Wagon Chop

[Rod_4x4]

Hey all, I've done a few searches but cant find a whole lot on this. I have a lwb wagon, but I want something to carry a trailbike round as well as still be a capable 4wd. I was thinking a coilcab ute but they seem expensive. I'm wondering about the posibilities of chopping my wagon into a ute or extra cab with a tray back. Or would I be better just buying a coilcab ute? I want to do other mods with whatever I get to, more lift, 35's, lockers etc. Any help or ball park figures would be great as its still a couple of months before I can do anything. By the way I wouldnt be able to do any of it myself, although it'd make things cheaper I would be no good with a grinder etc. haha.
Thanks for any comments/assistance.
-Rod

[mikmav]

bundyrum4x4 chopped his wagon to a ute recently.. could ask him for
info.

[fnqcairns]

I saw one in Cairns a few weeks ago, it retained the 4 doors although the rest was ute, I liked it, looked good although I dont think it would have fitted a trailbike.
It actually looked really good.

cheers fnq

[bogged]

bundyrum4x4 chopped his wagon to a ute recently.. could ask him for
info.

take a drive out to see it at his Cranbourne shop would be just as easy.

IMHO, if you dont need a dual cab, buy a single coil cab . By the sounds of it you havent started modding your current truck, so theres no money lost there.

Coil cabs are expensive for a reason they are the shitzen..

[Beastmavster]

You could have an extended tray, or maybe have a slideout tray section to fit the trailbike rear wheel onto. After all the rear end of a trailbike doesnt weigh that much, and you wouldnt need nor want the extra length all of the time.

Years of loading motorbikes into utes with the backend sitting on the tailgate has shown that would be easy to support that weight on something that was held in place by pins or chains.

[turps]

If your going to pay someone else to do the cut. The change over might be about the same as buy a coil cab. But if your doing a bit of the work yourself I think it would probably work out cheaper for sure, to cut your wagon down. Also then you can make it an extra cab. As the GQ ute cabs are to small I think.

[chimpboy]

If your going to pay someone else to do the cut. The change over might be about the same as buy a coil cab. But if your doing a bit of the work yourself I think it would probably work out cheaper for sure, to cut your wagon down. Also then you can make it an extra cab. As the GQ ute cabs are to small I think.

I agree. Depending on what you need, home-made extra cab is the way to go. On the other hand four seats make a much more versatile vehicle than two.

Either way a wagon is a lot cheaper than a coil cab to buy, but then, there's a fair bit of work involved in the conversion.

Jason

[Rod_4x4]

Thanks all for the great replys, given me a lot to think about. here are the reasons why I was thinking to do a wagon chop on mine instead of selling it and buying a ute. Reco gearbox, safari turbo, modified winch bar, pto winch, 215,000 kms on a '90 model and stereo etc. Also the fact that an extra cab would have some room for more gear, But then again if I can find a coilcab ute with some modifications for around the 20 grand mark it could work out simlar price, if not cheaper, then spend a bit more on it getting it to how I want. I guess its something I'll have to think about, I'd hafta see how much I could get for me wagon to if I went that way.
Thanks again all, muchly appreciated.
-Rod

[mangie]

She's rough but I like it

[Rod_4x4]

That looks tough, any other pics of chopped wagons would be great to, how do you go getting it engineered if you do it yourself.
-Rod

[scorched]

im keen to do the same rod.

Want to fit the dirtbike on the back and hit the simpson desert over to finke race.

Heres some pictures of stuff ive found and bundyrum 4x4.

[scorched]

more.
My pictures folder crapped itself..
I had done a heap of photo chops also look up creative conversions place in brisso.
they want about 10k to do it.

I personally think it would be a piss easy job im just not keen on getting anymore attn from the c.o.p.s

[YankeeDave]

here is mine,

this pic is minus the roll cage which i'm putting in slowly after work

[scorched]

Did you have any major issues with the chop?

Do you plan on doing with the rear doors?

