of thing. Haven't had anything to do with that side of things

I got a flat deck off a wrecker for 300 and put it on instead of a wellside for 2k for what it's worth

I do love those Suzukis.

Cowper Trucks do a nice Suzuki Vitara cab chop, hilux leaf rear suspension conversion etc.

If you stacked that better you could get more on

A guy I know in Rangiora that cuts cruisers down. He's done heaps. Makes flat decks as well. Really good fella.
If you're on FaceBook check out Custom Cuts
https://www.facebook.com/Custom-Cuts-965596286880525/

Done two safaris, pretty easy. Not sure about monocoque chassis like the vitara, doing it to ladder chassis wagons I imagine would be much easier

Vitara like those have a ladder chassis