Solid Energy defends buying Toyotas

[Jerry]

Solid Energy is defending the Stockton coal mine Alliance's decision to buy 10 expensive Toyota Prado Landcruisers for key Stockton mine staff.

Prado Landcruisers retail for between $78,000 and $104,000.

Solid Energy communications director Vicki Blyth refused to say what they had cost the Alliance, which comprises Solid Energy and Downer EDI, but said they were not from the top of the Prado range.

The Alliance needed good safe working vehicles for the Stockton site, Ms Blyth said.

''This is not Hagley Park that we are asking them to operate...

''It's a tough working environment, and the Prado has been identified as being appropriate for the task.''

The Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union, which last year fought a bitter battle with Solid Energy over miners' wages and conditions, said it was surprised at the purchase.

''That's top-of-the-line four by four vehicles that they're buying,'' said national secretary Andrew Little.

''Obviously, they need quality four by fours because it is a rugged terrain up there and you want to convey your managers and others up there.

''But it does seem to me a little excessive, given they (Solid Energy) are also complaining they're likely to report poor financial performance for the first six months of this financial year.''

Ms Blyth said the Alliance had placed a $1.75 million order with Toyota in October for 30 vehicles for Stockton, including the Prados.

Around half of the remainder were troop carriers, which ferried about eight people a time to various workplaces on site. The Alliance had also purchased two Hi-Luxes and four flatbed trucks.

As well, it had acquired vehicles from former contractor Doug Hood to tide it over until it bought new ones, and would retain some of them.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/3 ... ng-Toyotas

[tallsam66]

Im not sure what the point of the post is ?????

Has Solid Energy done something wrong???? Not that i can see

[DieselBoy]

Having worked there for two years, I can understand why!!!!!

I got a brand new 2003 Hilux when I started. It lasted 6 months, and they took it away from me and replaced it with a flat deck 70 series.

Broken CV's, because of torn CV boot's on the harsh sand stone, multiple sets of shock absorbers, two reverse gears, three power steering box's and a bent chassis.

The shocks knackered out from the constant running on the rough as guts haul roads.

The rest of the damage happened through repeatedly getting stuck in the soft wet coal fines (think quick sand) while taking coal samples and having to get the truck extracted by diggers.

The power steering pumps don't like being held on full lock at full rev's while your are stuck trying to churn your way out of mud or coal fine's.

Reverse gear blows when you dump the clutch in reverse repeatedly trying to rock the vehicle out of sticky situation.


So yeah, they can afford them, and up there at stockton, they need them, its the harshest environment for running a vehicle in I have ever come accross.

They are constantly coated in a thick sandy slurry for the majority of the day, then get a rinse down before they hit the road back to town.

IFS doesn't hold up. The grit rips the CV boots, and then its only a matter of days before the joint blow's as the vehicle is in 4WD Hi Range for at least an hour a day on the haul road from the mine gate up the haul road to the site office's.

So pretty extreme conditions that can't be avoided

[DaveM]

We have been having problems with vehicles at work, Running a '08 Hilux, '02 Navara's, and '08 Rangers among others, but they have a new V8 diesel flat deck cruiser to see if it holds up better, and will buy more if they are impressed.

My Bounty is due for replacement in the next 12mths or so, so I'm hoping to get a Cruiser with all the goodies
Oh, and for a price in the mid to high $50k, they are a good buy at trade price!

[IcedJohnno]

On the Ice the CV boots get shagged really quickly too.
Reason the volcanic scoria dust on Ross Island.
Its very abrasive.

What beats me is they are buying Prados that are IFS!!!

[coxsy]

have they beefed up the weak transfer boxs

[skid]

just give them good ol 40s

will last them forever

[juz]

Had the same problem when I was working at Pike River, the dust off the gravel roads breaks down the bushes,boots, shocks real quick and nolathane breaks down quicker again. Have heard Oceana Golds bought new 70 series cruiser wagons and a shop up Chch ways cutting them down to Dble cab utes. bet that aint cheap!

[Andrew1706]

We had a late model 70 series troopy owned by DOC cruise past us up Bay Of Islands way, very nice kit despite it's odd shape

I would absolutely kill for a 76 wagon, 4.5 turbo diesel v8 my goodness - any reports on how these engines are performing?

Surely someones turned the boost up on them?

[DieselBoy]

Had the same problem when I was working at Pike River, the dust off the gravel roads breaks down the bushes,boots, shocks real quick and nolathane breaks down quicker again. Have heard Oceana Golds bought new 70 series cruiser wagons and a shop up Chch ways cutting them down to Dble cab utes. bet that aint cheap!

Shit load cheaper the the head ache's caused by vehicles constantly being out of service in the work shop for a week at a time whilst Toyota source's and sends out parts

[juz]

Had one of Corrections new troopys at work before xmas, I dont reckon it actually went that well.... maybe there just really detuned.

[gimmemud]

We had a late model 70 series troopy owned by DOC cruise past us up Bay Of Islands way, very nice kit despite it's odd shape

I would absolutely kill for a 76 wagon, 4.5 turbo diesel v8 my goodness - any reports on how these engines are performing?

Surely someones turned the boost up on them?

There's bound to be a few people in aus who have tweaked them a bit. All you see driving round here is nice new utes cause of the awesome tax returns you get with them. One of my workmates here has a new v8 turbo diesel one and has loaded the back up with three tonnes apparently and couldn't really notice the difference in power.
Lots of troopys here too and a couple of the new lc70s which i reckon look real sharp

[tristanp]

bummer they only get the 1kd motor, a hilux can take them on the hills, but they do look tough.
we have quite a few of the v8 diesel cruisers at work. they do go ok but also have problems.

[Timbatrader]

Having owned a 2005 Hilux and a 2008 70 series cruiser both from new neither are are tough as the old ones the Hilux was faster on road and would go places with only a LSD that the heavy cruiser with twin diff locks wont go but is to light weight for serrious offroading heaps of problems keeping steering alined diff & clutch problems just need to lean on the panels to dent them. The cruiser is bult tough with a great lugging moter for offroad or towing.
no good in the water alternator is mounted low and packs up if not dried after dunking (600mm deep water) other problems in 14 months use (40,000km)
1 rear electric diff locker servo replaced
2 rear shocks replaced
3 alternater repairs
4 new battery

[badnuz]

We had a late model 70 series troopy owned by DOC cruise past us up Bay Of Islands way, very nice kit despite it's odd shape

I would absolutely kill for a 76 wagon, 4.5 turbo diesel v8 my goodness - any reports on how these engines are performing?

Surely someones turned the boost up on them?

put one of these on:
http://www.steinbauer.cc/neu/index.php?car_engine=17128

get an extra 30kw then do exhaust and breathing and they turn on real good...