Cheers

[Rod_4x4]

Hey mangie what size lift/tires u running there? is that tray homemade? Thats kinda how id like mine, although I'd like to have the back finished off neatly. I'm just worried bout hidden costs like tray, boxes, lights etc. after the chop. I will have a talk to bundyrum bout it if I decide to go this way. I saw his at wandin, I really like the extra cab bit, I'm keen on a tray back also. Terry are you looking at just a single cab? It's good getting a look at some others, gives me a lot to think about. I just dont wana go one way then think hey I should of just done it the other way ha.
-Rod

[AFeral]

Sandy at Aus 4wd has dose a ute convertion look really good too. tel 97294899

[AFeral]

Sandy at Aus 4wd has dose a ute convertion look really good too. tel 97294899

[bru21]

i did mine look under members chevy smurf. i would not go to anyone known for doing the chop. find a backyard pannel beater and do it by the hour. its not that hard. mine took me 3 weeks after work etc

cheers bru

[mangie]

Hey mangie what size lift/tires u running there? is that tray homemade? Thats kinda how id like mine, although I'd like to have the back finished off neatly. I'm just worried bout hidden costs like tray, boxes, lights etc. after the chop. I will have a talk to bundyrum bout it if I decide to go this way. I saw his at wandin, I really like the extra cab bit, I'm keen on a tray back also. Terry are you looking at just a single cab? It's good getting a look at some others, gives me a lot to think about. I just dont wana go one way then think hey I should of just done it the other way ha.
-Rod

Sorry Rod, not my ride, I'm a bit more civilized and drive a Rangie.


However, I think it's about 7 inch lift, there 37 inch Baja under it.
That truck was built with a $45 angle grinder, $50 worth of fibreglass and the tray is a home made job, pretty rough (sorry Wayne) but it's a very capable truck and I love it.

Regards

Chris

[blackmav]

[scorched]

def no guard chop on photo above lol

[ohshi]

you may wish to get a quote from this Guy, Paul.

videofix@iprimus.com.au <videofix@iprimus.com.au>

He had an ad in the window of his chopped wagon (double cab) offering conversions from $4800 with Engineers certificate. It was a neat job too.

Regards Clive

[MJP]

Sandy at AUS4WD does them as said above. They are running a story on one in 4WD Monthly at the moment.

Also, Cheezy would probably do this sort of stuff.
www.cheezyracing.com.au

Have fun

[grimbo]

Sandy at AUS4WD does them as said above. They are running a story on one in 4WD Monthly at the moment.

Also, Cheezy would probably do this sort of stuff.
www.cheezyracing.com.au

Have fun

I'm pretty sure AUS4WD are no longer around. I thought Sandy chucked it in and is now touring around OZ.

[YankeeDave]

I'm pretty sure AUS4WD are no longer around. I thought Sandy chucked it in and is now touring around OZ.[/quote]

Negative,

he is still in bayswater working away, just at a different shop

[bogged]

I'm pretty sure AUS4WD are no longer around. I thought Sandy chucked it in and is now touring around OZ.

Negative,

he is still in bayswater working away, just at a different shop[/quote]

Location: Australian 4WD Specialists
7 Industry Pl Bayswater 3153 VIC, (03) 9729 4899

[morkz]

Yeap sandy is still about and probably one of the best person to see about doing a UTE chop....

He doesnt advertise that much but if you go out the front there are about 4 - 5 custom GQ and GU always there getting work done.

[bogged]

Yeap sandy is still about and probably one of the best person to see about doing a UTE chop.....

Theres actually a bloke in Romsey now that does a much better cleaner job. His prices are comparable to his work. Very very clean.

Grierson Engineering
mailto:alan@griersonengineering.com

[LOCKEE]

Yeap sandy is still about and probably one of the best person to see about doing a UTE chop.....

Theres actually a bloke in Romsey now that does a much better cleaner job. His prices are comparable to his work. Very very clean.

Grierson Engineering
mailto:alan@griersonengineering.com

Big call, depends on the budget, condition of the donor vehicle and what the customer wants. Don't just look at a comp truck or someone who rolled their truck and can't afford to do a better job.

I haven't seen the guy Bruce's talking about work but wouldn't hesitate in getting aither Sandy or Greg to do a chop if that was what I wanted.

[bogged]

Big call, depends on the budget, condition of the donor vehicle and what the customer wants. Don't just look at a comp truck or someone who rolled their truck and can't afford to do a better job.

Agree.
If I wanted a comp truck I'd go with Sandy. If I wanted a daily driver, from having seen 1 of each at Wandin few weeks ago, I'd go with the Grierson one.

I haven't seen the guy Bruce's talking about work but wouldn't hesitate in getting aither Sandy or Greg to do a chop if that was what I wanted.

I had some photos here, but cant find em, I'll get Al to email me some more