If you think you are seeing more light-duty trucks on the roads nowadays, you aren’t imagining things.
Light-duty trucks that don’t exceed a GVM of 4,500 kg can be driven on a standard car licence and have a significantly increased payload and towing capacity compared to a car or ute—making for a very appealing vehicle for both work and leisure.
Light-duty trucks are topping the market, and some of the newcomers to the scene include holiday makers and recreational drivers who use their trucks for towing boats, dirt bikes, campervans, and motor homes.
Australia has always been home to outdoorsy types who see the appeal of getting amongst nature and setting off on an adventure.
Whether you are a family hitting the road for the school holidays or a grey nomad travelling the highway, gone are the days of the rickety trailer hooked up to the car... with mountains of suitcases strapped to the roof like something out of a Chevy Chase National Lampoons Vacation movie.
Rec truck retirees
Brian and Kathy Paxton have been caravanning for over 20 years and now consider themselves caravanning veterans. The couple chose to invest in a light-duty truck to make their camping dreams come true.
Using a light-duty truck to tow their deluxe caravan, the Paxton’s decided to hit the road for an epic four-year journey, travelling all around Australia. The truck is well-equipped with four toolboxes, a fridge, repair tools, an extra fuel tank and batteries out the back and a citizen band radio in the cab, in case of emergencies.
With the set-up in the back of the truck, the couple find everything is accessible and easier on the back (and on the eyes) with everything neatly squared away and simple to access rather than a jumble under a tarpaulin.
A truck for the whole family
The recent winner of the Gotcha4Life truck raffle, Tegan Yasserie was over the moon when a light-duty truck landed in her life after buying a lucky raffle ticket at the Manly-Roosters Gotcha4Life Cup rugby league match in Sydney, in mid-2022.
The family had struggled through organising their last camping trip, hiring a large trailer to carry all their camping and kitchen supplies. While nights under the stars were unbeatable, the stress of packing was starting to become a big issue.
The light-duty truck that was raffled off for the Gotcha4Life foundation last year wasn’t just an upgrade on space to fit everything Tegan’s family needed for a getaway: it also has fridges, a coffee machine, a weatherproof Samsung TV, and two Weber-Q barbeques, all powered by solar panels.
Tegan and her family can’t imagine holidaying without their tricked-out truck now, and it’s made their past summer an unforgettable experience.
Road rules don't go on holidays
While you might be kicking back when you head on the road, it’s always good to remember that road safety is a top priority.
Load safety is important to consider when loading trailers, caravans or onto the tray of your light-duty truck—not just for driving safety but because there is simply nothing worse than copping a heavy fine on holidays.
It’s also worth considering which road rules might differ from state to state, so if your road trip with your rig takes you interstate, it might be time to brush up before you head out on the highway.
Road etiquette around trucks is important for everyone’s safety – check out the handy information in this blog.
Take a load off with six years’ servicing for the price of three.*
For a short time, if you buy a selected N Series cab chassis or Ready-to-Work truck you can add a 6-Year Essentials Service Agreement Package for the price of three years, effectively halving your servicing costs. T&Cs apply.
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